LVVTA’s 20th Anniversary

On Friday May 25th 2012, vehicle safety lobby group Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association let its hair down a little to celebrate its 20th birthday.

For older vehicle construction and modification enthusiasts, it doesn't seem that long ago that the future of the car building hobby in New Zealand was under threat, but LVVTA’s recent 20th anniversary celebrations were a reminder that two decades have in fact passed since the hobby’s day of reckoning was successfully fended off. In 1989, Tony Johnson, then President of the New Zealand Hot Rod Association, began knocking on the Government’s door to negotiate a counter-proposal to the plans they had in place for modified vehicles, which led to the establishment of the LVVTA, and paved the way toward the current self-governance system we are fortunate to have today. April 1992 was the official kick-off date for LVV certification, and the system has steadily evolved ever since.

The passing of a challenging 20 years was marked in style with an evening at LVVTA’s Wellington offices, where 100 or so attendees enjoyed speeches from LVVTA personnel and past and present Government officials, and some presentations to key people who have helped to shape the LVV certification system into what it is today, followed by dinner and drinks. Amongst a display of scratch-built vehicles in the LVVTA factory for the visitors to enjoy, was the very first car to be LVV certified, a blue 1936 Chrysler sedan, running a 440 cubic inch Chrysler engine and bearing the LVV certification plate # 0001. 20 years on, the car is still exactly as it was originally built and certified, and is still owned by its builder, Tokoroa’s Bernie Lennon.

LVVTA took the opportunity to induct a further five people into their Wall of Honour at their anniversary celebrations. The LVVTA Wall of Honour pays permanent tribute to outstanding people, who, through their vision, passion, and commitment, have significantly contributed to the betterment of the motor vehicle modification and construction hobby and industry in New Zealand. The inductees were Chris Litherland and Graham Walls for their technical contributions through twenty-plus years of service to the LVVTA Technical Advisory Committee, John Reid and Terry Bowden for raising the bar within New Zealand’s vehicle modification and construction industry, and Steve Keys for his long-term commitment to the management of LVVTA.

Another key element of the evening’s formalities was LVVTA’s recognition and honouring of a group of 14 low volume vehicle certifiers. Out of the 55 LVV certifiers throughout New Zealand, there is a core group of founding LVV Certifiers. “These guys are truly the backbone of the LVV system” says LVVTA CEO Tony Johnson. “They had the courage to step forward into the relative unknown when we were setting the system up back in the 1989-1991 period, they have remained committed to the cause ever since, and have performed in an exemplary fashion the whole way through.” The 14 founding LVV certifiers that were recognised and honoured were: John Friedel (Auckland), Noel McMillin and Neal Miller (Hamilton), Paul Sattler (Tauranga), Steve Hildred (New Plymouth), Grant Rivers (Wanganui), Julian Cheer (Carterton), Andrew Smith (Levin), Don Hoff (Christchurch), Steve Rhodes (Temuka), Jon Palmer (Timaru), Roy McDonald and Graeme Fitzpatrick (Dunedin), and Barry Pope (Invercargill).

20 years is a great milestone, and LVVTA remains as committed as ever to providing an environment where vehicle construction and modification enthusiasts can successfully co-exist with the wants and needs of our Government, despite the challenges of living in this climate of 5-star safety, planet-saving, and political correctness.