EUROBODALLA CLASSIC AND VINTAGE M

OTOR

CLU

B of

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE CLASSIC AND VINTAGE MOTOR CLUB OF EUROBODALLA

Volume 13 No. 3 Published bi-monthly May/Jun 2014

Classic and Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla incorporated PO Box 684 Moruya NSW 2537 – www.cvmce.org.au

COMMITTEE is listed below: President: Marian Pearson 0427 267 846 – romar49@bigpond.net.au Vice President: Graham Wilkie (Lorraine) 4474 5655 – glwilkie1@bigpond.com Treasurer & Public Officer Paul Johnson (May) 4473 9431 – pjoh1350@gmail.com Secretary: Huw Owen-Jones (Barbara) 4474 3237 – huw@acslink.net.au Events Director: Ward Hack (Lin) 0408 244 584 – eghlah@bigpond.com Editor & Publicity Officer: Jim Gibson (Jill) 4472 4345 – gibbos@southernphone.com.au Membership: May Johnson (Paul) 4473 9431 – pjoh1350@gmail.com

Regalia: Bill & Colleen McCallum 4474 2397 Librarian: Trevor Moore (Georgie) 4473 9891 Life member: Stuart Kendell Vehicle Inspectors: Gordon Halliday (Bikes) 4473 8808 Andrew Green (Bikes) 4474 2886 Andrew Redwin (Bikes) 4473 8062 Noel Hand (Older cars) 4474 2128 Dean Price – 4474 2962 David Nettle – 4474 4293 Barry Apps – 4471 1294 Volker Oldenburg – 4472 9288 Graeme Symons – 4476 4827 Web mistress: Wendy Simes (Eric) – 4473 9696 wendysimes@bigpond.com

‘Bush Council’ Delegate – Mark Beaver – mcbeav@ozmail.com.au – 4474 3461 Publisher: Classic and Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla incorporated. The spirit of the club is: The preservation & enjoyment of classic motor vehicles

Printed by esyprint – 17 Mirrabooka Avenue Moruya – 4474 2195. Disclaimer: While this publication attempts to ensure accuracy of information contained here in – the CVMCE does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors, or any outcome that may result from them. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the club or its members.

Camaraderie is what belonging to a motor club is all about. Meetings: First Monday each month (except January and November) 7:30pm sharp Moruya Bowling Club 38 Shore Street Moruya. Coffee Saturdays: Air Raid Tavern Moruya and Bodalla Old Bakery Bodalla. Club plates please sign our club’s register held at the venue. Regular runs: At least one Sunday each month and every Wednesday. Start (unless otherwise advised) is at 10am sharp behind the Adelaide Hotel Moruya – motorcycles, cars and moderns – all are welcome. Club plate owners for legality it is extremely important you see a Run Captain and sign the run sheet – if not, you leave yourself and the club exposed as illegal. Membership: Due each year 31 October – Annual fee $35.00 – joining fee $15.00 Joint membership – spouse/partner $40.00 – “ “ $30.00

COVER: Allan Hawkins’ 80-year-old three wheel Morgan

CVMCE Historic Vehicle Through the windscreen Registration Policy

Until next time keep those ole wheels rollin’ and enjoy the ride – Ed

Please support all our advertisers where- and whenever you can

IMPORTANT INFORMATION • You must be a financial member of

CVMCE. • Your vehicle must undergo a safety check.

This can be completed by a designated Club Vehicle Inspector, OR you can obtain a pink slip.

• With this done the final part of the process is to have an authorised committee Club official sign and stamp the Historic Vehicle Declaration form, certifying both vehicle eligibility AND your current financial status.

• If your safety inspection is by a designated Club Vehicle Inspector, this will satisfy a committee Club official that your vehicle is also eligible for historic registration and your vehicle will not need to be sighted by a committee Club official for Historic Vehicle Declaration certification.

• If you elect to obtain a pink slip for your safety inspection, a Club official must now sight the vehicle and determine its eligibility for historic registration, prior to having your Historic Vehicle Declaration certified. All designated Club Vehicle Inspectors are also deemed to be Club officials, and in most cases will determine vehicle eligibility. The committee Club officials authorised to stamp your Historic Vehicle Declaration form, retain the authority to certify vehicle eligibility. The committee club officials authorising your historic vehicle form, retain the authority to certify vehicle eligibility, but will only do so if familiar with your type of vehicle.

• In all cases a Club Vehicle Inspector is entitled to seek the counsel of one or more of his colleagues if vehicle eligibility is questionable.

• Under CVMCE policy, a committee Club official is not authorised to certify your Historic Vehicle Declaration form until the above has been complied with. Committee Club officials are aware of this sequence of requirements, and are bound by CVMCE policy to adhere to the guidelines.

Sir Jack Brabham AO, OBE, triple Formula 1 World Champion, has died at the age of 88. Sir Jack passed away peacefully at his Gold Coast, home on 19 May 2014.

Formula 1 World Champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966 and double Constructors' Champion (1966 and 1967), Sir Jack was one of the most accomplished drivers and team owners in the history of the sport. The first driver to be knighted for services to motor sport, 'Black Jack' rose from racing midgets on dirt ovals in Australia to dominate global motor sport. His first two titles in the Cooper Climax marked the end for front-engine Formula 1 cars. The third made him the only driver in history to win a World Championship in a car of his own manufacture, the Brabham BT19 – a feat unlikely to ever be repeated. Acclaimed as a brilliant engineer, technological innovations brought about by the Brabham team helped to shape the sport today. Through his partnership with Ron Tauranac, over 500 Brabham racing cars were built from the team's British Surrey base in the 1960s alone, while the Brabham name continued in F1 for 30-years. Although Jack scored his final win in the 1970 South African Grand Prix, the legacy has continued with all three of his sons achieving their own global success, while third generation drivers Matthew and Sam are building their own notable racing careers. On behalf of the family, Jack's youngest son David said: "It's a very sad day for all of us. My father passed away peacefully at home at the age of 88 this morning. He lived an incredible life, achieving more than anyone would ever dream of and he will continue to live on through the astounding legacy he leaves behind." Sir Jack is survived by his wife, Lady Margaret, sons Geoff, Gary and David and their families.

President’s column | Bits and pieces 4

Greetings Fellow Motor Enthusiasts Hope you have all been caring for your beautiful vehicles and cruising at a safe speed not causing “PC Dibble” any trouble. Our Wednesday runs are still very popular and by all reports Wednesday 15th May was a great Sausage sizzle. The Narooma run in April to the Museum was sadly not well patronised, but those of us that went had a great time. The museum was really well put together, and morning tea was yummy. On Sunday 18th May we had the annual Mystery Bay BBQ. We had great attendance and the BBQ cooked expertly by Ward and his merry bunch of Chef’s made for a fun day Barry Apps braved the waves and reported the water was a balmy 20˚c. Ward is organising some great guest speakers who are all club members for the next few Monday meetings and if any of you would like your 15 mins to chat to the club please let Ward know and he will slot you in. Keep enjoying driving, have fun and keep warm over the winter months. Until next time, Marian P

___________________________________

Again the motorist ‘cops’ it in the wallet Look for abnormalities in the Armco safety rail. This one gets you and you don’t know where it was you were booked. This new style speed camera is on the highway leading into Cairns. It’s one of many that will be installed over the next 12-months throughout Queensland.

No doubt this revenue spinner will soon head south of the border, but at least in NSW we get a warning sign                 COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours. Now that winter is upon us – animals like to seek the warmth around vehicles, so always check around your vehicle before driving off.                        

A pause to remember 5

Ayrton Senna's death was the day Formula One stood still Twenty years ago, the Brazilian world champion climbed aboard a Grand Prix car for the final time – he has not been forgotten By: Nigel Roebuck on May 1, 2014 (A well-respected Formula One scribe) “If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs me my life, I hope it is in one go. I would not like to be in a wheelchair. I would not like to be in a hospital suffering from whatever injury it was. If I'm going to live, I want to live fully, very intensely, because I am an intense person. It would ruin my life if I had to live partially.” – Ayrton Senna Oh, that weekend in Imola, Italy, in 1994 … Formula One had become unused to tragedy, let alone tragedy on this scale. Not for 12-years had a driver lost his life at a Grand Prix, and for what seemed like a whole generation of racing people, the experience was new and shocking. Crashes never ceased, of course, for men are fallible, but everyone had grown used to feeling apprehension, then relief, as drivers walked away from them again and again. It was just so on the Friday of San Marino Grand Prix weekend when sophomore driver Rubens Barrichello launched his Jordan Grand Prix car off a curb and flew airborne, horrifyingly, into a tyre barrier. He was OK, somehow, but the next day Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger died instantly when his Simtek-Ford suffered a front-wing failure, pitching him hard into a concrete wall during qualifying. Three-time world champion Ayrton Senna, who had never before been present at a race where someone died, was distraught. Twenty-four hours later, Senna, too, was gone. Toward the exit of the flat-out Tamburello corner, a bumpy left-hander, his Williams-Renault veered suddenly to the right. Inconceivable as it seemed to so many, Ayrton got into a situation even he couldn't recover from; there were initial suggestions the car's steering failed, but subsequent investigations proved inconclusive and contradictory. The team's onboard telemetry said Senna was travelling at 193mph when he lost control. Deep black lines testified to violent braking as he realized he was in trouble, but there was little run-off area. Less than a second later, his Williams FW16 struck a concrete barrier at approximately 140mph. The right-front wheel flew back toward the cockpit, striking Senna's helmet. The blow was unsurvivable, just as with Mike Spence at Indianapolis back in 1968. “Tamburello was always a corner where your heart was in your throat,” said former world champion Keke Rosberg. “Because you knew, if you went off there, how you hit the wall was simply a matter of luck, good or bad.” After Imola we went to Monte Carlo, where a minute's silence was observed before the start, and there were tears on the grid. For the first time in 161 Grands Prix, Senna was not present; for the first time since 1988, someone else would win the Monaco Grand Prix. In terms of pure ability, Ayrton Senna da Silva – he went by Senna, his mother's maiden name, because Silva was common in his native Brazil – was a poet. As we remember him now, 20 years on, many suggest he was the greatest ever; none dispute he belongs in the pantheon with such as Tazio Nuvolari, Jim Clark, Alain Prost and his own personal god, Juan Manuel Fangio I have spent a fair portion of my life involved in motor racing and am a passionate fan of both motorcycle and open-wheel car racing – in my humble opinion Ayrton Senna was the greatest FI driver of the modern era – he was my hero! I saw him drive in Australia twice – once in 1985 when he set, what can only be described as an electric qualifying lap in Adelaide in charge of the No.12 black JPS Lotus. The next time again in Adelaide, but in a Williams in 1994 just before his untimely death on 1st May at Imola – I watched the TV screen that Sunday evening in disbelief. A week later Dario Faria, a friend in Brazil, sent me the Sao Paulo newspaper with Ayrton’s accident on the front page – with a note simply saying, ‘No Words’ – Ed.

Bits and pieces 6

Mystery of the Traub Motorcycle By Matt Williams In 1967, a plumber doing renovations of an apartment building outside Chicago tore down a brick wall and found what would prove to be a baffling mystery to vintage motorcycle enthusiasts – a one-of-a-kind motorcycle bearing 1917 plates and the name "Traub". The building’s elderly owner admitted that his son had stolen the bike before going off to WWI, never to return. But where the bike came from and who made it remains an unknown to this day. Currently residing in the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, the Traub is considered by many to not only be the rarest motorcycle in their collection, but in the world.

  The Traub was sold to Torillo Tacchi, a bicycle shop owner in Chicago after its discovery, who later sold it to Bud Ekins – famous as Steve McQueen’s stuntman – while Ekins was on the set of the Blues Brothers movie in the late 1970s. The Traub was later sold to collector and restorer, Richard Morris, who then sold it to Wheels Through Time Museum curator, Dale Walksler, in 1990. It has been on permanent display in the museum collection ever since.   Don't think this unique motorcycle is merely a museum piece though. Walksler rides the Traub fairly regularly. When asked about the engine components, he enthusiastically replies,

“Everything inside the engine is just magnificent. The pistons are handmade, and have gap-less cast iron rings, the engineering and machining being simply years ahead of their time.

"When comparing other top motorcycle makes and models of the era, the Traub has no equal. Comprised of a sand-cast, hand-built, 80cid side valve engine. It has the ability to reach speeds in excess of 85mph with ease," says Walksler.   Aside from its few off-the-shelf components, the Traub has many unique handmade features. The three-speed transmission is thought to be one of the first of its kind and the rear brake, a dual-acting system that employs a single cam that is responsible for pushing an internal set of shoes, while pulling an external set, has never been seen on any other American motorcycle. "For a machine to have such advanced features, unparalleled by other motorcycles of the same era, is truly outstanding," says Walksler. "It's my opinion that the Traub was an attempt at a new breed of motorcycle. But how on earth could a machine have been produced in such great form, with capabilities that far exceed that of any comparable machine, without the knowledge of the rest of the motorcycle industry during that time."   The hunt for the Traub's elusive origin hasn't stopped. "While we may never know why the machine was placed behind that wall, we do hope to one day find out more about its history and the genius that created it," says Walksler

Bits and pieces 7

The flying Lotus motorcycle Black-and-gold JPS Lotuses were a dominant force on the F1 tracks of the 1970s. Axel Budde, founder of Hamburg-based motorcycle customiser Kaffeemaschine, has applied this iconic colour scheme to his latest Moto Guzzi café racer creation…

Less than two months ago, the lid was lifted on the official Lotus motorbike. Avoiding its high-tech approach and futuristic design, Budde has instead remained faithful to the classic café racer appearance for his homage to Colin Chapman’s legendary racing team. Budde developed the concept at the request of his Berlin-based client Arnd Rohrlapper: “My initial idea was to create a two-wheeled counterpart to the 1978 F1 title-winning JPS Lotus,” explains Budde. “The customer liked the idea and gave me a free hand – he’s now so enthusiastic about it that he’s asked us to paint his helmet to match.” Beginning life as a Moto Guzzi Le Mans 3, the bike was given a complete overhaul of the drivetrain, with the engine being rebuilt. The exhaust system is custom built and based on an original 1970s racing item, while the tank is a Magni replica. Many other parts were modified or built by Kaffeemaschine from scratch; the end result is a truly commendable tribute to one of the greatest F1 teams (& liveries) ever to exist    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Plus 8 Speedster For 100-years, Morgan has been manufacturing cars at its factory on Pickersleigh Road in Malvern, England (see page 12). In celebration, the company has released the Speedster: a pared-back version of its Plus 8 roadster. Limited to 100 examples, the Plus 8 Speedster recalls the days when racing cars were little more than stripped-down road cars with a number painted on the door. This is augmented by way of 'eccentric' styling features (Morgan’s words, not ours), of which our favourites are the steelie-style alloy wheels. Beneath the bonnet –

fastened with a leather strap in another reference to bygone racing cars – is a 4.8-litre V8 produced by BMW. Placed at the front of Morgan’s latest aluminium chassis, it’ll be good for 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds before topping out at 148mph. The first of the Morgan Plus 8 Speedsters will enter production at the Pickersleigh Road plant in June, priced at £69,995   HOW THE HECK DID JESUS FIND GUYS NAMED “PETER, PAUL, JOHN, JAMES, MATTHEW, ANDREW, PHILLIP, THOMAS & SIMON” IN THE MIDDLE EAST??  

Bits and pieces 8 Plymouth catches a Barracuda On April Fools’ Day, 1964, Chrysler in the USA gathered the media to see its new sporty, compact two-door hardtop, the 1964 Plymouth Valiant Barracuda. Based on the plain, simple Valiant, the Barracuda featured the largest rear window ever used on a production vehicle at the time and a fold-down rear seat, which added immensely to the car’s versatility. Two weeks later Ford released the Mustang and for a long time the Barracuda lived in the shadow of its rival. The reason is as simple as it was visible. Chrysler cuts costs in the styling area and did not differentiate the Barracuda too greatly from the Valiant. Ford however, took a bigger risk and radically reshaped the Falcon into the Mustang. They reaped the reward with 400,000 sales in the first 12 months. The Barracuda managed a respectable 90,000. The Barracuda name came from John ‘Dick’ Samsen, one of the principal stylists of the car. Chrysler executives originally wanted to call it the Panda, but Samsen and his mates believed a stronger name was needed and kicked up a fuss.

The rear window glass was a technological triumph for it suppler Pittsburgh Plate and Glass (PPG). It was the largest piece of glass used on a car at the time, and Samsen says they had a lot of trouble with it. PPG was not able to hold the shape in production and it had more of a bubble shape than was originally intended, according to Samsen. The glass in the advertisements and brochures was photo-shopped to look smoother  

Another automotive half centurion Fifty years ago, a surfboard-making, Steinbeck-quoting beach bum by the name of Bruce Meyers pushed out of his Newport Beach garage ‘Old Red’, the first fiberglass dune buggy in the world. Meyers engineered a monocoque body out of fiberglass, attached to Volkswagen suspension points -- easy to build, relatively cheap and brimming with the potential for adventure. Meyers and his friend Ted Mangels drove ‘Old Red’ down the length of the Baja Peninsula, setting a record from Tijuana to La Paz. When people noticed, they reacted en masse. Meyers himself only built 6000-7000 Manx buggies before closing shop in 1971, but legions of copiers from around the world ripped off the Manx to the tune of more than 250,000 examples.

Meyers' inaugural running of Baja California lent its route to a new event that a handful of desert racers called the Mexican 1000, or as it’s know today, the most legendary off-road race in America – the Baja 1000  

NOW THAT’S A REAL A SIX-PACK!

Call 13 14 64 today to find out about our competitive home phone,

mobile and internet plans.

Bits and pieces 9  

Formula 3 overtaking manoeuvre Spanish driver, 17-year-old Alexander Toril, piloting a Dallara takes this unusual overtaking strategy when attempting to pass Australian Mitch Gilbert, also in a Dallara. It didn’t work, with both drivers retiring with damaged cars at the recent Pau round of the series in France   Porsche sued over 'Fast and Furious' actor Paul Walker's fatal crash Kristine Rodas, the widow of Roger Rodas -- who in November 2013 was killed along with actor Paul Walker in a Porsche Carrera GT crash -- filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the automaker, according to several media reports. The suit filed Monday 11 May in Los Angeles Superior Court against Porsche Cars North America says, Rodas was driving at 55mph, not in excess of 90mph, as the official crash investigators determined. It also says the vehicle lacked a proper crash cage and safety features in the fuel tank that could have saved the men. Finally, the suit claims a failure in the Porsche’s suspension forced it to career out of control in Santa Clarita, California, striking a lamppost and several trees before it came to rest and burst into flames. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Porsche Cars North America. “The Carrera GT was unsafe for its intended use by reason of defects in its manufacture, design, testing, component and constituents, so that it would not safely serve its purpose,” according to the suit. The post-crash investigation conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol concluded that Rodas was driving the car too fast, and did not identify any mechanical problems with the Carrera GT. The difference of opinion between the official crash investigators and those hired by Kristine Rodas’s attorney will be a big part of the case.

“We are very sorry for the Rodas and Walker families’ loss,” Porsche said in a prepared statement. “The crash was the subject of a detailed investigation by the proper authorities [L.A. County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol], and their investigation disproves the allegations in the lawsuit. The investigation found that driving at a high speed in a negligent manner caused the crash and concluded that there was no mechanical defect.”

Rodas and Walker co-owned an auto racing team/exotic car shop named ‘Always Evolving’. The two met almost a decade ago when Walker saw Rodas driving a Porsche GT3 he once owned. They became friends, then business partners. ‘Always Evolving’ and Walker’s estate are handling the sale of the late actor’s cars

Feature 10

By George – it’s a Morgan! Club member and Ducati aficionado Allan Hawkins, (see Classic Times March/April 2013) has wanted to bolt on a third wheel for many years, but a sidecar on a ‘Duke’ race bike would be ridiculous, let alone sacrilegious! So together with his partner-in-crime Trish, they have trawled the Internet for several years searching for their Holy Grail – a three-wheel Morgan. You see as both of Allan’s Ducatis are racing derivative bikes neither has a pillion and therefore excludes Trish. The Morgan however is

the best of both worlds, it has motorcycle engine, and accommodates two adults in sports car ilk. Plus owning one of these very smart little vehicles has been a dream of Allan’s for a very long time.

It is a 1934 model MX4 fitted standard with a 998cc Matchless water-cooled motorcycle engine (a JAP engine was an option). It’s stirred along by a three-speed forward and one reverse gearbox, and is chain-driven to a single rear wheel.

Getting acquainted When driving it you are as busy as a one arm paper hanger – the throttle control is a lever on the steering wheel and with the gearbox being non-synchromesh, it’s real juggling act to shift gears – in particular making a downshift as you have to steer it and control the engine rpm with your right hand and shift the gearstick with your left hand, making the obligatory engine rpm throttle blip all at the same time – some owners successfully race these machines!

Work in the cockpit can be quite intense Makin’ a deal Finally, around Christmas 2013, three Morgan three wheelers popped up on the Internet. One in Queensland that had been raced and was quite expensive, the second was in outer Western Sydney, with a third was overseas. So Allan’s digit hit the keys on his mobile phone in a flash and after some discussions, the one in Sydney appeared to be the best choice. However, there were 17 other interested parties (with one in England and one in the US). So the owner, Todd Hamilton, wanted some time to talk with the suitors and to weigh up his options after offers had been received. So it was early February before Allan was able to consummate a deal – and with a trailer he’d borrowed from club member George Cook, he and another club member Dave Hopkins headed west to collect the spoils. The seller, an 81-year-old Englishman had brought the car with him when he came to Australia in 1982. He had purchased it from a farmer in 1975 and had taken on an intense restoration program in order to bring the old girl back to its former glory, from its resting place in an English country garden. To his horror the farmer had wanted a section of flat steel, so he had tin snipped a large chunk out of the car’s tailpiece, in order to satisfy his requirements. The restoration of this beautiful red Morgan is nothing short of par excellence. Allan says, “Todd Hamilton is a motorcycle and racing car enthusiast and a long-term member of the Morgan Car Club. He has many great bikes, an open-wheel racing car and other vehicles at his property in Sydney – and in spite of his age has a couple restoration projects on the go. “I am absolutely stoked at having fulfilled my dream of owning this great little car, and I reckon it is the finest example of a 1934 model Morgan MX4 available,” smiles Allan

Feature 11

This disk on the side of Allan’s Morgan, says it all as far as he is concerned. Below rigged for either sunny

or inclement weather

Repaired beetle-back section the farmer cut out!

The new 2014 Morgan three-wheeler Morgan marks production milestone with one off 1000th Edition 3-Wheeler on 15 January 2014. In 2010, after a 60-year absence, the Morgan Motor Company took the decision to launch a vehicle that could have been seen as either madness or genius! The Morgan 3-Wheeler was launched to the world at The Geneva Motor Show in 2011 – and immediately captured the hearts and imagination of an eagerly awaiting crowd of customers and journalists, it proved to be genius.

For an initial project that was intended to sell approximately 300 vehicles, Morgan is thrilled to announce that the 1000th 3-Wheeler has just rolled off a busy production line at the works in Malvern. The production of the 1000th 3-Wheeler represents the efforts of the craftsmen and women at the factory, the dealers and the supply chain network to Morgan 3-Wheeler Ltd. However, 1000 cars would not have been possible without the loyal and enthusiastic group of customers that are so important to the long-term success of Morgan. The design for the 1000th 3 Wheeler was inspired by the original 1909 Runabout, using the same exterior and interior colour schemes as the original. In recognition of the 180 craftsmen and women at the Morgan factory, the 1000th vehicle features each of their names in two continuous pinstripes around the lower edging of the body. Whilst the 1000th 3 Wheeler will be retained by Morgan and displayed at the factory, production continues at full capacity to satisfy a full order book. The completion of the 1000th 3 Wheeler coincides with the launch of an updated and revised 2014-model-year Morgan 3 Wheeler. Differences for 2014 include changes in the chassis, centre drive unit and bevel box as well as an upgraded cooling pack and steering improvements. The 2014 vehicle has also seen the introduction of new graphics and paint

INDUSTRIAL REPLACEMENTS

1 Sharon Road, Batemans Bay NSW 2536 - Phone: (02)4472 5618

Spare parts, fuels & oils, hardware & engineering productsWe also carry an extensive range of nuts & bolts!- Mild Steel

- High Tensile

- Stainless Steel

- Metric, UNC, UNF, Whitworth

Makin’ Morgans 12

 

A century at Pickersleigh Road  Many car manufacturers can make claims about their heritage and old-world craftsmanship, but few can back up those claims quite like the Morgan Motor Company. Not only does Morgan still produce a range of ash wood-framed sports cars by hand, alongside three-wheelers that are remarkably similar to Morgan’s Runabouts of the 1930s, but it does so in a factory built by Morgan in 1914. Though the Morgan Motor   Company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, this year marks yet another milestone – the 100th anniversary of the Pickersleigh Road works.

Assembling three-wheelers at Pickersleigh Road works. Photo courtesy Morgan Motor Co. In 1905, Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan (Harry to his friends, or simply H.F.S.) opened the Morgan & Company Garage and Motor Works on Worcester Road in Malvern Link, Worcestershire, England, in what was originally an automotive repair facility and automobile dealership. By 1909, H.F.S. Morgan had constructed his first three-wheeler, and one year later debuted the Morgan Runabout to the public at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in London. Though business was slow at first, increasing the seating capacity of the Runabout from one to two and changing from a tiller to a steering wheel significantly increased vehicle sales. Spurred by his success, H.F.S. formed the Morgan Motor Company as a private limited company in 1912, appointing his father, the Reverend H.G. Morgan, as chairman and himself as the MD.

Sales continued to grow in the years preceding the First World War, and by late 1913, it became clear that the firm’s Worcester Road factory would soon run out of space. When a nearby parcel of farmland, owned by Earl Beauchamp, became available, its size and proximity to the Worcester Road plant proved to be the deciding factor, and H.F.S. purchased the acreage on Pickersleigh Road in Malvern Link. By the summer of 1914, a pair of factory buildings had risen from the soil, but the onset of World War I would prevent Morgan from moving its entire manufacturing operations. When the war ended in 1918, the simplicity of Morgan’s Runabouts allowed the company to resume manufacturing almost immediately. The remainder of the manufacturing operations were transferred from Worcester Road to Pickersleigh Road, and it soon became apparent that more manufacturing space would be needed. Plans were made to enlarge the works on Pickersleigh Road, and the new expanded facility opened in October 1919. Since that time, the Morgan Motor Company has introduced four-wheelers into its product mix, debuting the 4/4 (denoting four wheels and four cylinders) in 1936. Today, the company may utilize modern components (often from third-party suppliers), but Morgan automobiles are still built by hand, using techniques pioneered in the last century. In recognition of 100 years at Pickersleigh Road, Morgan will be releasing a series of short videos on its history this year. The first instalment helps to put a face on those who build Morgan automobiles today, and while production may have evolved in the modern age, it’s apparent that none of the passion has been lost From an article by Kurt Ernst and courtesy of Hemmings Daily Classic Car News  

Rear-view mirror – Panhard 13  

Louis Bionier, French designer for Panhard et Levassor Paul Panhard wanted to change the growing perception that Panhard was no longer fashionable. Louis Bionier was commissioned to design a more modern coachwork style for the Panhard models introduced in 1932. His second innovation was presented at the Paris Motor show of 1934. Louis Bionier was a perfectionist also in the way he dressed. He looked like a bookkeeper, but in

fact he was a talented innovative coachwork designer, who put his mark on many cars made by the French Panhard et Levassor factory. The coachwork of these new Panhards called ‘Panoramique’ because of their improved view on the

road, due to thin twin ‘A’ pillars at either side of the windshield, each containing a small curved glass panel. As producing curved safety glass was still very difficult, Bionier sought the help from the specialists of his supplier Saint Gobain. Bionier’s idea was based on the knowledge that most human beings have what is called ‘binocular vision’. This means what we see is in fact, is an image put together by our brain with the input of both our eyes. For this reason the two thin pillars do not obstruct our vision and thus prevent blind spot.

Introduction of Bionier designed ‘Dynamique’ models on the Panhard stand at the 1935 Salon de l’Automobile in Paris. In those days these large front mudguards, which covered and nearly hid the front-wheels, were very much in fashion with French coachwork designers. Several special bodies by Figoni-Falashi and Saoutchik had them as well. Between 1936 up to 1940 around 2300 Dynamiques were produced.

The Wall Street crash of 1929 also began to affect the economies in Europe. Consequently sales of expensive cars suffered. Paul Panhard, being an ambitious optimist, prodded his commercial and technical staff to beat the competition and gave Bionier a free hand to design a completely new car. There was only one condition: that he retained the six-cylinder Sans Soupapes (sleeve valve) 3.5 litre (20hp) and 2.5 litre (14hp) engines and their rear-drive. The result was the Panhard Dynamique, introduced in May 1936. In many respects it was an outstanding car. It was a roomy six-seater, with the driver positioned in the middle of the front seat behind a central steering wheel. The windscreen was fitted between two small curved windows similar to those in the ‘Panoramic’.

As the first Panhard Dynamiques had the steering wheel at the centre of the windscreen, many customers found it impractical to slide over to the middle of the front bench, on later models the steering wheel was mounted on the right-hand side of the car. In the mid thirties this was not uncommon on French luxury cars. But as traffic in France normally kept to the right-hand side of the road, an increasing number of French makers of popular cars were by then designing the steering at the left-hand side.

_______________

The last Panhard passenger car was built in 1967. After assembly of 2CV trucks for Citroën in order to utilize capacity in the face of falling sales & raising operating cash

by selling progressively to Citroën (with full control as of 1965). In the fall of 1967 the civilian branch was absorbed by Citroën, and the marque was retired. Since 1968 Panhard has only made armoured vehicles  

Sentimental journey 14  

Hillmans run at Bathurst! Words & photos Jim Wilson Some of our Club members also belong to other motoring clubs and this opens up the opportunity for them to travel to and enjoy other events with the members from those clubs. Over Easter three couples from the CVMCE took part in the 12th Hillman National Rally at Bathurst, NSW. Barry and Jenny Apps (accompanied by granddaughter Kirsten), Peter Gordon and Ingrid Cross, together with Jim Wilson and Lenore Newman took their three Rootes Group vehicles up the Clyde, through Goulburn and Oberon to Bathurst. Team Apps drove in their very recently restored and incredibly rare 1948 Hillman drop head coupe, Peter and Ingrid their rare 1961 Sunbeam Rapier Coupe, while Jim and Lenore put Lenore’s little 1957 Series 1 Minx to the task again. As we left Batemans Bay mid-morning the first night was spent at Goulburn. After a team meeting at the very good restaurant in the Comfort Inn, we tackled the Goulburn to Bathurst route on Good Friday morning. This is a scenic route, but has some very steep pinches that tested the little Minx for sure. The climb up from the Abercrombie River is a real test – the Minx nearly stopped due to a too late gear change by Jim, but slowly inched around a switch back before regaining some momentum. Arriving without incident we met up with the 40 other entries from all states except WA and the NT. Three days of exploring local attractions including the immense Abercrombie House, museums, Ben Chifley’s house and a distillery filled in the days while nights were occupied with a BBQ at the Mt Panorama track Motor Racing Museum, two dinners at the Motel including the dress up night in 1880’s gold theme – incidentally won by Peter as Mad Dog Morgan the bush ranger. On the last night awards were given out and Barry and Jenny won people’s choice and best drop head coupe, Lenore won best Series-1 from three other Minxes, then to complete the picture Peter and Ingrid’s Sunbeam was only half a point behind the people’s choice winner. The highlight display day was set in front of the grand historical Bathurst buildings in a street that had been closed for us for the morning. Lots of the public wandered through the display, filling in well over 300 voting forms. Monday saw us pack and travel back to Batemans Bay and Moruya through the considerable holiday traffic. The Minx travelled an uneventful 807km and we  arrived home happy, exhausted and keen to do the next National Rally at Ballarat, Victoria in 2016

Sentimental journey 15  

Morning stop at Taralga on Oberon Road

Oberon’s Art Deco hall and Lenore’s Minx

 Austin Sheerlines Rusting in Peace –  RIP  

             Our Gang on the road to Bathurst

Rootes Group cars on Main St Bathurst

Mad Dog Morgan and his shifty mate

Out and about 16

CVMCE MasterChef Challenge at Mystery Bay A great day was had by all of the 64 club members that came along to the club’s hospitality BBQ. It was good to renew old acquaintances, by catching up with members we hadn’t seen for a while. Many thanks to Lin and Ward Hack and all the helpers who slaved over the hotplates and dished up the victuals The MasterChef Challenge entrants MasterChef judges viewing the proceedings

Out and about 17

MasterChef winners to be subjected to a night out with the Penrite pinup boys

And a studio photo session with our lady photographer for the next New Idea cover

Paul Rehardt & John Marsden contemplating a discus throwing championship Eric Simes explaining the attributes of the

CVMCE to potential new members

Great to see old mate John Marsden back on the road with his beloved 2.5 litre Riley

Ken Evelyn points out the finer details of his XY Falcon to Peter Gordon

Events 18

Runs start at the cark park of the Adelaide Hotel Moruya at 10am sharp unless advised Wednesday CVMCE runs: Jun 11 – River Mouth General Store – Tomakin Jun 18 – Bakery – Bodalla Jun 25 – Botanical Gardens – Mogo July 02 – Courtyard – Mogo Fudge 4474 3389-Dave July 09 – Tuross Country Club – BRING A FRIEND 4473 8399-Tim July 16 – Tomakin Social Club 4471 7327-Sandy July 23 – Nelligen – Benny’s July 30 – Antons – Kianga 4476 1802-Janine NB: All above venues are correct when going to press – but recheck monthly with John Nader’s sheet CVMCE events: All enquiries about runs below contact Ward Hack 0408 244 584 Jun 15 – 10am Adelaide car park to Wood Borers Exhibition at Tiba – Jun 15 – Alternative run is to meet at Malua Bay at 11am for fish and chips Jun 22 – Monthly Braidwood lunch run – pickup Mogo 10:20 & Bay 10:30 (by the old Bowling Club) July 13 – Visit Longbarn & Millpond Park, Braidwood – pickup coming through by old Bay Bowlo Club July 27 – Monthly Braidwood lunch run – pickup Mogo 10:20 & Bay 10:30 (by the old Bowling Club) Aug 17 – Progressive shed run and lunch BYO (Kelly’s, Fuller’s and Smith’s) Aug 24 – Monthly Braidwood lunch run – pickup Mogo 10:20 & Bay 10:30 (by the old Bowling Club) Sept TBA – Australian Motorlife Museum (Kembla Grange) and Historic Aircraft Restoration Association (Albion Park) – possible weekend trip? Oct 26 – Annual Show and Shine – plus registration and membership renewal – venue TBA Nov (date TBA) – CVMCE Annual General Meeting & committee position elections at Moruya Bowlo Dec (date TBA) – Christmas party and trophy presentation – venue TBA BELOW – invitation and other events: *** IMPORTANT – Members on club plates wanting to attend any of these events must advise our club secretary Huw Owen-Jones by phone or email prior to the event. June 15 – Battle of Waterloo (French & British vehicles) – Rond Terrace, Canberra 10am to 3pm July 26/27 – Ulladulla Harbour Classic – 9am to 2pm rally around Berry, Shoalhaven and Ulladulla – Contact Milton Ulladulla Vintage and Classic Car Club for details and entry form Aug 30/31 – South Coast Nationals – Moruya High School – cars, bikes and trucks – 0418 845 890 MotoGP calendar June 15 – Spain, Catalunya June 28 – * Netherlands Assen TT (*Saturday) July 13 – Germany, Sachsenring Aug 10 – USA, Indianapolis Aug 17 – Czech Republic, Brno Aug 31 – Great Britain, Silverstone Sep 14 – San Merino, Misano Sep 28 – Spain, Aragon Oct 12 – Japan, Motegi Oct 19 – Australia, Phillip Island Oct 26 – Malaysia, Sepang Nov 09 – Spain, Valencia

Formula One calendar June 22 – Austria, Spielberg July 06 – Great Britain, Silverstone July 20 – Germany, Hockenheim July 27 – Hungary, Budapest Aug 24 – Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps Sept 07 – Italy, Monza Sept 21 – Singapore Oct 05 – Japan, Suzuka Oct 12 – Russia, Soschi Nov 02 – USA, Austin Nov 09 – Brazil, Sao Paulo Nov 23 Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina

Club Regalia Shop Official club clothing in all popular sizes available from Bill and Colleen 4474 2397

ORDER NOW FOR 2014 SEASON Blue polo and chambray shirts, caps, light- and heavy-weight jackets, plus metal grille badges.

Marketplace 19

HOLDEN HZ UTE 1978. Good 202 motor, manual gearbox, clutch and chrome. Has rust & unreg. Is running and good for parts or major restore 153,000km – $650. Tuross area. Call CVMCE member Gary 4473 8552.

LANCHESTER SALOON 1948 MODEL – This unique British classic was restored to its former glory by our late club member Les Ziegler. A very rare and collectable marque that is of Daimler-eque quality. Has a preselector gearbox, is blue in colour and comes with a second complete, but unrestored matching car. This package is excellent value at $7000. Please contact David Nettle – 0438 744 293 or (02) 4474 4844.

RENAULT R10 1969 – Very original and mostly complete. Runs and drives, good interior, but needs rebuild. Windscreen cracked and the usual rust in the boot. $500.00 ono – Ken Barklem, 44763088 or 0420987655. (CVMCE Club member)

ROVER P6 V8 AUTOMATIC 236128km, Manufactured 12/74 and first registered in 1977. Same owner since 1980. Last registered and in daily use in 2009 and sitting in a lock up garage since. Had a full respray a couple of years before it was retired to the garage. I have just turned 90 and realize it is time the Rover and I must part. $3000 If interested call John on (02) 9416 4763 and view the car at Killara.

CHEVROLET ROADMASTER SEDAN 1940 – complete car being driven on club rego (Canberra Club). Tyres as new, motor getting bit old but still goes. Excellent restoration project. $5000 ono. Please ring Clive Glover on (02) 6161 3068

Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club has just acquired the remains of two 1924-5 model Studebakers (6 cylinder engine). From the two there is enough to restore one vehicle. Would you please spread the word around the Studebaker enthusiasts. All going for just $1000 – bargain! Call Tony Stove 0417 310 610 – the.stoves@bigpond.com

INSURANCE FOR MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS | CALL 13 46 46 FOR A QUOTE | SHANNONS.COM.AU

The passion, the pride of ownership, the sheer emotional attachment – no one understands it better than

Shannons. So when it comes to insurance for your special car, daily drive, bike or even your home, there’s

only one person you should talk to – a fellow enthusiast at Shannons. And remember, you can pay your

premium by the month at no extra cost.

So call Shannons for a quote on 13 46 46.

“ N O O N E K N O W S Y O U RP A S S I O N L I K E S H A N N O N S.”

Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807, the product issuer. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. Contact us for a copy.

SHANNONS local area contact is Paul Jenner 0419 213 235

Classic and Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla PO Box 684 MORUYA NSW 2537 Classic and Vintage Car Club of Eurobodalla Newsletter Print Post Approved – PP 100004685

POSTAGE PAID

AUSTRALIA

PRINT POST

PP 100004685