Freewheeling October 2017 PDF V4
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Freewheeling October 2017 New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. Proudly associated with: Council of Motor Clubs. Association of British Car Clubs. Council of ACT Motor Clubs Registered by Australia Post as Print Post Publication No. PP 255003/0141 Registered with the National Library of Australia. ISSN 2206-2963. 1 Dennis specializes in : ~ Rover classics ~ Land Rover ~ Discovery ~ Range Rover * Modifications * General repairs * Trip preparation * RTA registration inspections * CAMS rally registration inspections Triggs Motors 88 Excelsior Parade, Toronto ABN:45413062141 Phone (02) 4959 2122 MVRL:27049. Fax (02) 4959 5061 Email [email protected]. 2 ISSN 2206– 2963 Freewheeling. President President’s Comments Ian Shearman president @roverownersclub.com.au This month has been somewhat quieter than last. The first activity was the Oasis Run, which was a drive to Vice President Brooklyn to board a ferry for the Postman’s Run along Richard Dalziel vicepresident the Hawkesbury River for postal deliveries, to waterfront @roverownersclub.com.au homes and villages. While we were on board we had Club Captain morning tea and afterwards lunch. A very pleasant few Andrew Holland Club captain hours. @roverownersclub.com.au Secretary The next activity was the general meeting at which An- Warren McEwen secretary drew Holland brought his Rover 825 Si Special and @roverownersclub.com.au proudly spoke about it. Excellent, Andy! Treasurer Richard Dalziel treasurer The October long weekend saw the much anticipated V8 @roverownersclub.com.au Anniversary which had been planned by our late Presi- Registrar dent Nick Munting. This was started by a run from Robert Walker registrar Loftus, through the coastal towns to Kiama, where we @roverownersclub.com.au stayed overnight; then going to the Australian Motorlife Museum at Kembla Grange. Our heartfelt thanks must Editor editor be given to Stuart Rigby for the planning and implement- Ken Dunkley @roverownersclub.com.au ing of the Saturday trip and activities, including the “foodie” add -ons, as well as providing and organising Web master webmaster Rob Turner accommodation, including some of us at his own @roverownersclub.com.au home. As well as that, we must give our commiserations to Robert Walker, whose P6B failed to proceed, resulting For a full list of all positions including phone num- in it having to be flat-topped from somewhere near Sea- bers, see the back pages of this magazine. cliff Bridge to Stuart’s home in Kiama. tThere, he repair team, comprising Andrew Holland, Peter Scott, Ray Gar- Cover Photos rett, Stuart Rigby and Robert himself were able to fix the Front Cover; errant petrol pump and get the car rolling again. On Sun- day we had a good roll-up, including a Buick Compact that used the engine which became the Rover V8. Two Rover Motorbikes owned by Barry Murdoch. More details in Our next formal activity is our own Display Day at the this issue of Freewheeling. Museum of Fire and I hope that we are able to get a good roll-up there. On page 7 you will find a short article written by Back Cover. our Spare Parts Officer, Barry astride one of his Rover Paul Anley, about Motorbikes difficulties which he has and had, relating to some the 2017 National Veteran members not understanding Motorcycle Rally attended by what he does for them. I urge every member to read Peter and Gail Scott. and understand the excellent service he gives and the efforts he expends in trying to help our members. Ian 3 The ink had hardly dried on the September issue of Freewheeling when news came of yet another P1. Have a look at the photo below and the enlarged insert and you will see it is clearly labelled P1. Now if you think this is a bit much to believe., read the explanation at the bottom of the page. The unusual car in the photo was seen at the Capel Manor show in the UK in September 2017. The photo was provided by Jim Paling in the UK. Jim has a rare 1934 Rover and regularly contributes to Freewheeling. The car is a 1934 Morris 25. Only three others are known to exist in various conditions. The engine is the 3 and a half litre side valve often fitted to light trucks and various military vehicles of the WW2 era, such as the Morris Quad gun-tractor. (see next page for more details) The car has just been restored after passing through many hands without getting finished. Owner Mick has done a great job. The P1 in the window is a sign of the owner’s determination to display his car in the optimum spot. He ar- rived at 08:30 when no one was supposed to be there before 10:00. Being the first there, he got number 1. 4 Morris Quad Gun Tractor The Morris Commercial C8 FAT (Field Artillery Tractor), commonly known as a Quad, is an artillery tractor used by the British and Commonwealth (including Canadian Army) forces during the Second World War. It was used to tow field artillery pieces, such as the 25-pounder gun-howitzer, and anti-tank guns, such as the 17-pounder. Although its sloped sides suggest otherwise, the Quad was not armoured. In 1937 the War Department identified a need for a new FAT to supplement, and then replace, the Light Dragon and Morris CDSWs then in service. A speci- fication was issued for a four-wheeled, four-wheel drive vehicle, with winch, on a short chassis. Guy Motors produced their design quite quickly using existing components, and Morris followed with theirs. It was a totally new, but conven- tional, design evolved from the CS8. It included a new four-cylinder engine mounted on a subframe and not directly onto the chassis. Like the Guy, the body had a very characteristic slope sided, "beetle back" shape. It was all-metal and designed to facilitate chemical weapon decontamination, as well as to enable a gun traversing platform to be carried on the rear roof section. In addition to 6 men, it was capable of carrying 24 com- Morris-Commercial Quad, limber, and 25- plete boxed rounds of 25-pounder ammunition and at least 8 boxed antitank pounder field gun crossing a pontoon bridge shells, together with vehicle and gun detachment equipment. at Slaght Bridge in Antrim, Northern Ireland, The first Morris C8 Quad was delivered in October 1939 and it then stayed in production until 1945. There were two major changes to the mechanical side of 26 June 1942 the vehicle, and two independent ones to the body. The engine/chassis design was used on other Morris types, such as the C8 Morris 15 cwt truck. A long-wheelbase version was used to produce the C9B self-propelled Bofors Light Anti-Aircraft Tractor. At the end of the war the Quad stayed in British service in the same roles. It saw extensive action in the Korean War and Ma- laya. Many of the Commonwealth and Allied forces took their Quads to their home countries, and were provided with more ex- British ones to fully re-equip. The Royal Netherlands Army subsequently made extensive use of theirs in the East Indies. The British rebuilt many of their Quads in the early 1950s, extending their useful life until 1959 when the last was sold off. They were replaced by three-ton tractors, derived from the Bedford RL and Fordson Thames E4 Reference for above. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_C8 5 Ladies and Gentlemen Start your engines!! The 2018 National Rove is fast approaching. Don’t forget your Rocker Cover Racer. The rules below have been issued by the Race Controller for the event. Make sure you read them and obey them. NATIONAL ROVE 2018 – RACER COVER JAMBOREE Overall Race Guidelines Competitors should construct a race vehicle using an engine valve rocker or camshaft cover (here-after called Racer Cover) from, ideally, a Rover's engine. It can have as many wheels as desired by the constructor. Racer Covers mounted on skate boards will not be eligible to take part in our Jamboree. A Racer Cover can be decorated in a creative way. The competing Racer Cover is to be powered only by gravity. In a race, two Racer Covers are placed at the top of a specially constructed ramp, which will be of swooping downhill gradient, with the overall track being straight. The Racer Covers for each heat will be released on an audible signal, and the first to cross the finish line beyond the end of the ramp, wins that heat of the event. Our Racer Cover Jamboree most certainly welcomes entries from children attending the 2018 National Rove. These guidelines may change de- pending on the weather and conditions at the race venue. Classes There will be three classes: Class I Racers – Valve Covers, Adults Class II Racers – Valve Covers, Children Under Fourteen In addition to those classes, there will be one static class: Class III Best Decorated Racer Cover The Course: 1. The course shall consist of a marked out track, approximately 4 metres in length. 2. The course will include a swoop launch ramp, followed by a level coasting track with a soft barrier at the end. 3. The track will be divided into two lanes of 300 mm (12 inches) width. The ramp will be divided down the middle to prevent the racers from colliding, and will have edging to prevent the racers leaving the ramp. 4. The start will be by means of the each race participant holding their Racer Cover against the top rail and releasing it at the audible signal for each heat.