WHAKATANE ROD & CUSTOM CLUB 50TH
HALF A CENTURY OF FUN WITH CARS — THE WHAKATANE WAY
1 969... she was an iconic year. Apollo 11’s moon landing, “nippon clippons” were added to the Auckland Harbour Bridge, bellbottoms and the peace movement were alive and kicking as a segway to Woodstock. But hey, there was also the formation of the infamous Whakatane Rod and Custom Club (WR&CC).
Many people find hot rodding an enjoyable hobby. They like hanging with likeminded folk and having a good time with their cars. This is not what happens in WR&CC. This is no hobby. This is a way of life. And while some clubs may celebrate their half-century with a formal dinner with talking heads and a respectability befitting the occasion, this was never what the hardcore Whakatanites were planning. They wanted to do what they always have done — a first-class piss up in a paddock. Hosted on Squeak Bell’s property in Kawerau, with picturesque views of Putauaki (Mt
Edgecumbe). Everything was well executed and simple. Just like it should be. Camping onsite or local accommodation — everything was there for the makings of a great time, including food trucks operating from sunrise to well after sunset. Saturday’s driving event was a run to the Ohope Chartered Club for a pint and lunch, but not before the regulation onboard debates and attempting to answer 200 questions on the way, as well as circling the same number of roundabouts.
There was also a secondary question and answer sheet based on music, and as someone that takes a bit of a liking for the odd tune, completing that was quite the blast.
Heading back to base after lunch the party got even bigger. WR&CC has had a long relationship with the Maketu Gentlemen’s Motorcycle Club, which was in full swing with a rally the same weekend, so at Saturday afternoon’s destination — the Bell’s property in Kawerau — a sea of over 500 black bikes buzzed and rumbled their way onto the paddock to join their fellow petrolheads. With impeccable timing, we were collectively treated to some burnt rubber from the likes of GT Norris, Dave Best (DB), Rob Chesham and Dave Gauld in his Kiwi Sheds Altered, making a suitable mess of Squeak’s virginal, newly-laid (no pun intended) concrete driveway. It’s quite a remarkable feeling mixing it up with the two codes, sure, there are crossovers, but generally speaking two- and four-wheel events are separate.
The afternoon was filled with team boat racing (an old hot rodding tradition rarely seen in this now-PC world), speeches, bands, dancing, and extension ladder-sized tall stories. Three existing life members Jock Murray, Squeak Bell, and Casey Hill were joined by an additional three this year, Paul Sattler, Bruce Taylor, and Mike Wells. When reflecting on hot rodding in the Land of the Long White Cloud, many characters that spring to mind as being our backbone are past or present members of this club, and the best thing is this bunch is known for anything but elegance, especially in their early days. Jock Murray, member for the full 50 years, reflected on their antics involving a great deal of creative humour and a few brown bottles, shady deals, and close run-ins with the law. Tales include the one where Mike Wells (Wellsey), who started hanging around the club at age 11, later got stuck into some motorcycle burnouts on the new carpet inside the clubrooms. Yep, WR&CC is over-represented with standout performers. Squeak Bell (our international ambassador), put NZ on the map for many Americans who thought New Zealand was next to Ireland when he started his company, Kiwi Connection, in Bakersfield in the ’80s. Then there’s GT Norris, also in Bakersfield for many years, but now back in Kawerau with wife Ethyl. They’ve been campaigning a Henry J for over 30 years, running a 9.99 in Sydney this year.
Then there’s an unprecedented number of club members who have raced at Bonneville — anyone that went to the sixtieth anniversary in 2008 will know the salt was awash with Kiwis. Bill Ward, Paul Sattler (Pins) who then went on to campaign the Vindicator FED in the US, Dave Alexander, and Casey Hill all raced that year, not to mention the screeds of club members crewing. Stephanie Goodair can also be added to that list.
Like many clubs, WR&CC has had its share of losing members way too soon, but the familylike approach and support for one another has got them through. They may have been on the naughty chair a few times (literally), but this club has done nothing but strengthen hot rodding, drag racing and land speed racing for NZ. An epic weekend had by all. Mammoth effort WR&CC, and killer hosting Squeak Bell and Janet Seymour!