Tamworth Vintage Car Club Inc. Committee for 2017 - 2018

President Peter Wright 6761 6510 0417 250 798

Vice President Cliff Bird 0429 429 542

Secretary Alan Early 6762 4744 Asst Secretary Phyllis Bird

Treasurer Ken Brooks 0427 293 664 Asst Treasurer Michael Jeanes 6766 1787

General Committee Brian Orman 6760 5105 Ian Duprez 6760 9501 Michael Jeanes 6766 1787

Plate Registrar Michael Crawley 6766 8282

“Pie Run” Director Roly Morgan 6760 8280 “Monthly Run” Directors Cliff Bird 0429 429 542 Greg Campbell 6767 1306

Ladies Committee All Lady Members

Magazine Editor Michael Jeanes 6766 1787

Inspections & Public Officer Brian Orman 6760 5105 Property Officer Ken & Emily Brooks 6761 3679

The Tamworth Spark

Official Newsletter of the Tamworth Vintage Car Club

November - December 2017

Rowan & Kristen Searle’s 1978 XC Ford Falcon 500

The Club Magazine is printed Bi-monthly and members are invited and encouraged to submit articles to the Magazine Editors.

General Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, at 7.30pm in the Salvation Army Complex on Goonoo Goonoo Road Tamworth

Club Runs are held on the Sunday after the monthly meeting. Members of clubs receiving this magazine are cordially invited to participate in the activities of T.V.C.C. To satisfy regulations, the receipt of the invitation must be recorded in your club minutes and acceptance forwarded. Address all correspondence to:

The Secretary Tamworth Vintage Car Club

PO Box 3275 TAMWORTH NSW 2340

or tamworthvintagecarclub@gmail.com

or visit our website:

www.TamworthVintageCarClub.com.au

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TVCC EVENTS CALENDAR – DECEMBER 2017 ONWARDS [3/12/17] The following events have been categorised to assist those vehicles on Conditional Registration: CLUB AUTHORISED EVENTS: These are events which are organised by our club, plus other events where our Club has accepted an official invitation. Please carry a copy of the Club magazine or events calendar with you. Non Log Book and Log Book Users: No need to record any details. DATE 2017 DETAILS 7 Dec Pie Run to Werris Creek Pharmacy 16 December Presentation Dinner at Currabubula Hotel at 1.00pm. Payment of $20 per

person was required at November meeting. Meet at hotel. 23 December Christmas Lights run to be run as separate event. Meet at Truck Drivers

Memorial between 6.00 & 7.00pm for BYO picnic dinner. Secret Santa (to value of $5) and Christmas Raffle Draw to take place. Christmas lights run when dark, followed by ice cream at McDonalds.

Nov & Dec Please note there will be no regular monthly meetings in December or January.

2018 21 Jan (Sun) Presidents Breakfast at Presidents house , Windmill Downs 1 Feb Pie Run to The Hub, Quirindi. (Formerly the Impact Café) 15 Feb Meeting commencing 7.30 at Salvation Army Hall, 328 Goonoo Goonoo Rd The starting point for all runs is the carpark of the Country Music Hall of Fame at 561 Peel Street (Paradise Caravan Park side). Sunday Runs depart at 9.30am, and Pie Runs depart at 11.00am. Contact Ian Duprez if you have any queries on Monthly Runs, and Roly Morgan for queries on Pie Runs. OTHER INVITATION EVENTS WHERE OUR CLUB IS NOT PARTICIPATING AS AN AUTHORISED CLUB EVENT: Non Log Book Users: It is essential to advise the Registrar before participating in these events. Carry the Club magazine or events calendar with you. Log Book Users: You must record these in your log book. DATE 2018 CLUB DETAILS 27 Jan Gyra Show n Shine as part of Gyra Lamb & Potato Festival. John 0428791652 10 Mar TGHNMC Motorfest at Myall Park Sports Reserve at Hawkes Nest. Ross 4997 2214 30 March – 2 April 2018

CHMC CHMC Easter Rally hosted by Namoi Valley Antique Vehicle Club at Narrabri. Entry forms available.

4-6 May PAMC Parkes Club Autumn Tour at Parkes for pre 1931 vehicles. 7-11 May HRG Humber & Rootes Group Autumn Riverina Ramble at Albury-Wodonga. FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, SCHOOL FORMALS, INTERSTATE TRIPS AND OTHER EVENTS: Non Log Book Users: You will need a Permit to Move from the Registrar. This must be obtained prior to the event, and carried to the event. In extenuating circumstances, separate prior arrangements can be made with the Clubs Office Bearers to obtain a Permit to Move. Log Book Users: You must record these in your log book. SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE: Non Log Book Users: Ring the Registrar and advise details before proceeding. Log Book Users: You must record these in your log book.

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As all may now be aware, we (Greg Campbell and Cliff Bird) have volunteered to co-ordinate our Sunday monthly runs. We have put our heads together and have settled on a few suggestions to commence our 2018 year. Our intention is to invite suggestions from te club members so that we can come up with as interesting and varied a program as possible. I anyone has a suggestion for a monthly run or would like to organise an event please let us know so that we can write it into the program, choosing a suitable month. The ideas that we are submitting are as follows;

x Feb 18th; Keepit Dam + Inspection of Gyro Copters plus a BBQ/picnic lunch x Mar 18th; Tour to Armidale and an inspection of the Hardman Collection (Paul Boyd has

volunteered to organise this – thanks Paul) x April 20th; Walcha Heritage Village plus a self catered picnic lunch x May 20th; Tour of AELEC. We are encouraging the participation of the older cars and trucks (as it’s

only a short run) with lunch at the Truck Memorial.

Don’t be shy; there must be members who know things we don’t know about or haven’t thought of. Cheers Cliff and Greg ***************************************************************************

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN This is the final magazine for 2017. We trust that you enjoy reading it as much as Michael has done in preparing it for print. There are many views expressed about the value of club magazines but our current formula of car review; events reports and other topical information seems to have the balance right. This year our members continued to embrace the Log Book Trial and we as a club supported its extension. Over the course of the year our members undertook 244 Log Book runs. This compares to 204 Log Book runs in the previous year. There is a strong indication that our members have embraced the system – and we are certainly seeing more and more H plate vehicles out and about. There is also a trend for older hobby/limited use vehicles to move from full registration to H plates. Personally I regard this very positively, as it means that many vehicles from our motoring past, often overlooked, such as Toyota Crown, Mitsubishi Magna or Holden Camira, will be preserved. Our last pie run for the year was to Werris Creek Pharmacy. As usual Mark catered very well for us food wise and the tables were nicely decorated in a Christmas theme. This year we decided to trial a more formal Christmas/Presentation Function. I was delighted to see that 46 members had paid their money to join in this occasion. Special thanks is due to Brian Orman who brought his extensive knowledge of club cars to bear in our deliberations of the trophy recipients for 2017. This year we have had quite a number of new members bringing with them a wide range of vehicles that all reflect well on our club and genuinely embrace our multi-makes philosophy. As the New Year approaches, it is timely to hit the pause button, hence we do not hold meetings in December or January. Our final run for the year is traditionally the Christmas Lights Run. This year this was held on the Saturday before Christmas, so we were treated with a full display of Christmas Lights. I sent our secretary Allan to MacDonalds Southside to ensure they had adequate ice cream supplies for us at the run’s end. Next kicks off with the President’s Breakfast that is due held at my house, 9 Windmill Drive (off Browns Lane) on Sunday 21st January commencing at 8.00am. Please remember to bring your own chair, table if you need it, crockery and cutlery. We will provide juices, coffee, tea, fruit, toast, bacon, eggs, sausages, etc. so hopefully no one will go home hungry. On the day we have a coin jar, with all donations going towards Ronald MacDonald House in Tamworth.

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Our first pie run is to Quirindi, to what used to be the Impact Café but is now under new management. We have a range of events planned for next year, so we trust that you will continue to support our members who take time to organise these for us. It goes without saying that our club has an active, responsive and support committee. Each gives freely of their time and their efforts throughout the year and deserve our collective applause for a job well done! If you are travelling over the festive season, we wish you a safe trip. Please accept the Compliments of the Season. Enjoy Christmas, seeing 2017 out and 2018 in. I look forward to an exciting club year in 2018. Peter Wright ****************************************************************************************

This year the TVCC held its inaugural “Presentation Lunch” and it gave the judges much pleasure in presenting the following awards:

“The Envelopes Please”

Drum Roll !!!!

(a hush descends upon the audience)

“The Awards Go To”: Best Pre-War: Stuart & Josie BAYLISS 1929 (Chevrolet Tourer) Best Post-War: Ian & Anne LAMBERT (MGB GT) Best Unrestored: Rowan & Kristen SEARLE (XC Falcon) Best Restored: Arthur & Kay RAMSEY (Hillman Gazelle) Best Owner Restored: Greg & Margaret CAMPBELL (Vanguard Ute) Best Attendance Pie Runs: Michael CRAWLEY Best Attendance Monthly Runs: John STACY Club Member of Year: Michael JEANES

(much cheering, whistling and applause from the audience)

Congratulations to all of the recipients.

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**************************************************************************************** TAMWORTH VINTAGE CAR CLUB Inc.

MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETINGS

The minutes of Ordinary General Meetings will no longer be printed in this journal. These minutes are available on the Tamworth Vintage Car Club website;

www.TamworthVintageCarClub.com.au Should you wish to have a printed copy of the minutes and do not have access to the internet, please contact one of your Committee members.

Sponsorship

We are pleased to advise that the postage for distribution of “The Tamworth Spark” is now being sponsored by

“Bearfast / Bearquip”.

We would like to thank the management and staff for their support. We would also like to recommend that you in turn support this local company when next you are considering a home, business, agricultural or car related purchase.

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COUNCIL OF HERITAGE MOTOR CLUBS ACTIVITIES The following is a summary of the Half Yearly meeting which was held at Mudgee on 28 October 2017. Delegates from 24 clubs attended, and Kootingal Motor Club was admitted as an affiliate. Club Insurance: Many clubs have experienced substantial increases in their insurance, including TVCC where our premium increased by 24%. CHMC once compiled and offered an insurance package to clubs but this ceased many years ago. It was recommended that Clubs now make their own individual enquiries with their brokers so that they can understand the reasoning for the increases and will then be able to speak more coherently about insurance matters. Club membership area: Situation noted in Armidale where H plate vehicle obviously on log book was delivering wood. Obviously from a distant club, probably Sydney. RMS indicated this is difficult situation to police. Armidale club has 80 Km radius for club members. Misuse of the log book has been heard about but very difficult to enforce. Correct use of HVS and the log book is dependent upon club culture. CHMC cannot take action against individuals, only Police, RMS and clubs can do this, and Police and RMS both appear to be occupied with more pressing matters. Robert Shannon Foundation: Grants available for younger members under 25. Asbestos: Creating problems with imported cars. Asbestos has to be removed as unable to change legislation or obtain exemptions on health grounds. CVS applications: CHMC has set out guidelines for vehicles it will support for CVS, these being basically lightly modified vehicles which still retain their original heritage appearance and performance. Clubs were urged to vet CVS applications to ensure vehicles meet CHMC policy. Annual (Easter) Rallies: Now referred to as Annual Rallies as some are being held outside the Easter timeframe. 2018 rally is at Narrabri. The 2019 rally is at Griffith in May and will incorporate National Heritage Motoring Day. HVS, CVS and Log Book Trial: Lot of questions raised and enquirers referred to comprehensive information session which followed meeting. (TVCC is well versed in all of the matters raised). National Rally: AHMF (Australian Historic Motoring Federation) are organising a week long National Tour on 28 March to 4 April 2020. It will be based at Albury / Wodonga with tours radiating out into NSW and Victoria. Comfort Pack: CHMC Comfort Pack was issued to all club members some years ago and contained contact details of all clubs to assist travellers. As it is seldom used CHMC will discontinue printed versions and will maintain up to date information on their website. Communications: Suggested that AGM at Easter and Half Yearly meeting in October be reversed on basis that October meeting be centrally located which would allow more clubs to attend. Also consider video link or tele conference facilities to enable broader direct access for clubs throughout NSW who are unable to attend meetings. Office bearers: Registrar Jim Hatton advised he would be retiring, and nominations for the position of Registrar were called for. No nominations were forthcoming and Assistant Registrar Alan Early (yours truly) accepted the position. Alan Early. 14/11/17

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Pie Run to Currabubula 2nd November

This was another very well attended (26 in total) “Pie Run” with a number of new or not often seen cars attending. It was also good to see Beryl Casson out and about, accompanied by Carl and their daughter Lynda. The hotel staff provided us with a room to ourselves and the usual excellent, well priced meals. A special thanks to Michael Crawley for arranging this venue.

Another well attended Pie Run

The Bayliss and Campbell classics –

familiar sights on regional roads in their heyday

I wonder what these two Fords thought

of each other.

Suddenly it’s 1960!

The Lambert MG and the Chesterfield FB show off their attractive behinds.

Attendees were: The Cassons; modern. The Archers; modern. Chesty and Heather; FB Holden. David Longmire and Ron Barber; MGB. The Birds; Mercedes. The lamberts; MGA. The Baylisses; Holden FC. The Allens; Holden FC. John Stacy and Leanne Craswell; Modern. Ken and Clare; Modern. Peter wright; Mercedes. Roly Morgan; modern. The Smiths; Ford Model TT. Greg Campbel; modern. Michael Jeanes; modern.

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NOVEMBER RUN TO MANILLA MUSEUM

Lots to see on this run with the Manilla museum group opening up the doors of their main museum and also their nearby shed. Both are full of many varied and interesting items and the collection is a real credit to the museum group. Too many photos to tell it all but we will fit in as many as we can:

Dentist set up from local surgery

Museum kitchen

Truck & very old wooden threshing machine

Real old timers (bone shakers)

The lunchtime favourite – Manilla Weir

New members Rowan & Kristen Searle with Austin & Violet, and also Peg Thompson.

Other participants were: Graeme & Tanya – Ford; Michael & Mary – Jag; Peter – Humber; John & Leanne – Commodore; Brian, Phil & Betty – Corolla; Greg & Margaret – Vanguard; and in moderns were: Alan & Maree; Arthur & Kay; Ian & Karen; Roly & Trish; John & Cherrie; Lance & Karen.

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CAMP OUT AT NUNDLE AND MONTHLY RUN TO CHAFFEY DAM

This is one of our signature events where the emphasis is on socialising with the old cars playing a background role. It consists of camping in tents, caravans, motels or cabins, visits to local attractions on Friday, a big cook up and eat up on Saturday night, and a BBQ on the shores of Chaffey Dam on Sunday. The photos tell the story:

Good to have Carl & Beryl back on deck, with

Mary & Bruce watching on.

Happy table 1

Jaguar Driver / Formula 1 ace Michael, with

President Peter

Chief musician Kay, with Trike

Happy table 2

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Chief cookers – Chesty & Arthur

Reciter John – alias Henry Lawson II

A big welcome to new younger members Rowan

& Kristen and youngsters Austin and Violet.

Happy table 3 – ‘That wine sure looks good!’

The magic and warmth of fire

Arthur – ‘Where’s all the tucker gone?’

SUNDAY AT CHAFFEY DAM

This was a really good outing and the very best congratulations to all the organisers, participants and contributors for a fine job. The club’s new BBQ was put to the test by Michael C and did a splendid job. A special thanks to the donors of the BBQ, gas bottle and regulator.

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Really nice waterfront area for a picnic

Clubs new BBQ with Peter & Michael

Hey, an old car - Gerrard & Margaret Ryan’s SAAB (the subject of a future article as it’s a really interesting vehicle from a now defunct

manufacturer)

A casualty of our cook’s departure (perhaps in a hurry to record the latest Master Chef episode) Kay Ramsey’s biscuit container was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other old cars: Michael J – Rolls: Phillip, Brian, Lyn & Pupdog – Mustang; Graeme & Tanya – Ford; John – Commodore; Alan – Dodge.

DECEMBER PIE RUN TO WERRIS CREEK PHARMACY

This old favourite was saved for the last Pie Run in the year, with a good variety of pies available as well as other delicacies. It was the first real summers day we have had with 30+ temperature which brought out a swarm of moderns. Including yours truly who brought the old Dodge down to the starting gate, but left it back home when someone mentioned 35+.

Good to see Greg & Margaret in the Vanguard ute which ran like clockwork:

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Also participating were Michael & Mary in the Jag, and in moderns: Brian, Heather, Carl, Beryl, Ken, Claire, Alan, Maree, Ron, Cliff, Phyllis, Peter, Lance and Kerry. John Smith met us down there with his Model T, together with Arthur and Kay. The eaters:

Notice that gelato bar in the background – that rocky road gelato slid down real well. And wait! There’s more! The other eaters:

Overall a good well attended day out, and a fitting finish for out 2017 Pie Runs. *********************************

FEATURE ARTICLE

Rowan and Kristen Searle’s XC model 1978 Falcon 500

This is not only an interesting car but it also has connections to the TVCC. The original owner of this car was Wayne Thompson. Many of the long standing members

of the TVCC will remember Wayne and his wife Peg as they were members of our club as well as being very involved in local sporting car activities.

Note the driving lights, GT inspired bonnet scoops and twin sports mirrors

Wayne bought the car new, as a company car, upon seeing it being delivered to the Ford dealer in Tamworth. Being a car fan, Wayne immediately recognised that this was no ordinary Falcon 500. It seems that Ford built a number of cars specifically with Police service in mind. The Police however did not take up the complete build order so the remainders were sent to dealers for general sale.

The only give-away to its unusual specification is the factory fitted dual exhaust (requiring a

specially modified rear bumper bar)

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This car’s interesting specification is as follows:

x 5.8ltr (351 cu in) V8 motor (with 2V heads)

x 4bbl Carter carburetor x Dual exhaust system x 4 speed Borg Warner gearbox x 4 wheel disc brakes x Twin bonnet vents x Power steering x Air conditioning x Enhanced instrumentation x Bucket seats x Driving lights x Twin sports mirrors

The engine and its accessories fill the engine bay. A gas conversion was fitted but has been

decommissioned and removed by Rowan As you can see, this is not something that was common in its day and makes it a highly sought after and important car today – virtually a Falcon GT (Wolf) in 500 (Sheep’s) clothing. Just the thing for a policeman in a hurry.

The interior with centre console with manual transmission gear lever and dash with

enhanced instrumentation. The original push button radio and dealer fitted air conditioning

outlets are just visible behind the steering wheel.

Wayne used the car for general and work related duties for a number years, in which it covered some 140,000 km. The car was then retired to a shed, where it remained until Wayne’s passing in 2016 After much consideration Peg decided that this very special car should pass to her granddaughter Kristen and her husband Rowan Searle. This has proven to be a wise decision as Rowan is not only an aircraft engineer but also a car enthusiast himself. Rowan and Kristen have done much to return the car to a roadworthy condition. Although in very good original condition inside and out it had suffered the usual deterioration of any car “rested” for almost 30 years. Brakes, suspension and any other parts that needed renewing have been renewed and the car (to be kept as original as possible) is ready for a new life as not only a wonderful club car but also as a memorial to Wayne. A very fitting tribute to a man who loved cars.

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Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year

“How will I fit this down the chimney?”

We look forward to seeing you all in 2018