TOPICAL TORQUE
MARCH - APRIL 2025
Taranaki Branch Committee
TARANAKI BRANCH
BRANCH OFFICERS, BRANCH ADDRESS, AND MEETING DETAILS 2024- 2025.
CHAIRMAN:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE: E-MAIL:
SECRETARY/TREASURER:
COLIN JOHNSTON. 63 BROADWAY, WAITARA. 021 131 6699 / 06 754 6216. cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz
ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: E-MAIL: ROB THOMSON. 7 LEATHAM AVE, STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH, 4312. 027 701 2485 vcc.taranaki@gmail.com
CLUB CAPTAIN:
TELEPHONE: E-MAIL: JOHN MUTER. 06 751 5554 megandjohnny@xtra.co.nz
NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
TELEPHONE: E-MAIL:
JIM LOGAN. 027 604 4821 / 06 751 0316. logandj49@gmail.com
BRANCH COMMITTEE:( ( ( ( KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665 kev.fabish@gmail.com
PARTS SHED:( ( (
LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 021 084 82323 bognuda63@xtra.co.nz
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735 pattinson-family@farmside.co.nz
BRIAN EVANS: 027 956 0441 brian.julie@outlook.com
JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554
CES BUDD: 06 241 0454
NEIL ROOK: 06 758 6737
COMPLIANCE / VIN’S / VIC’S: MIKE WILLIAMS: 06 765 4419 annmike21@hotmail.co.nz
LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810 021 084 82323 bognuda63@xtra.co.nz
MID WEEK COORDINATOR: BRYAN MORRIS: 06 272 8027
SCRIBE / BEADED WHEELS: MEMBERSHIP / ARCHIVIST: NAME BADGES: LIBRARIAN:
CLUBROOMS CUSTODIAN: GROUNDS CUSTODIANS:( (
BRANCH INFORMATION: CLUBROOMS ADDRESS: POSTAL ADDRESS: E-MAIL: MONTHLY MEETING:
COLIN JOHNSTON: 021 131 6699 cajohnstoncollections@xtra.co.nz
ROSE COX: 027 353 9968 roselcox7@gmail.com
KEVIN FABISH: 06 756 7665
JOHN MUTER: 06 751 5554
ROSE COX: 027 353 9968
LES BOGNUDA: 06 755 2810
DANNY PATTINSON: 06 756 7735
TARANAKI [19] 1040 MOUTAIN ROAD, SH3A, WAIONGANA, INGLEWOOD. C/o 7 LEATHAM AVE., STRANDON, NEW PLYMOUTH. 4312 taranaki@vcc.org.nz AT CLUBROOMS, 3RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH, 8.00pm.
On The Cover: Scenes from the Waitara Hay Day and Colin’s Waitara Mini Vin Tour.
Chairmans Chatter for Topical Torque
Hello Folks
This is Maunga Moana Month. Our 60th. Time for Celebration. Happy Celebration to us. It is hard to believe that we are now into March and we are preparing for our annual Maunga Moana Rally with a special emphasis being the 60th jubilee. Ten years ago we celebrated the 50th Maunga Moana which was a real special time as well being able to reflect on the past rallies and the entrants. Our Maunga Moana Rally was born in 1964 after a very successful first rally that this branch had in 1962. Its congratulations to Rob Thomson our present branch Secretary/Treasurer who is Rally secretary for this the 60th Maunga Moana and was the rally organiser for the first one back in 1964. Gee Rob sixty years ago. Wow. Some members who were regular entrants in our past Maunga Moana rallies have now passed on and luckily we have their names and vehicles and event photos recorded over the first 50 years in our 2015 jubilee booklet and we have some copies still available at $10.00 if anyone would like one to add to their collections. Whilst we have not been able to produce a booklet to carry on from those 50 years there are still photos and recordings in our club photo albums held at the club rooms that anyone can peruse.
Entries for this 60th jubilee rally will be closing shortly so please send in your entry to Rob Thomson asap. Just a reminder if you are not able to enter the rally you are most welcome to attend the Dinner and prize giving on the Saturday night at the Plymouth Hotel. The branch is subsidizing the dinner price as a jubilee acknowledgement. Contact Rob Thomson for payment of the dinner so we can add your name to our numbers.
The Waitara Mini Vin Tour was very well attended with 31 entrants and was a very enjoyable day. The weather was very warm and it was great to see everyone out and about in their vehicles. Congratulations to Ron and Margaret Ingram who won the rally. Many thanks to all those who brought afternoon tea as it sure was a great spread.
We welcome new member Ollie Lovell from Stratford who owns a 1962 Morris Minor.
The Club has been donated some new Overalls, Jeans and Work Pants that will be available for any member for a donation to our club. These will be available at the March Noggin and Natter.
All members are asked to support the "Call to Action". "Your Club Needs Your Support". - for the 12 -month WOF Survey for members. As circulated by email by our National Office. - You just need to enter your name, email address and to answer a couple of questions. This is a project that our national club has been working on for many years to get the WOF increased to 12 months. They are preparing a large submission, and they need your support.
So, remember it’s our Maunga Moana Rally time if you are not rallying and want to help contact myself. Come to our Rallly Dinner on Saturday 22nd March and support your branch.
Cheers...........Maunga Moana here we come...........keep to the left....... drive safely .......keep the passion...... Cheers
Chairman Colin.
CLUB CAPTAINS REPORT
First of all, many thanks to Brian and Malcolm and their team for organising a successful motor show raising an excellent son for the Cancer Society. It was a great turnout for Colin's 52nd Mini Vin tour and Waitara with 31 cars competing. This is always a popular event in North Taranaki with plenty of time afterwards for socialising and viewing Colin's amazing collections. Many thanks to Colin and fam ily organising an enjoyable afternoon, we would also like to welcome a new member, Ollie Lovell from Stratford who owns a 1962 Morris Minor. We hope you will enjoy many events with our club.
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
Thursday 20th March, club night our guest speaker will be Mike Davey from Ravensdown Fertiliser Company.
Friday to Saturday 21st to 22nd March our 60th Annual Maunga Moana Rally. Please make sure your entries are in as soon as possible for this special anniversary Rally.
Wednesday 26th March Mid Week run from Waitara meeting at 1:30 pm at the Ogle St railway car park, across from the New World supermarket. Mr Blythe will guide us through Waitara's railway history we will then drive to the Association's workshops on Waitara Road for a tour and BYO afternoon tea.
Friday, 4 April Our Branch has been invited to display vehicles at a show and shine at theLepperton school gala. See details elsewhere regarding this event.
Sunday, April 13, our Breakfast Run starting from the Merrilands shopping centre car park on Mangorei Road at 8:30 am. We have confirmed Simply Devine Restaurant in Egmont Village for the Breakfast stop. Have provisionally booked for 30 people. With breakfast at 9:45 - 10:00. Meals will be off the menu which starts at around $20.00 Parking is available at the restaurant or across the road at the Egmont Village School if you do park there please take care crossing the State Highway.P lease phone Brian 0279560441 if attending this event.
Thursday April17, our guest speaker will be Julie Evans who is talking about phone and computer scams, an important subject that we will need to be aware of and it is most important that we keep ourselves ahead of new scams that may affect us at any time. Thursday, May 15 , our AGM. Don't forget this important meeting. We need nominations for various positions on the committee so please give this some serious thought.
Safe Motoring Brian and John
Facebook Report and Update
Our Branch Facebook page continues to generate considerable interest, Contact Alexander Facebook Administrator, with photos of events or reports of interest to our members nakivccmedia@gmail.com
Hello Folks
MINI-VIN 2025
Many thanks to all entrants in the 52nd Waitara Mini Vin Tour rally held in February. what a great entry we had with 31 vehicles taking part. thank you all so much for coming and enjoying the days outing. It sure is a pleasure to sponsor this rally and I would like to acknowledge all my family and friends for helping in the smooth running of the rally. This year we had some questions to answer and timing to keep to. The results were very close as you can see in the attached result sheet.
Grateful thanks to all members who brought the shared afternoon tea, wow what a spread. Look forward to the next Waitara Mini Vin Tour rally.
Colin Johnston
JOHNSTON COLLECTIONS Waitara.
LEPPERTON HOME AND SCHOOL
My name is Grace Taylor, and I am on the Lepperton Home and School committee. We are organising our school gala, it is on the Friday 4th of April, 4:30pm – 8pm.
As part of our gala, we are organising a show and shine.
I was hoping this is something that some of your members would like to enter, it is a $10 entry fee, all money going back to the school, this year we are putting it towards upgrading our pool heating so our children can have an extend swimming season, there is also a prize for people choice on the night.
Could you please pass this information along to your members, and if anyone would like to enter, please contact me, Grace.
Here is a link to our Facebook event, https://www.facebook.com/share/19xcuYi5HQ/
Thank you for taking the time to read my email.
Thank you,
Grace Taylor leppertonhomeandschool@outlook.co.nz 0223442336
EDITORS REPORT
March, a busy month for us all, Maunga Moana coming up, a Mid-week run and the Vintage Machinery Hay Day as well, something for everyone. I think nearly everyone was at the Hay Day’s over the weekend of 8-9 March a great turnout fo r the organisers and the displays were a credit to the hard work and the organisation
I have received information and entry forms for the Whanganui Branch Annual Autumn Motorcycle rally the weekend of the 15- 16 April. If anyone would like this sent to them give me a call.
We really enjoyed the Mini Vin last month and as usual the afternoon tea was marvellous, big thank you to all who made the day possible.
Not much more to say, could wish for rain, but need to be careful what you wish for these days!!
Jim Logan.
Events Calendar
Official Results of the 52nd Waitara Mini -Vin Tour Rally
NATIONAL EVENTS
25 – 27 January 2025 National Motorcycle Rally, Manawatu Branch.
5-7 February National Veteran Rally, Marlborough Branch. 18- 21 April S I Easter Rally, Canterbury. 18-21 April N I Easter Rally, Waikato, 2026……………… 15- 21 March Vero International Festival, Nelson
OTHER BRANCH’S EVENTS
March 8-9 Irish Woman’s Rally, South Waikato – 9 Ruahine Ramble, Manawatu - 15 Swap Meet, Horowhenua – 16 Open Day, Taupo –29- 30 Autumn Tour, Auckland.
April 5 Mooloo Meander, Waikato – 12-13 Whanganui M/cycle Rally –19 Brian Parker Rally, Far North - 25- 27 Highland Fling, Manawatu.
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.
WANTED TO BUY
• Veteran engine, with or without carburettor or magneto, anything considered phone Albert 0278588072
• Ford T 21-inch wheel and rim, 4 stud bolt on type, ph John 7515554(mem)
FOR SALE
• 1946 Austin Ruby, very good order, reg and warrented with factorybuilt sun roof, lots of parts as well, $8500, ph 06 2786822 (mem)
• Triumph Mayflowers (Two) Partly restored, both cars have registration papers gauranteed all offers considered, Ph Mike Williams, 0273583856 (mem)
• Yakima brand roof rack Excellent condition. New price $495, will sell for $200 cash.
The S16Y Aero ThruBar silver pair, fits around 1,000 makes and models. Visit www.yakima.co.nz to see if it fits your vehicle (Neil also has a list). Contact Neil Rook, 06 7586737.
• Kent driving lights , chrome, as new $40.00 pr. Electric cooling fan, as new, $25.00 Metal Velocette sign, approx 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
• Morris 1300, twin engined, unique, road legal and drives well, asking $9,000, ph Albert 0278588072)mem).
Anyone wanting one or more of these stylish decals to go on your vehicle’s windows, please see Kevin Fabish, size 5cm x 12cm
Here you are folks, a local business that is keen to help you with any of your clutch and brake problems, give them a call. N P office – 06 846 1934