june 2013 newsletter - Vintage and Veteran Club

JUNE 2013 NEWSLETTER
Affiliated to SAVVA
e-mail: editor@vintageveteran.co.za
website: www.vintageandveteranclub.co.za
mail: P.O. Box 651901, Benmore, 2010
clubhouse: 3 Athol Oaklands Road, Oaklands, Johannesburg
FROM THE CHAIRMAN’S DESK
I am delighted to announce that we have appointed a new Editor for our Newsletter. I am sure you all
join me in welcoming Chris Van, chosen from hundreds of applicants. We look forward to his contribution
to our Club’s affairs in this important role.
My personal thanks to Brian Noik (who takes care of the layout and production) for all the support he
gave me as Editor. I know that he and Chris will work well together in this vital element of our Club’s
activities.
Although I announced that we’d like to have the August meeting (which normally incorporates our Annual
General Meeting) on the first Sunday in September, for manifold reasons that date has become
unsuitable. Hence, the August meeting will again be a normal one – on the 25th – and the Committee
has agreed that our AGM will take place on 28 July 2013 (that is, during the July meeting). I hope that
no one is inconvenienced. An official note will of course go out.
I would like to thank to all of you who have responded to my call for items for this Newsletter. It has
been heartening to have received a number of marvelous submissions, which have been published.
Long may this support be given to our new Editor. We have a Newsletter every month!
The Committee, I am also delighted to announce, has approved some changes to our premises: We
will be extending our library onto the verandah (next to the milk bar) – which will make it more accessible.
Also, the (unused) back door will be closed off, and waterproofing will be carried out to solve the water
ingress problem both into the ladies’ bathroom area and the currently unusable back store room.
They say that change is the only true sign of life. So, I believe, these changes indicate the health of
our Club. Supported, so to speak, by a steady trickle of new members…
Until next month, happy motoring.
Ian Holmes.
1
THIS MONTH’S COVER
A brace of gorgeous MGs at the May VVC meet
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
NEW MEMBERS
This month we say
Many Happy Returns to:
It’s June and winter is here.Chapped lips and rough hands in the
workshop are de rigeurat this leafy time of the Highveld year. This
month we bid welcome to four new members:
• Gerry Callinicos and his wife LuLu, who live in Parkwood.
Ian Bailes
Wally Bellairs
Denis Bottomley
Harry Boys
Vic Fear
Courtney Watson
Gobbo Johnson
George Lezard
Hans Burri
Walter Seiler
Harry Shutler
Ian Simpson
Wynand Swanepoel
Hentie Erasmus
Tony Britten
Jeffrey Morrow
Erhard Langanke
Michael Barter
James Jordan
Detlev Borner
Mano Paxinos
Dennis Denysschen
Barrie Swanepoel
Brian Bruce
Shane Fitzpatrick
Stanley Rothbart
• Christopher Dale and his wife Jill share their home in Beaulieu
with a Morgan 3 wheeler, a Morgan Plus 8 and an E-Type Jaguar.
• Barry Jacobson lives in Houghton, also with an E Type Jaguar,
a Jaguar XKRand a Porsche 924 comfortably parked in the
workshop.
• Stanley Rothbartand his wife Sheryl live in The Gardens with
their Bentley Mk VI, Packard and Pontiac Coupe.
Welcome all of you.
And this month we have two of our more mature members
celebrating significant milestones in their lives. Congratulations
to Harry and Lorna Shutler who will have been married for 60
years on the 31st of May. The other anniversary is that of Anneke
and Rudide Groot. They will be celebrating their 50th wedding
anniversary on the 1st June.
Warmest congratulations to both couples.
After all that celebrating I need to be the party pooper and now
give you the bad news, albeit mixed with some good. It’s time to
pay the Club subs again. I will be at the Club on Sunday to collect
cash if you would like to settle with me then. The Club will be also
be sending out renewals this year as well as e-mail and sms
reminders. The good news is that the subs will not be increased
this year. If you do an EFT directly into the bank account, PLEASE
put your NAME in the reference space of the deposit.
Happy Vintage Motoring to you all.
Noel Fordred
Please join us on Friday evenings at the club,
in the “Milk Bar” for a few rounds!
2
SA
VV
TIP
72
AL
SAV V
A
C H N I CA L T
IP
TE
A TECHN
SAVVA Technical Tip 72 – Silicone brake fluids
Silicone brake fluids - to use or not to use
IC
The question often arises – should I convert to silicone brake fluid or not? There have
been so many positives and negatives about this issue. I would therefore like to add my
little bit to the saga of “to use or not to use”. I can only go on my own experience.
For about 30 years I owned a 1930 Dodge which had hydraulic brakes as standard. A problem
was that every couple of years the brakes had to be stripped down to remove the crystallized
jelly that had built up on the wheel cylinders, honed and new washers fitted. Apparently the problem
is that conventional brake fluid is hydroscopic and on top of that our early cars don’t generate
enough braking heat to disperse any resultant water build up.
Eventually I had to have the cylinders re-sleeved because of pitting and the continuous honing. I
then took the plunge and converted to silicone fluid. Until I sold the car some 15 years later I
never had to attend to the brakes again - in fact, I don’t recall having to top the master cylinder.
I’ve heard comments like – after using silicone fluid the brake pedal was spongy, or, the washers
swelled up. Well maybe, however I think you will find in these cases they didn’t fit modern brake
washers but used the old rubber based ones that they had on the shelf. I know numerous car
owners who have used silicone fluid with very positive results.
For those of us who don’t know the history of Silicone fluids, I believe it was originally developed
by Dow Corning for, amongst other users, the US Army. They used it in vehicles that were waiting
for a war to happen. You must appreciate once a war has started there’s no time to start overhauling
brake systems.
Silicone brake fluid tends to be more expensive than conventional brake fluid, but over a period
of time pays for itself. Availability may be problematic but most professional brake repair shops
as well as motorcycle shops stock it.
It is interesting to note that many modern car and motorcycle manufacturers are using silicone
fluids in the braking systems.
Note: If you decide to go the Silicone route please get advice on how the clean out the brake
fluid from the system. If my failing memory serves me right they use meths.
3
GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN ROADS I HAVE TRAVELLED
Devil’s Bellows Pass
When you’ve completed the climb up Andrew Geddes Bain’s Katberg Pass, at the top of the mountain you will
find three options open to you:
First, you can turn left and go down what is locally known as De Waal’s Kloof. Or, if you continue for another
half a mile there is a road to your left which will eventually take you to Tarkastad to where the locals call the
Dontsa. Your third option is to stay on the road to Queenstown and the Devil’s Bellows pass, which ends at the
Bushman’s Krantz Dam.
Until the 1970s this was part of the main road between Port Elizabeth and Queenstown, later to be replaced
by the Nico Malan Pass. Today it is merely a 4x4 trail, even closed in one place. But that is today. So let me
share some of the past with you.
From Katberg, as you summit, the road changed in character from a rough and rugged surface to the smoothest
dirt road I have ever travelled on. This was due to a good road maintenance gang and the use of a surface
material known in the area as Sebunga, which is a mustard- coloured decomposing dolerite. For about four
kilometers it was like driving on the best asphalt ever. Until it snowed…
Along that section of road there are two turns which gave the pass its name. They lie in two gaps on the apex
of the escarpment. And when the wind blows there, it howls. The drop on one side of the road is deep and steep
and not much would survive a plunge into the valley. As a child, my father told me that a caravan blew over once.
On a trip home from Queenstown in our ’37 Plymouth, he remarked that he’d been pleased we’d had an extra
passenger (a policeman’s wife who was a very large lady) for ballast. That was of course after we had dropped
her off.
The scenery then changes dramatically, from open veld, as one rounds the bend, into a man-made plantation.
In response to an article I’d written, this extract was sent to me, explaining its origin:
My Great-Grandfather, George Hex, ran a staging-post and Inn on the Queenstown side of Katberg Pass. He
also established the small plantation in that vicinity. I was therefore very interested to read that one of your
Forebearers was a transport rider on that very Pass! We would love to know where the ruins of that hotel are
(we guess near the big stone marker and the plantation) situated.
This came from a gentleman who lives north of Pretoria and I look forward to meeting him to pursue the discussion.
The time period to which he refers is around 1890 to 1900.
Having passed the site of this hostelry, the road enters a very scenic valley, with stony hillsides and then into
an area and a new diversion built in the late 1970s to accommodate the breathtaking Bushman’s Krantz Dam.
What the road looks like today.
A view of the Bushman’s Krantz Dam
During the winter months it often snows on the pass - which made it very difficult to negotiate in a 1957 Opel
Caravan. I remember searching in the snow for bushes and anything to put under the wheels for traction. But
we somehow always made it through. The memories of those days are part of a lovely bank of thoughts from
long ago.
This road will one day disappear completely, becoming just a memory. So, while we can, a few of us make sure
to experience it once a year, helping keep it alive in our own small way.
Ian Holmes
May 2013
4
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
5
DAM BUSTERS
The Dam Busters, held on 1st May was a glorious fun run and picnic.
The Highveld winter is, of course, ideal for classic car motoring, and perfect for convertibles. Crisp
morning air, comfortable midday temperatures, blue skies and no torrential downpours make for a lovely
day out.
Thanks to all Sunbeam Club members, and especially to new member, Hennie Coetzee and his wife
for driving all the way from Komatipoort.
There were 51 entrants, thirteen of which were Sunbeam Club Members, including many Rootes cars.
We are grateful for support from the Morgan, Piston Ring, Triumph, VMC, and VVC clubs, which created
an eclectic mix of classics… from MG, Ferrari, Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Talbot, Morris Minor,
Morgan, Triumph, a rare Colt 1100, a stately Wolsley, 110 Studebaker, Cobra, Beetle, Porsche, and a
BMW motorbike. At the Arrows Rest Restaurant prize-giving, over 100 people enjoyed the relaxed fun
run and picnic -style event, which still retains an element of competiveness with the route’s quiz format
– plus an extra string in the bow with our Robin Hood Contest at the end. Not one driver shot his
navigator.
Good stuff all round.
6
Well, almost all round… Two of our participants had an unfortunate collision but fortunately with only minor injuries
to venerable Sunbeam Members, Eric and Dawn McQuillian, in their Alpine, and Tony Watson in his AC Cobra.
This coming-together brings to mind the importance of being affiliated to the SAVVA Body - as we are – and
adherence to its rules and regulations that govern Club activities. Organized events like the Dam Busters require
a SAVVA Clearance Certificate and Signed Indemnity documents from the participants. SAVVA continuously
promotes its cause to the Road Ordinance and Licensing Authorities. And let’s not forget the Special Insurance
Rates procured for our Treasured Vehicles. Without SAVVA’s assistance and involvement, it would be difficult
to continue with our sport and hobby in an organized way.
On another subject, the success of the Dam Busters Adventure Tour is entirely attributable to the efforts and
teamwork by the Club Committee and its benefactors.
HUGE THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING STALWARTS:
•
John & Aileen Meeks
:
Clerk of the Course & Quizmaster
•
Karen Carter
:
Co-ordination & computerization of Route Schedules
•
Aletta Boys & Aileen Meeks
:
Registration Desk & Treasury matters
•
Harry Boys
:
Observer & Event Reporter
•
Barbara Allison
:
Correspondence & Trophies
•
Chris & Gabriella Grant
:
Event Promotion & Entries emailing
•
Wendy Britz
:
Telecommunications & Entries Co-ordination
•
Sweep Vehicle
:
Sam & Guy Dlodlo
SPONSORS:
•
Chris Grant
•
Colin of Midas Northcliff
•
Shirley
•
Ben & Jacco
•
Angela & Marco
:
:
:
:
:
Oh yes, and not forgetting the prize winners:
•
1st Overall
:
•
2nd Prize
:
•
3rd Prize
:
Donation Prizes – Shirts & Plug adaptors
Donation of Motor Oils etc
Maggies Farm – (Home of the chicken Pies)
Buffels Dam Resort
Arrows Rest Restaurant
Cindy & Pierre Rousseau (VVC) Ferrari
Clive Wenman (Sunbeam Car Club) Honda
Guido Kaiser (VVC) Rover
Well done… and thanks again to the rest of the field for your participation.Join us next year for another fantastic
Dam Busters day, in a new and yet-to-be-disclosed area…
(For those interested, on request we can fax or email the answers to the cryptic questions in the Quiz.)
For my part, opening up this event to other clubs has drawn the classic car fraternity closer together, opening
up new ideas and friendships with like-minded people and preserving our rich vintage and classic car heritage.
Happy Motoring.
Chairman
JOHN ALLISON
SUNBEAM SPORTS CAR CLUB
7
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Sir
I have enjoyed receiving your interesting and newsworthy Newsletter for several years now, and the May 2013
issue has prompted me to write in to show my gratitude.
While neither a collector nor restorer, my interest in old cars and their workings has remained with me from my
boyhood in the Wild Coast(Eastern Cape), where my father was a magistrate.
Ian Holmes’ writing of visits to that area brings back wonderful memories of motoring on dusty, potholed and
twisty roads, with livestock often bringing one’s car to a halt while the herd boy shouted Uyapi! and whistled at
the beasts to move them. Yes, boiling radiators, greasy roads that demanded the fitting of chains and obtaining
assistance from the nearest kraal in the form of a span of oxen to pull one out of the ditch were all part of the
fun.
My dad's 1936 Olds had a habit of cutting out on hot days in hilly country because of fuel vaporizing in the fuel
pump. He mounted – permanently – a 1 gallon can between the firewall and the radiator stays to gravity feed
the carb when this happened. We all got out and had a walk around while he opened bonnet and switched the
supply.
Ian has frequently referred to the 'fun' of motoring in those years and lamented that there is now limited time to
get off the blacktop to enjoy a drive down memory lane. The fact that he does it is a feather in his deerstalker,
for soon the 'old roads' will be fit only for 4x4s.
I look forward to reading about your future sojourns.
With kind regards
Richard "Spider" Wilbraham
2 May 2013
Dear Sir
Congratulations to the VVC on a consistently excellent Newsletter – with interesting articles and good pictures.
I heartily agree with your Chairman’s note and hopefully it will resonate with all who read it.
Organising an event takes a huge amount of time and effort and is often a thankless task that is carried out by
people who just want to make a contribution for the enjoyment of all. So often one goes to the trouble of organising
an event, getting commitment and confirmations, only at the last minute to get withdrawals and often just plain
“no shows”, which is very disheartening.
On the other hand, we do have so many that loyally support our events and always voice their appreciation.
Such is life I suppose, and at the end of the day we do the work of organising because we love it, not for the
thanks and kudos we might or might not receive.
Kind regards
Chris Palk
Buick Club of SA
8
2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(Subject to amendment – see Magazine & Notice board for more current information)
MAY
1 May
9 May
26 May
Dam Busters Sunbeam Club
VSCC Cars in the Park (Pietermaritzburg)
VVC Motorcycle Day with VMC & CMC
JUNE
1 Jun
9 Jun
10/13 Jun
30 Jun
POMC Mampoer Tour (Pretoria)
JHMT DJ Commemorative Run
EPVCC Milligan Rally
VVC American Cars & Bikes with Piston Ring
JULY
6/7 Jul
13/14 Jul
28 Jul
CMC 1000 Bike Show (Johannesburg)
Winter Run to Wigwam
VVC Your Favourite Car or Bike
AUGUST
4 Aug
25 Aug
31 Aug
POMC Cars in the Park (Pretoria)
VVC Annual General Meeting/Post-vintage Cars & Bikes
VOWC Wheels on the Vaal (Vereeniging)
SEPTEMBER
1 Sep
VOWC Wheels on the Vaal (Vereeniging)
14 Sep
SAVVA AGM
15 Sep
PR Piston Ring Swop Meet
24 Sep
National Drive it Day! SAVVA
25-29 Sep SAVVA National Rally and Rendezvous (OFSVCC)
29 Sep
VVC Post-45 Cars & Bikes & Buick Club
OCTOBER
21 Oct
27 Oct
27Oct
PR Motoring Memories at Piston Ring
Studebaker Club Show Day, Smuts House
VVC Sports Cars & Bikes& Rolls & Bentley Club & BDC
NOVEMBER
10/11 Nov Fairest Cape Motorcycle Tour CVMC
24 Nov
VVC Veteran Cars & Bikes
DECEMBER
29 Dec
VVC Christmas meeting
WINTER RUN RUSTENBURG 13/14 July 2013
This will be an overnight run staying at the Wigwam Hotel Rustenburg.
The event is open to pre-1960 cars and bikes.
If you do not have a vehicle of this era, but your vehicle is after 1960,
please contact us because you will be welcome with a later vehicle.
However we want to encourage people to bring out some of their
older cars.
The cost is R550.00pp sharing for dinner, bed and breakfast.
This will be a good social event and will give people a chance
to relax and socialise with likeminded friends. If you are
interested in joining the event please contact us so we can get
an idea of the number of rooms to reserve.
The distance will be approx. 160 km.
Please get some of your car friends to come along as well.
CONTACT TONY WATSON
Tel: 011 8752101 – Cell: 0825472440 - Email: watsontony53@gmail.com
9
SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL CLASSICS SEEN AT THE LAST CLUB SUNDAY
10
VVC COMMITTEE FOR 2012/2013
ianhol@iafrica.com
eric@anatomical.co.za
bjclawlor@cinet.co.za
paul@frontiers.co.za
daisymiss59@gmail.com
alan.h@mweb.co.za
pierrer@akhane.co.za
Ex-officio Portfolio Holders:
John Hassall
jh29@pixie.co.za
Chairman/ Dating
Vice-Chairman
Clubhouse
Treasurer
Register/members
Special events
Clubhouse/General
011 793 7304
011 888 3790
011 883 2054
011 442 6662
011 465 1084
011 786 1911
011 728 4172
Social breakfasts
011 679 2342
CONTACTS
Ian Holmes
Eric McQuillian
Brian Lawlor
Paul Koski
Noel Fordred
Alan Hogg
Pierre Rousseau
CORRESPONDENCE
All correspondence to the club should also be addressed to info@vintageveteran.co.za.
PLEASE NOTE
Deadline for articles for the next issue is the 7th of the previous month
Please do keep your articles coming in. Your contributions are appreciated!
When submitting photographs please ensure that they are high resolution,
to do justice to the pictures, particularly in the printed version.
VINTAGE AND VETERAN CLUB
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
2012/2013
Joining Fee: R125.00 (Including Name Badge)
Extra name badges R 25.00
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Ordinary Members: R480.00 with printed Newsletter
R360.00 with e-mail Newsletter
Honorary Life Members: FREE
Country Members (outside of Gauteng):
R360.00 inclusive of printed Newsletter
Country Members (outside of Gauteng):
R240.00 if Newsletter is received by e-mail
Banking Details: Vintage and Veteran Club, Nedbank,
Benmore Gardens Branch 197305. Account No. 1973 038 617
Disclaimer: While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice, information and views given
to readers, the Editor, Club Committee and Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any
damages or inconvenience that may arise
11
FOR SALE
BOOKS FOR SALE
Disposal of Home Workshop Tools
I am moving house and want to dispose of most of
the tools I used for the restoration of my Alvis and
Lancia a few years ago:
• Very heavy fabricated engine stand on castors, allowing engine to be rotated.
• Steel frame and one ton hoist for lifting engine Yours if you collect.
• De Walt DW1251 radial arm saw, like new.
• Rockwell heavy circular saw 10 inch blade.
• Fragram tall drill press ½ HP.
• One ton trolley jack.
• 2100 mm long heavy work bench with cupboards.
• Miscellaneous small tools, pullers, clamps, files,
twist drills, etc.
WORKSHOP MANUALS - R150 each
HAYNES (New Price at Motor Books R560.00 each)
VW Beetle & Karmann Ghia 1954 - 1979
Sunbeam Rapier & Alpine
1967 – 1976
Suzuki (4 WD models) SJ and Vitara 1982 - 1994
VW Golf/Jetta
1984 – 1992
Vauxhall Astra
1991 – 1992
Ford Escort
1980 – 1990
VW Golf, Jetta, Scirocco
1974 – 1985
Rover 213, 216
1984 – 1989
VW Passat
1981 – 1988
Vauxhall Astra
1984 – 1991
VW Kombi
1979 – 1982
Mazda Pickup B1600, 1800, 2000 1972 – 1980
Range Rover
1970 – 1980
Hillman Hunter & Minx
1966 – 1973
Renault 8, 10
1962 – 1972
Will accept reasonable offers for main items and will MISC + BROOKLANDS BOOKS - R150 each
Road Tests of Alpine/Tiger
1959 - 1967
give away most small item.
Road Tests of Alpine/Tiger Gold Portfolio 1959 -1967
Call Eric Arnot 011 884 3984 to arrange inspection.
Karmen Ghia
1955 - 1982
Jeep ‘J’ Series - Parts List Illustrated, Works Manual
Located Atholl.
Jeep Wagoneer, Cherokee from 1962 - 1971
*Rootes Light cars with 1725 Engine Shop Manual
*Sunbeam Rapier/Alpine W/shop Manual - OR
BOOKS FOR SALE
Sunbeam Alpine Series IV – Orig Owner’s Handbook
The following books, all in excellent condition,
* OR - Original Rootes
are for sale by Fred Supple:
“ALPINE THE CLASSIC SUNBEAM” - R250
Chris McGovern (Rare book! Now out of Print.)
Includes start of Sunbeam Club in South Africa etc.
MISCELLANEOUS - R50 each
Holley Carbs and Manifolds
Illustrated History of the Automobile 1880 - 1979
The World of the Automobile
by Ralph Stein 1909 to Present Day
Sunbeam Owner’s Handbook – Clymer (Tatty)
Jeep Gladiator Pickup J200, J300 – Owner’s Manual
AUTOPRESS
Workshop Manual XJ6 2.8 & 4.2 Jaguar
MISCELLANEOUS - R100 each
Jeep Gladiator - Owner’s Original Handbook
Autobooks - Sunbeam Rapier, Alpine 1955 -1965
1968 – 1970 (Tatty)
R 50.00
Classic Volkswagens From Day 1
R100.00 each Chiltons -Jeep Wagoneer, Commander and Cheroke
From 1962 - Tatty but all there
R 25.00
The VW Beetle Photo Book Plus
Classic Cars – Jaguar
Jaguar XJS History Up To Date
CONTACT FRED SUPPLE
CELL 082 6756318
Email supple@telkomsa.net
12
13