Newsletter June 2013

AUTONEWS SOUTHERN AFRICAN VETERAN & VINTAGE
ASSOCIATION
1
AutoNewS
Southern
African
Veteran &
Vintage
Association
1958 BUICK ROADMASTER CONVERTIBLE RECENTLY RESTORED BY RONNIE LEHMAN
IN THIS ISSUE – RARE 1955 MERCEDES
BENZ FOUND IN SANTA MONICA
Report back to members
WEBSITE – SAVVA Webmaster: Pierre Cronje
From the Chair,
Dear Enthusiasts,
I would like address some important issues
which have come to our attention over the
past few months, mainly to do with
insurance and events. We have had a few
rather serious claims over the past 12 month
period; fortunately FNB will continue to give
SAVVA the best deals possible and to keep
premiums very competitive.
More importantly are the concerns of
accidents within club events and/or activities
and it’s perhaps time that we as members
look into the fact of insuring our vehicles
comprehensively or at the very least, third
party fire and theft.
In addition, clubs should strive to ensure that
they are adequately covered when
organizing events or activities with permits,
clearance certificates and that all participants
have the necessary documentation of
indemnities as well as all drivers holding a
current Club membership card incorporating
the competition license.
Should you need any of the above please
don’t hesitate to contact us for additional
indemnities
stickers.
and/or
competition
license
Perhaps the day is not far off when insurance
will be part of the documentation in order to
be able to participate in events/activities with
your club.
Lastly I would like to thank the clubs for
acting so quickly on the theft of the Buick
belonging to Chris Palk - due to SAVVA’s
release the Buick was found by a member of
the Jacaranda Beetle Club and reported to
the owner who in turn retrieved the vehicle
through SAPS. It is through the keen
enthusiasm of the members that Chris was
able to retrieve his car so quickly. Be
vigilant… it seems to be apparent that big
American cars are a target for the overseas
market.
Thank you to all, don’t forget the SAVVA
National Rally organized by Free State Club
this year – details and more information is on
the website.
Yours in motoring
Peter Hall
We have taken note that our website provider
has made contact with various clubs
requesting that they could provide you with
an updated website or create a website for
your club. I would like to point out that clubs
are under NO obligation to go into a website
unless you feel that it’s to your best interests.
I must also point out that Afrihost gives a
good rate to clubs and their service is
excellent.
PLEASE VISIT THE SAVVA WEBSITE FROM
TIME TO TIME AND KEEP YOURSELF
UPDATED OF THE CHANGES.
PLEASE SEND ANYTHING YOU WISH TO
PLACE IN THE SAVVA AutoNewS. SEND
DIRECTLY TO:
alexander.duffey@gmail.com
secretary@savva.org.za
chairman@savva.org.za
JUNE 2013
2
using silicone
systems.
fluids
in
the
braking
TECHNICAL TIP - NO: 73
SILICONE BRAKE FLUIDS – TO USE
OR NOT TO USE
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.
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.
TECHNICAL TIP - NO: 74
may have to be opened up to allow
sufficient grip surface for the epoxy. The
mixing ratio is 50:50.
Available from AGRIMARK, Durbanville at
around R140 for a 400 ml pack.
Tel 021 976 3057
Contact the manufacturers direct for more
info or to get the name of a supplier near
you.
Email
steenvas@kingsley.co.za
REPAIRING CYLINDER HEADS
We received the following technical tip
from Leo Kritzinger. He refers to this
product for repairing cylinder heads, but it
should be ideal for gearbox casings,
carburettors etc. - Many thanks Leo.
Website: www.steenvas.co.za
THREE LOVELY VETERANS
“Don't let them mess up your head
This is what is left of a 1934 Ford V8
cylinder head after an „expert‟ welder had
gotten hold of it!
Crankhandle Club’s 1901 Wolseley
These cast aluminium alloy cylinder
heads are fifty, sixty, seventy years old
and invariably have become brittle and
prone to metal fatigue fractures and
cracks. By applying high temperature
heat required by welding to repair the
already frail vintage metal only causes
more damage as can be seen on the
photograph below. But there is a safe,
simple solution…
Before going this drastic welding route,
why not try something that you can apply
yourself? It is a South African product
called STEENVAS ST100 Cold Welding,
an epoxy filler that hardens to a steel-like
consistency. Once set, it is effective up to
150°C and can withstand pressures up to
100 bar.
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 not affected by salt or fresh water,
petrol, diesel, brake fluid, acids, chlorides
or UV rays. Since no heat or flame is
required in the application, your
aluminium cylinder head cannot be
damaged as happened to the one shown
above.
It is interesting to note that many modern
car and motorcycle manufacturers are
As with all epoxy products, surface
preparation is very important. The
application area must be dry, free of dust,
dirt, oil or grease. Fine hairline cracks
address:
1905 Nordenfelt In Cape Town
JUNE 2013
3
INTERESTING STORIES
American Muscle Cars from South Africa go to Australia
A while back an Australian car buyer located 48 American Muscle cars in a shed in South Africa and
purchased the whole lot for $15 000 AUD. The collection consisted of the following:
38 Ford GT’s from the 1960s to 1980s.
6 Chevrolet Monaro’s consisting of 4 x 327’s and 2 x 350’s.
4 Ford Cortina GT’s.
The cars were all containerized and shipped to Australia.
A row of the American Muscle Cars in the shed where they were housed. A bird’s-eye-view of some of the Chevy SS’s sold to the Australian buyer
The American Muscle cars being loaded on car carriers for transport to the coast to be shipped to Austalia.
JUNE 2013
4
THE FIND OF A LIFE-TIME: 1955 MERCEDES-BENZ ALLOY BODIED GULLWING FOUND IN CALIFORNIA
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz gullwing coupe as found in a garage in Santa Monica, California.
In the Old Car world one
often hears of exceptional finds, but
not everyone gets as lucky as Rudi
Koniczek. Early this year he
unearthed one of the rarest cars in the
world from over 40 years of dusty
storage in a rat-invested garage at a
home in Santa Monica in California.
It is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz alloy
bodied gullwing coupe.
In the 1950s, the MercedesBenz factory produced 29 special
lightweight alloy bodied gullwing
coupes with Plexiglass windows.
These have become among the
world’s most valuable collector cars,
worth about $2.5 million each. Until
the beginning of 2013, only 28 of
these
alloy-bodied
cars
were
accounted for. The whereabouts of
No. 29 was one of the great mysteries
of the classic car world. Rudi
Koniczek, who is a restorer of
Mercedes-Benz cars, had heard about
a gullwing that had been stored in a
garage in Santa Monica. He decided
to follow-up the story and eventually
traced the owner, Tom Wellmer, a
man in his late 80’s, whose garage,
where the car was stored, was so
cluttered-up with old computers that
no one knew there was a rare car
underneath all the rubbish. Tom had
received the new 1955 special alloy
Mercedes-Benz Gullwing coupe in
New York as a graduation gift from
his parents. He drove it into the 1970s
until the gearbox broke. Then he put
the car on jacks, took off the wheels
and bonnet and removed the gearbox.
In this way it became buried under
computers over the next 40 years.
Rudi Koniczek has now purchased
the car from the original owner and
hopes to start the restoration of the
“missing” alloy-bodied 300SL early
next year. The original owner, Tom
Wellmer’s only stipulation made in
selling the car was for it to be given a
full restoration to look as it did when
he took delivery of it in 1955.
JUNE 2013
5
SOME PAST EVENTS
PISTON RING’S BIANNUAL SWOP MEET - 17 MARCH 2013
They come from all parts of South
Africa to attend the biannual swop
meetings of the Piston Ring Club at
Modderfontein. This year’s event on
Sunday 17 March was as always a
tour-de-force, which produced a
wide range of goodies – a veritable
feast for all. Both swoppers and
traders all seemed to have a great
day, with good trade and much
haggling going on. Although items
for the older models were still
available from some of the stalls, it
was parts and accessories of the
vehicles from the 60s, 70 and 80s
that dominated. Vendors selling
tools and reproduction parts and
accessories seem to be taking over
much of the allocated space. The
Flea Market at the lower end of the
grounds also seems to be expanding
with every Swop Meet and usually
draws a great many women. In the
circle in front of the Clubhouse a
variety of very exceptional vehicles
were exhibited which drew many
admirers.
An Austin-Healey being admired
Array of collector’s cars parked in rows
A 1928 Dodge amongst the cars for sale.
Another row of gleaming beauties.
There was a record number of
people that came through the gate
and a stunning array of collector’s
cars on the grounds to the north of
the Swop Meet. There were also a
good selection of motor clubs out
on display, such as the Corvette
Club, the Mini Club and others.
Goods offered for sale
A Model A bakkie brought on a trailer
A magnificent Riley at the Clubhouse.
Good trade and haggling at the stalls
A large assortment of spares at this stall.
AUTONEWS SOUTHERN AFRICAN VETERAN & VINTAGE
ASSOCIATION
1
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE REST OF 2013
July
6- 7
20 - 21
August
4
8
8
1000 Bike Show
Natal CMC Bike Show
CMC
CMCN
POMC “Cars in the Park”
POMC Pretoria Old Motor Club
Free State “Cars in the Park” OFSVCC Orange Free State Veteran Car
Pretoria
Bloemfontein
Old Auto Club “Cars in the
Park”
Prowl
Wheels at the Vaal
Welkom
Club
9 - 12
31 - 1
September
14
SAVVA ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING
15
PR Swop Meet
24
National “Drive it Day”
24
24
25 - 29
October
27
Classic Motorcycle Club, Jhb Germiston
Classic Motorcycle Club Natal Durban
Buick/Cadillac/Oldsmobile
Car Show
Rock goes Heritage
SAVVA National Rally &
Rendezvous Tour
Studebaker Club Day
November
11 - 12
Fairest Cape Motorcycle
Tour
OAC
Old Auto Club
DECC Durban Early Car Club
VOWC Vaal Old Wheels Club
Durban
Vanderbijlpark
VVC
Johannesburg
Vintage and Veteran Club
PR
Piston Ring Club
SAVVA Southern African Veteran &
Vintage Association
VVC & Vintage and Veteran Club &
BCSA
Buick Club of South Africa
BHVEC Benoni Heritage Vehicle and
Engine Club
OFSOrange Free State Veteran
VVC
Car Club
Modderfontein
All in SA
SCC of
SA
Studebaker Club of South
Smuts House
CVMC
Cape Vintage Motorcycle Club Durbanville
Johannesburg
Brakpan
Bloemfontein
The 2013 Johannesburg to Durban Centenary JD Motorcycle Run.
Every year in March, since
1970, many intrepid veteran
and vintage motorbike riders
take part in the international
Johannesburg-Durban
Rally
(the DJ run, originally called
the Durban-Rand Race) – one
of the toughest motorcycle
events in the world. This year‟s
race was a tribute to a race first
held 100 years ago. The race
which started on Thursday 7
March from Carnival Mall,
Corner Heidelberg (R23) and
Airport
(M46)
Roads
in
Brakpan was run rather
differently this time around as it
was held over three days - and
in
the
other
direction
(Johannesburg-Durban). There
were
overnight
stops at
Newcastle and Nottingham
Road.
Johannesburg was held 100
years ago in 1913. At that time,
a trip by car between the two
cities was an adventure, by
motorcycle an experience
The first
between
Scrutineering the bikes
motorcycle
Durban
race
and
JUNE 2013
never to be forgotten. For the
record, back in 1913 when the
first event was run, it took A W
McKeag nearly 15 hours to
complete the event and cross
the line first. How many times
he dug his Bradbury machine
out of the mud one can only
imagine – remember, no tarred
roads
back then and farm gates to
open/close every so often. The
initial races were in fact raced
from Johannesburg to Durban
over a three-day period with
stop overs in Standerton and
Ladysmith. In 1919 the race
became a two-day event with a
stopover in Newcastle. In 1936
the event was banned when
the authorities stopped racing
on public roads due to
increased volumes of traffic.
Bikes from above
Overnight at Newcastle
It was only again revived in
1970
as
a
far-safer
regularity/commemorative
event by the Rand Motor Club
7
and the Vintage and Veteran
Club in Johannesburg. All
competing motorcycles had to
be 1936 or earlier models.
Annually, up until 1936, huge
interest across the globe
focused on South Africa and
who would win the toughest
motorcycle race in the world. In
1935 Pietermaritzburg rider R
O Hesket took the honours on
his celebrated 250cc Excelsior
in a then amazing seven hours.
Dutch riders Herman Vossen & Pam van
Kappel from the Netherlands
The 2013 JD Rally, like all its
predecessors,
had
many
stories of heartbreak and
disappointment
for
the
competitors who not only had
to contend with at times
fractious machinery, but also
weather conditions that ranged
from scorching heat to mist,
rain and even some hail. The
historic event was staged
under the auspices of the SA
Vintage
and
Veteran
Association
(SAVVA)
and
organised by a committee
comprising members of many
clubs with Pierre Cronje,
chairman of the Classic
Motorcycle Club, as the clerk of
the course.
Last
year‟s winner, Kevin
Robertson, a modest Velocette
enthusiast from Pretoria, won
again in 2013 with his 1936
Velocette MSS (No. 154) and
showed his outstanding ability
The Pitchford brothers Harold, Ralph &
David with their bikes.
on motorcycle regularity rallies.
This was his sixth win in this
international annual event.
Robertson‟s 1936 Velocette
MSS 500, which he restored to
pristine
condition
himself,
finished with a total error (early
or late arrival at the 27 marshal
points) of only 163 penalty
points. This put him 31
penalties ahead of Ralph
Pitchford, who rode a 1926
Triumph P-type 500 and is best
known as a very successful codriver in the Dakar Rally. Ralph
rode with his two brothers,
David (1936 BSA B2 250) and
Harold (1926 AJS A5 350),
who finished 24th and 30th
respectively. Hans Coertse
fared best of the riders on
these 100-year-old machines,
taking 62nd place on his 1911
Humber.
Riders at the finish in Durban.
JUNE 2013
2013 JD Rally Top Ten Finishers
 1 Kevin Robertson 1936 Velocette 500
MSS, 163 points
 2 Ralph Pitchford 1926 Triumph P-Type
500, 192
 3 Andrew Lewis 1936 Norton 18 500,
194
8
 4 Richard Lewis 1929 Sunbeam Model
5 500, 197
 8 Martin Davis 1930 Sunbeam Model 9
500, 227
 5 Stuart Ferguson 1936 Velocette MAC
500, 200
 9 Sean Crookes 1935 Excelsior
Manxman 350, 230
 6 Geoff Johnson 1928 Sunbeam Model
7 500, 217
 10 Mike Ward 1936 Velocette MSS
500, 235
 7 Dane Fraser 1935 Ariel Red Hunter
500, 224
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR SALE:
MG TD R159 000 neg. Contact: Basil e-mail yvonnevt@telkomsa.net.
1942 Buick Special Sedan. Original car in good running order. R50 000 o.n.o. John Potgieter at 083 400 3080 or
e-mail: john@idmautomation.co.za.
WANTED:
Clock for 1938 Packard 120. Contact Mr Tak Basson
082 472 0130.