TOPICAL
ON THE COVER: SOME OF OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR VEHICLES ON DISPLAY AT ENERGY CITY FORD FOR THE DAFFODIL DAY APPEAL.
VINTAGE CAR CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND TARANAKI BRANCH INCORPORATED BRANCH OFFICERS, BRANCH ADDRESS BRANCH MEETING DETAILS 2025-2026.
CHAIRMAN: COLIN JOHNSTON.
ADDRESS: 63 BROADWAY, WAITARA. TELEPHONE: 021 131 6699 / 06 754 6216
E-MAIL: cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz
SECRETARY / TREASURER: ROB THOMSON.
ADDRESS: 7 LEATHAM AVE, STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH 4312. TELEPHONE: 027 701 2485
E-MAIL: [secretary] taranaki@vcc.org.nz [treasurer] vcc.taranaki@gmail.com
CLUB CAPTAIN BRIAN EVANS. TELEPHONE: 027 956 0441
E-MAIL: brian.julie@outlook.com
NEWSLETTER EDITOR JIM LOGAN. TELEPHONE: 027 604 4821
E-MAIL: logandj49@gmail.com
BRANCH COMMITTEE: GRANT BISHOP: 027 295 8492 grantmerrilyn@farmside.co.nz
KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735 pattinson-family@farmside.co.nz
PARTS SHED: JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554
CES BUDD: 06 241 0454
NEIL ROOK: 06 758 6737
GRANT BISHOP: 027 295 8492
BEADED WHEELS SCRIBE: COLIN JOHNSTON: 021 131 6699 cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz COMPLIANCE/DOMAS/VIC: LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 021 084 82323 bognuda63@xtra.co.nz
MIKE WILLIAMS: 06 765 4419 annmike21@hotmail.co.nz
CLUBROOMS CUSTODIAN: ROSE COX: 027 353 9968 roselcox7@gmail.com
FACEBOOK ADMINIST’R: ALEXANDER JOHNSTON: nakivccmedia@gmail.com
GROUNDS CUSTODIANS: LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 021 084 82323
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735
LIBRARY: JOHN MUTER, ROSE COX.
MEMBERSHIP / ARCHIVIST: ROSE COX: 027 353 9968 roselcox7@gmail.com
MID WEEK COORDINATOR: BRYAN MORRIS: 06 272 8027
NAME BADGES: KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com
CLUB ROOMS: 1040 MOUNTAIN ROAD, SH3A, WAIONGANA, INGLEWOOD. MONTHLY MEETING: AT CLUB ROOMS, THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, 8.00PM.
Chairmans Chatter for Topical Torque
Hello Folks
Winter is over and Spring is here so we should have an improvement in the weather to allow us to get out and about in our vehicles.
Our next Noggin and Natter we will be showing a 8mm film of the branch 1970 National Easter Rally running on an 8mm projector that is being loaned from Sharron and Danny Hurley. This is an historic record of a rally organized by our Branch members way back in 1970. Our Rob Thomson was the rally Secretary for this huge event and will be able to speak on this rally.
First up is our annual Rubber Duckie Motorcycle Rally being held on 19/20th September and we have just over 40 entries. We are looking forward to hosting this popular event and this year we have new organisers with Peter and Lynda Hutton taking on the organising with help from Rob Thomson and Bruce Davidson. It is pleasing that members are attending other Branch rallies with around five or six members off to Taumarunui to partake in the Scenic Tour of King Country early in October.
Also, the big VCC swap meet in Feilding is being held on the 27th of September that quite a few of our members usually attend.
It is pleasing to report that we have had quite a few new members join our branch over the last few months and just recently we welcome along Andrew Larsen from Waitara who owns two Leyland P76 quite rare motor cars and has already entered the Vero International Rally in Nelson. Hope to see all our new members at our Club Night.
Our Maunga Moana Rally will be held on May 2nd, 2026. This date has now been confirmed as we did not want to clash with the big Vero Rally and other branch annual rallies.
Flood lights have now been installed at the clubrooms which now light up the outside front parking and back entrance areas. We intend to add two more on the north side of the building so it is brighter at the front entrance to the club rooms and the parking area.
So, let’s get out and about in our vehicles........... Summer is on the way..........Lots of Places to see.......... Drive safely.......... Keep to the Left.
Keep the Passion.......
Cheers
Chairman Colin.
Facebook Report and Update
Our Daffodil Day display was covered, including the poster, drawing a healthy response of good comments.
(Contact Alexander Facebook Administrator, with photos of events or reports of interest to our members)
Editors’ comments
Here we are, September already, and the spring gales have arrived, but not too wet, yet. Hope the weather cooperates next weekend for the motorbike boys and girls. Hope to see you at the outing to Tatatm on the 28th. If you haven’t been to this very interesting Museum I can recommend a visit you will not go away disappointed but bring your lunch.
Wednesday following the Museum visit I have booked a visit to a car collection and private garden which should provide something for all. Please park on the Govett Avenue frontage of the property as parking up the cul-de-sac is limited. There will be a golf buggy for those whose mobility is not so good.
Thats all for now, Jim Logan
Club Captains Report
Upcoming Event – Trip to Tatatm (Taranaki Aviation Technology and Transport Museum)
Our next event is a trip to to Tatatm, happening on Sunday, 28th September. Meet onsite at 12:00pm. There is a $10 admission fee for this event which includes Tea and Coffee. Bring a picnic lunch.
TATATM houses a vast array of hands-on exhibits, many of which are in full working order:
• Aircraft – Harvard Models of Motunui construction
• Post Office Brewster Collection pieces
• Printing Industry Machinery Cars & Trucks
• Radios of all kinds Cinematographic
• Telephones - Working Exchanges Domestic/household items
• Lamson Wire Carrier System Fire Engine & Tender
Address: Corner State Highway 3 South and Kent Road, Opposite Lake Mangamahoe 13 Kent Road, New Plymouth 4371
This promises to be another enjoyable outing, and it’s a great opportunity to support a local attraction — we hope to see you all there!
As I will be away this month there is no guest speaker, So instead, there will be a Vintage Film night with a film reel of the 1970 National Rally held in New Plymouth being shown, should be an entertaining evening!
October Guest Speaker
This month, we’re pleased to welcome Rob Needs as our guest speaker. Rob has been a member Stratford Mountain club and the Alpine rescue team for a number of years. He’s happy to answer questions and share his experiences with us on the Taranaki Maunga.
Feel free to bring friends and family who may be interested in the discussion.
Upcoming Events
• 28th September – Trip to TATAM – Taranaki Aviation and Transport Museum
• 1st October - A visit to a private collection at 65 Govett Av, New Plymouth, meet at the venue 1.30pm
• 19th October – Potters Paddock at Dudley Hall
• 9th November – Garden Run
• 14th December – Christmas Run followed by Bring a Plate BBQ Lunch at the Clubrooms
As always, your ideas and suggestions are welcome – we love hearing from you.
Warm regards, Brian
Events Calendar
Branch News
Rubber Duckie Rally We would like some helpers to man some check points for this event. If you have some time on Saturday 20th, could you contact Rob Thomson in the first instance.
DID YOU KNOW
That any members are welcome to visit our parts shed by contacting a committee member to organise a suitable time for a visit. There is a wealth of parts within and there is not always time on Club night to rummage through them all. The results of the membership survey that was conducted recently are now available to view at the clubrooms, see Brian Evans.
WANTED TO BUY
• 1939 Austin 8 HP, parts wanted, anything considered in any condition, ph 02108264899(mem)
• Ford T 21-inch wheel and rim, 4 stud bolt on type, ph John 7515554(mem)
FOR SALE
• 1974 MGBT, in yellow, 100+Km, three owners, present owner 13 years. Overdrive fitted, registered and warrented to July 2026. Price $21,000 contact 0212179775
• On behalf of Estate, Vauxhall 1938 14/6 Tourer (blue), has a top opening boot and spare wheel Located in Wellington, contact Bryan Morris 0273721976
• V C Cresta, parts for sale, bonnet, gaurds, doors, boot lid chrome trim, contact Les Bognuda, 02108482323
• 1962 Morris Minor 1000, white, and very tidy in Stratford, $8,000 ph 0272836674
• Kent driving lights , chrome, as new $40.00 pr. Electric cooling fan, as new, $25.00 Metal Velocette sign, 6pprox. 400mm x 300mm new $20.0. Sunroof, suit 80 ’s on. NOS Vanguard rocker panels [sills] NOS, light surface rust, $50. Mazda B1600 ute tail gate skin, NOS, $5. Luggage carrier, rusty but will clean up, $50.00. Audi 5-cylinder engine, $200.00. Contact Taranaki Branch – Parts Dept.
FREE(TO A GOOD HOME)
A three wheeled trolly on wheelbarrow wheels, suitable for moving a car body undergoing restoration. Ph Bryan on 0273721976.
OTHER BRANCH EVENTS
September – 19-21 Spring tour to Napier -North Shore, 20-21 Vintage Only RallyManawatu, 27 Swap Meet – Manawatu.
October - 4 King Country Scenic Tour – King Country, 11 Motorcycle Rally –Manawatu, 12-18 Coromandel Adventure – Central Hawkes Bay, 25-27 Inter Branch Campout – Manawatu.
VERO RALLY 2026.
Attention all members that are planning to attend the Vero international Festival of historic motoring rally in Nelson next year.
We are planning to have a meeting to coordinate travel arrangements from Taranaki so that if entrants want to travel together for companionship and security, we can all motor together.
If you want to join us and attend this meeting, contact Kevin Fabish on 7567665 or Colin Johnston on 7546216 or (02) 1131 6699. Nelson here we come.
13th Annual Rotorua
Lakefront Car Show
10am - 2pm, Sunday, 25th January 2026
BAD WEATHER RESERVE DAY - Monday, 26 January 2026
ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO ST JOHNS AMBULANCE ROTORUA www.rvvcc.org.nz
ALL CARS, BIKES & COMMERCIALS WELCOME!
Join us for the 13th edition of this fabulous event. Numbers have increased every year with almost 500 vehicles on display in 2020 and goods number since.
Th e venue is the Rotorua Village Green at the lake front, off Whakaue Street. Th is is an informal car show open to any individuals or clubs to display their vehicles. Drivers and visitors will be encouraged to make a gold coin donation during the event for St Johns Ambulance. Car clubs are welcome to display their vehicles in a group.
During the day drivers and their companions can enjoy their own picnic lunch under the trees, or take advantage of local eateries, including Rotorua’s “Eat Street” which is at the southern end of the show area.
Come and see Rotorua’s newly developed waterfront boardwalk, as well as many other attractions. Th is event
has been very popular with locals and holiday makers alike. Vehicles range from early vintage to almost new. For more information email info@rvvcc.org.nz or check our Facebook page for updates. See you there!
Anyone wanting one or more of these stylish decals to go on your vehicle’s windows, please see Kevin Fabish, size 5cm x 12cm
