Vol. 20 No. 6 June 2000

Transcription

1 Vol. 20 No. 6 June 2000

2 MOGNW 2000 CALENDAR June 15 Thurs MOGNW Midlands Centre monthly social meeting Bill Button (206) at Betty Sue's Urban Bar-B-Q in University Village at 7:00PM June Sat-Sun Victoria, BC All British Father s Day Picnic Weekend Roland Gilbert (250) June 20 Tues MOGNW Southern Centre monthly social meeting Heinz Stromquist (503) at the Portland Brewing Pub, 2730 NW 31st Ave. June Fri-Sun Devil s Punchbowl V at Newport on the Oregon coast. Heinz Stromquist (503) Starts in Longview Friday morning. Great weekend! July 3 Mon Deadline for July Mogazine Craig Runions (206) July 22 Sat Western Washington ABFM at Bellevue Community Gil Stegen (425) College. Morgan is the featured marque! Be there! Aug 19 Sat Hood Canal Tour. Day trip. More details later Bill Button (206) Sept 1-4 Fri-Mon Portland ABFM at PIR and our 25th Anniversary!! Details and flyer inside. Sunday night Banquet!!! Sept 16 Sat All British Vancouver, BC to Whistler Run. Always fun! Ted Carew-Gibson (604) TREASURER S REPORT from Bob Hauge... beginning balance, 5/1/2000 $7,026 plus dues 87 plus advertising 200 less May Mogazine ending balance, 5/31/2000 $7,211 COVER PHOTOS: Bob Adair's 1952 Flat Rad Roadster and it's well-deserved Best Debuting Restoration Award at the Vancouver All British Field Meet last month. The framed artwork is by Bill Stroud and both pictures are courtesy of James Theroux. NWMogazine by (free to paid up members!!). FAST DELIVERY, COLOR PHOTOS, ELECTRONIC FILE COPY! You need Adobe Acrobat Reader v3.0 or later (free off Adobe s website). LET ME KNOW! Send request to mognw@aol.com Thanx, Editor Craig NW MOGAZINE is the monthly newsletter of MORGAN OWNER'S GROUP NORTHWEST, a non-profit organization serving the interests of Morgan automobile enthusiasts in the Northwestern United States and Western Canada. Copyright (c) 2000 by MORGAN OWNERS GROUP NORTHWEST. Permission is hereby given to reproduce any portion of this newsletter, except for other identified copyrighted material contained herein, but not for sale or profit, with credit acknowledging NW MOGAZINE, month/year of issue and the author, source or photographer, if stated. material for publication to the Editor at mognw@aol.com, mail a diskette or fax a typed copy to the Editor. PRESIDENT Kay Jones Richmond Beach Dr NW, Shoreline, WA (206) SECRETARY Dale Russell 2214 Portside Court, Vancouver, B.C. V5P 4V1 (604) TREASURER Bob Hauge 11 Heron St., Longview, WA (360) EDITOR Craig Runions th Ave. N.W., Shoreline, WA (206) REGALIA Dick Dice 7011 N.E. Baker Hill Rd, Bainbridge Island, WA (206) HISTORIAN Bob Nelson P.O. Box 353, Stanwood, WA (360) NORTHERNE REP Ted Carew-Gibson 8270 Manson Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 2C2 (604) MIDLANDS REP Bill Button st Ave. S.W., Seattle, WA (206) SOUTHERNE REP Heinz Stromquist 2618 S.W. Fairmount, Portland, OR (503) Business meetings are held quarterly as published in the calendar. Social meetings are held monthly (times and locations as stated above in the calendar): Northerne Centre (Vancouver/Victoria) as stated, Midlands Centre (Seattle/Bellevue) on the third Thursday, and Southerne Centre (Portland/Vancouver) on the third Tuesday. Dues are as stated on the Membership/Dues Form published frequently in this newsletter. Club merchandise can be ordered using the Regalia Order Form published frequently in this newsletter. Non-commercial advertising is free to MOGNW club members. NW MOGAZINE commercial advertising is payable in advance in US$ and is based on camera-ready ad copy. Business card size $ 5.00 per issue or 3 for $ or 12 for $ Quarter page $10.00 per issue or 3 for $ or 12 for $ Half page $20.00 per issue or 3 for $ or 12 for $ Full page $40.00 per issue or 3 for $ or 12 for $400.00

3 THE FLAT LINE by Kay Jones, President NEW REGALIA by Dick Dice The club has received the second run of the 25th anniversary raven car badge. The price: $35 US ($50 CDN) for members, and $60 US ($90 CDN) for non-members. We also have a new polo shirt in stock with a full-color embroidered raven badge on the left front for $33 US ($48 Canadian). Colors are navy, green and cream. We have a few silk-screened polo shirts and T-shirts with the small Morgan profile on the left front and the large profile with the words "A Morgan is a Thing of Beauty" on the back. The polo shirts are $23 US ($34 CDN) and the T-shirts are $9 US ($13 CDN). Call me ( ) or me (dadice@wolfenet.com) to find out what colors and sizes I have. As always these prices include postage. Check out the Order Form on the back cover of this issue. Take Note: New Bellevue ABFM Morgan Classes!! MO-01 FLAT RAD MO-05 4/4 4-SEATER MO SEATER MO-06 4/4 ROADSTER MO DHC MO ROADSTER MO ROADSTER MO-08 OTHER From: w_button@hotmail.com (William Button) To: mognw@aol.com (Craig Runions) Re: Hood Canal Tour, Sat, Aug 19, 2000 The Midlander's August activity tour will start at Russ Austin's home near Alderbrook Inn and end at Gerry Seligman's home on the east side of Hood Canal near the floating bridge. Food and beverage are definitely on the priority list. More information later as we complete the planning for this day tour driving event. Hold this date open!

4 Midlands Matters...from Bill Button NW Historics at Seattle International Raceway Vintage auto racing is coming to SIR Sat, Sun and Mon, July 1-3, 2000, courtesy of Children Orthopedic's SOVREN GUILD (Society Of Vintage Racing ENthusiasts). General Admission is $20 for Car and Driver and $20 for each passenger. This is a charitable event; your entry fee is a contribution to benefit Children's Hospital. FYI - Heads Up - For Sales (not a paid ad, the Editor for info) 1987 Morgan +8 Intercooled Turbo, #R9632, 400HP 5.0 litre, BRG/Black wings, tan leather, alloy body, full Isis restoration done 2,500 miles ago Morgan +4 Roadster, #5872, Claret/Black wings, black leather, alloy bonnet, balanced motor, 45 DCOE Webers, LTD Slip, HD Spindles, roll bar, LHD, SS seats Morgan +4 SS, #4872, new British Racing Green paint, black leather, chrome wire wheels, 2.2 engine, DCOE Webers, CA car from new Morgan +4 Drophead Coupe, #V23ME, Yellow/Black wings, black leather, LHD, 1 local owner last 23 years; 1st DHC sold in the US, one of six 1951s still existing. Real Axle Bearings and Seals by Bill Button Here we go again. Do I need new rear axle bearings or not? You can't see in there. What is the real condition of those bearings? I am going on "MOA III" a trip that will put about 10,000 miles on my Morgan and I don't want problems. Also I have never seen my rear bearings. I do know that the car sat for about 10 years before I purchased it. So best to have a look just in case. This is a greasy, miserable job. It may employ the use of a machine shop if the hubs are frozen on. And it is a very good chance they are frozen. If you don't do the work on your Morgan yourself and not mechanically inclined for gosh sakes have it done by a professional. Robert Couch will have it apart and back together faster than you can say "Rear Bearings". Bob Adair (MOGNW Club Member) wrote instructions for "Replacing Rear Axle Shaft Bearings And Seals" Plus Four Morgans. If you can't find his instructions, I have them and will give you a copy. READ THESE INSTRUC- TIONS COMPLETELY BEFORE TAKING YOUR REAR END APART. I ordered the bearings and seals from "Morgan Spares" took the rear end apart, put it back together and then read Bob's article. I have now taken the thing apart twice to assure myself that I did it right. Bob's article is complete and well written. FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS. I was able to remove the hubs with a large 3 fork pulley puller that I had in my tool box. You can rent one if you don't have it. Back off the axle nut 3 or 4 turns. Attach the puller being sure you get the screw on the end of the axle. Tighten as tight as you dare and then hit the end of the screw with a heavy hammer as hard as you can. If it doesn't come off, tighten some more and hit it again. YOU CAN DO MAJOR DAMAGE WITH THIS CONTRAP- TION SO TAKE CARE. BE SURE TO HAVE THE AXLE NUT ON LOOSELY OR THE WHOLE THING MAY FLY OFF INTO SOMETHING VALUABLE (in my case the wife's Jag door). Bob Nelson lent me his slide impact hammer which is all set up for this job. It is a long rod hammer and on one end you mount either a left- or a right-hand threaded spinner which obviously screws onto the hub. It works like a charm. Be sure to borrow it if you decide to tackle this job.

5 25 th Anniversary Celebration Morgan Owner s Group Northwest Invites you to join a grand tour and banquet in celebration of our club s 25th year of providing fellowship and support for owners of Morgan Automobiles. The event will begin immediately following the Portland All British Field Meet with a short drive east of Vancouver, Wa to the Heathman Lodge for overnight accommodations. A wonderful buffet dinner will be available for ABFM participants as well as members of the Celebration Tour. This no-host buffet will replace the usual post field meet party. Breakfast and box lunch will be available for tourers prior to departure for the east side of Mt. St. Helens. The tour route will follow rural roads along the Lewis river and Forest Service Route 25 with a lunch stop at the Windy Ridge Viewpoint. The group will continue north to Highway 12 and then west to I-5 followed by a short run to the Phoenix Inn in Olympia. For ease of socializing, our elegant Celebration banquet will be served buffet style at the Inn by the well known and respected Budd Bay Café. In recognition of 25 years of loyal membership, Morgan Owners Group Northwest is providing the banquet at no cost to each member and their spouse or guest. No activities are planned for Monday so that travelers can reach their destinations at a reasonable hour. Sign-up Information Overnight Accommodations Arrangements for overnight accommodations must be made directly with the facility by the participant.! 9/1 and/or 9/2 (Friday/Saturday). Heathman Lodge Room Rate: $89 Mention Morgan Owners Group for reservations.! 9/3 (Sunday) Phoenix Inn Room Rate: $75 king, $80 dbl queen Mention British Field Trials - Morgan Car Club Meals Arrangements for meals must be made through Bob Hauge. Complete the following form and return to Bob at 11 Heron St., Longview, WA Questions? or hauger@tdn.com Name: Post ABFM buffet dinner at Heathman per person: how many? total Sunday breakfast at Heathman per person: how many? total Box lunch for Sunday per person: how many? total Banquet in Olympia (no charge for 2 members) $20 : Salmon how many? total Tenderloin how many? total Form and payment must be received by Sunday, August 20, 2000 Total remittance:

6 North of the 49th...from The MUG Subj: MogNW Northern Pod Christmas Party 2000 From: (Michael Geluch) To: (Craig Runions) Would you be so kind as to make note in the next newsletter that the Northern Pod MogNW Christmas party will be in Vancouver on Saturday, December 9th in North Vancouver, hosted by Michael Geluch/Carole Walkinshaw and Leo Lee/Trisha Williams. Cocktails somewhere on Friday, dinner on Saturday at Seymour Golf and Country Club and accommodations under discussion at a hotel within 7 minutes drive by bus. Open to all members!! I'll send you more information as it becomes available. from the Island Cell... (condensed by the Editor) Subj: June 16,17,18 Father's Day Weekend IMPORTANT PLEASE CONFIRM IMMEDIATELY!! From: coulthard@saltspring.com (Marv Coulthard on ) and mymog@islandnet.com (Roland Gilbert on ) To: mognw@aol.com (Craig Runions) Hi again Craig, Could you please put a note in the Mogazine about the fact that apparently some people have arranged their accommodations but have not told Marv Coulthard or Roland Gilbert of their intent, so we do not have an accurate count for catering for dinner, lunch, etc. as we are ordering box lunches for Saturday and Sunday. And we definitely need the Saturday night banquet numbers. Please, everyone, contact Marv or Roland by e- mail or phone at the addresses/numbers above. Once again, the schedule is Friday, June 16th, 18:00hrs, BBQ and evening social at the Coulthard residence on Saltspring Island. Some Morgan only parking available. Saturday, June 17th, 12:00hrs, tour and picnic lunch on Saltspring. 16:00hrs, ferry to Vancouver Island. 18:00hrs, banquet at the Horseshoe Bay Inn in Chemainis. Sunday, June 18th, 09:00hrs tour to Beacon Hill Park in Victoria and attend the Old British Car Club Annual Fathers Day Picnic with lunch provided. Van Dusen All British Field Meet the Plus 8s from Al Allinson Plus Eights, Plus Eights, - eleven in all. They sprouted like dandelions in the soggy grass. Would you call that many +8s in one spot a herd of 8's, a covey of 8's or maybe a fleet of 8's? Perhaps next year more owners of 8's may be encouraged to attend. The temptation was to list all those owners who did not show up. But then a few had an excuse (lame as it may be). Dick Dice's car for instance was in the hospital and Ken & Pat Miles were enjoying a proud parent day at their daughter's graduation. Those who did show up were: Alix & John Sullivan, Bill & Cass Ward, Al & Helen Allinson, Bill & Faye Sterne, Bob & Sharon Green, Ron Weiskind, Stu & Marilyn Rulka, Ted & Judy Carew-Gibson, Win & Christine Muehling, Heinz & Wanda Stromquist and Chris & Penny Sinclare. All in all it was a great day, topped off by a very enjoyable evening at the Muehlings.

7 Plus Fours at Van Dusen ABFM by Steve Blake The Plus Four Morgan group made an excellent showing at the Van Dusen All British Field Meet. A dozen of the finest machines to come out of Malvern Link graced the centre row of the Morgan entourage. The rest of the 4/4 s, three wheelers, and Plus 8 s surrounded the gems of the show. The Best Debuting Automobile in the show went to Bob Adair s 1952 red flatrad 2 seater with dual spares. This car was truly deserving of top honours at Van Dusen and beat out 34 other debuting restorations. We can only take marks off for trailering this gem and maybe we can get Bob to drive it next time! (Ed. note: To Bob's credit, he did drive it about 1600 miles round trip last August to Pebble Beach just 200 miles after the restoration was completed!. For this trip, only the 600 mile trek from Boise to Ron Theroux's house was on the trailer.) Other Plus Four s present were Kay and Theresa Jones' 53 cream and brown flatrad 4 seater, Eric and Sandy Glover s 56 silver and black 2 seater, Wayne and Linda Harris 58 red 2 seater, Ron and Yvonne Theroux s 58 burgundy 4 seater, Marv and Katie Coulthard s 60 silver and black 2 seater, Craig and Judy Runions' 62 green 2 seater, Steve and Liz Blake s 62 blue 4 seater, Bill and Geri Button s 64 blue 4 seater, Larry and Diana Emrick s 64 green with a yellow nose 4 seater, Bob and Judy McDiarmid s 66 black 4 seater, and Gil and Barb Stegen s 67 cream and brown DHC. First place in the class went to Bob Adair, second place to Kay and Theresa Jones, and third to Gil and Barb Stegen. In addition the Plus Four group did well at the BALLS award dinner hosted by Win and Christine Muehling after the Van Dusen ABFM. Bill Button won the Estrogen Award for having new leather seats installed and bringing the comfort level up to Geri s standards. Bob Adair was most gracious in his win by supplying a bottle of Dom Perignon for sampling by the masses who did not win any awards. He said he had saved the bottle for a special occasion like this. Those who appreciated fine champagne rushed with their plastic glasses to taste the expensive bubbly. Those who thought the bottle said Dom DeLuise continued to drink their beer and ignored Bob s gift. Bob explained that the bottle was one that was left behind in his fridge by a former girlfriend. What s her phone number, Bob? COVER STORY Van Dusen - A Duesie! by Bob Adair Finally I got to take my 1952 flat rad to its first showing which was the ABFM at Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, BC. I wanted to take it to one of several shows last year, but it took longer than I thought to finish and sort. I called Ron and Yvonne Theroux and asked about lodging near the Meet. What a deal! They invited me to stay with them and I readily accepted. Staying with Morganophile friends sure beats a motel! When Ron told me Gil Stegen and Craig Runions were also going to be staying with them I just knew it was going to be a fun weekend. After weighing pros and cons it wasn't difficult to decide whether to trailer or drive the flat rad. It took me three days to clean it after driving it to Monterey, Ca. last August. May seems to be the beginning of red plastic cones and crushed stone with hot tar topping along the highways. Also a factor was I had no one to ride shotgun in the passenger seat. The comfy seat, power steering, and nice stereo in my gas-guzzling Ford Explorer were beckoning me. Thanks OPEC and all the millions of gas stations across this great nation! After spending some time packing wheel bearings on the trailer, making mud flaps for the Explorer (reaching new heights), and packing things like tools and car cleaning items, I was ready to hit semi-truck Interstate 84 heading west-by-northwest. All went well until the Yakima-Ellensburg area. Wind tunnel of the northwest. I thought I was going to be blown off the bridge into the gorge just north of Yakima. When I parked for the night I discovered a cracked windscreen on the flat rad. The windscreens flex quite a bit on the roadsters especially in windy conditions. Evidently the strong winds caused too much flexing. The flat rad glass has three notches cut/ground out along the bottom edge where the wiper motor and blade posts are mounted. This makes them more susceptible to cracking from these points. Mine cracked from the right notch upwards. (next page)

8 more Duesie (continued from Adair) Not to worry! After arriving at Theroux's the next morning Ron informed me he had a windscreen glass replaced on his four place just two months ago and they did a nice job. I removed the wiper motor, blade set and posts, the genuine Barnacle-suction cup-made in England-rear view mirror, and had the windscreen off in about half an hour. The glass shop had it cut out and sealed that afternoon and we picked it up on Friday morning. They had gone through three pieces of glass trying to cut out the tops of the three notched before succeeding. Great service by a polite and friendly shop. Everything went back together smoothly and Ron and I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon spiffing up the Moggies for the ABFM. About mid afternoon Gil and Craig pulled in with their Morgans from the Seattle area. It was good to see friends again after missing the last few years of car events. Friday evening we had a wonderful dinner prepared by Ron and Yvonne. What a great setting on the patio next to the pool with more friends gathered including Dick Dice and Les and June Burkholder. Saturday morning Yvonne gave me free rein of the kitchen so I fixed my famous oatmeal for Gil, Craig and myself. Pretty good stuff with almond flakes and raisons. Craig was hesitant and took only about 1/2 of a bowl full, but I think if truth be known, he liked it. Maybe we have another convert. Oatmeal every morning of the year! The key to good creamy oatmeal is to put the oatmeal in the water before it gets hot. It took me years and thousands of bowls of oatmeal to discover that key step. Besides, eating a nice creamy bowl of oatmeal in the morning is like getting a hug. It's these little things in our daily life that make it worth while. What a setting for a car show! Van Dusen Botanical Garden is the nicest setting I've seen. Over 500 cars attended and were parked in groups by make of car. The Morgans are parked each year just inside the entrance on the left. Trees, flowering shrubs and flower beds form a beautiful perimeter around the Morgans. The last count I heard was 36 Morgans with a row of +8s down in front, +4s and a couple of three wheelers in the middle, and the 4/4s in the back row. I parked on the upper end of the +4s and stayed next to my car most of the day talking to Morgan owners and the viewing public. The top was up most of the day as it sprinkled off and on. Besides, the black Stayfast top looked pretty with its low profile and chromed rear window frame! These two-seat flat rads are pretty nifty looking with the top up!! I really enjoyed talking to the folks who looked at my car. Some took time to look through my photo album of the restoration and it was interesting to hear their comments and questions. One incident I really enjoyed was when two ladies who must have been in their late seventies or early eighties spent about a half hour looking at the car and asking a lot of questions. They were just dears! The one lady doing most of the talking said she had a friend years ago who had a Morgan just like mine and she really enjoyed going for rides. What a treat to meet those national treasures! About 4pm we all walked over near the center of the grounds to find out who would win awards. A 1934 Lagonda Drophead won Most Elegant Car and another award for which I cannot remember. It was a magnificent car. I couldn't believe it when I won Best Debuting Restoration! I was overwhelmed and humbled and grateful. The red debutante also won 1st in the +4 class of Morgans. What a day it was! I was so taken by my good fortune that I can't remember who won awards in the other classes of Morgans, but I'm sure it will be reported elsewhere in the Mogazine. That evening Yvonne designated herself as driver and drove us in their big Lincoln over to Win and Christine Muehling's beautiful home for a huge feast of steak and bakers with all the trimmings. Many people I didn't know and some to get reacquainted. What an evening and what a day! The next morning after cooking deluxe oatmeal for Gil and myself (for some reason Craig didn't want any) it was time to load up say goodbyes and head south across the border and over the passes and the two day journey to the outback. Thank you so much Therouxs for an absolutely wonderful weekend! I'll remember it for a very long time. Last, but not least, thanks so much for the Oreos! I ate them all on the trip home.

9 THE JIM WALTERS 'Al Capone' PACKARD IS IN FIRST PLACE!! by Woody Thomson One of the most amazing motoring adventures that any Morgan owner could imagine is being currently experienced by one of our club members, Jim Walters of Victoria, B.C. Canada. He, and his cousin Lennox McNeely of Toronto are, as I described in our April Mogazine, currently on route from London to Peking on leg one of the Around the World in 80 Days car rally; driving car #23, a 1938 Packard Touring Sedan over probably the greatest variety of road conditions that any of us could picture in our wildest dreams. If you haven't been following the daily results/reports available through a link from Jim's own website to the main rally website I will try to bring you up to date on the highlights of the rally so far. These daily reports (Tappet Chatter) are wittily written by Syd Stelvio, with great descriptions of the countryside, driving conditions, challenges, and calamities as experienced by each team. Mostly what broke today on which car, and who's being towed to the local weld shop. You can also access fascinating route maps, and the daily tabulated results. Jim and Len, in the Vintageant class, are currently 1st overall in their class of 23 vehicles, and 1st among the 13 Vintageants driving Around the World. Others finish at Peking. In the entire rally of 76 vehicles, i.e. including the Classics & Historics, they are 7th, with a mere 54 minutes in penalties. Their 5300cc Packard, weighing in at nearly 3 tons and getting about 10 mpg is being constantly challenged for 1st in the A.T.W. group by a 1952 Citroen 2CV (the ride must be like bronco-busting!), but it gets 50 mpg and is easily repaired. Jim and Len currently lead it by only 6 penalty minutes (other teams have from 10 to 25 hours penalty!) For the first 10 days, our car #23 was being bettered by the 2CV, a 1934 Lagonda, and a 1939 Bentley. The Lagonda had electrical problems, and by day 24 the big Packard had edged into first place, after a tortuous gravel road over a 12,000 ft. mountain pass where many cars, except Jim's, were towed up. Our boys 'cleaned' the section, even making up for a 15 minute late get-away, and put the aluminium bodied 1939 Bentley back to 3rd place. Syd has described Jim as throwing this enormous car around curves and dodging camels as if it were a Lotus Elan. Jim is doing almost all the driving, while Len is, in Jim's words, doing a yeoman's job of navigating, figuring out some of the glitches in the badly proof-read route instructions, or (in Azerbaijan) dealing with road signs changed by kids who were sending cars down back roads, and then begging for gifts. The pre-war Packard has only 3 gears on a floor shift, with syncro between 2 & 3. So far they've reported only two minor problems, a front brake shoe cooked while descending Italy's mountains, and a broken tailpipe; neither causing any lost time. I am becoming more and more aware of the little mention given to car #23 in the daily reports; perhaps this is a result of, to quote Syd directly, "car 23, the big Al Capone Packard has yet to have a spanner on it." Many cars are admitting their vehicles are overloaded, so the terrible conditions are slowly taking their toll on suspensions and exhaust systems. Jim's big gangstermobile is performing like what it was designed to be, a 3-ton truck in disguise. Roland and I were impressed with the size and heft of the components as we hustled to help Jim bolt the body back on around the rebuilt engine, so we don't want to hear from Jim about any of our work falling off! Some rally highlights. The start, watched by 5,000 (including the Rally Club of G.B. president Stirling Moss) at Tower Bridge, was not without incident. Car #1, the 1912 Locomobile, first off the line, expired in a cloud of steam before reaching Greenwich. The second car away, the 1913 Rolls, attempted to start without a co-pilot (driver was sick) which is against rally rules. An impasse ensued but as he blocked the entire rally behind him they announced over the P/A "Anybody want to ride in a yellow Rolls Royce?" A young blonde girl stepped forward, expecting to ride a couple of miles, and found herself famous as "The Hitchhiker in the yellow Rolls". She had no driver's licence, no passport, no money or credit cards, no spare clothes, and no hotel reservations. Somehow she crossed several borders, sleeping (hiding?) under a cover in the back seat. She got as far as Thessalonika before another spare driver caught up. Her only request "Could someone phone my neighbour and get them to feed my cat, and send me some knickers?" She apparently drove and navigated quite well, but a large part of her trip in the Rolls was on the back of a flatbed, and the Rolls eventually retired with blown gaskets. Her story made half the front page of the London Times! Istanbul saw the last 5 star Hilton; entering southern Russia accommodation got more basic, ranging from a spooky disused sanatorium to a collection of yurts. At one hotel an upstairs room flushed the loo, and the contents came through the ceiling to the room below. The front desk was summoned, and an old man soon arrived with - an umbrella. Practical folk. The competitors have had their fill of camel kebobs and belly dancers, and school children let out to line the route, waving furiously. Gas is incredibly cheap, 34 gallons for $3 US! (No road tax, as is evident by the roads.) (continued next page)

10 FIRST PLACE PACKARD (continued from Woody) The latest to date has them just into China, and once past the green uniforms and white gloves of myriad border guards they get Chinese licence plates and driver's licences after much rubber stamping. Then the bad news. The Public Security Bureau have reneged on the agreement to allow the rally to cross the Taklimaken Desert; 4 pages of rally notes and route maps are torn up, and there is frantic photocopying of a new northern route which the rally organizers have never seen, so timing the cars for at least two days may be impossible. The rally is due in Peking on June 9th, with banquet and award ceremonies for those finishing there. Those continuing the Around the World fly by Anatov transport (40 cars in one gulp!) to Anchorage, Alaska. A FINE PERFORMANCE BY THE ONLY MORGAN Lest I forget to mention it, a fine performance is being shown by a Morgan, on the London to Peking rally. Last thing I read was they got mightily delayed by a broken rear axle, had a new one flown to them, then drove day and night to catch up to the pack. True Grit. Roland Gilbert is sending our club's good wishes to the French Morgan team (Pierre-Henri Mahul and Mrs. Francoise Poncini it's their first rally!), as well as congrats to date to Jim and Len at their rally web address atw80@hotmail.com. A few of us are driving to Kamloops, BC to cheer on Car #23 on Wednesday, June 21st (the rally overnights there). (Editor's note: The version of this issue contains an additional 4 page full color insert compiled by Woody and Carmel Thompson with color photos, wonderful graphics and great text. NEWS FLASH - - Continuing on with the April 2000 theme (you did get it, right?), Stu Rulka sent a photo of the first new bank in North America financed by the Morgan factory to assist in the unexpected demand for the new (expensive) Aero 8. That's Rulka's +8 in the photo.

11 from the Morgan Oasis Garage Cuthbert J. Twillie, Proprietor Box 1010 North 51 Terrace Hoodsport, WA This month's epistle to the Mognoscenti is a simple project that requires only the most basic tools and no talent whatsoever. With the exception of an ophthalmologist or two I'm sure it's within the ability of our splendid membership. The subject of this task is the oval country of origin badge seen on European and British cars. I for Italy, F for France, GB for Dear old Blighty. It can be whipped up with almost any piece of aluminum left over from the biplane project or gathering dust and patina under the shop bench. I had some fifty thou aluminum and this is about right for this project, though if I had sixty two thou (.062) I'd try that. For a pattern I used an English badge; you might draw one as well, but the promise of no talent allows the easy way. Trace it around a sweet ellipse onto paper. Then glue the paper pattern onto a piece of aluminum about six by four inches and get out the drill motor and a sharp bit about an eighth of an inch. By drilling a series of holes near the lines you've traced you can then file out the desired shape. I like to leave a beveled edge around the letters and ovals and that's why the thicker metal appeals. More of these bevels to attract the eye. That is all there is to it, a nice rainy day project if we'd ever get some rain here in the sunny Northwest. Make copies of the pattern and glue them to the aluminum. While on the badge page here I'll tell you the dolt who works here whose name I won't mention has put the GB badges (his initials) on all his rides cuz he sez he can then find his pickup at the Wallyworld parking lot. Don't feel constrained to do only GB badges. Your initials, your cat's initials, anything goes. A Scot could use a clan tartan under the letters; a person of Canadian persuasion could use the Hemlock motif of our northern cousin's national flag. Don't feel you must follow the pattern, it's only there as a suggestion. Another way of making a badge would be to let the letters run out to the ring thus making one ellipse with the negative spaces removed and containing letters and the ring, with the base plate colored to show contrast. To assemble the pieces let me recommend 1/ 16 inch rivets. I have a nail set that I put in the vice, and the rivet head sets into the nail set. Then you snip the rivet to an eighth of an inch or so and peen it with the small end of a ball peen hammer. A couple of practice rivets and you'll see how pleasant and easy it is to rivet. You'll never consider pop rivets once you try soft aluminum rivets. Any hardware store should carry rivets if you haven't a friend at the old Lazy B (Boeing Aircraft in Seattle). Someone ought to write a book on what has been built using Boeing goodies taken out in lunch boxes. I know for a fact you can buy rivets and other exotic stuff at Spencer Aircraft in Seattle. AN fasteners for example, for those of you who aspire to being boy racers.

12 FELLOW MORGAN FANATIC AT YOUR SERVICE I WILL DONATE 10% OF MY EARNINGS TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE SPECIAL OF THE MONTH INSIDE STORAGE FOR THAT EXTRA CAR THAT IS KIND OF IN THE WAY CARS - BOATS - TRAILERS $50-$100 NORTHGATE AREA CALL BRAD GREEN W A N T E D ANGLIA OR PREFECT 100E MOTOR FOR /4 MORGAN MID TO LATE 50'S WOULD DO PLEASE CALL BOB ALBERT , or fax or Robert_Albert@telus.net F O R S A L E 1965 Morgan DHC Gray & black. Good original condition. $17,995 call Ron Weiskind at

13 Van Dusen party at Muehling's Jim Walters and the Packard The cake pretty much says it all Roland Gilbert under the hood Just in case you haven't seen it

14 Around the World in 80 Days Len McNeely (left) & Jim Walters The One and Only Canadian Team. The Adventure Begins... - by Jim Walters Photos by Woody Thomson Jim Walters, Owner/ Manager, Bristol Motors, Victoria, B.C., Canada It was Spring, 1998, when my cousin Len McNeely first mentioned to me his interest in participating in an around the world car rally. At that time he was seeking my advice on an appropriate car for the event. He had been looking at several and called to ask my opinion. The criteria was for the car to be able to withstand considerable punishment on the rough roads of China and Alaska, yet be somewhat comfortable to endure the long ten or twelve hours of driving every day. When Len first approached me, he was thinking of either a 50 s Mercedes, BMW, or a Fangio-styled 39 Chev... but was really open to suggestions. Over the summer months we talked on and off about our vehicle of choice, weighing the pros and cons of several cars. By August we had agreed that mid to late 30 s American cars would be the best candidates because of their ability to endure the harsh treatment expected along the route. With the Hershey and Carlisle, Pennsylvania swap meets coming up, Len lined up several cars for me to inspect. I booked a flight out to Toronto, Ontario, (where Len lives) and soon headed down to Hershey. From the beginning, I thought a Packard would be the best choice for an endurance rally of this magnitude and after checking out several cars at Hershey Len had no alternative but to agree. From a design point of view, a late 30 s Super Eight Packard was the perfect choice. The car was built for endurance and : has an dependent front suspension,

15 has a nine main bearing engine, has strength and stability, is simply and elegantly built, and is easy to repair in remote regions with a minimum of tools. I didn t have to convince Len of the Packards suitability. After a few of days at Hershey it was apparent the car we wanted was not there. So I gave well known classic car dealer Tom Crook a call in Seattle. Tom told me he had just bought a 38 Super Eight Touring Sedan in Chicago and that it would be delivered to Seattle in three weeks. From his description, it sounded like it might be the car, and I asked Tom to call me when it arrived. Len and I left Hershey for a couple of days in New York city before heading back to Pennsylvania for one last check at Carlisle... just in case the perfect car was there. More searches yielded nothing. I flew back to home in Victoria. Three weeks later Tom called and I made arrangements to drive down to Seattle the following week.. A one and one half hour ferry ride and three hours of driving later I was at Tom s establishment. To all who have not had the pleasure of visiting Tom Crook s showroom, it is more like a classic car museum than a dealership. Tom leans heavily towards Packards, but does have a Duesenberg or two amongst the thirty-odd cars around. When I saw the 38 I knew immediately it was the perfect car for an around the world adventure. It had been well maintained and was an impressive dark blue with sidemounts and wide whites. Most importantly, it was very solid... no rust and all the wood framing underneath the car was as solid as the day it was assembled in the Packard factory on East Grand Boulevard, Detroit. 10 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE Jim & Len s 38 Packard Super Eight is still in pieces on the shop floor where Jim, Roland, Woody and others offer assistance. To this point I had been simply finding a suitable car for my cousin Len McNeely. That changed instantly when Len asked if I would like to be his co-driver. I didn t hesitate. Yes was my answer. It was later when the logistics of leaving my businesses for three months began to sink in. Although several people had told me I was out of my mind to attempt such a trip (let alone in a sixty two year old car)... I found myself thinking... how could anyone in their right mind pass on the opportunity of participating in such an adventure of a lifetime? Jim Walters, who restores Packards and other Classics at Bristol Motors in Victoria, B.C. and his cousin Len McNeely are entered with their 1938 Packard Super Eight in the Around the World in Eighty Days Motor Challenge, the first timed lap of the globe by automobile, which started May 1st, 2000 from London s Tower Bridge. Jim Walters is raising money for the Lions Society of B.C. to help send disabled children to summer camp at Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan on Vancouver Island. To make a pledge, print the pledge form off the web site, complete it and mail it to: Lions Society of B.C Douglas St. Victoria, B.C., V8Z 3L5... or FAX your pledge to: Jim & Len can be contacted by during the rally at atw80@hotmail.com. Read more about Jim and Len s adventure-of-a-life time. In the days that follow more photographs and text will be posted to this web site. Bookmark this page.

16 The Packard Touring Sedan Hood ornament Secure back seat storage containers were custom built by Jim cc straight -8 engine Dashboard instruments -- Note the rally timers on the right A complete restoration & rebuild. A water-fuel separator was installed to avoid problems with bad gas.

17 Flight from Seattle to London Jim Walters & Len McNeely After driving the Packard from Victoria to Seattle, she was loaded onto a plane for her flight to London, England.

18 THIS ISSUE ============ Van Dusen New Regalia Axle Bearings Round the World Country Badge Father's Day Betty Sue's BBQ Devil Punchbowl NW Mogazine FIRST CLASS Craig Runions, Editor th Ave NW Shoreline, WA USA MORGAN OWNERS GROUP NORTHWEST Regalia Order Form Circle color choice, size and indicate quantity. Not all sizes available in every color. Price includes USA surface shipping and handling. US$ cash, check or money orders only payable to MOGNW. Please send payment and order form to: long sleeve button down denim shirt with pocket Dick Dice, Regalia Chairman 7011 N.E. Baker Hill Road Bainbridge Island, WA phone (206) Item Color Size Price Quantity washed blue with M, L, XL, embroidered club XXL name and wings polo shirt with embroidered club name and wings polo shirt with embroidered 25th Anniv. car badge polo shirt with silk screened Morgan profile long sleeve sweat shirt w/ embroidered club name and wings short sleeve Morgan profile swoop T-shirt Morgasm long sleeve T-shirt pilsner glass with etched club logo wine glass with etched club logo glass mug with etched club logo MOGNW 25th Anniv. car badge MOGNW lapel pin / tie tack MOGNW 20th Anniv. poster 05/00 white, cream, red, navy, dark green cream, navy, dark green black, navy, dark green S, M, L, XL, XXL M, L, XL, XXL M, L, XL, XXL pearl gray S, M, L, XL red, maroon, blue, green, yellow S, M, L, XL, XXL 9.00 navy blue or black L, XL, with white lettering XXL clear 20 oz clear 10 oz 8.00 clear 10 oz 8.00 multi-colored enameled and chromed brass multi-colored enameled brass red and silver with screened B&W image member non-mem 'small' "W x 16 ¼ H 5.00 total payment in US$ SHIP TO: phone # : ( ) to resolve any problems if necessary