March 2012 - Cooma Car Club

Spoke ‘n Wheels
Mar 2012
Volume 11 Issue No 40
News Letter of the Cooma – Monaro Historical Automobile Club
Incorporating Membership in Cooma, the Monaro & the Alpine Towns of the Snowy Region
PO Box 758 COOMA, NSW 2630
EMAIL: info@coomacarclub.com.au
WEB www.coomacarclub.com.au
President:
Rogan Corbett
0412 722 505
02 64525332 (home)
roganandbev1@bigpond.com
Vice Presidents:
Michael Manthey 02 64523252 (home) areaplumbing@bigpond.com
Chris Reeks 02 6452 3381 0407 299 008 c_reeks@yahoo.com
Secretary:
Pam Johnson
02 64527679 (home)
Treasurer/ Public Officer:
Assist Treas:
Les Sutcliffe
Doug Arnold
0418 279 267 owenpamjohnson@gmail.com
6452 7442 dsecooma@bigpond.net.au
02 64522492 (home) 02 64521671 (work) darnold@snowy.net.au
Clubhouse Hire/Functions/Assets: Peter Quodling
02 6452 1707
cfcicr@bigpond.net.au
Assistant: Ken McGrath 02 6453 3294 (home) 02 6452 1499 (work) kjmcgrat@bigpond.net.au
Plates Registrars:
John Evans
Publicity/Newsletter:
Roy Rees 02 6452 3173 roy.rees@bigpond.com
02 6452 1584 john@snowliner.com.au
Jim Appleby
02 64523053 jimappleby@optusnet.com.au
Links
http://www.actmotorclubs.org.au/
Council of ACT Motor Clubs
Australian Historic Motoring Federation
http://www.councilofmotorclubs.org.au/default.php The Council of Motor Clubs NSW (City)
www.bushcouncil.com.au The Council of Motor Clubs NSW (Country)
http://www.aomc.asn.au/
Association of Motoring Clubs Victoria
http://www.thebegavalley.org.au/index.php?id=historiccars Sapphire coast Historic Vehicle Club –
Pambula
www.cacmc.org.au/ Canberra Antique and Classic Motor Club
http://www.motoring.org.au/index.html
Australia Day 26th Jan 2012
Australia Day Breakfast – a very successful and enjoyable morning. Raised $1043.28 for
Legacy. Cooma Monaro Shire supported the event, Cooma Lions Club did the cooking, Car Club
members set up the clubroom, served the breakfasts and displayed their vehicles and the
Numeralla “Plinker Plunkers” took some time off from the Numeralla Folk Festival to entertain us.
Special thanks to Bev for decorations.
About 180 breakfasts were served and people enjoyed the company and chat.
Kel, Rogan & Bev at the breakfast and the
clubroom during breakfast at which about 180
people shared a meal and a chat.
Lions cooking and Car Club members serving breakfast
Numeralla “Plinker Plunkers” entertained and some of the 35 vehicles on display
Australia Day Celebrations and citizenship ceremony in Centennial Park, with some cars on
display followed the breakfast at the clubhouse. Our president Rogan Corbett was honoured as the
Cooma Citizen of the Year.
Rogan accepting the award as Cooma’s Citizen
of the Year 2012, at the band shell in
Centennial Park.
The ceremonies included a welcome to two new
Australian Citizens, addresses by the Australia
Day ambassadors and Civic dignitaries,
presentation of awards to individuals and
groups entertainment and the cutting and
distribution of the Australia Day birthday cake.
VCSS?
Mick Roberts was sent a copy of the following VCSS info. He wonders if the other States are looking at how this
goes before they think of the same scheme. He sent it to be included in the bulletin for the interest of club
members...........................
Would I be wrong in thinking it is a bit like bureaucracy gone mad. I might even read into it that the RTA feel that
if anything goes wrong with any of the so called changes to a vehicle then, as liability was almost excluded under
the 'old arrangements', the "certifier" now become the person who carries the liability thus ensuring that the RTA
are no longer exposed to any implied faults or responsibilities that may have been perceived under the "old
arrangements". I may be wrong of course.
NO TO VSCCS?
By Jeremy Braithwaite & Trevor Booth
In December 2011 the RTA or RMS as they would prefer to be known, quietly killed off the old Engineering
Signatory Scheme (ECS) and replaced it with a new scheme called VSCCS. The changes were made by way of
an amendment to the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2007 and did not therefore receive any
parliamentary debate.
There are three separate areas of impact:
• The legislation which applies to all motorists who modify their vehicle in any way
• The appointment of certifiers
• The technical standards to which those certifiers are bound
The Legislation
The previous engineering codes of practice for light and heavy vehicles were removed from the legislation and
the following was added:
[3] Clause 55A Insert after clause 55:
55A Modifications to registered vehicles
A person must not carry out modifications on a registered vehicle (whether by the addition or removal of
components or otherwise) that results in the vehicle failing to comply with the applicable vehicle standards.
Additional clauses in Division 2 of the regulation were introduced which allowed the Authority to gazette
'Significant modifications to vehicles' and specified that vehicles thus modified should not be used on the road
unless they had been certified under the VSCCS scheme.
It is implied that only modifications that have been gazetted would therefore fall under Clause 55A above;
however another interpretation of this clause is that it stands alone and there is nothing in Division 2 which
relieves the 'person' of his or her responsibility to ensure that their vehicle at all times complies with the
'applicable vehicle standards'. These are of course the Australian Design Rules which are applicable to all post
1972 vehicles. These are contained in Schedule 2.
At this point in time the Authority (RTA/RMS) has not gazetted the list of modifications, so the only current
interpretation that can be made is that all modifications require certification.
We have documented all aspects of the VSCCS scheme and its impact on different users on a website:
https://sites.google.com/site/no2vsccs/home
The website also contains a link to the Channel 10 News feature that went to air before Xmas featuring Trevor
Booth.
Our site lists some of the modifications that, in our view, have been impacted by the introduction of the VSCCS.
As even items such as seats in ambulances are impacted, it is hard to believe that the status quo will be allowed
to remain for too long!
We are looking for clarification on this, and a number of other points. When such clarification is received, it will be
published on the above site and its associated blog. In this way the site can serve as a clearing house for
accurate information.
A final point to understand in relation to the legislation is that the 'Authority' can in the future add any item it
wishes to the Gazetted List, again with no parliamentary scrutiny or advanced warning to the public. You will
need to decide whether you are comfortable with this situation before you embark on a project, such as outfitting
a 4WD for bush touring or restoring a car. In the latter instance you may not be able to refit the original period
modifications and accessories, to the detriment of your car's history and authenticity.
The Appointment of Certifiers
The engineers operating under the ECS scheme were given approx 10 days notice to close down their business.
They then had the choice of re-applying for the new scheme and many have chosen not to do so.
The Authority may argue that they had been discussing the new scheme for a long time - over 10 years in various
forms - but the transitional arrangements have been ill considered and people who had embarked on major
projects such as building a replica or an Individually Constructed Vehicle in RTA/RMS parlance can be in the
position where they have paid one certifier to certify the build and cannot complete the project with that certifier.
There is no agreed procedure to hand the project over from the old ECS engineer to the new VSCCS Certifier,
and we are hoping that this can be rectified in the future.
So in summary, more vehicles will require certification, but as things stand at present there are fewer people to
do the work.
The Technical Standards
Many of the stakeholders including the ACMC, the CMC, the other car club groups, and a number of industry
associations held discussions with the RTA/RMS in the period leading up to the introduction of the VSCCS and
everyone that we have spoken to was under the impression that the NSW government would introduce VSB14
into the legislation together with some NSW specific additions. VSB14 is the National Code of Practice for Light
Vehicle Construction and Modification. It is a guide for Modifiers as opposed to Certifiers and it was expected it
would replace the Light Vehicle Code of Practice (LVCOP) which together with VSB6 was enshrined in the
previous legislation. VSB6 is the code of practice for heavy vehicles.
Instead both were removed along with a large number of other technical documents; the full list appears here:
https://sites.google.com/site/no2vsccs/1-the-legal-position/changes-to-codes-or-practice
It had been intended to also introduce a new technical standard for Certifiers. We believe this may happen, but to
date it has not. So the issue for the certifiers that have signed up for the new scheme is that they no longer have
any alternate technical document to demonstrate compliance to the ADR's and other requirements of Schedule 2.
Their only legal option is to adopt the whole of the technical requirements and extensive testing regime of the
ADR's. This would include crash testing for ICV's.
If they depart from the requirements of Schedule 2, and there is evidence that the RMS has encouraged this,
then they may be assuming liabilities in the event of a claim. This highlights the entire issue of certifier liability to
a new level; it is in itself a sensitive issue as the 'Authority' has introduced its own Professional Indemnity
Insurance scheme.
The status quo also means that the Modifier of a vehicle has no legislated technical document upon which to
base his modifications. And if we refer back to Clause 55A we will see that the modifier may be the person who is
persecuted under this legislation. That could be the person who fits the bull bar to your 4WD or those upgraded
callipers to your Jaguar.
We have raised these concerns with the RTA/RMS and await their response. When and if this is received it will
be posted on our web site.
Introducing the ACMC
A large number of car clubs in this state are members of the Council of Motor Clubs (CMC). This organisation in
its turn is a member of a new group called the Australian Confederation of Motor Clubs which has moved very
quickly and organised an event at Eastern Creek on 26th February. Details will appear on the ACMC web site
and if your club is affiliated with this organisation you should receive a flyer.
The ACMC is encouraging all member clubs to attend the event and to discuss their participation and the reasons
for it with their local member and with their local press.
Hoping to see everyone at Eastern Creek. We have a blog page which will post developments and which also
allows you a place to add your own comments:
http://no2vsccs.blogspot.com.au/
Jeremy Braithwaite is a Committee Member of the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club and member of a number of other car clubs. Trevor Booth is a senior engineer who was a member of the ECS scheme.
2011 Silver City Tour to Broken Hill –
Jim Appleby
Jill & I were invited by Alec & Anne McKernan (Volvo) from Canberra Antique and Classic Motor
Club to join them on their club tour to Broken Hill from 20 September to 6 October 2011. Others
on the tour included Chris and Irene Berry (Hillman), Paul & Vicki Bray (Rover), Clive & Merilyn
Castles (Mercedes), Bob & Carole Douglas (Datsun), Ray & Anne Gallagher (Austin), Bob and
Dana Garrett (Toyota), Graham & Heather Gittins (MG Magnette), David & Verna Marsh (Falcon),
Wes & Patricia Mc Culloch (Alfa 90) , Joe & Elizabeth Micaleff (Honda), John & Pam Senior
(Humber), Wayne & Sandra Smith (Austin Healey) Graham & Ellen Waite (Honda ), Gerry & Kay
Walker (Vauxhall) and David & Jan Wyatt (Fairlane). Jill and I (XTrail) soon found that we had
connections in addition to old cars because some people had been born in Cooma, worked with me
when I started with Snowy 50 years ago, lived in Cooma, Adaminaby or Michelago or were related
to people from our club. Jill did at least half of our driving.
We started with photographs beside the road at Hall. The
club photographer arrived in an Austin A40 Sports different
from anything I had seen before. Around 3800 of them
were built by the Jensen factory between 1951 & 1953. I
think they are rare today.
The first day’s run took us to Albury. After our picnic lunch
break we were invited to see a very interesting garage
where the relatively “new” car was an MG TD. It shared the
garage with a very handy lathe and a 1918 Crossley which
was obviously designed to be chauffer driven as there was
a crystal whisky set built into the back of the front seat. Alongside the Crossley were a 1912
Delahaye and a 1905 two cylinder Rover. These three have a combined total age in 2012 of 301
years!
Cars at Hall ready for the start
MG TD , 1918 Crossley (England) and 1912 Delahaye (France) with the owner, Arthur, front right.
The 1905 Rover has been at the All British Day in
Canberra. The cylindrical basket behind the brass
light is an umbrella holder! Weather protection in
cars has certainly changed a bit in the last 107
years.
The next day’s run was from Albury via an
interesting clock museum at Yarrawonga to Bendigo
where the ladies visited an international exhibition of
Wedding dresses and the woollen mills where they
stocked up with wool for knitting squares.
The following day took us through Castlemaine
where the Humber Snipe had a bit of carburettor trouble. The RACV were called & they in turn
called out a retired carburettor specialist in his 80’s, who brought his bag of tools and spare parts
& soon had the problem sorted. There we also saw a Ford Pilot running around the streets. From
Castlemaine it was on to Mt Gambier with its famous and beautiful Blue Lake then to Victor
Harbour and Adelaide. From the motel in Adelaide we set up chairs in the median strip to watch
some members of our group with around 800 others go past in the Bay to Birdwood run. The run
has been split into “ancient” and “modern” vehicles in alternate years to control numbers; this
year was the turn of relatively “modern” vehicles. There were plenty for Fords, Chryslers and
Holdens with a good sprinkling of less common vehicles.
Auto Union 2 stroke leading an early Falcon and the Canberra group watching an International
All cars great and small
Heather & Graham Gittins ex – Cooma, standing
Left Settled in
watching the
parade.
Right One night
in Adelaide the
Austin 7 club
hosted dinner at
their clubhouse.
As the photo shows, they were not afraid to venture off the bitumen when their cars were newer.
Ray & Anne Gallagher sold their Austin A 60 to a member who may have intended to keep his
Austin 7 in the boot of the A60.
We had a day run out from Adelaide to Maggie Beer’s farm and TV kitchen where they drafted a
most unlikely “volunteer”, me, to help with cooking mushrooms for our meal, under very close
supervision. Nobody suffered any ill effects.
From Adelaide we journeyed through Burra where a truck managed to throw a rock between the
grille bars of David Wyatt’s Fairlane to break the radiator. The local radiator man had it back on
the road in about ¾ hour at a cost of about $60. Everyone agreed that the service, speed of
repair and cost were immeasurably better than what they would expect in Canberra. We
continued without further troubles to Peterborough and then Broken Hill where we were shown
around and had dinner with the local car club.
Don’t try to cruise around Broken Hill incognito
in a Humber Snipe. I was only just back in
Cooma when one of my workmates told me of
this beautiful Humber that he had seen whilst
visiting Broken hill at the same time that we
were there.
The leg from Broken Hill to Wentworth had the
MG Magnette running on the smell of an oily
rag when we found that the Coombah
Roadhouse was out of petrol but he made it.
Mildura was the next overnight stop with a
paddle steamer cruise and a visit to Woodsies Gem Shop and of course Happy Hour, which was for
socialising each evening and a review of the day’s adventures and the next day’s plans. From
Mildura we drove to Kerang, Shepparton and Beechworth where the tour ended and everyone
headed for home. We returned with a whole bunch of new friends.
15 Oct Opening of Snowy Museum at Adaminaby
The museum was opened by Her Excellency Quentin Bryce the Governor General.
The museum exhibits include a wide range of
memorabilia, videos, plant and vehicles used
during the construction of the Snowy Mountains
Scheme. This Holden Ute used by Utah Brown
& Root contractors is one example.
Our club
and the Bega club displayed cars.
People
who had
been at
the
inauguration ceremony of the scheme in 1949 attended with current and former Snowy workers
and contractors, locals and dignitaries. Acquaintances were renewed and countless stories were
told.
23 Oct Federation Picnic at Maffra Motor Museum, Maffra Vic.
By Jim Appleby. One of our members attended on the day. Other members have taken part in a
previous Club tour that visited the museum. Clubs were there from Melbourne and from the
districts surrounding Maffra. Their museum may create ideas for our proposed museum.
They rotate members’ vehicles to refresh the display regularly. One member is reported to have 5
Berliet cars (Made in France) so there is usually one of this rare make on display. This 1924 model
with 4 wheel brakes is quite modern for its day. My Uncle Tom had a Berliet tourer in Melbourne
when I was a boy.
One section is set up as a very old time garage. The name says Fultons Holden, the petrol sign
says “4 cents/gallon off” and the bowsers are electric but the building and much of the contents
are a lot older than that.
The shed is currently owned by Murray Goulburn dairy company and houses a display of an old
wooden butter churn and a local woodworking group in an annex. Jill Appleby with a 1917 “Detroit
Electric” car. This may be the only car we will be allowed to drive in Sydney if Lord Mayor Clover
Moore has her way.
Seen and Heard
Heard in a report from the Council of ACT Motor Clubs
“Last January I mentioned that NSW government was having a meeting with NSW motoring
organisations in February and that the 'clubs' were hoping to impress the Minister by mustering as
much support from their members as possible. Well, the meeting was attended by the occupants
of some 1600 vehicles. The meeting, which sought to highlight differences between NSW and
Federal laws/regulations as applied to NSW motor vehicles, was reportedly a success, with the
minister of the RMA (RTA dropped to include maritime) commenting that he saw no reason why
NSW should spend time and effort to differentiate itself from Federal legislation and in the process
alienate itself from the NSW motoring public, (at this point a number of supporting bureaucrats
took time out to have a collective heart attack). Time will tell the final outcome of this issue, but
from the NSW collective motoring organisations' point of view, the meeting would appear to have
achieved its aim.”
Seen by Brian Hampshire. Left. Who
remembers Atlantic petrol which became Esso?
Right. John Stewart’s NRMA and RACV garage in Delegate. According to Peugeot fan, Neville
Summerill this garage sold more Peugeot 203s than any garage in NSW except the main dealer in
Sydney. As a consequence they earned the right to sell the first two Peugeot 403s that came to
NSW.
This was at a time when Peugeot 203s had won “Redex” round Australia trials. Remember that
the road from Cooma to Nimmitabel was not sealed until the 1960s and the roads around Delegate
would have been well suited to cars capable of winning “The Redex.”
Here is a 203 on display at “Wheels” 2012 with a 403 beside it. They both had a suspension which
coped well with rough roads and deep wheel ruts.
5th November, Motorfest
Another successful Motorfest, fantastic day, weather perfect. Registered entries: 329 Spectators:
3211. Thank you to all volunteers who made the day so successful that the club was able to
donate $6,900 equally to Southcare, Hospital Auxiliary and MEF and thanks to Popeye for photos.
At the monthly meeting on 7th Nov. Ross Johnson moved the Club write a letter to the Cooma
Monaro Shire Council thanking them for all their work in keeping the Showground in such pristine
condition. The oval was in excellent condition, the amenities very clean and tidy. Also thanking
them for putting our black and white flags up on the poles in Sharp Street. Carried.
There were
BIG trucks, small trucks, military vehicles standard and modified cars, buses, motor
bikes, caravans, trade displays, stationary engines, tractors, dance displays, music, catering and
a visit from hundreds of motor bikes taking part in the annual Snowy Ride. There was something
to interest nearly everyone.
Popeye likes Chryslers whilst P76 owners are able to carry spare fuel for long trips.
Our marquee provided welcome shade. The Snowy Ride checkpoint allowed many of the friendly
riders to visit the Motorfest to see some of the very old bikes and military bikes.
There were plenty of trophies on offer.
The following day, eleven cars went to Thredbo
to bring some “Kids with Cancer” and carers
who had been holidaying at Thredbo courtesy
of “The Snowy Ride”.
20th November, Sunday – Day run to Wild Brumby Distillery,
Alpine Way, Thredbo:
14 cars together with families enjoyed a very pleasant run to the Wild Brumby distillery and
restaurant on the Alpine way near Thredbo for morning tea and some samples of the locally
produced schnapps. For those who may be concerned the “Wild Brumby” (statue) is firmly tied to
the hitching rail and unlikely to kick, buck or chase visitors. This was the first club outing for my
Peugeot 505.
26 November - Chrisco Delivery
This was a day’s busy work and a successful fundraiser for the club. We met lots of interesting
people and saw lots of interesting places. Well done to all the volunteers!
Meeting and Presentation Night 10th Dec 2011.
This General Meeting also incorporated our Presentation night:-
Members and guests enjoyed a Chinese banquet at the Cooma Bowling club. Facing the Camera –
Di & Graham Hampshire, Dennis Birchall, Nikki, Ray & Chris Pendergast, Tanya Wolfe
President Rogan and Secretary Pam made the presentations to
Chris Downs - Encouragement award
Lyn Goodman, Glyn (Popeye) Pendergast - Club Persons of the Year (above right)
Steve & Francis Redden - Car of the Year award
(below left)
Music was provided by The Ka Links and everyone
enjoyed the night.
Date
Event
Apr 2012
Mon 2Apr General meeting
Working bee Chat & Cuppa every Tuesday 10.30 am – noon
April 14 Drive in movie at the clubhouse 6.30 for 7pm
April 28th/29th - Bombala 20 rooms have been put aside for club
members
This will be a great weekend.
May 2012
Mon 7 May General meeting
Working bee Chat & Cuppa every Tuesday 10.30 am – noon
May 12th/13th – Mt Victoria run. A murder mystery night is
held at this venue,. Please advise Chris Reeks 02 64523381 or
Owen Johnson 0409 040 363 if you would be interested in this
run.
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
Mon 4 June General meeting
Working bee Chat & Cuppa every Tuesday 10.30 am – noon
16/17 June Bermagui via Tathra
Mon 2 July Annual General meeting
Working bee Chat & Cuppa every Tuesday 10.30 am – noon
14/15 June Batemans Bay / Moruya
Mon 6 August General meeting
Working bee Chat & Cuppa every Tuesday 10.30 am – noon
FOR SALE – 1986 Holden Calais VL, Platinum Gold colour
Automatic 3 litre, straight 6 (non-turbo)
Power windows, Sunroof, pop-up lights, great
car in near original condition $6500
Chris Blencowe 0419 285 736