Club Magazine October 2001

Trivia with a topical twist?

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be... Here are some facts about the 1500s.

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children, last of all the babies.
By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it - hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water".

Houses had thatched roofs - thick straw piled high with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof.
When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof - hence the saying "it's raining cats and dogs".

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence the saying "dirt poor".
The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to kelp keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they kept adding more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway - hence a "thresh hold".

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got
the middle, and guests got the top or "upper crust".

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a couple of days.
Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up - hence the custom of holding a "wake".

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone house" and reuse the grave.
When re-opening these coffins, one out of twenty-five coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realised they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie to it a bell.
Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer".
And that's the truth...!! (and whoever said that history was boring!!.)

(Article courtesy of Paddy & Adele Ryan, Hanmer Springs and printed in the The Hanmer Springs Village News)

This has been a busy month for Zephyr cruising. September 9th saw eight cars travel to Oamaru for the Poker Run which I believe was very enjoyable, with the trophy being won by Trevor Jopson (well done Trevor).

I have to report that Jim Bower is okay and the discussions with an Oamaru undertaker were strictly about Zephyrs!! Jim apparently spent some time talking, then more time trying to catch up with the Poker Run cars.

During Anniversary weekend, five Zephyrs and one Cadillac travelled down to the annual Alexandra Blossom Festival, meeting up with 11 cars and members of the Southland Club. A great weekend with weather better than the TV forecasts portrayed.

The other planned trip to Akaroa didn't eventuate due to a number of things, mainly sickness, people shifting houses (you will note the President's new address). We apologise to anyone not notified of the cancellation.

Next month, 20 - 21 October, we meet in Ashburton for a great weekend organised by our Northern Branch members, so get those Zephyrs out for a run.

It was great to read Barry Goddard's Oz report from the West Island. It sounds like Barry and Merilyn are settling in, what with cruising the Murray River in a houseboat and getting elected Treasurer of the Z & Z Owners Club of South Australia, but I guess what will really make a difference Barry, will be cruising with the top down in the Mk1 convertible.
Remember Barry, the convertible is only on holiday over there.

Happy Zephyring.

Bob Stevens
President

Poker Run Sunday 9 September
Seventeen people in eight Z cars (two Mk1, one Mk2, four Mk3 and one Mk4) left Timaru and travelled through Waimate to meet up with Trevor Jopson in a Mk3 at the Racecourse layby, Oamaru.

A Poker Run started around the Railway Station to the Penguin Information Centre. We left Jim Bower at the Railway with the local Undertaker, talking cars (hope he is okay - we didn't see him after that!!).
We drove down to the waterfront then over to the reserve by Junction Corner.

Trevor invited us back to his place for afternoon tea. It was great to be able to leave the trophy with him as he turned out to be the Poker Run winner. Special thanks to Trevor and his wife for welcoming everybody into their home and for the inspection of his MkI convertible.

It was good to see a range of all Marks on this run, but we would like to see more members at the runs.
If the Z car is not on the road, bring your day car.

Alexandra Blossom Festival
21 - 24 September

In indecisive weather the Smiths and Ladbrooks left Timaru after lunch on Friday heading for the Alexandra Blossom Festival via Tekapo and Lindis Pass.
Once over Burkes Pass the sky cleared, with spectacular views of the snow capped mountains and very low lakes.

After a refreshment stop at Omarama, we continued our journey to meet up with the Campbells at the motel, passing 3 mufti cops on the way. The Caseys joined us after our evening meal, with the Roses sneaking in in the middle of the night - ( not even Stick heard them and he was in the same motel unit! )

Saturday morning we were greeted with a bitterly cold wind and threatening clouds but this didn't stop the people turning out for another successful parade.
There were 5 Z cars and 1 Cadillac from South Canterbury and approx. 12 Z cars from Southland. Also a big turn out of Hot Rods from all over the South Island.

After the days events and refreshments at our motel, we took a short walk to the R.S.A. for our evening meal, where some of us lost money on the pokies as well!
Some of the group then walked down to Bonnie & Clydes to listen to the band and watch members of the Dunedin Rock & Roll club dancing for the rest of the evening.

Sunday, still crisp and cool, we all travelled to Arrowtown for lunch with a stop over at the Gibbston Valley winery on the way.
After more refreshments in our motel, we made our way down to Bonnie & Clyde�s for our evening meal, where the band and ' locals' entertained us til midnight.

Monday morning bright and sunny but still chill in the air.
After the traditional stop at the Second Hand shop we all headed to Omarama for lunch in the sun before heading back to Timaru.
A great weekend was had by all.

Marilyn Ladbrook

Soup it up Safely
LTSA Guide Shows How.

Lowered suspensions, fat tyres, tinted glass, extra lights and bigger engines - doing up the car is a passion for many a Kiwi motorist, and it's not a hobby limited to the 'boy racer' set.

All kinds of drivers get the urge to do something extra to their vehicles, from a little tinkering to a full blown soup-up.
But if they aren't done properly, vehicle modifications can be deadly. Playing around with brakes, suspensions or tyres can seriously affect the way a car handles, and serious crashes can result.
To help prevent those crashes, the LTSA has produced a new brochure to help drivers modify their vehicles safely and legally.

The brochure urges would-be modifiers to check with an approved low volume vehicle or specialist certifier before doing any work.
Director of Land Transport Safety David Wright said it was important for people to realise that any vehicle modification could have serious consequences, and that an approved low volume vehicle certification could cost up to $800.

"We're just asking people to find out what's legal and what's not before starting to work on their vehicles. This could not only save money - it could save lives," Mr Wright said.

Fines for operating an unsafe vehicle can reach $2,000 and serious charges can be laid if an illegal modification is found to have contributed to a crash.

(Article courtesy of the Land Transport Safety Authority)