Here we go for probably my last President's report, five years now, where the heck has it gone?
By the time you read this the AGM will be over, and all the very best to the new Executive, may you all have an enjoyable time helping to run our club. Please call me to assist if it's at all required.
Over the past ten years we have been most fortunate in having many people involved in running our club, From living in Sth. Canterbury for many years, making worthwhile contacts etc, it has been a tremendous help having expertise available to help organise our Conventions etc.
Anyone involved in other organisations will realise how important a good Secretary it to any club, we have been most fortunate with our Secretaries over the years, they have done an exceptional job.
Thank you very much to all our members for your input, whether you just pay a sub, attend meetings (I know other clubs of our size envy our attendance average), come now and again, or partake fully, you have made it all well worthwhile.
I have gone on for long enough, but thanks a lot to Glenis for helping me to carry out my job for the past few years, I could not have done it without her input.

All the very best to you all.

John Hull.
President

Well, this is my last magazine, the two years seem to have gone by quickly.. I'd like to thank everybody who has helped me out - all help has been greatly appreciated.
I'll be only too happy to help the new Editor in any way I can, especially for the first few issues - it's not really that difficult a job, and won't take anybody long to get the idea.. I hope to be able to spend more time working on our web site, so if anybody has any Zephyr related info that they think would be of interest, please get in touch with me. At the time of writing this the site has had 3772 visitors, and continues to get about 300 a month, which compares well with other Zephyr sites around the world. Some of the visitors to date:-

United Kingdom 210, Australia 501, Norway 51, Sweden 143, Netherlands 34, Canada 37, France 34, Denmark 46.

These are not completely accurate figures as a number of visitors do not have easily identifiable countries of origin, in fact the largest group of visitors is from "other"!

Anyway that's enough from me, all the best and happy Zephyring!

Mike Constantine
Editor

An early start for about seven of us who headed off on a brisk morning, arriving in Oamaru at 9.30am.
We were at the front of approximately 70 British vehicles from Rolls Royce to Landrover. A keen team of people have put a lot of effort into the buildings and displays, resulting in an atmosphere that you really could not help getting hooked into.
An exceptionally cool breeze kept you moving or heading for one of the many warm shops or establishments throughout the day.
The early afternoon fashion parade was well attended, and all the boardwalkers looked wonderful in their attire.
I can imagine how the organisers look forward to this annual event, they all take part and play their parts so well that they add to the atmosphere so much.
Each year the Oamaru All British Day feature a particular make, and this year it was Ford. Bob and Anne Stevens took the honours winning the "Best Ford" trophy. Congratulations to you both, we all know you were absolutely thrilled - well done!
Most of us headed home early with other appointments, and getting warm was a priority! Perhaps next year we will take part in the weekend's activities. Thank you Oamaru!

JH

Next thing you know it's Easter, and 6 members all in MkIIIs head off to Dunedin for the Southern Connection.
An overcast morning saw Scotts, Thompsons, Hulls, Bob Duke, (with Denise and dog in Jap car back-up!),Alan Parke and Marie, and the Fishers in their recently completed MkIII Zephyr 4, all jiggle themselves onto the main road.
Our 10.05 start left room for the many Morris Minors gathering to head off, also for Dunedin.

An incredible amount of traffic heading in both directions was mainly well behaved, except for a scary moment when a lady in a 323 decided to discipline the children in the rear seat, which resulted in her swerving violently towards the Hulls.
On to the Kilmog, and we were really surprised how well Stan and Liz Fisher's Zephyr 4 handled the steep bits - it went very well.

Booking late last year meant that four of us got into the same motel block, which meant $2.15 a couple for the maxi-taxi also proving very handy.
The amusing incidents had already started with Ailsa not being able to find Eric's PJs, and Eric off to find some oysters, which doesn't leave much to the imagination does it? Alan was settled in, stating quite emphatically that he had the honeymoon suite.

Off to register, and it only took a few minutes for the atmosphere to feel perfect. Stories told, or lies swapped, whichever way you look at it, it was great to catch up with everybody.

Saturday dawned a beautiful day, and we headed to the Show n Shine which was held opposite the venue in an enclosed yard, 37 vehicles were parked up for display, while we were treated to a tour of the city in a double decker bus.

We were given a detailed commentary on our way around, something we would not have normally set out to do. The driver had a good sense of humour, which was very necessary at times going up some of the hills. In the middle of the afternoon we all headed off in the cars through the Andersons Bay, Portobello area around the sea road, taking in some very nice scenery, that many of us had never seen before.

Back to our unit, showered and ready for the maxi-taxi to take us the few Kms to our venue for the evening function. The Karaoke man was didn't manage to entice any SC members up, but a few brave souls did, one gentleman being very professional.

The next day, Sunday, it was it raining!! as it seems to have been everywhere else, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm when we all headed off to Mt Cargill and then on to Seacliff, Palmerston, Dunback, Middlemarch, Clarkes Junction, Outram, Mosgiel, and back to Dunedin, taking in many sights and establishments along the way. The weather was not very amicable the whole way, but we did get to look at some wonderful scenery along roads that were truly superb.

Out for tea, and then off to the venue where we handed in our answer sheets from the day's run. The questions related to sign and road names etc that we had passed during the day's drive, and also included some Zephyr questions. It didn't take too long for some of the competitors to realise which book a lot of these questions came from, and many were ringing family members etc to assist them - nothing illegal you understand - just using every means open to them!!

The Hulls managed to win the petrol voucher on offer, ably assisted by Steve and Michelle Reid and Shane Gallop who had all come along as passengers, so it was really a combined South Canterbury/Garden City effort. ( I think you forgot someone John... Ed.) A good band playing classic hits, interrupted only by a fines session, and good company topped off the day.

Monday two of us attended the delegates meeting, and then those of us that were left drove up to Signal Hill for the farewells.
The Otago club had 39 vehicles attend the weekend, which went off extremely well, and the small group of committee members did a superb job.

To Lloyd and his team - congratulations!! - we will be back!

John Hull.

Twelve Zephyrs and Zodiacs attended this Historical organised by club captain, Jacqui Yarrall. We assembled outside the museum in Perth Street at 1.30pm and were introduced to Dave Barnes, the Magazine Editor of the Great Britain Mark III club, which has a membership of over 400. Jacqui explained the purpose of the run was to look at the historical features around Timaru. She had prepared notes on the various places we were to visit on the run.

After explaining the history of the museum it was off round the block - on foot! The first stop was at the corner of Perth and Sophia Streets to observe the monument to the 'City of Perth' and the 'Benvenue' which both sank on the same day in 1882. We then heard about the old Timaru Herald, the Post Office and the Timaru District Council buildings. Nobody realised the wealth of history that was attributable to these buildings.

Back to the cars - a chance to drive to our next stop, about 500 metres away at the Landing Service Building, but we did go the 'long way' via the old Custom House building. We heard of the use the building had way back in the late 1860's. All were interested in the newly placed statue of Captain Cain and the ship's masts that have erected on the corner. From here we drove past several more other notable buildings to Patiti Point near the Caledonian Grounds. We were told of the ships wrecked and grounded there, even as late as 1964. The narrow gauge railway from the Centennial Park quarry to the port travelled under the railway viaduct near the point.

We then headed up to the Centennial Park Lake where we had afternoon tea on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. This was followed by a drive down Wai-iti Road to the Aigantighe Art Gallery where we were, unfortunately, too late to view the rugby cartoons, but did have the chance to see the stone carvings in the grounds.
The information was very well received and whilst this was probably the shortest run the club has had in it's 10 year history it was certainly one of the most interesting.

Thanks Jacqui and Graham

GODFREY

   

While this was going on, Stick was crawling all over a MkIV Zodiac, trying to decide whether to buy it. In the end two Zephyrs and a Zodiac headed back to Timaru - one on an A-Frame and the others being driven. On arrival at Gavin's, Stick was threatening to ring Anne to tell her the "good" news about the new car "we" owned.

Once I got the car home I started stripping off bits & pieces to see what I really had bought. With some encouragement from Gavin, we removed the head and replaced some bent pushrods (this had happened when we towed the car with seized valves), to get the car started. We finally got the car running, and the next step was to show the car to Anne - I think her expression said it all!! By about October/November I started to strip all the body parts off the car, and in December, John Benge the panelbeater came around to see the car and give his opinion on the restoration. John suggested that the paint be stripped before he did the repairs, so with the help of Malcolm Stewart and Graham Jarvis, the paint was removed.

In January the car was towed to John's workshop where everything was removed from the body - doors, bonnet, boot lid. By early April all of the panel work was completed and the painting begun by Terry Clinch. Terry got me to do much of the rubbing down and sanding of the panels. By June the painting was completed.
During this time, Stick Campbell had the motor in his workshop, stripping and cleaning all the parts, and asking me if I had enough money to pay him as it was going to be a "very expensive" job, and also checking to see if "Anne knew how much this was costing!!" The motor was completed and looked great.

Dave Berry then had the car in his workshop, where we removed the front suspension for painting and refitting. Next the motor went back in. I had the gearbox checked by Bob Duke and we decided to get another one, which Barry Goddard offered me. We noticed something a bit different about the housings on the two gearboxes, and it turned out that the new box was set up for a MkI, so we changed the housings and front shaft and repainted it.

The next stage involved re-upholstering all the interior to the original design. Dan Batchelor worked on this, and now the car was starting to look a little better - even Anne gave it the odd glance! During the International Convention at Easter �99, I saw the restoration work some of the owners had done on their cars, and that gave me a lift and a bit more enthusiasm to get the MkII finished. It was about this time that I managed to buy some custom plates "MK II 56".

In August '99 the MkII project was finished. We ran an inaugural trip to Springfield and back - a trip of 250 miles, and the car ran great. After finishing the car car I fitted some sheepskins to the front seats and spotlights to the front, and Anne & I took the car to the Alexandra Blossom Festival. The MkII motored beautifully, not missing a beat - the only worry I had was Stick threatening to tell Anne how much all this "really" cost.

Now that the work is finished, I am enjoying the car and have found it a great car to drive.

Bob Stevens.

3-5 June 2000
3-5 June 2000 SCZZEC 10th Anniversary Weekend Timaru

Easter 2001
International Convention Palmerston North

Stunned she replied, "Why fire up a four burner barbecue to cook half a sausage?".

Phone Colin Chambers 03 688-0807 or Eric Scott 03 688-6930

MkIV Zodiac Good original interior, 3000 miles on recon motor. in regular daily use. $2800

Phone 03 688-8391

Loan of a Zephyr for Queen's Birthday Anniversary weekend by one of our founder members. He has just returned from Oz to live here and would like to take part.
Please contact John Hull 03 688-8358