PHOENIX
What do you do when you are 100? Your race team takes you racing. Storm onwards our Branch poster boy!!! Photo from Marcus Ling, at the NZ Classic Racing Register event at Manfeild in February this year.
WAITEMATA BRANCH DIRECTORY
CHAIRMAN: ROBERT CHAPMAN 021 038 3281
robman@orcon.net.nz CLUB CAPTAIN: SECRETARY: JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 44 58811 waitemata@vcc.org.nz
TREASURER: JACQUI GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz BRANCH DELEGATE: IAN GOLDINGHAM 09 445 8811 goldienz@orcon.net.nz
EDITOR: MICHAEL GREIG 027 24 55 786 094456760
SCRIBE Moveable Feast
michael.john.greig@gmail.com
PAST CHAIRMAN: BRENDAN LAMAIN 021 132 4557 brendanandterry@gmail.com
COMMITTEE: MAX JAMIESON, MIKE HOPE-CROSS, HAMISH ANDREWS.
Looking Forward
COMING EVENTS
March 30th Hope-Cross Gymkhana 2nd Brit Euro Car Show, usual place ,
April 1st Club Night at alternative venue. 13th In the city car collection visit! 13th Editors Birthday, No pressure
May 18th Kaipara Wings & Wheels with the Wellsford/Warkworth Branch
June 3rd AGM !!!!
July 26/27th R’oil Can
Other events pale into insignificance to the sacred R’oil Can!
Club Night. TUESDAY MARCH 4th
See you at the RSA Room, King George V Memorial Hall, Library Lane, Albany, 7.30 pm .
30th March Gymkhana at the country estate of esteemed Mike Hope-Cross. Events will proceed from 1500 hrs and will culminate in a barbeque. Please attend with your own eating irons and salads and desserts, would be gratefully accepted. Please arrive with proper cars and bring friends and family to join in the driving tests. Address:10A Anzac Valley Road, Waitakere.
Tuesday 1st April. Possible alternative Club Rooms an exploratory visit. This is our regular club night. North Shore Rod and Custom Club Rooms Unit 4/26 Hillside Road, Glenfeild. Look carefully for club banner. Bar open.
13th April Shed Visit, a city event, a car collection to be savoured and enjoyed. We are always grateful for the kind generosity and privilege in visiting these private collections. RSVP, note numbers limited. Contact Ian Goldingham 09 445 8811
18th May Wings and Wheels at Kaipara, an event with the Wellsford/ Warkworth Branch. You can dress up and enjoy the exercising of the car, bike whatever. Bring the grandchildren and explain all the technical details of all vehicles and aircraft.
June 3rd. AGM. You are required to attend as it is YOUR Branch, and you have to have a say. Don’t grizzle, take on the positions and show your mettle! Secretary and Club Captain needed.
July 26th/27th R’oil Can. A long-held rite of passage for car and driver as well as passengers. Might tales and lies have been told, many a tear has been shed, teeth have been chipped, deflation has occurred, and many brews consumed. If 100year-old open cars can attend in all engine configurations and size, your precious open car , if eligible must attend. Remember there are limits due to availability of accommodation.
NORTH SHORE BRANCH VCCNZ
OPEN DAY and CAR SHOW
SUNDAY 23rd MARCH 2025
Gates open 9.30 – 3.00
All members of VCC Branches and One-Make car Clubs are cordially invited to join the North Shore Branch of the Vintage Car Club for: Car Show
Coffee Cart
Restoration and storage sheds open Parts Shed open Sausage Sizzle – with real snarlers
Prizes
Masons Road, Albany
Just turn up ideally in your club eligible vehicle any time on Sunday 23rd March
Plenty of events and functions to motor to and attend. Please take full advantage of the opportunities while you can drive. Take family and friends to share the experiences of proper motoring!
Gymkhana at Dairy Flat Airfield.
Commentary by the Editor who was unable to attend.
Looks like a good turnout. I am going by the photos supplied by Keith Humphries and Jacqui and Ian Goldingham. I see the arrival of Lionel and Mary in the Model A which has proved to be a practical car for Lionel. There are the usual suspects enjoying the day. Good representation by the stalwart drivers of Rileys, the motoring Brothers Beesley in their well campaigned Talbot 90 and Hotchkis AM80. From Team Goldingham comes the Lea Francis. I see a pretty Chummi and a blue A7 special. I see the Yellow Model A and wonder how his A7 special is coming along. By the look of it, a fine day was enjoyed.
Many thanks must go to the organisers as it is a large project to arrange and coordinate.
The Alfa is in a happy place, nice wide selection and a perfect example of an Aston Martin, There a few others of the marque in the branch.
Both makes were very competitive in their day and are still very sporting and practical grand tourers and are used by their owners in the proper manner. The branch had hosted one of the Talbot Team cars at a R’oil Can event many seasons ago.
A change with a bit of diversity in vehicles.
MG’s are seen as an enjoyable car and fun for drivers and passengers. Seems to be the case here.
Fine examples of the power of 9.
The Seven shows no discrimination in relation to age or size.
Celebration of a rare rite of passage. The centennial birthday of Branch Hero and Poster Boy, Les Harris.
Les is the mainstay of our hillclimb events and has been seen at legendary Chelsea Hillclimb and Manunui and a long-time entrant with the Classic Racing Register and leading rider with Roster Racing Team with three generations on the grid. I felt so disappointed with missing this event that I will have to present the lad with two walking staffs when I return to the Big Smoke. Best wishes and regards to you and your family that love and support you from the Branch.
Les doing what he likes best. Photos taken from the Facebook page of Tim Harris (Les’s son).Hope he does not mind.
Chairmans Report.
There is a letter in this month's Phoenix from the Minister of Transport Chris Bishop which concerns us all. It is very, very important that we all respond to this letter before the 4th of April the close off day for submissions. The Vintage Car Club has taken the proposal of yearly Warrant of Fitness so far and Minister Bishop will make his final decision after he has considered feedback from us. Before you read further go to https://surveys.nzta.govt.nz/jfe/form/SV_232l6GMC4NCLLgi and make your submission. Hopefully we will get yearly WOFs into law.
Well, it seems strange yes strange driving the Riley once again. As many of you remember I got a little bit of sun strike and drove into a ditch. I did drive back to Auckland, and Riley has been parked up for six months. I thought I got away with the hit, alas I found
the top radiator tank had a slit where the top pipe is soldered on to the tank. A very slight bend in the front axle and part of the generator electrical box missing. The good news it has all been repaired at Ryans Garage so we will see you all at Mikes BBQ and gymkhana at the end of March.
Rob Chapman
Editorial
Words from the Southern Climes.
I am committed to return in a few weeks as there seems to be concern that I had expired, and the house was inundated with calls and letters from real estate salespeople and the neighbours were concerned that I had not been seen for a while.
In my time here I have attended some motoring events; the National Veteran Rally, visited the spares sheds of the Marlborough Branch and had afternoon teas with notable motorists of the area and from overseas. I have joined the Men’s Shed and the Woodworkers Guild. From this arrangement I have been able to do some repairs to items purchased, created a Bodgers bench and made walking sticks and staffs for presentation to high status individuals. I was able to visit the Hearnes in Oamaru and had the honour to stay with them, revisit old memories and stories and admire the Diatto, Ansaldo 6A and De Dion Bouton. I was able to make some walking sticks and staff from material in the estate gardens. I was able to see Major Upsett, the Earl Preston and the wonderful Rose. His hand-crafted staff was supplied by Jack O’Rander, a rare tree of the North.
I was able to meet internet sensation, Racing Shed host, Vintage Driver and Bugatti exponent, Ivan Dutton with manager and support crew, Susie who came to visit Alison Moores. I was able at have morning tea with them at Alison’s at her farm in Havelock Ivan road tested Alison’s Austin Ulster and helped adjust the steering and was impressed with its performance. The car has had a long family history with racing and has been timed at 95 mph.
The walking sticks and staffs were presented, and the histories and functions were explained. They have a quick tour around the South Island before they travel to Australia
then home. We look forward to another ‘World Tour” which may include their chance to see the North.
Correspondence
The letter referred to in the Chairmans Report.
Dear Garry,
I recently announced that the government will consult on reducing the frequency of inspections for vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes. I am pleased to let you know that public consultation on the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment 2025 opened today on Monday 24 February 2025.
NZ Transport Agency will be carrying out consultation on my behalf on the proposals to change:
• The Warrant of Fitness check frequency for light vehicles that are over 40 years old from every 6 months to every 12 months.
• The Certificate of Fitness check frequency for privately owned heavy motorhomes from every 6 months to every 12 months.
The consultation opened Monday 24 February 2025 and the last day for feedback will be Friday 4 April 2025.
From 24 February, people can make a submission using the online form (preferred) or by email to rules@nzta.govt.nz.
The online form will be available at: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/public-consultation hub/currentconsultations/land-transport-rule-vehicle-standards-compliance-amendment2025- consultation
I will consider all feedback before making a final decision, so I encourage you and your members to have your say on these proposals.
Yours sincerely
Hon. Chris Bishop Minister of Transport
The Chairman, Committee and Editor implore all members to send in a submission. This demonstration to the Ministry will help when we need more help to enable us to have the ability to use our vehicles on the road. We are providing active, practical and safe historial vehicles that can be maintained. We are fine examples of recyclers, enviromentalists and supporters of heritage and the nations social history.
From Morley
I’ve been thinking
I was pleased to hear that the W.O.F/C.O.F issue is at long last being addressed.
However, as they are suggesting an annual test rather than the present 6 monthly test is good to hear. But does this mean the testing stations will double the charge for an annual test to compensate for the loss of income?
My thoughts are, why don’t we just refuse to get a warrant/cert. So, denying testing stations of approximately $250mil/yr.
I know the insurance companies will immediately say that insurance will be null and void in the case of an accident. Fair enough. So, we cancel our insurance as well, which would hit the insurance companies in the pocket for around
$200,000,000/yr. If this doesn’t bring them to the party, then I don’t know what will.
Prosecution,welltheywouldhavetoprosecuteover150,000ofus.Besidesaspell in jail for 3 months would net me about $9,000 (pension) and I would be able to research my book.
Unfortunately, we have developed this fear of bureaucracy and just go along without a fight. I think when you take an overall look at it; it is definitely a case of “the Tail Wagging the Dog”
“An Army of the People is invincible,” said Mao.
Did you watch David Lane on the Breakfast show 25th Feb regarding the above? I don’t think Chris Chang gave him a fair go, butting in too often.
Viva la Revolution!!!
A concerned VCC member.
Alison with Ivan Dutton in the Ulster in Havelock. Photo from Editor.
This the first edition of the Michelin Man known as Bibendum in France in 1894. Notice the champagne glass holds a horseshoe and several horse shoe nails. Translation says, 'Now is Bibendum. that is to say, to your health the Michelin tire drinks the obstacle." In the twenties he was changed to the Michelin Man to what we have today. They were not called the roaring twenties for nothing.
Robert Chapman.
immediately RIGHT into Library Lane then very soon go right again into the parking area. The RSA Room is at the rear.