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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter November/December 2009
Rootes of the Pacific Northwest
In this issue:President’s report… page 1Calendar of Events… page 2&3Next PTC Meeting… page 7Tech Tip… page 9&10
Common Rootes
Sunbeam is the featured marque. We have learned that Sunbeam will be the featured marque at the Maryhill Hill Climb next fall. Dates are October 2 & 3, 2010. Each year they feature a special marque and this is our year. All Sunbeams, and for that matter all Rootes cars, are welcome. There is a car show at the Maryhill Museum on Saturday, and the hill climb is on Sunday. The whole weekend is a party. For those that haven’t been there,
Maryhill is in the Goldendale area, and is best known for its replica Stonehenge. I suspect that our own Starke Shelby and Rodger Flescher will be running the hill climb so we have some locals to root (OK I had to work for that one) for. This event looks like a natural for the club. We have the opportunity to have a three day weekend event, much like a Sunbeam Northwest, without much work on our part. Put the dates on your calendar and we will plan to have a big contingent of PTC members at Maryhill next Fall. More details will be in following newsletters.
Craig Burlingame led the few of us that braved the elements on the Last Dash tour in October. I thank Craig for continuing to do this even with the relatively light turnout. I remember one year where I was huddled under the hand dryer in the rest room trying to get warm. This year was far better, with mild weather, nice roads and good companions. We
Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
finished in Black Diamond at the bakery with a fine dinner. Three Tigers, two Hillmans, and one regular car turned out. Not a single Alpine to be found; not our usual mix of vehicles for this type event. The tour was in honor of Craig’s late wife, Nancy, and was a fitting tribute to Nancy, who left us way too young. You had to be there to understand, but if the music from Deliverance had been playing during part of the tour, it would not have been inappropriate.
Our holiday party will be the next official club activity. I hope that you will come out for this. I know those of us that were at the September BBQ had a great time, and isn’t that why we all joined PTC? Look elsewhere in the newsletter for the details for the holiday party. The hosts expend a lot of effort for our party, so let’s show them that we care.
Again, I talked about it last month, but my goal for the coming year is to get us out driving our cars more often. I told you that every year I set the trip odometer of my Tiger. Well, in 2009 I am already well past my mileage in 2008. I hope that 2010 will be even higher.
We have a few events already planned for 2010. Know of something not on our list? Then simply let us know. We recognize that not everyone can make every event, but our goal is to give you enough events not to be ashamed of the yearly mileage on your Rootes vehicle.
See you on the road.
Kevin Jewell
2009-2010 Executive and Officers
President: Kevin Jewell12120 – 202nd Ave. SEWoodinville, WA [email protected]
VP/Newsletter Kathryn Fitzgerald/Mike Clark
4723 Woodside PlaceWest Vancouver, BC V7S [email protected]
Secretary: Jim Clark17711 – 10th Ave. NWShoreline, WA [email protected]
Treasurer: Bob Bennion37904 Fawn Rd NE.Hansville, WA [email protected]
Chairpersons
Activities: Larry & Eileen Ingersoll 29206 61st Ave S Auburn, WA 98001 253-946-0762 [email protected]
Membership: Budd Bennion 14720 30th NE Seattle, WA 98155 206-364-8478 [email protected]
Historian: Brett Simpson 10005 SE 267th St. Kent, WA 98031 253-859-5096 [email protected]
Are you buying, selling or trading? Email us at [email protected]
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 2009Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
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January 2009Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri
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February 2009Sun
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Laps from the Past
The intent of this column is to report on what the club was doing in past years. Is it no surprise that not much has changed, after all we are a car club.
Feb, 1991: Event chair Brian Doan reports that PTC is the sponsor the Sunbeam Northwest this year. Brian also gave us a follow up the Leavenworth rally planned by Ken and Vicky Neiman with Dick Sanders. Eight cars from
PYC participated last fall including Norm Stone from Canada and Bill and Sharon Smith from Oregon.
Feb, 1996: Dave Dunn is president and Anita Dunn is secretary. Are they related? Once again PTC is looking forward to sponsoring Sunbeam Northwest. This year it will be in Centralia. The Bennion brothers are the main planners. Dave puts out the plea for a concours chair. The host hotel is the Travelodge at the ridiculous cost of $48/night. Larry Atkisson has a tech tip in the newsletter regarding the Tiger electrical system. There is some implication that the electrical system was a bit primitive, although the switch to an alternator was promoted.
Feb 2001: Newsletter is actually for both January and February. The meeting is hosted at President Budd Bennion’s garage. PTC hosted an evening with Tiger GT-2 racer and Solo II National Champion Barry Schoenberger at the 125th Street Grill. Dick Sanders continues to submit his “Fill ‘er Up column.
FALL TOURSome photos of the fall tour, organized by Craig Burlingame;
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
PTC Holiday Party
Our thanks go to Max & Kathryn Pahmeier for once again hosting the annual PTC holiday party on Dec 12. They have the perfect host house, with a large kitchen & dining area, as it seems we as a culture seem to congregate in those areas. Hollie Sanders led our white elephant exchange. It is always amazing to see that some of our “Don’t Wants” can be coveted by someone else. For all his efforts on the past SUNI events, Dick Sanders presented Max with a framed Amtrak poster that just happened to feature a Sunbeam. Perhaps only coincidently, Sunbeam was named passenger train that operated between Houston and Dallas from 1925 to 1955, by the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. Some years ago, I remember being in a railroad memorabilia store in Leavenworth and picking up a Sunbeam script for my PTC jacket.
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
PTC Newsletter - by E-Mail?
Do you wish you got your newsletter earlier? Well, we can solve that very easily. If you are willing to receive your newsletter via email, we can probably save at least a week in the time it takes for you to get the newsletter. That week is what it takes us to print the newsletter, collate, and mail. Sound good? Simply confirm with our newsletter editors your current email address to ([email protected]). Not only will you get the info earlier, but you will help the club control our costs. Don’t forget that if you didn’t get the email reminders about the fall tour organized by Craig Burlingame, that you should also forward your new email address to [email protected] and kevin&[email protected].
Remember that we promise not to spam you, we only want to be sure you get the club notices…Kevin
SAPHIRE IN THE ROUGH
All of the features of a Tiger that make it so thrilling to drive also contribute to the rarity of finding one unmolested and unmodified. So much power in such a small package with no shortage of add-on mods together with bias ply tires makes it rare to see a Tiger in all its original wares! Thankfully there are still a few of these around.
As I sat on my couch one Saturday morning in January of 1991, the phone rang and it was Larry Atkisson. He had phoned to tell me something about my '65 Tiger that was in the early stages of restoration in his garage. As our conversation progressed he mentioned that he had received a call from an Allan Bryant who had a '66 Tiger and was interested in possibly selling it. Larry went on to say the car sounded very original, he thought he knew the car from seeing it quite awhile ago but he wasn't sure if it was the same one. At any rate he wondered if I knew anyone who would be interested and if I did he would give them Allan's phone number. I said I didn’t but I would keep my ears open. As I hung up the phone I began to recall two very original Tigers that for various reasons I hadn't purchased and for that I had always kicked myself. I called Larry back and said I knew someone interested in the original Tiger - me!
I reached Allan the next day and struck up a friendly conversation with him. He explained to me that he was the original owner and had bought the car with his business partner as a weekend driver. The two of them had owned a restaurant together named, The Fishbowl. The car had only traveled 43,000 miles since new and was mostly driven around town and a couple of times to California for vacation. His partner had recently passed away and he was getting married, for the first time, and was going to be traveling in a motor home, not a Tiger. He felt the time had come for the car to pass on to someone who would spend the time necessary to maintain and enjoy the car. He was concerned that the car would go to
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
someone who knew and appreciated these rare beasts. I assured him I didn't have any interest in modifying or molesting an original Tiger. I made arrangements to meet him during my lunch hour the next day.
When I arrived at Allan's home, the BRG Tiger was sitting in the driveway as Al was wiping it down from giving it a fresh wash. I introduced myself and proceeded around the car. It didn't take long to see just how original this car was! Original paint, original soft top, original wood steering wheel, original upholstery, original spare tire! Under the hood found more authenticity. All original hoses, air cleaner and element (dirty of course), intake manifold, carburetor, distributor, oil filter assembly, radiator, generator, exhaust manifolds (with bolt keepers) it was very apparent that the engine had not been out of the car. I couldn't believe my eyes; this was truly an original car. I had prepared myself for another one of those, "all original," complete disasters and needless to say was quite impressed and excited. Allan didn't know what price he wanted for the car, he said he needed to do a little research first and would get back to me with a number. Three or four days went by with no call from Allan, the anticipation was growing intensely. Had he forgotten me or had he sold the car to someone else? A few days seemed like weeks. I wasn't going to relax if I didn't call him. When I reached Allan he hadn't had time to do any research yet but wouldn't sell to anyone without talking to me first. I at least got some comfort for awhile. Al finally called me and we struck a deal, without much negotiation. I felt his price was fair considering the originality of the car.
Anita and I arrived on the weekend to complete the transaction. Allan had pulled out his file on the car and showed me the original registration certificate. They had bought the car on April 4, 1967 for a total of $3,690 from Koler Motors. (…the local dealer in Seattle at the time) In the folder I found the original sales brochure, the original warranty book and owners handbook, a Lucas, "World Service Organization 1966"
brochure along with most of the service records. He also had kept a number of the expired yearly registration certificates. In addition they had installed a Craig radio in 1976 and the owners’ manual and receipt were also in the file along with the keys that locked the radio into a mounting bracket (the radio could be removed from the car and would run on batteries! great for picnics). Obviously, they had taken great care of their, "weekend toy", and had all their receipts to prove it. Before we left, Al asked if he could take the Tiger around the block one last time. I'm sure he wanted to be alone to say his goodbye's as this car had obviously contained many fond memories for him.
It was a clear and cold winter day, as I drove home there was a hard pull to the right and the car was all over the road. During the test drive we hadn't driven on the highway. At first I thought the road was slick but soon realized that was not the cause. I began to think I had bought a lemon, or lime in this case. After I settled down I remembered there were still Firestone 500 bias ply tires on! This explained the, "all over the road" handling. The hard pull hopefully was just the alignment.
After transferring the title, the first stop was the tire store. I put some new rubber on, had the front end aligned which cured all the problems. The car winds out so smooth, the gear changes are like butter and it has that smell. It's hard to explain, but it has the smell that these cars had when new. I don't know if it is from the jute backing on the carpets or what.
Thanks to: Dave Dunn
Next PTC meeting: Sunday, January 17 at 12:00 -2:00. We’ll present the Boards’ plans for 2010 with Turkey Chili and Cornbread and maybe a tech session. It will be at the Jewell home at 12120 202nd Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98077
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
Fill ‘er Up!By: Dick Sanders
A couple of months ago I wrote about the 19 known current and former PTC members who’d attended Seattle’s Queen Anne High School. Make it an even 20, apologies to Beryl Carpenter, whom I really should have remembered. Beryl and husband Rob recently moved to Spain for a year.
Auction Action: The long-planned LeMay auto museum, to be built next to the Tacoma Dome, is inching closer to reality. A fall auction of surplus cars in their collection raised $1.1 million towards their goal. Three Rootes vehicles were on the block. A restorable ’48 Phase II Minx went for $3,744 and a decent-condition ’65 Series IV Alpine fetched $5,850. Top dollar was paid for a very straight 1938 Humber Pullman, long a part of LeMay’s Parkland, Wash. estate display, at $22,230.
Xmas ideas - Looking for a 2010 calendar, featuring 12 of your favorite Rootes-mobiles? A good one is available at Lulu.com. Quality photographs throughout, including one of PTC member Craig Burlingame’s Mk VIII Minx convertible.
Last summer, three rare Rootes 16mm films went up for auction on eBay. All from 1959, they each promoted a separate car in Rootes’ line-up: the Hillman Minx, Sunbeam Rapier, and the all-new Sunbeam Alpine. The three films, in good or very good condition, sold for a total of around $700. The films could easily have been stashed away in a private collection and never seen again except to a select few. Instead, the buyer, who is an enthusiast of “orphan cars,” digitized the films and is now making DVD’s available through his company website at www.torq-o.com. Though the Alpine introduction film is available on a VHS compilation tape from Sunbeam Specialties, the Minx and Rapier promos have long been out of
circulation. Unlike many old tapes, the transfer quality here is exceptional.
Fans of the pre-Audax-bodied line of Sunbeams will cheer the arrival of a new book devoted solely to their cars. Sunbeam-Talbot and Alpines in Detail – 1938-57, by Anders Ditley Clausager, is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com for $37.99+frt.
A Sunbeam Tiger just showed up on a piece of modern national advertising. No, not the rear overhead photo of the couple riding in a Tiger, which has been used in magazine ads over the past three years to sell everything from insurance to credit unions to GPS devices. A new art poster from Amtrak, advertising their auto carrier service between Washington, DC and Orlando, Florida, features a vivid red Tiger in the foreground. I wrote to the well-known artist, Michael Schwab, asking why he chose the Tiger for the subject. Schwab replied:
I was originally asked to portray a ‘generic’ sports car for the AMTRAK ‘Auto Train’ ad campaign a couple of years ago.
In addition to the fact that I am a Tiger fan, I thought a Tiger would be obscure and unrecognizable - so I used my friend’s car as the model.
I revised a few bumper details to make it more generic . . . but, I obviously didn’t fool you guys!
There were originally two backgrounds: Washington DC architecture and Florida palm trees.
We would be willing to print and ship unique, fine art quality, signed 12 x 16” prints of either version on archival art paper for you and your group for $125 each. Sincerely,Michael.
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
MICHAEL SCHWAB STUDIO415/ 257-5792http://www.michaelschwab.com
Good-quality posters on thick stock are also available through Amtrak’s website: http://store.amtrak.com/
We need your help! If you know of any Sunbeam Events, please contact your Activities Co-coordinator and we’ll get it in the newsletter.Want to avoid mail delays? Receive your next issue of the PTC Newsletter emailed to you on-line. Contact us at [email protected] with your email address
We want to hear your great stories! Do you have a great story to share? Send us the details with your photos. Let us know!
DO WE HAVE YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS AND EMAIL? HELP US KEEP OUR RECORDS UP TO DATE AND SEND YOUR CHANGES TO BUDD OR THE EDITOR.
Do you have an interesting tech tip to share with the readers? We are always interested in any submissions.We want to hear from you! Share your stories with the PTC members. We are always interested in any submissions.
Renewing your membership?Members are asked to observe their renewal dates on each month’s address label. The date indicates when your dues are due to continue receiving the PTC Newsletter. Please send all membership correspondence to Budd at: 14720 30th NE, Seattle, WA. 98155 (206)364-8478 or via email: [email protected] Membership fee $32.00 US/35.00 Foreign for foreign members.Canadian Funds Payment to PTCWe ask each Canadian member to calculate the current exchange rate into US funds. Example: dues today $35.00USD=38.50 CAD (based on 10% exchange rate)Make payment payable to Pacific Tiger Club and we will process via our bank. Exchange rates are constantly changing. For assistance you may use the following website: http://www.xe.com
Rob Carpenter sent us a this gorgeous photo with Mt. Rainier in the back ground as he was out for a drive.
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
“Aging”Some people
try to turn back their odometers. not me!
I want people to know 'why' I look this way.
I've traveled a long wayand some of the roads weren't paved.
TECH TIP
“Photo metrics” combined with candlepower determine the lamp's performance (luminosity). Photo metrics is how light is distributed and candlepower is the amount of light emitted from the bulb. Photo metrics is determined by flutes behind the lens or mirrors on the reflector. Distributed light patterns can go from a pencil beam to a wide flood. A smooth parabolic reflector with a clear lens produces a pencil beam. A fluted lens produces a flood light due to prisms on the inside .of the lamp that bend or refract the light. Refracted light is yellowed, reducing the light's brightness.Modern-technology lamps have clear lenses with mirrored reflectors. This produces a dense light pattern with whiter light that reaches farther down the road than a fluted lens lamp. 114 bulbs come in Halogen (Iodine) or Xenon (an inert gas). Xenon is about 30 percent brighter than iodine. Some bulbs have diachronic mirrors (colors) to change the wavelength of light, making the road more visible. Others have blue filters to make them
look like H.I.D. (mentioned below). Filters, like sunglasses, reduce the amount of light emitted from the bulb, making it dimmer Blue lights on some cars are H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge), which is an arc lamp, deriving its light from an arc jumping from one electrode to the other, inside a quartz glass tube filled with xenon gas and metallic salts. Most bulbs are incandescent lights and have a thin, wound filament that heats up and glows inside a bulb or sealed beam, filled with various gasses. H.I.D. is 3 to 4 times brighter than iodine and draws less power (wattage) than incandescent lamps… www.headwinds.com
Thanks to Bob Bennion
Profile your car!We would like to have a profile of your car, even if everyone knows who you are. Please email your profile to Mike & Kathryn. New to the PTC, Let us know the details, as we would like to do a feature article on your car!
Vintage Racing
2010 SOVERN EVENT CALENDAR
Yet to be posted.
All vintage events sponsored by SOVREN. More info for these and other NW vintage events can be found at: http://www.sovren.org/
We want to hear your great stories! Do you have a great story to share? Send us the details with your photos. Let us know!
Want to avoid mail delays? Receive your next issue of the PTC Newsletter emailed to you on-line. Contact us at [email protected] with your email address
FOR SALE:
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
1963 Sunbeam Alpine - $14,500.00 (Clackamas, OR.)1963 Sunbeam Alpine (English) car. Orange / Sunset Red color with matching aluminum hardtop. Chrome wire wheels and a SS luggage rack make this car a real show stopper. A great runner and touring unit with a 1725, 4 cylinder engine with 32-36 Weber carburetor, 105 amp chrome alternator, 5 blade light gage cooling fan. 4 speed with Overdrive.
Like new steering joints and wheel bearings. New exhaust system, oil cooler and all running gear has less than 10,000 miles since new overhaul. Tires are in good condition and all electrics work, even has an optional back up light. All glass is in very good condition, the Plexiglas in the hard top has some scratches. It has a professional built roll bar mounted into the lower frame. The hard top is removable, and has a like new soft top stored inside. . Serious interest only please! Cash speaks. Please call for an appointment. I can send a CD with video and photos.503-698-7549
1966 SUNBEAM TIGER MARK 1A
Serial# B382002277 JAL # 662297Color Code 86 Current Color – Forest GreenEngine # 7172B19KC (260 Cubic Mostly Stock) TAQ # 0641, Issued May 2007Description and Features:Former California Car, previously owned in the Los Angeles area. Original factory hardtop, black. Black leather interior. 15” Panasport wheels with 2 BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 195/50R15 “V” speed tires (Front) 2 BF Goodrich “G-Force Sport 205/50R15 “V” speed tires (Rear) purchased June 2006, less than 1000 miles.
Upgrades and changes made since 2005 purchase:Top loader transmission rebuilt and gearing changed from close ratio to wide ratio - High volume oil pump - New radiator with 6 bladed fan - Headers and old Edelbrock style medium riser manifold, ceramic coated - New Centre Force clutch and pilot bearing - New Pertronix ignition with 8mm ignition wires - Rebuild of brake servo and install steel braided lines - New remote oil filter assembly with steel braided hoses - Miscellaneous new rubber seal, grommets etc. Work was completed in 2007.
Gas tanks and pipes removed, cleaned and coated, July 2006. 2” exhaust system with Magniflow mufflers installed in 2007. New Carter fuel pump installed, 2007. New wood dash board with cubby door - New cubby box - New wiring harness and cleanup of wiring under hood - Wiring redone to original specs - Cleaning of all gauges including painting of
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Pacific Tiger Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009
needles - New soft top hardware. Work completed in 2008
ALSO - BIG TEX 70 CAR HAULER
7,000 lb - 2006 Car hauler Model # 70CH-16. Purchase price July 2006 - $3225.00 Cdn. Asking price - $2400 US includes all tie downs and straps.
Asking price for both the car and the trailer (outfitted for the car) $39,500.00USTiger purchased without the trailer, asking $38,000US
Contact: Bob Seifert, [email protected]: 1 250 629-3184 Pender Island, B.C.
Buddy and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year, and every year Buddy would say, “Edna, I'd like to ride in that helicopter.” Edna always replied, “I know Buddy, but that helicopter ride is fifty bucks and fifty bucks is fifty bucks.” One year Buddy and Edna went to the fair and Buddy said, “Edna, I'm 85 years, old if I don't ride that helicopter I might never get another chance.” To this, Edna replied, “Buddy that helicopter ride is fifty bucks and fifty bucks is fifty bucks.” The pilot overheard the couple and said, “Folks I'll make you a deal, I'll take the both of you for a ride, if you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word I won't charge you a penny! But, if you say one word its fifty dollars.” Buddy and Edna agreed and up they went.
The pilot did all kinds of fancy manoeuvres, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Buddy and said, “By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't, I'm impressed!” Buddy replied, “Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Edna fell out, but you know "fifty bucks is fifty bucks!'
REGALIA
Hats, Hats, Hats… We got ‘em! $15.00 +2.50 for shipping, all have the "Pacific Tiger Club" Logo on the front, some have Tiger or Alpine on the side and some have no added logo on the side. Make all forms of payment to "Pacific Tiger Club" and mail to Budd Bennion, 14720 30th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98155-7512.
Save postage by picking up regalia at club meeting
Fleece jackets $30 + postage $4Polo shirts- Lady's = $20 + postage $3 Men’s = $15 + postage $3
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Next Meeting: Jan 17thPacific Tiger Club37624 Vista Key Drive NEHansville, WA 98340
