Mechanic still has passion for farm machinery

New Zealand Vintage Machinery Club (Canterbury) president Owen Neal sits in the 1929 Caterpillar Crawler 10 he's owned since 1979. Photo / David Hill

Owen Neal has worked with machines all his life.

The New Zealand Vintage Machinery Club (Canterbury) president and retired diesel mechanic has worked on farm machinery and other large vehicles all over Canterbury.

His club is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a three-day rally at Aylesbury, near Christchurch, next month.

Mr Neal grew up on a farm in Marlborough, then trained as a diesel mechanic in Blenheim, before transferring to Gough's Caterpillar in Christchurch.

He bought his first vintage machine in 1979, a 1929 Caterpillar 10 Crawler and has since added three tractors to his personal collection.

''I didn't even know these sort of clubs existed back then (1979). I just bought it because I wanted it,'' Mr Neal said from the club's headquarters, Keating Park at McLeans Island, near Christchurch, where he stores his machines.

His tractors included two John Deeres, a 1947 Model G and a small 1952 Model M, and a 1962 Massey-Ferguson 35X.

He said he hoped to have all four machines on display at the rally.

A storage shed has been built at Keating Park, where members can display their machines, including about 20 tractors, a hay baler, a truck, an air force vehicle, a fire pump and agricultural implements.

Just inside the door is a wool press and shearing plant from a North Canterbury farm.

Owen Neal stands by one of the John Deere tractors he restored, on display in the New Zealand Vintage Machinery Club's (Canterbury) storage shed. Photo / David Hill

The vintage machinery club was like ''a men's shed'', with members turning up on a Thursday ''to do a job for themselves'' or helping with maintenance around the site and there was always someone there to lend a helping hand.

''It's about camaraderie and keeping their minds active,'' Mr Neal said. ''You don't have to be mechanical or own a truck or tractor yourself, because there's always people with three or four tractors who need a driver.

''We have an 88-year-old who comes out and mows the lawns and he's often the last to leave.''

For more information on the New Zealand Vintage Machinery Club of Canterbury's 20th anniversary rally or to register your machines, go to the website www.nzvintageclub.co.nz