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AVCMC Fanmail
September 2017
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From The Driver's
Seat
By Joe Janssens
The bad weather has unfortunately upset all of our
scheduled events for this past month.
The outing to the Bathurst Country Fair on the 6th
August was the first casualty, followed by our 3rd
Thursday bring and braai at the Glen’s Den which was
replaced by a Pizza and Fish and Chips evening. Surprisingly many
members braved the weather and enjoyed a pleasant evening.
Let’s hope that the Kowie River Boat Ride
scheduled for the 24th September will be blessed with
better weather. Remember to book your attendance.
Since we have limited braai facilities at our new
clubhouse, we have arranged, thanks to Bob Duggan, that the
Glen’s Den will host our 3 rd Thursdays supper nights until
further notice.
The new clubhouse is fast taking shape, the walls
are up and painted and so is the floor. Rob has informed us that
the ceiling will be installed by Wednesday 30th
August.
Cheers
Joe
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Peter and Keith hard at work painting the new club
house
Much appreciated!
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Through The Windscreen
(This
is what lies ahead)
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For Your Diary
Local Stuff:
Thursday 14
September - 5 to 8pm - Motoring
DVD at the weekly noggin in the Clubhouse
Thursday
21 September - 5 to 8pm - Supper Night at
Glen's Den until further notice
Bring and Braai. Buy drinks from the bar please
Sunday
24 September - 3.30pm - Kowie River Boat Ride
The boat leaves at 4pm. R50 per head. There are only 50
passengers permitted so book your place now. RSVP to Rob
Wallis as soon as possible: 082 334 0354 or email him.
Fires will be ready when the boat docks for a Bring and Braai.
Please buy all drinks on the boat or from the Ski Boat Club.
Saturday
28 September - 9am to noon - AVCMC Museum
Only R20 per visitor. Bring all of your friends soon, before the
price increase
Further Afield:
Sunday
3 to Thursday 7 September - SAVVA National Rally
Golden Gate Hotel will be the base. Cars up to 1997 are eligible.
Entry forms etc are available from René Greenland or phone her
on 0733080827 or you can download them yourself from Free State
Veteran Car Club
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Birthday
Congratulations
September
2 Mike Newlands
6 Derek Bowker
10 Des Hill
16 Bob Duggan
16 Susan Webber
24 Joy Hill
25 Sigrid Drews
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The Dashboard
(This is
going on right now)
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Remember
We remember Sigrid Drews in these difficult times. She is at home
receiving 24/7 care. We trust that she will enjoy a memorable
birthday on 25 September.
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Subs Were Due on 30
June
by Ron Gush
29 members have not yet paid. Many thanks to
the faithful who have paid
At the AGM the new subs were approved: R250 for full
membership or R100 for associate membership.
Some members have paid the old
subscription rate of R150 for full and R60 for associate
membership.
So, if you have not paid, or if you have paid the old rate, we
appeal to you to please pay or make up the difference between the
old and the new.
Contact Treasurer Shirley on 071 675 4570 if there is any
confusion.
Shirley has performed some kind of a magic trick to
balance our budget for the coming year and has come out with
a minuscule positive balance. Given the new expenses of
clubhouse rental and renovations, this is a truly amazing feat.
Well done Shirley.
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Club Regaila
We have a limited number of Club bumper badges
and these can be yours for a mere R200 per badge from Shirley
Martin. Phone her on 071 675 4570.
Unclaimed name badges
are stuck to the fridge in the Club House.
Roger Darkes has sourced very nice Club
shirts. Navy blue with the club
badge stitched on where the pocket should be. About R250. Roger
will be getting 3 different sizes for you to try on and for
you to place your order at the next Supper Night.
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Classic & Sports Car Insurance Placements
“We
Drive Classic Cars”
We
insure them with Great Care.
Approved
Broker: Mercedes-Benz Club South Africa
Tel: 031 701 0226 l Cell: 082 781 4410
Email: pat@smythebros.com
A Division of Smythe Financial Services cc
Authorised FSP No. 16054
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Jaguar
3.8 Mk2 - FOR SALE
1965 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 - been in storage last 15
years.
Requires mechanical repairs and re commissioning.
Bodywork and interior excellent, license and docs in order.
email Simon Garfath : garfath2@gmail.com for
details and to view in Kenton.
R85000 or nearest offer
1/3
(I
have a longer email of info for anyone interested. Ron Gush)
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1981 Mini 1275E
- FOR SALE
Blue Colour, 69572 kilometres
4 new tyres, all rust has been removed,
completely re-sprayed.
For R22.000
Can be viewed at 14 Cradock street Bedford
Phone John Joubert at 046 685 1346 or
Cell 0847277366 or email <johnj@r63.co.za>
1/3
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1964 MGB Cylinder
Head - WANTED
Please phone Rodger Kaiser if you can help
046 622 2781or 082 655 6696
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The Rear View Mirror
(Past
Events)
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Recollections of
Motor Sport in the Fifties and Sixties
- part 2
by Bob Duggan
I’ve driven at most British circuits and have driven around the
old Nurburg Ring, Spa in Belgium as well as Zandvoort in Holland.
No big deal, just pay the money and off you go!
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Silverstone was a prime example of an ex World War
II airfield. Certain corners being demarcated by empty drums. Run
off areas hadn’t been thought of although air field circuits by
their nature had plenty of natural escape routes, one just kept
on going. No gravel traps, no safety cars, simply stacks of old
tyres or straw bales dotted here and there. Snetterton, also once
an airfield had similar characteristics but totally flat and
dull, nothing whatsoever to capture those inclined to overdo
their own capability or test the laws of physics. Goodwood on the
other hand, even though constructed on a former Fighter Command
airstrip, was a challenge having at one spot a series of left and
right handers. Tricky in the sense that a good line entering the
first corner meant an unsatisfactory line through the last
resulting in a slow exit. Not at all a great idea. Tracks such as
Mallory Park, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park were purpose built
road circuits in all but name, hills, dips, lakes, trees and so
on. I well recall Geoff Duke, the World Champion motor cyclist,
losing it at Mallory and landing up in the lake. I’ve fond
memories of Mallory’s uphill hairpin corner. Such corners usually
following a long straight can be deceptive as I found out when
one day I lost it half way around nearly collecting a following
Cooper – Maserati Monacco. No harm done, and two young ladies who
had been watching from the embankment by chance recognised me the
next day in Hereford. I’d never met them previously so that dumb
incident turned into a genuine blind date.
Corners had always had a name unlike today where
they are identified by calling them Turn 1, Turn 2 etc. How
uninspiring. Who could forget doing something nicely, or not so
nice, at Woodcote, Copse, Maggots or Knickers Brook at Oulton.
One can only conjecture as to how the latter became so named.
Motor Racing is dangerous is stated on every entry
ticket ever issued. We all knew that was the case but no one ever
considered anything unpleasant happening to one's self. Being
young and naive we must have thought we were fireproof. Race
organisers simply accepted a circuit for what it was, for
instance I never saw a dedicated ambulance. Only major races had
medical staff available, marshals were issued with a batch of
coloured flags but had received no first aid or fire fighting
training. Their efforts were appreciated but the fact remained
that their capability was limited. I do recollect that medical
rooms at which one had to present oneself prior to a
National or International race were in all probability rooms
which no one else wanted. No equipment worthy of the name and, I
think, that provided a driver could see well enough to locate the
room, he’d be cleared to drive.
Seat harnesses for open racing cars were only
introduced in 1965 following overall safety campaigns initiated
by Jackie Stewart. Closed vehicles were however so fitted even
though I don’t think they were compulsory. There was much debate
at the time whether it was preferable to stay with a doomed car
or to be ejected. I know of a Lister Jaguar driver when it became
apparent that there was nothing to be done to avoid a big
accident,, raised himself as far as he could on the seat placing
his feet on the instrument panel. When the Lister came to an
inevitable sudden stop he was catapulted over the nose and walked
away from his three point landing. Had he been secured by a
harness, who knows ?
(To be continued)
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1912 Rolls
sent in by Joe
Janssens
Sold recently for $4.7million! A real beauty!
The detail is truly amazing. This car has 29 bevel glass
windows....
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In The Boot
(Useful
Baggage and Tools for the trip)
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Website
by Ron Gush
Do you know of a supplier who has done good work for you? Or for
some one else? Let me know and I can record the contact details
for the use of other members.
Take a look at what's there already: Click here
You can always find it on our website on the Articles page
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STUDENT OBTAINED 0%
IN AN EXAM!
Sent in byJoe
Janssens
I would have given him 100%! Each answer is
absolutely logically correct and funny too. The teacher has no
sense of humor.
Q1: In which battle did Napoleon die?
- his last battle.
Q2: Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
- at the bottom of the page.
Q3: River Ravi flows in which state?
- liquid.
Q4: What is the main reason for divorce?
- marriage.
Q5: What is the main reason for failure?
- exams.
Q6: What can you never eat for breakfast?
- lunch & dinner.
Q7: What looks like half an apple?
- the other half.
Q8: If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what will it
become?
- wet.
Q9: How can a man go eight days without sleeping?
- no problem, he sleeps at
night.
Q10: How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
- you will never find an
elephant that has one hand
Q11: If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and
four apples and three oranges in other hand, what would you have?
- very large hands
Q12: If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long
would it take four men to build it?
- no time at all, the wall is
already built
Q13: How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without
cracking it?
- any way you want, concrete
floors are very hard to crack.
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Committee
Chairman:
Joe Janssens 083 235 1101
Vice-Chairman:
Peter Viner
046 624 3552 or 082 831 5769
Events:
Roger Darkes
046 624 2874 or 082 373 8181
Secretary / Treasurer:
Shirley Martin
071 675 4570
Clubhouse Manager:
Peter Viner
046 624 3552 or 082 831 5769
Grahamstown Rep:
Norbert Drager 046 622
6282 or 072 765 6448
Fanmail Editor:
Ron Gush
046 648 3186 or 083 272 1961
Members:
Keith Schroeder 046 624 4114 or 082 412 3378
Rob Wallis
082 334 0354
Other portfolio holders:
OD Inggs Co-ordinator:
Peter Viner
046 624 3552 or 082 831 5769
SAVVA rep and Vehicle Dating: Vacant
Webmaster:
John Austin-Williams
(contact via Ron Gush for web content)
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Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors or
contributors and are not necessarily those of the AVCMC nor
it's committee nor officials nor of any affiliated club.
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Tailpipe - why
are there so many monkeys on the road?
by Ron Gush
I wonder. Have I written about this topic before?
Never mind. In my experience, it happens that when you first
voice a new idea, nobody pays the slightest attention. The idea
is sometimes rejected out of hand. The second time you raise the
topic, some folk sit up and say, Hmmm, they have heard that one
before. The third time you voice the topic, they all agree that
it is a fine plan and was in fact their own idea in the first
place! Thus, with a little persistence, you just might get what
you wanted.....
OK so this is what I was wondering about, possibly for the second
time:
We are all annoyed by monkeys along our roads and have heard of
friends cars being severely damaged by collision with these cute
primates. Some of us, on spotting monkeys near the road, even
commit the SD words (Slow Down!) - heaven forbid!
Driving along the R72, and indeed many of our major roads, I wonder
if the number of monkeys along the roadsides are representative
of the population in the countryside as a whole? I suspect that
there are far more monkeys along the road than out in the open
veld. When I drive on minor country roads, the sort that are eroded,
sometimes corrugated, poorly maintained and not much used, I do
not see the numbers of monkeys that I regularly see on major /
tarred roads. Do you?
Why would this be?
I have a theory that humans attract monkeys to the roads. They
come to eat the trash that motorists toss out of cars / trucks.
Of course we don't toss out beer cans, plastic or glass bottles,
empty polystyrene pannetjies and so on because those things are
just too disgusting. (Don't ask me how those items actually land
up next to the road.) But many folk toss out the odd apple core,
banana skin perhaps, chicken bone and possibly the odd crust of a
stale sandwich, thinking that these things are biodegradable and
will be compost in a few days.....
Not so, says Mr Monkey, who now lives along these roads with his
troop. And another troop a few km further along. I bet these
monkeys have quite high cholesterol levels from eating our junk
food.
Clearly, the action plan is to
Toss NOTHING out of your car
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Snapped on the wall in an Irish pub
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