Abingdon Rough Rider Review

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Abingdon Rough Rider Review"

Bertina Mills
5 years ago
Views:

Conclave in Placerville May 11-13 Meet at the McDonald s at Santa Rita Road in Livermore at Hwy 580 for a 9:30 departure on Friday, taking B roads as much as possible.

1 Abingdon Rough Rider Review May 2012 Vol. LIV(54) no. 5 President Vice President - Activities Director Secty/Treas/Newsletter Editor- Eminence Gris WebMaster Norman Tuck Syd Saperstein Brian Sonner Allan Chalmers Bill Traill Rick Storms 2012 Mini Conclave in Placerville May Meet at the McDonald s at Santa Rita Road in Livermore at Hwy 580 for a 9:30 departure on Friday, taking B roads as much as possible. Those who are going have received a mailing from our very organized Activities Director, Brian Sonner. Be sure to pop your meal selections in the mail to him. We have a total of 27 people going. Details of the weekend are reprinted further on. Let your editor know if you are meeting at McDs. GoF is next month, in case you haven t gotten your reservation in see notice further on Our web site :

2 An advisory from our webmaster For those receiving the web version, remember, you can contact your esteemed officers by clicking the About Us link and clicking on the name of the officer. This protects us from malefactors! On the Events page, each month's event includes three icons. One is to the host, one is a link to a google map that shows the starting point of the run, and finally, one to show weather conditions. Rick If you d like to drop the printed version and read this on the web site let me know Coming Events May 11-13, Gold Country Weekend to Placerville, Brian Sonner June 18-22, GoF further details herein July 28, South Bay run (Sausage Run) Bill Traill August 26, Samuel Taylor, Point Reyes tour Rick Storms September 7 9, 56 th Annual Conclave Narrow Gauge Inn October 21, San Francisco Highlights & lunch at the Beach Chalet Norman November 18, San Francisco Dinner Syd Saperstein December 15, Holiday Dinner in Healdsburg at thetaylor s **********Other appropriate events more added as they become known*********** May 20, MGs by the Bay, the MG Owner s Club annual event check the MG Owner s Club web site for the application - also this is the date for the Marin Sonoma Concours in San Rafael. Info at June 2 Hayward Field Meet is on! Saturday, at Cal-State East Bay. This is now the only ALL BRITISH CAR SHOW in the Bay Area. The Sonoma Run An excellent day was enjoyed by an impressive number of MGs seven TCs, one beautifully restored TF a nice original 1961 Midget, a Magnette and one high powered TD.

In TCs were, Chalmers, Sanders, Storms, Tuck, Young, Sonners and our fearless leaders, the Shempps.

Marla Preston in the TF and their friends our members Cherryl and Steve Glenn in the V8 powered TD that scared a lurking hot rod camaro with its snarl!

And when Terry needed water, he even hopped into the adjacent dumpster for a used water bottle!

3 In TCs were, Chalmers, Sanders, Storms, Tuck, Young, Sonners and our fearless leaders, the Shempps. In the Midget was Christian Rowcliffe, a British car buff who has been on runs with us, usually with Jim Hill, Eric Baker in his Magnette, Andy and Marla Preston in the TF and their friends our members Cherryl and Steve Glenn in the V8 powered TD that scared a lurking hot rod camaro with its snarl! Howard did a sterling job, even getting us priority parking in the Sonoma town square. And when Terry needed water, he even hopped into the adjacent dumpster for a used water bottle! The Compleat tour leader One Baaad TD We stopped at the Benziger Winery for a bit, motored around Sonoma County and then had lunch at various spots in the town of Sonoma. A Terrific TC Read The Sports Car Digest is a weekly on-line newsletter that talks about races, Concours and auctions. Last week s issue had a great story by Will Edgar about his dad, John Edgar, Jack and Ernie McAfee and their adventures modifying and racing TCs. I had mentioned this story some while ago, but here it is, in expanded form I believe. A good read if you want to subscribe click on

4 Third Brake Light Here s a cheap LED light from Ebay Costs about $6.50 with free shipping from Hong Kong. Listed as 24 LED 12V Car Third Brake Stop Tail Light Lamp Red Al Moss reminisces From Classic & SportsCar May 1992 E d note: Stan also lost a TC. I gave him several old Road & Tracks to complete his collection several years before. A huge loss

5 Sausage Run date change The Bradleys senior are again offering their digs in Watsonville for the ever popular Sausage Run this July. It s a great spot for this event thanks Jack and Cathy! Note however, the date has been changed from Sunday, July 22, to Saturday, July 28. Jack has a collection of cars and bits of same, as well as MG memorabilia. New Members I m afraid I was remiss in not noting new members Dave Sommer and Linda Moore, who joined in March. They are in the middle of building a new home and when that is done and they re moved in, Dave will undertake the restoration of the TC. Also Jim and Christine Costigan, friends of Brian and Jane Sonner. They will be coming to the Placerville event. Dave Sommer & Linda Moore Jim & Christine Costigan 1497 East First Ave Camp Far West Rd Chico, CA Sheridan, CA Welcome to the Rough Riders! Claudia Fleming and Barbara Silveira I m very sorry to have to pass on the sad news that Jim Fleming of Phoenix and JW Silveira of Oakland have lost their wives. Claudia Fleming passed on about three months ago and Barbara Silveira just in the last few weeks. Here again are the details of the Placerville adventure: Visit the historic gold rush town of Placerville May 11 13, 2012 Arrive Friday afternoon, check into the Cary House Hotel in downtown Placerville (300 Main Street). Parking in the city operated parking lots behind the hotel is free while you are staying at the Cary House. The hotel will rope off an area for us immediately behind the hotel and notify the city. There is parking available for trailers at the Sonner s for those who intend to trailer their cars. Friday evening there will be a BBQ at the Sonner s home in Placerville. (Contribution of $4.00 per person will cover the cost of the meal. BYOB) The Saturday drive (leaving about 9 am) will be to Coloma via back roads to see the site of the initial discovery of gold in California. The location is a state park and has quite a nice museum as well as a number of static displays well within walking distance of the parking lot. We will depart Coloma and

then drive a different route back to Placerville and up to the Apple Hill area. We will stop at the Boeger Winery for tasting and lunch. (For groups, there is a $5.

6 then drive a different route back to Placerville and up to the Apple Hill area. We will stop at the Boeger Winery for tasting and lunch. (For groups, there is a $5.00 tasting fee that would be applied to the cost of any wine purchased.) Picnic lunches will be prepared by the Smoky Ridge Charcuterie. Lunch boxes include a sandwich showcasing their house-cured meats or sausage (delicious vegetarian options also available), and a vegetable side. They will be delivered to the winery for us. After lunch we will do a little more driving in the Apple Hill area to the Lava Cap Winery and then head back to the hotel to put our feet up. (Because the winemaker is a former MG owner, they will waive the $5.00 tasting fee.) Saturday afternoon will be open for relaxing and/or wandering around the shops in Placerville. We will be dining at The Independent down the street from the hotel. It is a new restaurant in Placerville owned and operated by the same two individuals that own/operate one of the most popular restaurants in the area (unfortunately their cafe is too small for our group). The Independent has an outdoor dining area that will hold our group. If the weather is less than wonderful we will eat indoors. They have a full bar and good wine list. At a reasonable time on Sunday morning (about 9 am) the group will leave for home. Sunday brunch will be in Ione at Clark s Corner Restaurant. It is a buffet brunch for $ There are other breakfast delights for those who do not want a large meal. Carey House Hotel reservations should be made individually at (530) indicating that you are part of the Abingdon Rough Riders. They are keeping a block of rooms for us for Friday and Saturday nights. This is downtown-frontier living so I recommend that you make reservations early, request a rear room and that you be placed with other members of the group. Conclave News Two years ago we did the narrow gauge train ride as an option. Let us know if that s of interest again. As last time, some of us opted for the hike from Mariposa Grove to Wawona, an easy seven miles (unless there s a heat wave!) 56 th Annual ARR / TCMG Conclave September At the Narrow Gauge Inn in Fish Camp, near the Mariposa Gate to Yosemite Reservations need to be made with Allan or Linda at allanchalmers@yahoo.com (or call )

There are 26 rooms priced from $133 to 166 including 11% tax. These are the same rates as two years ago. The meal is $60 per person, also the same as two years ago.

7 There are 26 rooms priced from $133 to 166 including 11% tax. These are the same rates as two years ago. The meal is $60 per person, also the same as two years ago. This is a served, not buffet dinner and the Inn is noted for their food. Tax and tip are included. Please let us know what price room you would like and also what entrée. We will ask for payment by August 1, but please let us know by June 1 if you are planning on coming and what type room. Also indicate if you are interested in the Narrow Gauge train ride. We will take room requests on a first come basis and might have to adjust room assignments and rates based on availability, so act with some haste! Please don t reserve through the Inn we are taking the monies and paying the Inn. Please check the narrow gauge inn web site and the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad This is the layout. The rates of available rooms are as follows:

Another event to reserve for: From Larry Long, GoF Grand Poobah Planning is moving right along for GoF West 2012, to be held in Buellton, CA during the week of June 18-22.

8 Another event to reserve for: From Larry Long, GoF Grand Poobah Planning is moving right along for GoF West 2012, to be held in Buellton, CA during the week of June The latest GoF Gazette is at: 1) I have revised the registration form so that you can register by using a credit card, and 2) I have included a quick link for the hotel registration. Simply go to You will see a block of information on the left side including arrival and departure dates. Just below that is a line for "special rates". Within that is a block for "group code". This should already be filled in, but if it is not, enter GFWGFWG, make sure the arrival and departure dates are set to June 17 or 18 and June 22, then click "find" at the bottom. That will take you directly to a page that will allow you to select a room; the rate should show as $ / night. If you have any problems, let me know at emgeeguy@aol.com. Looking forward to seeing you there! Cheers--Larry Long, chairman, GoF West The registration form is under Events on the web site. Look under June

THE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE OF PHIL HILL AT THE HANDS OF ONE PHIL MAY. A couple of years back, Allan printed my story of racing Steve McQueen down Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood in his XK-SS Jag.

) But I never told the story of going to work one December 1962 morning in Tissy. The Hillman was gone in the TC trade you read about last month so I didn t have a daily driver.

9 THE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE OF PHIL HILL AT THE HANDS OF ONE PHIL MAY. A couple of years back, Allan printed my story of racing Steve McQueen down Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood in his XK-SS Jag. If you never read it or don t recall it, perhaps Allan could be persuaded to run it again next month as a fitting part to this series of my TC stories. Ed. Note: absolutely!) But I never told the story of going to work one December 1962 morning in Tissy. The Hillman was gone in the TC trade you read about last month so I didn t have a daily driver. Tissy had to be my temporary commuter car to my ad agency job in the Tishman Building at 3540 Wilshire until getting the 46 Ford. That morning I pulled the TC out into the alley from the garage under our apartment. Since I started writing these reminiscences I checked the address on a lark to see what monster apartment or office building was now on the site. That apartment is still there! Google s street views enabled me to take the picture. Our apt. was second floor on the right. The wooden exterior staircase is hidden by the shrubbery. The door in the first level in the middle led into the four car garage. I drove down the alley to turn left on Arizona Avenue and then turned left again on 19 th heading towards Wilshire. The light was green. I sped up to make the light and make the right turn. Driving on the right I had a great view of the curb as I prepared to swing right. Phil Hill had just put a letter in a mailbox there. He paused and started to step down off the curb just as I was coming quickly to turn. I was cutting the corner very tightly to the curb. He looked up just in time and jumped back. I recognized America s only Grand Prix champion instantly and yelled my apology for nearly running him over. All the way to work that day I kept thinking that Phil, who started his racing career in MG TCs, had almost had that career ended by one. I reminded him of this many years later up in Vancouver, Canada when I was with him backstage at a Toyota Dealer event where he was the featured speaker. Sadly, he didn t remember. I never forgot.

10 TC TOOLS - The Great Debate The original tool set seems to be pretty clear cut for the TC. All you have to do is look at a factory picture of the tool set. However, there are some differences depending on which picture you look at. So what is correct and what would an original TC tool set look like? To chronicle the correct tools for the TC, let s start with the pictures as available from the illustration of tools in the Brown Book on page 7. Although this is the most common reference to the TC tool kit, it is only representative of the very earliest tool set for the TC. The photo was actually taken in The photo is wrong in that it includes the jack with the wooden handle which was used pre-war and had limited application for other than the earliest TCs. The Brown Book reference also has an extra box spanner compared to later sets. Another source of tool originality is factory Specifications #259, 1945, sheet #25. It also confirms that a list of pre-war tools was used in 1945 as a starting point for TC tools. This is known because the rubber tool trays were originally listed for the TC but were then deleted with a pen and ink" change. The same specs also show only 3 box spanners listed. The first printing of the TC Illustrated List of Service Parts, June 1946, also shows the pre-war jack. However, the 2 nd printing, 1948, Plate V, there is an updated picture of the TC tool set with a new jack with a square cross-section handle (2 parts plus separate tommy bar). Close scrutiny shows a number of other changes, some subtle and some obvious. For example the later photo now only had 3 box spanners. The quest for the perfect tool set is further compounded by differences in the manufacturer names of Shelley, Abingdon, King Dick, and Dunlop on similar tools and varied markings from none to BSW to BSF on spanners. And what about the length of the handcrank? The TC had 3 different length hand cranks. The most heated debate often occurs over whether the TC open ended spanners were hex or round jaws. You can make an argument for each depending on which picture is viewed or which original tool set is viewed. But whatever you profess at the gospel for originality with tools, you will be wrong. To illustrate the point, look at the pictures of the open spanners in the 2 nd Edition Illustrated Parts. You will see that 1 end has hex jaws and the other end has round jaws. I have to assume that the person who drew the illustration in 1948 is still laughing today at those who think they know which style was correct. I have never seen a spanner with 1 style jaw on each end. However, I have seen original tool set with of each style. The most important thing to keep in mind is that there is no exact answer. Whatever the factory had to make a complete tool set was used. Shelley and non-shelley, round jaw and hex jaw, Enots and Tecalemit and other variations were all used. If you are trying to assemble a complete kit, I would suggest a proper period tool to match the category needed. If you would like more information on the specifics of each tool and a detailed summary, you can find it at: look under Tech Tips / Tools. Doug Pelton, doug@fromtheframeup.com

A tool roll and some various types of components For sale Some of you

convertible. Left hand drive made for the US Market.

Heavy restoration work done by Napa Valley Restoration (Martin Hveem.

He will probably show it at Ironstone winery mid-september You will

He is living in the Palm Desert area and can be found on our roster.

11 A tool roll and some various types of components For sale Some of you may remember this splendid Austin that Bob Kramer restored several years ago. He is now selling it. It is an A40 sports, designed by Jensen, all aluminum body, 4seater convertible. Left hand drive made for the US Market. Only about 1200 made in He has won many awards. Heavy restoration work done by Napa Valley Restoration (Martin Hveem. Reassembly by Bob. He will probably show it at Ironstone winery mid-september You will have to Contact Bob for more details. He is living in the Palm Desert area and can be found on our roster. I have more pictures. Anyone looking for a very nice TD should contact Gerard Chateauvieux, who is representing the owner in Portland. Gerard can be reached at pixelsmith@gerardsgarage.com I also have more pictures of this car.

Abingdon Rough Rider Review

Abingdon Rough Rider Review October 2013 Vol. LV(55) no. 10 President - Brian Sonner Vice President - Barry Swackhamer Activities Director Linda Chalmers/Eliz.Taylor Secty/Treas/Newsletter Editor- Allan