VCC Taupo Torque July 2025 by Vintage Car Club of New Zealand

GRAHAM RICHARD

MOCK

CLUB PATRON 2016 - 2025

Chairmans Rep

Chairmans Report June 2025

Farewell to a Friend

Brass Monkey Report

Movie Night Report

Parts Shed Update

Taupo Vintage Car Club Officers

PATRON; GrahamMock

CHAIRMAN EricFoley 073787006 chairman@taupovcc.org

SECRETARY ElaineTaylor 0272324792 secretary@taupovcc.org

TREASURER JohnSearle 0277036374 treasurer@taupovcc.org

CLUBCAPTAIN TBA

MAGAZINEEDITOR GraemeDoree 0272496974 editor@taupovcc.org

COMMITTEE

MurrayStanley 021352333MaureenRansley 073776360 AndrewBirkbeck 02102632124

NonCOMMITTEEPOSITIONS

ARCHIVISTS

June&GrahamMock 073787513

BEADEDWHEELS& BRANCHREPORTER GraemeDoree 0272496974

CLUBROOMHIRE EricFoley 073787006

LIBRARIAN TBA

RALLYSPONSOR TaupoBrakeandClutch 073787429

SPAREPARTS TonyMannington 073771598

CLUBROOMSCUSTODIAN OwenDuncan 0274 482-484

VICCERTIFIERS KelvinTrim 073789055 BarryHoffman 0274435479

Club Breakfast - First Sunday of each month At Café Lacus at the Landing 650 Lake Terrace, Wharewaka, Taupō. Special menu for Club Members. IMPORTANT: Please let Owen know by 3pm Friday if you will be there phone Owen on 0274482484. Please be seated by 8:30 am.

PETROLHEADS

The July coffee morning will be at Wairakei Golf Club, Wairakei Drive, Taupo. Wednesday the 16th July , at 10 am. Meet at the Club Rooms at 9.30 for 9.40 departure. See you there! Thanks and Regards, Barry.

Chairman’s Report

Eric Foley

Chairman’s Report for June 2025

AsIamsureyouareallnowaware,ourPatron,GrahamMock,passedawayon Tuesday17thasaresultofacovidinfection.ForsometimenowGrahamhasbeenin care,initiallyatStJohnsWoodandmorerecentlyinWharerangiRestHome. GrahamwaselectedasaLifeMemberin2000andwaselectedPatronin2016 followingthedeathofourfirstPatronRonAnderson.Hewasafoundingmemberof ourBranchandhadworkedtirelesslytopursuetheclubsinterests,Hehadbeenthe magazineeditor,rallyorganizer,fundraiser,carshoworganizer,BeadedWheels scribeandheldvariouscommitteepositions.HisfuneralwillbeheldonWednesday 25th.

Amorefulsomeeulogyappearselsewhereinthemagazine. Nowtomoremundanematters.Theregularmonthlyeventshavecontinuedas usual.BreakfastatCaféLacuswasenjoyedbytheusualcrowdwhilePetrolheads coffeemorningwasattendedbyagoodgroupofabout25.Theseregulareventsare wellsupportedandareobviouslypopular.OwenandBarryaretobecongratulated fororganizingthem.ThemonthlyruntooktheformoftheannualBrassMonkeyRun whichsetoutfromtheclubroomsmidafternoonandproceededthroughthestreets ofTaupowithaseriesofquestionstobeansweredalongthewaybeforefinishingat TheLocalDinerinStagPark.I’mnotsureaboutothermembers’perspectivebutI hadaverytastymealofoneofthemenu’sAsiandishes.Thehourorsorunwas organizedbytheDoree’sandtheSacklyn’swhohadwonlastyearsevent.The winnersthisyearweretheChavessowelookforwardtothe2026versionofBrass Monkey.

Tosomeadmintypematters.ThemoneyfromLionFoundationandTaupoPipe BandhasbeenspentonthelongawaitedAutomaticExternalDefibrillator(AED) andsecuritycabinet.TheseunitshavearrivedviaPeterLockieandwillbeinstalled imminentlyintheexternallobbyadjacenttothefrontdoorsothattheunitis accessibletoanyofouradjacentclubmembers.Thisareaiswelllitshouldtheunit berequiredinanevening.

Also,thecommitteehasapprovedmyattendanceattheVCCNZAGMinInvercargill inAugust.TravelcostsaremetbyVCCNZwithaccommodationcostsmetbyour branch.Iwillprovideareportontheoutcomeforyouall.WhileIamonaboutVCC matters,Ihavenodoubtthatyouallhavereadthedraftconstitutionthatcamewith thelatestversionofBeadedWheels.Youwillbeexpectedtovoteonthismatterin thenearfuture.Ihavehighhopesthattherewillbeanear100%returnfromour branch.

Takecareoutthere.

Eric

FAREWELLTOAFRIEND

GRAHAMRICHARDMOCK

17thJune2025Aged88years

Graham was a very important member of our organisation. From his initial work as a founding member, he eventually became our Patron. In the intervening period he filled every possible role within the Taupo Branch of the Vintage Car Club.

Graham was a member of the Auckland Vintage Car Club when he and June decided to settle in Taupo in 1961. At this time, they were the owners of a Durant Sports Tourer, a car Graham had restored and is still in their possession. In 1967 Graham and a friend Phil Andrews advertised seeking interest in forming a Taupo Branch of the Vintage Car Club. A meeting was subsequently held in Phil’s home and a number of enthusiasts attended. A decision was made to seek approval to form the local branch. This was subsequently achieved in September 1967 after a bit of too and fro with the NZ Vintage Car Club. Adjacent VCC branches had to agree to losing a bit of

their territory in order to establish the Taupo Branch. Graham was subsequently elected as the branch’s first chairman.

Graham and Phil took an active part in VCC affairs and both attended Annual General Meetings of VCC traveling at their own expense in these early years. However, in September 1968 the VCC were generous enough to send a cheque for five pounds being one way travel expenses at 2 cents per mile.

Over the years Graham was involved in the organisation of many VCC rallies. These rallies were mainly local events but in 1974 Graham was involved as a Marshall for an international rally that passed through Taupo. An International Rally in 1992 saw Taupo as a starting venue for this event, again with Graham involved in the marshaling. As an aside, I can clearly recall an incident at the bottom of Kaimanawa St alongside the Fire Station where the participating vehicles mounted a small wooden platform and were then waved away by the mayor on their journey south. A huge América La France car (made by a company in the USA that primarily made fire engines) mounted the platform which promptly started to collapse. There was the sound of crushing timber, instant panic, a bit of swearing and the vehicle was promptly waved away.

An International Rally in Rotorua in 1980 saw Graham appointed as the route controller for the Taupo Section of the route. This event had 1050 cars entered. Of course, in addition to organising rallies Graham and June were at times also competitors.

In addition to the car-related efforts Graham was also involved in organising car shows to raise funds and to display our vehicles. The first one was done at short notice in 1988 in an empty building in Nukuhau St and raised $782 dollars –equivalent to about $2000 today. There were 101 vehicles from all over the North Island entered. A second Car Show was held later that year raising $868. A car show in 1993 in the Great Lake Centre raised $6000. These funds were used to develop the excellent club rooms we have today.

In addition to his administrative work Graham also restored cars – initially the Durant, which also restored again in 1999, but also a 1938 Chevrolet sedan and a 1938 Chevrolet truck.

In recognition of Grahams hard work over many years he was elected as a Life Member in 2001. He was so surprised at this honour it is reported that for the first time, he was speechless. Further, in recognition of his work on behalf of the branch

over many years he was appointed Patron in 2016. In earlier times the Patron was usually some wealthy individual that financially supported one or more artists, composers or someone of similar ilk. This was never expected of the Mocks, it was simply recognition of Grahams work on behalf of the branch.

Of course, none of this could have been achieved without June’s support. She too has been actively involved in our affairs, holding various roles in our administration and fund raising. According to our records June and Beryl Ridley together with some helpers in 1996/97, raised $2000 through their catering efforts.

Due to the efforts of Graham and his cohorts we are left today with a club of about 110 members and very well-presented club rooms which is used by a range of community groups.

On behalf of our club, I extend our sympathies to June and the family.

To our friend and colleague we say farewell.

Eric

Upandcomingevents

Youshouldallhavereceivedanemailregardingvolunteersforthis event.PleaseletEricknowurgentlyifyoucanassist.

TaupoBrakeandClutchAnnualCarDisplay

MONTHLYPETROLHEADSCOFFEE&CARS

Onceagainagreatturnoutforthismonthlyevent.HeldatLacusCaféwheregood foodandgreatcoffeeisthenorm.GreattoseeanewmemberFionainhersoft topMorrie. NextmonthWairakeiGolfClub.

MONTHLY CLUB NIGHT

June 11th saw us attend club night to view a showing of “The Worlds Fastest Indian”

Great to see that movie again after a few years with great acting from Sir Anthony Hopkins, Annie Whittle and a small part for the local mayor Tim Shadbold.

A small bowl of popcorn on arrival and a treat of an ice cream at intermission bought back memories of a youth long since past.

Well done Dave and Jan Nixon for organising a great night.

PARTS SHED UPDATE

After galavanting around the South Island for 9 weeks Mr and Mrs Mannington have returned.

We have had a donation of a box of tools from a local gent who had passed away and his sons didn’t want to keep them. Worth a look. We have also started to sort out and catalogue the large quantity of oil filters that have been donated to the club. If you need one, check us out first. Air filters will be next, then distributor caps.

Still looking for anyone who could identify parts to come down and have a look for us. Would be greatly appreciated.

Tony and his helpers

Here’s an event for the future

And another one

South Canterbury Branch celebrates 120 years of the first car to Mt Cook.

CALLING ALL VETERAN, VINTAGE, AND POST VINTAGE VEHICLES

Thursday = 5th February 2026 Overnight in Timaru.

Friday 6th February = Timaru to Lake Tekapo. Make your reservations now. Saturday 7th February = Tekapo, = Mt Cook = Twizel We have the Hotel at Twizel booked. 88 Rooms. These will be booked thru your entry form. First In first served. Or feel free to book your own accommodation elsewhere.

Contact Nola Day nola.day@xtra.co.nz for enquiries or entry forms

Not on such as grand a scale as the 100 years, but a very important milestone in the motoring world. We have come a long way.

AN ADMISSION FROM A FRIEND.

I am sure getting old. I have had 2 bypass surgeries a hip replacement, new knees fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I am half blind and can’t hear anything quieter than a jet engine. I take 40 different medicines that make me dizzy, winded and subject to blackouts, Have dementia and poor circulation and hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. I can’t remember if I am 85 or 92. I have lost all my friends But….Thank God that I have still got my drivers licence.

THE BRASS MONKEY RUN

Held on June 15th in beautiful weather. Fine but a little nippy. A turnout of 11 cars left the clubrooms from 3-30 at 1 minute intervals for a leisurely drive around the streets of Taupo. No silent check points just directions and some Q & A for those competing. A couple of oral questions both at the start and finish tripped a few people up but now they know. Run took around an hour for most with 30km travelled. End of the run saw us at The Local Dinner in Stag Park with a total of 29 seated for dinner. A glass of mulled wine was available to all on arrival which was well received and very tasty. Thanks to those who couldn’t complete the run but turned up for the dinner. The diner serves great food from both European and Asian styles. Results were very close with top marks to Neil & Lorraine Chave. As always with the winning comes the spoils and we look forward to next year when they challenge us all again.

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