Abingdon Rough Rider Review

Transcription

1 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 Chalmers Eminence Gris Bill Traill Web Master Rick Storms October th Annual Conclave with the TC Motoring Guild At the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo Come, be a part of this amazing history! Our starting point is, as usual, the McDonald s at the Cochrane Road exit in Morgan Hill. Head west to the Cochrane Rd. Plaza. We will leave there at 10 AM. If folks would like to connect up before or further on, let me know. The flyer is attached. The following are signed up: Chalmers, Sanders, Storms, Swackhamers, Stobbes, Matlocks, Shemmps, Bill Traill, Betz Miller and members John & Linda Wright recently transplanted from PA. Don t forget: GoF West Carefree, Arizona October 28 thru the 31 st Check the web site for registration

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 October Conclave in San Luis Obispo Monday thru Friday October 28 November 2 Coming Events It s the TCMG s turn to host at The Apple Farm see the flyer GoF in Arizona who s going? Sunday, November 17 Dinner at Original Joe s San Francisco Linda C. & Elizabeth T. Our esteemed Activities directors are requesting a count of folks who would plan to go to this dinner. It s a terrific restaurant, in the location of the old Fior d Italia in North Beach and we will have a private room. The cost will be $60 per person We have 25 signed up and room for five more! Marcotte, traill, miller, Storms, Stobbe, Sonner, Taylor, Sanders, Shemmp, Tuck, Young, Frank & Hill, Chalmers Please contact Linda at or lichalmers@yahoo.com or Elizabeth at or elizabethsue@comcast.net Saturday December 14 Holiday Party at the Taylor s in Healdsburg see info further on.

3 From our Webmaster To all our faithful members, The revised Abingdon Rough Riders web site rolled out Tuesday, August 20th. The new site has a slightly different look, along with new features including; expanded events detail, ability to pay your annual dues online, a quick reference check list on the home page, more pictures, and a special page that highlights some of our members other talents. The change over actually occurred Monday evening when the old site was deleted in anticipation of the new site being uploaded to our service provider. The web address will continue to be We wish to thank our faithful group of reviewers and testers who found their share of "bugs" and made excellent suggestions for improvements. If as always you encounter any problem or have questions please contact our web master, Rick Storms, at webmaster@abingdonroughriders.org. Missive from the desk of your president. What a glorious day for a drive through the wine country of Napa valley! We had a great group of folks to hang out with, talk cars, eat lunch and taste wine. Andrew Avellar was a gracious host and there was a spectacular view from his tasting room. His project TC gave all of the guys the opportunity to identify parts, give advice and tell war stories. A number of members offered support and that is typical of the club s approach to our hobby. We have the conclave coming up in October and Jane and I are looking forward to a rendezvous and trip down the coast to San Luis Obispo with the group. Please make sure you set aside Sunday November 17 th for our Dinner in The City at Original Joe s. These date nights are essential to those of us who live in the hinterland. It is important to let Linda Chalmers know your intentions so that the arrangements can go smoothly. Brian

4 The Sonoma Project Tour The Sonoma tour had a purpose A plan to drop in on Andrew Avellar, at his Scribe Winery, in the Sonoma environs, to peruse his TC. Showing up were El Presidente Brian Sonner with Jane and Cruz along in their MGB, Howard Schemmp from Davis, Norman and Brenda, Yrs truly and Linda, The Storms, Ta Terry in the Black Beauty and the Taylors, all in TCs, the Nyquists and Bill Young meeting us there the latter in their Citroens, a Traction Avant and a very spiffy 2CV. Andrew is restoring the car in an old turkey barn (during prohibition, we learned several vineyards became turkey farms). It is quite a nice car, with lots of new bits and good wood. Unfortunately, it was formerly a long time project of member Bob Metzger, who, we learned, has left us. His sons sold it to Andrew. After a good deal of tire kicking we proceeded to the winery s picnic benches - after a few of us set off for a deli - and had a good old time, with a couple bottles of Scribe Wineries best. Everyone commented on how delightful the day had been and we set off home. The plan to head over the Oakville grade was shelved for another time. Norman, Brenda and Linda and I headed home and, about seven blocks from our house, the connection between the transmission and the rear axle silently parted company and I had to be platformed ignominiously home! In the shade of the old oak turkey barn behind Norman & Rick give Andrew sort thru all his nice bits Andrew s MB 190, Nyquist Citroen Rochelle Nyquist & Bill Young with 2CV

5 Some of the shiny bits that came with the car Andrew peers at Taylor s car Nothing like lunch at a winery Hopefully the last platform ride for the car not much purchase of the spider gear Phil would be thrilled a report from Larry Pate Yes, the Nigel Shiftright TC and I made it up to Pike's Peak yesterday! Even without side curtains and the rain and snow storm that hit at higher elevation, and that was coming down heavily at the 14,110 foot summit, it was a wonderful trip! Driving back down was mostly all in first gear, because of ice patches and tight turns of the steep mountain road, and by then it was also dark and the road to the top was closed. Thanks to my good friend Bud Silvers (TC 1576) for advice before the trip and for giving the group updates on my adventure. Thanks also to my son, Ben, and his wife and kids for following in their car. Even though I m sure my TC would have made it anyway, it was comforting to know Ben was there in case of an emergency. He even followed me all the way home just to make sure I got there safely! For anyone who hasn't driven up to Pike's Peak in a TC, I highly recommend it. It was a fun trip, breathtaking, memorable, with beautiful views, and what had been a bucket list item for me. Phil Frank would have been pleased to know the Nigel Shiftright TC performed admirably, a credit to the Abingdon Roughriders of

6 Northern California, of which Phil had been a member. Attached are 3 pictures Ben took of the trip one on the way up the mountain in the rain, one at the summit elevation marker, and one on the way down after we were through the worst of the weather. Larry Pate TC 8533 Nigel Shiftright TC Profiled in *Road & Track*, April 2006 Photo descriptions not required!

7 Miscellany One of my past vast fleet 1954 Nash Healey The 1954 Nash Healey that I resurrected many years ago and traded to a friend for a TF, who subsequently stuck a Chevy V8 in it, was for sale on Ebay for a buy it now price of $89,000. It has been removed, so I guess I lost out! The car had a Healey Silverstone front end, Nash engine and drive line, Pinin Farina aluminium body. It had the famed Nash twin ignition six, and two SU carbs. It was derelict in the back lot at Carl Block s agency in Oakland and I towed it home with a rope. When I finally got it running, it was a bear to drive, with the weird Healey front end. My friend subsequently put a Chevy engine in it, new upholstery and instruments and painted it red. It has been restored, but looks the same. He rebuilt the front end after a wheel fell off at 65 on 280. Like I said, weird front end. I sold the TF for about $800 after putting in a clutch! A new Popemobile a Renault r4 with 186K km given to Pope Francis, that he plans to drive! Need a ride to GoF? Robert Ford offers three seats in his car. Guess it s not a TC. (408) If anyone was thinking of buying an electronic regulator from Bob Jeffers, I am sorry to report that he has died. Never put off grabbing a worthwhile item for your TC!

8 A wee snag As you may remember, John Taylor had his MotoMeter stolen several months ago. He obtained a replacement that will guarantee that he will always have Elizabeth in the passenger seat the dang thing is unreadable from the right seat - obviously not designed for Old Blighty cars. A Timepiece aus Deutchland I received an advertising a very nice set of watches from a German enthusiast a bit pricey at $1880 each. Check them out at: - shall we get in a club order?

9 The Holiday party! Not too early to book a room at the Dry Creek Inn, as noted.

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11 Sure Fit Seat Covers Jim Silva (510) E 14th St, San Leandro, CA Cross Streets: Between 139th Ave and 138th Ave Member Businesses Support your TC vendors!

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