Welcome to the July issue of the Rivet. The new committee appears to be well bedded in and rearing to go under the Chairmanship of Bill and Club Captain Wayne. A good mixture of established and new people, and most importantly, a gender mix which I believe is vital.
Recently I had a request from an out of town organiser of a group of classic car enthusiasts (no, not muscle cars Frank) who would like to view my collection. To the best of my knowledge, they are not aligned to any car club. Anyway, they are calling into the farm where my shed is located on the same day our branch Sunday Run is taking place. So I thought this may be an opportune time for a club run out to my place to view my collection as well as those from out of town. At the time of writing this, I do not know how many non-club members will arrive, but will see on the day I guess. Sunbeam and Military people may also be there.
Frances is away visiting family in Norway, so don’t expect any freshly baked scones or the like. Bring a chair, drink and nibbles for afternoon tea and I will clear out a sizeable area in the packhouse. Toilets are available and my cars under cover close by, plus hopefully an unknown number of vehicles which you may not have seen before. Parking on site.
The farm itself is all closed off to visitors, owing to bio-security risk. A vehicle washing (no not yours) and sanitation area is currently being erected, along with footwear baths, washing and changing areas. The packhouse, parking area and office block, plus my car shed, is fenced off from the farm. So please do not worry, you will not be expected to be scrubbed down, sanitised and showered before entering, unless you so wish!
I am currently in the process of extending my shed by another bay or two. I came across a favourite car make of mine, a pristine 2015 Chrysler SRT8. I love the gangster style of these, and being the last of the Chrysler 300’s, I couldn't resist, so I flew back up to Auckland, having just returned from there with a Sunbeam Tiger, and completed the deal. This Chrysler would have to be one of the ‘nicest’ cars I have driven-so smooth and not like the ‘all fire and brimstone’ of it’s stablemate, my Dodge Hellcat. Frances thinks I have gone mad. How sad, never mind. I think that she will understand me in time. I believe that these last of the Chrysler 300’s will be collectable classics in time, if I am lucky enough to live that long!
This month Sam and Irene Wilson agreed to present their story and journey into joining our movement. Thanks heaps you two. Speaking of which, please do not be shy or bashful in coming forward and offering your story about your vehicles and your progression into the VCC. I do believe that this does bring some life into our magazine. Please contact me as I would love to hear from you. I would like to remind everyone that the cut off date for material for the Rivet is the 25th of the preceding month. Nothing annoys me more than receiving material for print a day or so into the month of publication. Also with the adverts in the ‘For Sale and Wanted to Buy’ page, please don’t get all grumpy with me if I replace yours with a new one. No one likes seeing the same old ad month after month, so if new requests to place an advert come in, yours may well be cut. Better to place an advert in Beaded Wheels ( free) or Trade Me in that case. That’s all from me for another month. Hope to see you at my place on the 20th. Not before 1.30 pm though please, after the staff leave. Yours in cruising Editor Ian
Chairman's Report — July 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Chairman. I am sure the club is in a good position as I take up this role. I look forward to working with the present and newly elected committee members to help the club move forward.
I hope to see continuing ideas and help from club members with regard to club night speakers, Sunday runs and rallies. I would encourage anyone with thoughts for improvement to approach any of the committee members to bring these to our notice.
I think it only fitting that Neil Farrer has been selected as out Patron and offer him my congratulations. I also wish him well in his ongoing and slow battle to regain his health.
In my shed at home my love of all things vehicular, motor cycles and racing continues and there is always some tinkering to be done. I have been doing some work on Neil’s 1925 Willys Overland and this is now running much sweeter than it was. Neil enjoyed a ride in it a few weeks back and he was most impressed.
Our guest Speaker for July was Geoff Lawson who gave a fascinating talk on one of his many interests. He has a collection of Black Powder firearms and accessories dating back the second half of the 19th century which he explained along with some interesting history.
Cheers,
Bill.
Club Captain’s Report— July 2025
Well, my first month as club captain is over and not too many new grey hairs. Great to see a good turn out at the AGM. I would like to thank Ian Higgins, Sietse and Pierre Zeilstra who have stood down from the committee, for their work on the committee over the last few years and hope you enjoyed it. Welcome on board to Bill and Heather James along with Hinemoa Ransom-Boyd who have joined the committee this year. It was great to see a number of new people taking on rolls within the club.
As I look ahead I wonder if anyone knows of any interesting people who we could ask to come along a club night for a talk or if you have somewhere interesting to go for a Sunday run? If you have any ideas on either of them please let me know.
The weather turned on a great day for the Sunday run which saw over 20 cars enjoy a leisurely drive around Whanganui, with no one getting too lost and working out the mistake I put in the run. It was great to see some new faces and other faces we have not seen for a while out enjoying the day and the run. I hope we see them and others out and about more often.
This months Sunday run on the 20th is out to Ian Higgins to look at his collection of cars, there will also be another classic car club there which want to look at our cars as well so please bring your club car if you could. Bring your chair, afternoon tea and a flask if you want a hot drink.
Planning is well underway for the Daffodil Day run on 24th Aug. This year we are having a scatter rally so save the date. It should be a lot of fun.
Wayne
Sam’s Story
This month I am very pleased to present Sam and Irene Wilson’s story as they journeyed into the VCC. Sam is, in my and others opinions, one of the very best motor mechanics around. He has a distinguished reputation for fixing anything mechanical, from chainsaws to heavy machinery, and everything in between, including jet boats. Judging by his very tidy home workshop, it seems to me that of late he has been focusing more on motorcycles.
I can recall hearing about Sam’s mechanical prowess when he worked for my late uncle, ‘Tiger’ Edmonds, who owned a heavy machinery and tractor garage in Wanganui East. Years later Sam used to service our vehicles at his Peat Street garage. The old saying that ‘behind every good man is a good woman’ is certainly the case with his charming wife, Irene, or Charlie as Sam sometimes calls her (used to be Chick). Irene is a keen potter, as my wife Frances is, as evidenced by a potter’s kiln in the workshop.
I called in to interview and take a few photos at the couples home in Wanganui East recently. Parked out front is their immaculate motor home, which the couple use extensively. They are a lovely couple and were a pleasure to work with to present ‘Sam’s Story.’
Without further to do, here is Sam’s Story narrated by the man himself and prepared by Irene. Thank you so much for sharing with members. Editor Ian.
I was born in Opunake in October 1941. The war years were tough with Dad up in the Islands. I learnt at an early age I had to pull my weight. Got my first job when I was 9 years old still at Primary School, milking 150 cows night and morning. I thought my boss was a good dude when he bought me a headlight for my bike. Now I could see where I was going at five in the morning! I learnt to drive the farm 1931 Chev truck. When I had just turned 15, I got my licence in the boss's 1955 Vauxhall Velox.
I left school at 15 years old. My Uncle was the Foreman in the Rahotu Garage and I pestered him until he gave me a job. My first car was a 1938 Morris 8 Sports, then a 1952 Matchless 500cc G80. By this time my parents had moved to Tokaanu to manage the hot baths. I boarded with a family in Rahotu, living on a diet of substandard pies and too much Taranaki Ale. One cold night travelling alone in the King Country, I was starving and stopped at a country store about to shut. All he had was a packet of frozen saveloys. He said if I was going to eat them like that, he would shout me a bottle of Waikato Green. It took me years before I ate saveloys again and haven't drunk Waikato beer since!
By this time I had a 1948 Ford Prefect that a mate wrote off. My parents had moved to Wanganui, so with no car and nothing but the shirt on my back, in 1958 I moved down to finish my apprenticeship with Tiger Edmonds in Wanganui East. I moved into heavy diesel machinery in 1959, doing huge hours working for Edmonds Motors until 1967, when I married Irene and moved to Canada. I worked first for a Chainsaw Rental Company, then qualified in General Motors Detroit Diesel, Allison and Twin Disc Power Shift Transmissions. With a family on the way, we decided New Zealand was better to bring up kids, so it was back to Edmonds Motors. Edmonds were the Cable Price Corporation service agents for the area from Mokau River to the Manawatu River and across to Hawkes Bay.
In 1977 I was keen on going out on my own. One night in the back bar of the Provincial Hotel, an old friend, Ben Bullock, gave me some good advice. One was you have to get kicked in the guts now and again, it keeps your blood thin. The other was, make haste slowly. This advice has been with me all my life. In the same year we bought Riverview Service Station in Putiki, where I met a young man running the workshop by the name of Bruce Ardell. I worked for Bruce for about three years, until he left to set up the very successful vintage business he has now in Fordell. In that time Bruce got the vintage bug into me and I rebuilt a 1937 Dodge.
Sam’s Story
In 1975 I joined the New Zealand Jet Boat Association and got quite involved as Chairman of Central Districts, Vice Chairman of the NZ Jet Boat Marathon Society and the NZJBA Competition Branch. This year I have been in the Jet Boat Association for 50 years and now qualify as a Jet Vet. Also doing tours on the Wanganui River. The family loved many days camping miles up the River. After years of climbing mountains and camping out in the bush, I sold the Dodge and bought a 20 foot caravan. This gave the family more comfort as we travelled further afield. In 1990 I sold the caravan and bought a 25 foot trailer yacht and moored it at Motuoapa. We had many holidays cruising the lake, around Waiheke and the outer islands, across Cooks Strait and into the Sounds In 1984, with the long hours working a service station and the returns not great, we sold and built a small workshop in Peat Street. Selling ourselves as ‘The Country Garage in Town.’ The place grew with more buildings and staff doing auto repairs, LPG/CNG, light engineering, chainsaw and mower sales and service. We were also the Hamilton Jet Boat agents. For 17 years in this time about 20% of my time was spent repairing school dental equipment all around the central area. Even in this busy time, we managed to build a bach at Kuratau, with the help of Pete Willcox and Wayne Marshall.
After working very long hours for many years, in 2005 we sold up and I retired to my well equipped workshop at home. It was then that I started rebuilding old motorbikes, I also joined the Wanganui Branch of the VCC. I don't know how many bikes I have restored, but have still got four in the shed. I got bored being at home, so for the next ten years, with the help of very good friends at Husqvarna NZ, we went all around the North Island relieving in chainsaw shops.
We have a daughter in the UK, so In 2012 we went with John and Wendy Bullock to the UK for three and a half months. Highlights of the trip for me were going to the TT on the Isle of Man with John and some of Wendy's awesome family, the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, getting to sit in the pilots seat of the Concorde at Duxford, and lunch on the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Having a Kiwi son-in-law being a Commander in the Royal Navy certainly helped looking over the naval facilities in Portsmouth. The low side was getting robbed in Paris. We went back there again in 2016 for another three months.
In 2012 I bought a 1958 Standard 10 in a Naseby Museum, Central Otago. We went down in the motorhome. I spent a couple of days checking the Standard over, as it hadn't run for a few years. Then Irene drove it 960kms back to Wanganui. We got talked out of the Standard 10 in 2019 by a couple from the Hawkes Bay, so we bought a lovely 1958 Morris Minor. We decided in 2025 we needed a bit more power, so sold the Morris 1000 to Club members Mike and Barb Dewson, and now have a 1965 Singer Gazelle.
Just before the AGM this year, I was out having smoko with Bruce and mentioned it was time I put something back into the Club. Now I am the Club Truck Custodian.
We spend our time now with me in my workshop, Irene in her pottery studio and about three months of the year in the motorhome. Also rides with the Classic Motorcycle Club and Vintage Car Club events.
I have all my life had the motto, ‘If someone asks you if you can you do something, you always say you can. By the time they find out you can't, you can!’
Sam’s Story
Below
Left: An immaculate 1965 Singer Gazelle, which Sam and Irene purchased recently. I would love to have this parked in my garage! Editor’s pick.
Below left: 1960 AJS 650cc. Sam and Irene’s favourite. Named ‘Old Blue.’ Rebuilt by Sam.
Below right: 1952 Frances Barnett. 197cc. Named ‘Barney’ Rebuilt by Sam.
Below left: 1961 James Cadet 150cc. Named ‘Jessie’ Rebuilt by Sam. Another favourite.
right: 1981 Suzuki GS650. Named ‘Gizmo’
107 Rapanui Road Westmere
Farm shop opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm
Saturday 8am to 1-30 pm
Bates Watchmakers
130 Victoria Ave, Wanganui
Phone/Fax 06 345-2235
Email: bateswatch@gmail.com
Watch Specialists for Whanganui
Sales & Repairs
Mainstreet’s Top Shop Award Winner
WANGANUI ELECTROPLATING CO. LTD
‘NZ’s Finest Automotive Platers’ 68 Wilson Street Wanganui
Acknowledged experts on all types of Vintage and Post Vintage Nickel and Chrome Plating.
For all your METAL FINISHING REQUIREMENTS
Copper, Brass, Bronze, Antique Finishing and Metal Polishing Phone Dave on Wanganui 06 345 5042 or 021 057 6726 for prompt and efficient service.
Annual Rally Pics
Top left: Best dressed lady. Keren Langridge receives her prize from Club Captain Rob.
Top centre: Best dressed man. Ted Matthews on left receives his prize from CC Rob.
Top right: Hard luck prize: Pierre and Sietse Zeilstra (blown up battery) receive their consolation prize from CC Rob on the right.
Above left: Graeme and Karen Langridge, Whanganui, 1946 Ford Coupe.
Above right:1956 Vauxhall Cresta. Bruce Thomas and Bronwyn Toy, Whanganui.
Left: Dave and Mihi McDermid, Whanganui, in their 1930 Ford Model A.
Annual Rally pics
Top left: Sietse and Pierre Zeilstra, Whanganui, in their 1965 MG MGB.
Top right: Mac and Trudy Keene, Marton, in their modern replacement vehicle.
Above left: 1961 Singer Gazelle. Mike Hirst and Sharon Thomas, Feilding.
Above right: Alan and Christine Allbon, Hillsborough, in their 1989 Mazda Eunos MX5.
Below left: 1978 Leyland Marina. Sue Voss and Anne Bernsten, Whanganui.
Below right: Ian and Frances Higgins, Whanganui. 1990 Holden Commodore V8.
Annual Rally pics
Above left: Ian Chamberlain and Felicity Lawrence, Whanganui. 1954 Zephyr Mk 1
Above right: 1962 Chevrolet Belair with Karl and Rebecca Brown, Whanganui.
Below left: Tail End Charlie at the rear of the field. Big Chevrolet belonging to Shane and Noeline Hobman. Thank you for your support.
Below right: I had to include this German Shepherd guarding an old Austin 7 on the roadside by the reserve. Not an entrant’s vehicle, and I have no idea who the owner is, but I think it looks pretty cool ( the dog I mean.) Editor Ian.
That’s all for another Annual Rally. I hope that I have photographed all the entrants’ vehicles, although one modern may have escaped my lens.
Let me know if that was you, please.
Entrants were down considerably this year, which is a shame. Hopefully this can be rectified for future rallies. As the old saying goes, use them or lose them. Editor Ian
Inaugural meeting of your new committee:
From above left: Hinemoa, Frank, Wayne, Dale, Christine, Bill, Heather, and Jim.
Left: Neil, Andrew, and Rob
Something to ( hopefully) put a smile on your dial on these cold winter days.
Sent to me by a good friend of mine from the Hawkes Bay VCC branch. I have edited the text slightly, where it is obvious… Editor Ian.
After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, British scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1500 years and concluded that their ancestors already had a telephone network all time ago.
Not to be outdone by the British, in the weeks that followed, an American archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story published in the New York Times: "American archaeologists, finding traces of 2000-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 500 years earlier than the British”
One week later, Australia's Northern Territory Times, reported the following:
"After digging as deep as 30 feet in his backyard in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Aboriginal Billi Bunji, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely f all. Billi has therefore concluded that 3000 years ago, Australia had already gone wireless.
“Makes me bloody proud to be Australian.” reported Billi.
Club Calendar
Club Runs meet at the Clubrooms at 1pm unless stated
July
10th and 24th Ladies Coffee Meet at Mitre10 at 11am
20th Sunday Run. Please bring a chair, thermos and nibbles. Under cover afternoon tea. Several cars to view. Toilets and parking on site.
August
September
6th Club Night at 7.30pm.
14th and 28th Ladies Coffee Meet at Mitre10 at 11am.
24th Daffodil Day Run. Register from 12.00 pm. $15 per car. Briefing at 12.45pm and cars away at 1.00pm.
3rd Club Night. Shiny Parts Auction. 7.30pm.
11th and 25th Ladies Coffee Meet at Mitre 10 at 11am.
21st Sunday Run.
Reminder: Don’t forget to register for the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring. See your latest Beaded Wheels. Entries close August 31st 2025.
Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Club is hosting a motorcycle show on 16th and 17th of August at the Barber Hall, Waldergrave Street, Palmerston North for pre 1940 to present day machines. See the notice board in our Clubrooms for further details.
Ed Boyd Parts Shed
We have an outstanding collection of engines, gearboxes, body parts, spares, new and used, from a vast range of manufacturers. These parts span from the early 1900’s to more modern production vehicles. If you are looking for anything, large or small, to keep your car on the road call us to see if we can assist. You will find our prices unbelievable. Please call or email us:
Dave 06 347 6915 027 555 4201 whanganuiriverboats@xtra.co.nz
Chris 06 348 7335 027 443 1184 cgandkrwhite@gmail.com
For Sale: 1927 Essex. (Right) Very original. $12000 ono. Includes spare parts ALSO 1939 Nash 400. ( Below) Great cruiser. $20000 ono. Includes spare parts. Contact Judy 027 254 7601
For Sale: 1947 Austin 8. Complete rebuild engine 2024.All receipts. Includes spares. Original interior. $10000 ono. Phone Grant 027 3278830
For Sale: 1953 Lanchester Leda (right) 4 cyl 4 speed Wilson pre-select, Rego on hold, 58574 m, new tyres, brakes relined, has been running, always garaged, sound body, fair interior. $4000 ono. Barry Cleaver 06 3887871, Taihape
For Sale: 1978 Leyland Marina HDL. Original condition. Health reasons for selling. $6500. Phone Sue Voss 021 296 6210
