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AVCMC FanMail
December 2017
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From The Driver's
Seat
By Joe Janssens
Year end is once again upon us. Where has it GONE to….
The past month was sadly marked by the passing of
one of members. Eden was a regular, active and enthusiastic
member of our club and will be missed at our weekly noggins.
He left us without giving us a chance to thank him
for his last contribution to the finishing touches to our new
clubhouse, Eden sourced the carpet which is covering our floor.
RIP.
The two events that marked this year were the
successful O.D.Inggs Memorial Run and the relocation of our
clubhouse to the Museum. I wish to thank all the members who made
this possible.
Our new club badges and shirts are making us proud
thanks to the efforts of Ron Gush and Roger Darkes.
Our last event for the year was our Christmas
lunch which was once again very well supported.
I am also pleased to see the numerous restorations
that are progressing well. The competition for the “Restorer of
the Year” will be tight.
In closing, I want to extend a big thank you to
the committee for their commitment and support in the running of
the club this past year. To all our members: Thanks for your
loyal support in all of our endeavours during the past year.
I want to end off by wishing everyone a Merry
Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
To all who will be travelling during this period,
take care and drive safely.
Cheers
Joe
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Through The Windscreen
(This is what lies ahead)
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For Your Diary
Local Events
Thursday
14 December - Last Noggin for 2017
Motoring DVD
Saturday
30 December - 9am to noon - AVCMC Museum
Thursday
11 January - First noggin for 2018
Motoring DVD
Saturday
13 January - Anniversary Brunch at Rob & Maggie Mears place
in Bathurst
Please RSVP ASAP (but by the very latest 6 Jan) to Roger Darkes
082 373 8181 or Rob Wallis 082 334 0354
Pay R60/head in advance. Get there by 12 noon.
Directions: Turn towards the Toposcope. Cross the railway line
and turn right. Find the venue on your left. Or on your right -
if you have already turned the last corner.....
Thursday
18 January - 4pm - Navigation for
Beginners - at the Clubhouse
This short talk and question session is for all rally navigators
and drivers. Be there if you plan to enter the OD
Inggs Memorial Run. Especially if you
are new to the game.
The talk will be held in the Clubhouse while the committee will
meet in the museum. All are welcome.
Thursday
18 January - 5 to 8pm - Supper Night
Bring and Braai
Saturday
27 January - 9am to noon - AVCMC Museum
Saturday
24 February - Croquet / Bowls
Save the date
Sat/Sun
24 - 25 March - OD Inggs Memorial Run
Go to the Navigation for Beginners talk on 27 Jan. It is all good
fun and no rocket science involved
Saturday
21 April - Picnic On The Lawn, at Norbert Drager's home in
Grahamstown
Diarise the date
Events Further Afield
Sat/Sun
10 - 11 February - George Old Car Show
Brian Sparg is keen to present an
old car at the show.
Contact him, if you would
like to join him, on 082 566 3637
If we get 10 cars on display the club gets space for a gazebo
Sunday
29 April - Knysna Motor Show
7
-10 May - SAVVA 50th Anniversary Tour - Houw Hoek
Wouldn't it be great to take part in this prestigious event in
another beautiful part of the country? (We live in a beautiful part
of the country)
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Birthday
Congratulations
December
4 Keith Schroeder
5 Colin Clayson
27 Rob Mears
January
2 Steven Harris
4 Hennie Van Der Merwe
5 Ian Hattingh
11 Rob Wallis
15 Bakkes Muller
20 Pam Gush
21 Nielen Erasmus
22 Fred Pittaway
25 Rob Houston
26 Hugo Nel
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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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The Future is Here
by Ron Gush
This is not really my stuff. It is summarized snippets from
Popular Mechanics (which I suggest you go out and buy) and
other material sent to me by
Neville Koch. Plus a few of my own
thoughts, of course.
The Olympic Games will be held in 2020 in Tokyo. The 1964
Olympic Games in Tokyo gave the world the bullet train. 2020
will give the world the hydrogen society. The Japanese plan to
have 6000 fuel cell cars on the streets and 100 fuel cell
buses. Buildings will be powered by hydrogen. That's
only 2 years away. So if you were thinking that your modern
petrol engine car was going to "see you out", think
again. Electric cars are coming, and sooner than you think.
Personally I am pleased that the Japanese are thinking
about something other than just batteries for electric cars.
The biggest problem with battery cars is that the national grid
won't cope. So the motorist will be called on to pay for more
power stations. And then the fuel levy will have to be
applied to electric cars too. Hydrogen can be produced by wind
power, as and when it blows.
How
a fuel cell works: Think of it as
chemistry that charges the battery in an electric vehicle.
Hydrogen from the car's tank and atmospheric oxygen meet at the
fuel cells, a thin membrane separating the two elements. The
hydrogen is attracted to the oxygen on the other side, but only
the hydrogen proton, not the electron, can pass
through to meet the oxygen. Unable to pass, the electron
goes up and around the membrane, which produces electricity to
charge the battery. The exhaust gas is water vapour.
Japan also plan to have self-driving taxis for the 2020
Games. Ja, well, no, fine - is a good South African expression
that comes to mind. No doubt driverless cars will work
faultlessly. But, I resonate with one of the respondents to a
little questionnaire we put out recently - I enjoy the drive.
Whether it is just tooling along and enjoying the passing
scene, or pushing the limits around corners, or flooring it
between speed humps, I enjoy driving.
Mazda are still doing amazing innovations on
diesel engines. Low compression ratio of 14.4:1.
Injectors that give up to 9 little squirts per firing
stroke. The little squirts can be set up to build the flame
slowly - no diesel thump. They can also be set up at frequencies
that cancel each other out, like active noise reduction.
The exhaust is so clean that it requires no particulate filter
- in those countries that are fussy about that sort of thing.
So the diesel is not dead yet.
Airliners are expected to burn fuel produced from algae. A much
better idea than using mealies and other food sources,
methinks.
3D metal printing machines are very close to becoming
reality. It's a 2 part process, printing and sintering.
Extremely complex parts can be printed. Two types of
machines are envisaged - desktop for development / experimental
work and very fast machines for production.
We live in interesting times
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The Dashboard
(This is going on right now)
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Condolences
We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Eden Bradfield on
Friday 11 November. Eden was an active and long standing member
of our club. A moment of silence was observed during the Supper
Night on 16 November. A number of members attended his memorial
service in their old cars. We offer our sincere condolences to
his family.
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New Member
Welcome to Colin Murphy. Colin lives on the Marina but runs a
business specialising in brake components. He owns an MX-5.
Perhaps he could do the Inggs in it if he keeps it a few more
years! We trust that he and Lorraine will enjoy the activities of
the AVCMC.
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1934 Plymouth 2 door
Coupe
Spares Wanted
Windscreen frame and some hub caps
Contact Cyril Adkins, Bethlehem, Free State, cell 0836051546
1/3
or email cyril2009@live.co.za
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Fund Raising and
Other Club Issues
We are not going to meet our budget this year and have to raise
funds somehow. This is mostly due to the number of members who
have not paid their subscriptions. They are being approached
individually. Any suggestions / contributions are welcome.
There will be a box on the bar for voluntary
contributions of R10 or R5 each time
members attend a noggin.
If you forget to wear your name
badge to a club event, the box might
be offered to you for your additional contribution.
The above is intended in good spirit and it is hoped that it will
be accepted that way.
The committee has agreed that our new Clubhouse should be a No Smoking
area. We respectfully ask members to smoke outside.
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For Sale - 1960
Peugeot 403 Station Wagon
Not many of these cars around any more. Restoration project. In
East London.
Asking R15 000.
Contact John Pringle 043 726 8530 or 082 718 5870
2/3
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Parts Wanted
for 1973 Peugeot 404.
(1) Windscreen washer plastic container. Size: height 130mm X
width 80mm X breadth 100mm
(2) Rear number plate light fitting or lens.
Contact Charles Pellew on 046 624 4563 or 076 8490549
2/3
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1969 Sunbeam Fastback
Rapier for sale
Very reliable, has done two trips to Knysna, perfect
mechanical condition, has had a complete thorough respray,
new mats, electronic ignition, has the standard mechanical
fuel pump and switch operated electric fuel pump for backup.
Asking R60,000
3/3
Contact Abie Fullard abiefullard@gmail.com
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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.
Club
shirts in several sizes have
arrived and are available for you to try on at the Clubhouse.
Roger Darkes is your contact man. Pay R260 and place your order.
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For Sale - Two Early
Ford V8s
These cars are in very good condition and the current owner has
already spent a lot of money starting the restoration /
replacement process.
1934
Needs a new carburettor and a fuel pump and it will run smoothly
again.
In time it will require new rear window rubbers and window
channel kits.
The owner has purchased some new parts such as a complete new set
of window glass, some window channel bits and rubbers etc.
The owner also has some spares for this vehicle.
1936
The owner has already spent some money on redoing the upholstery,
tyres and some window rubbers.
Some of the chrome work has been redone at great expense.
Recently he has also had the radiator refurbished.
The owner also has some spares for this vehicle which he will
sell with the vehicle.
Contact Mike at club@modelaclubofsouthafrica.com
2/3
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1964 MGB Cylinder
Head - WANTED
Please phone Rodger Kaiser if you can help
046 622 2781or 082 655 6696
3/3
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The Rear View Mirror
(Past Events)
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Christmas Lunch - 26
November
by Ron Gush
14 old cars and a few modern ones gathered at the Civic Centre on
a pleasant sunny Sunday morning. Roger handed out a simple quiz,
the answers to which would be found, or guessed, on the way to
Mpekweni. We set off at 11am. Road works made the trip hazardous
as no one obeys either speed limits nor the "no
overtaking" signs despite detours, loose stones, pot holes
and the narrow road conditions. Speaking of potholes, Steven
Harris had the misfortune to hit one in his Mini and damaged
something which put his car out of the run. We hope it was not
too serious and can be quickly fixed.
A great lunch was enjoyed by about 45 members and friends. Joe
welcomed everyone and commented on the good turn out. Roger
announced that Steven had won the quiz - amid some ribald comment
that he should be disqualified for having driven the route twice!
Well done Steven.
The American Auction (I think that's what it's called) was
entertainingly run by Roger. A lot of fun was had choosing,
opening and sometimes swapping the presents that we all brought
along. A bottle of Nederburg Baronne got swapped so often it was
quite difficult to keep it in sight as it flitted around the
room!
Well done and many thanks to Roger Darkes for his organization
and running the event.
There was a dramatic change in the weather and we drove home in
the rain!
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Lovely sunny day at
the start
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Above: Jürgen, Gerda, Rob,
Hillary, Alf and Mercia
Below: Des, Joy, George, Daphne, Dave, Mike, Jackie and (half of)
Peter
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Above: Norbert,
Keith, Barbara, George, Jimmy and Dave
Good to see so many folk looking very smart in their new
club shirts!
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Recollections of Motor Sport in the Fifties
and Sixties - part 5 Final
by Bob Duggan
Morgan Days
My involvement in the game kicked off with a 1934 MG PA midget
with which together with a borrowed side valve Hillman Minx as
well as an OHV Minx were rallied mostly in the wilds of Wales
where I lived. It was great fun although my efforts met with a
distinct lack of success but the motor sport bug had certainly
entered my veins. Rallies in those days took the form of
reliability trials much the same as our own O.D Inggs.
Occasionally including special stages against the clock in which
I did quite well but rallies then were nothing like today's. When
I parted with the MG replacing it with a Morgan Plus 4 fitted
with the TR2 motor the moment seemed right to give motor racing a
go. Trials, tribulations, disasters and whatever else can best be
related by a few reports taken from the motoring press, the
'Autosport' and 'The Motor Sport' magazines in particular:
Goodwood 1959. 'Duggan's Morgan retired to the
paddock on lap 7 with a blown cylinder head gasket'. (In fact the
big ends had given up).
Mallory Park 1960. Lionel Mayman collecting top
honours in the unlimited class with Duggan's Morgan bursting a
tyre at Lake Esses with spectacular results.
Goodwood 1960. 'In another race Munns hit a
protective rail and was thrown from his AC Ace. Then a wheel came
off Duggan's Morgan. The driver was unhurt'. Taken from official
BARC Race incident report. 'Car No 61, Duggan, spun at the
approach to St Mary's, on 3rd lap, hit hurdle and lost wheel,
Driver unhurt',
Silverstone. 'Morgan Team. Six hour race. 1960.
Duggan finished the event going quicker and quicker as time went
on, which is only natural I suppose if you haven't any brakes to
slow you down'.
Cheltenham. '1961. Duggan found little opposition
in the sports car class, up to 2600cc and won comfortably',
Pembrey Sprint Easter. '1962. Bob Duggan's Morgan
had little difficulty in winning with a class record'.
Pembrey Sprint July 1962. 'Bob Duggan, with his
remarkable Morgan, broke his own record twice with a shattering
34.72 secs. Quicker than the unlimited sports car record held by
an E type at 35.01 secs'.
Late 1962. 'Going, going,gone. Sold to Mr Joel,
one Morgan Plus Four, green with hard top, for a lot of money,
Previous owner Bob Duggan. Mr Joel hopes to continue competing
with the car'.
That concluded my love affair with the Moggie. I'd
enjoyed considerable help along the way primarily from my long
suffering family but also from the SU Carburettor Company
supplying me with a variety of needles to experiment with but
above all from Peter Morgan who suggested that as I was making a
habit of losing wheels he should give me a new set. It was also
his good offices that allowed me to convert the front drum brakes
to discs. I don't remember being charged. The Dunlop Rubber
Company allowed me R 5 type and later R 6 racing tyres at a
discount and Esso Petroleum with fuel but financially I still
struggled. The car was quick as you've gathered lightness added
by replacing it's bonnet with one which I'd fabricated from
aluminium sheets. One inch holes were drilled in the ash frame
much to the amusement of the Morgan crowd. Rear Koni adjustable
shocks were fitted on the firmest setting to cure axle winding up
and tramping and a little chassis welding from time to time. A
great car but I wanted to move on.
Below: L to R: Mayman, Duggan, Smith, Meredith
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Lotus Days
I was going to miss the Le Mans type starts, until
then usual for sports cars, for being the youngest and possibly
the most agile driver around they suited me well allowing me an
initial advantage. Having sold the Morgan I needed a replacement
and arranged to view a Lola Formula Junior but before looking at
it received a 'phone call from a private team which were planning
a season with a Lotus 23 B and a works lightweight Lotus Elite
enquiring whether I'd be interested in trying my luck at Brands
Hatch with the Elite. I jumped at the opportunity and despite
losing it in a big way on one lap managed to regularly turn in by
far the quickest times compared to the other hopefuls. The drive
was mine, the following season an eye opener in regards to the
difference between owner drivers as I had been and the others.
For instance whenever the Patron attended a meeting he would ask
the 23 B driver or myself to drive him there in either his Rolls
or E Type. The racing cars trailered to the track by our
mechanics. All very grand and a merciful relief from financial
worries. Since I no longer needed a car to go racing I got myself
a Jaguar XK 120, the first car I'd ever owned which had a radio
and heater. Life was looking promising. I’d had a couple of
seasons with the Morgan Six Hour Silverston Relay team and had
been approached by the Kieft Sports Car Company to try out their
new Formula Junior car but that wasn’t race ready so this
invitation was very exciting.
The season went well, the Cosworth Engineering
prepared Coventry Climax engine never missing a beat and in the
dozen or so Club, National and International races never
finishing lower than third. It was an education driving in
company with some of the 'Names' of the day. Innes Ireland and
Bruce McClaren in Astons, Graham Hill, Mike Parkes and David
Piper in Ferrari 250 GTOs and Roy Salvadori in a lightweight E
Type. Graham Hill won in a 250 GTO and I managed a 2litre class
3rd in the RAC TouristTrophy at Goodwood, collecting a little
prize money, just being pipped for second by Dickie Stoop in a
Porsche Carrera. He sadly was to die at the wheel of a
Lightweight E Type a few years later. Not the first of us crowd
to pass on that way but we continued, why I sometimes wonder. You
might ask the same question to those who climb Mount Everest.You
know the answer.
At the conclusion of the season's final race I
received a request to report to the Stewards office. What the
hell have I done now was my natural reaction but upon arrival I
was greeted with smiles and informed that I had been placed third
in the Motor Sport Brooklands Memorial Trophy championship. I was
aware of the championship but had never bothered to tally any
points which I might have accumulated and had no idea that I was
in the running. A podium appearance, champers and a little money
made my day. The usual collection of dolly bird hangers on made
themselves conspicuous although the positioning of some of their
CofG s would have upset the handling of any car. Previous winners
had included Mike Hawthorn and Innes Ireland so I was in good
company.
The Patron, a John Parker, must have been
satisfied with our results for he tried to get his hands on a
Lola GT for the following season but Lola was having liquidity
problems and sold the design rights to Ford. Their car became the
Ford GT 40 so you might say we missed the boat. He then placed an
order for a Brabham Formula 2 for me to campaign or to 'play
with' the next season. My luck ran out when he packed it all in
and got himself a stable of race horses. I bought the Lotus Elite
and raced it now and then in 1964 but by then it was outclassed
by the racing version of the Elan so in reality that was that. I
had the offer of a Formula Vee drive but wasn't enthusiastic and
declined. The RAC invited me to enter that years Tourist Trophy
main supporting race, the TT itself now catering for Prototypes
only. I think that David Piper, whom I’d got to know came second
in his Ferrari 250 LM behind Graham Hill, this time in a Ferrari
P2/3. My day turned into a nightmare when the FIA scrutineers
found the Elites perspex side windows were a quarter of an inch
thinner than the homologation papers specified and the fuel tank
over large. We ran around and effected the required alterations.
Not a good weekend.
My involvement in the sport and getting to know so
many fascinating people was a privilege.
Editors
Note: Many thanks to Bob for this fascinating, amusing,
poignantly reminiscent series on early racing. Love your dry
wit!
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Morgan Club passing
through Port Alfred
by Bob Duggan
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The Cape Mog as it is styled is the Western Cape
Register of The South African Morgan Sports Car Club and on
this occasion ventured into the Eastern Cape for a week's fun
and games, spending the concluding two nights at Port Alfred's
St Andrews Hotel. When I arrived in the MGB GT it was all I
could do to convince the thoroughly pleasant Hotel Trainee that
I wasn't driving a Morgan and didn't qualify to enter the
Morgans’ designated parking area. Maybe all sports cars to him
look the same.
Thirteen
brilliantly presented Morgans arrived together with two support
SUVs. I think that the only use these were put to was to
transport any overflow baggage for even the highly
sophisticated Areo models had minimal boot space, the three
Areo models in the car park were 4.8litre BMW V8 powered
providing Super Car performance.
I noticed with some amusement the 'No Step'
message stencilled on the passengers side running board, yes a
running board indeed. Plus 4s were in evidence powered by
four cylinder engines, maybe Ford 1999cc but as the company
used a variety of four cylinder motors I don’t know for
sure. Plus 8s with either Rover 3.5 or alternatively the
3.9 litre motor under their louvred bonnets were also on
display. I gather that bonnet louvres were responsible for the
only slight problem encountered during the week for one
of the Moggies had starting difficulties following a rain
downpour en route. Bonnet louvres are designed to allow
the exit of hot air but seemingly serve a dual purpose.
Two
lovely four seat Plus 4s were noticed, one of which was I'm
told the oldest car there being born in 1971.
This
particular car boasted a luggage rack with a flat table top
surface doubtless doubling up as a picnic table. One
wonders whether a white table cloth was secreted in the lady's
handbag.
A brand new unregistered Roadster in a gorgeous maroon finish
couldn't fail to attract my attention. I understand that the
all aluminium bodied car is fitted with a 3.7 litre Ford V6
churning out 289bhp, takes 5.5 seconds to 100kph and will
set you back well over R1million if you want one.
Visually Morgans have changed little over
fifty years, a few inches wider to accommodate larger engines,
front and rear track dimensions also increased, as well as much
improved interior trim and seats, which to me were especially
inviting although regrettably I wasn’t invited to put them to
the test. Apart from engine, transmission changes the
front end has been beefed up or brought up to date. Front hubs
and kingpins are now more robust with rack and pinion
steering replacing the previously fitted cam and peg box. Other
than that the unique sliding pillar arrangement remains as it
was in 1913.
Let’s hope that the Cape Mog crowd enjoyed
themselves and will visit Port Alfred again.
(Ed:
Many thanks to Bob Duggan for a most interesting review. That
must have brought back quite a few memories for you Bob...)
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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 how to find our website?
Go to Google, type in AVCMC and enter.
On my pc the first four entries are for our club.
The fifth entry is for the Albany Vintage and Classic Motorcycle
Club in Australia. I did contact them a few years ago and we
emailed back and forth a few times.
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Why Men Shouldn't
Write Advice Columns
sent in by Joe
Janssens
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Dear John
I hope you can help me. The other day I set off for work leaving
my husband in the house watching TV. My car stalled and then it
broke down about a mile down the road and I had to walk back to
get my husband's help. When I got home, I couldn't believe my
eyes. He was in the bedroom with our neighbour's daughter!
I am 32, my husband is 34 and the neighbour's daughter is 19. We
have been married for 10 years. When I confronted him, he broke
down and admitted they had been having an affair for the past 6
months. He won't go to counseling and I'm afraid I'm a wreck and
need advice urgently. Can you please help?
Sincerely, Sheila
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Dear Sheila
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused
by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that
there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the
vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all
grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem,
it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low
delivery pressure to the injectors.
I hope this helps
John
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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: Dave Hawkins
046 624 2214 or 082 453 2618
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 - Sleeping
Policemen
by Ron Gush
Elsewhere in this edition I touched on
speed-humps. Also known as sleeping policemen. I hate
speed-humps. They are a waste of brake linings and petrol. As for
these horrible little metal domes.....
Sure they reduce motorist speed - but only close to the hump.
Movable speed traps (and fines) work much better, but we all know
that they have been hated by motorists ever since the spark plug
was invented.
Let me put it this way. Have you noticed that most cars obey the
80km/h speed limit at Colchester? We didn't like it. We got
fined. The authorities could have achieved much the same effect
with speed-humps. Would we have liked that?
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Someone sent me that a while ago. Now what could
have called it to mind? Must have been some act of humungous
stupidity on the R72......
Have a great Christmas - and beware of the other fools on the
road.
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