Abingdon Rough Rider Review

May 2014 Vol. LVI no. 5 President - Brian Sonner Vice President - Terry Sanders Activities Director Howard Shempp Secty/Treas/Newsletter Editor- Allan Chalmers Eminence Gris Bill Traill Web Master Rick Storms

Mini-Conclave May 2 – 4

We have a goodly group heading to the 3rd Annual weekend in Placerville If you’ve been on Pago Pago for the last few months and haven’t gotten your reservation in, contact El Presidente, Brian Sonner. Those heading for the event have received a packet from Brian and an email about our starting point at the McDonald’s on Santa Rita Rd in Pleasanton. See you there!

June 1- MGs by the Bay in Danville We have made MGs by the Bay our June event – check the flyer further on and the web site to sign up: http://mgocsf.org/Events/MGsbytheBayEvent.aspx or you can sign up without penalty there. Plenty of eating places too! We will find our way there by 10AM rather than having a tour.

Our web site www.abingdonroughriders.org

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 email 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 your editor know

Coming Events

May 2,3,4 Another Placerville mini-Conclave put on by the Sonners – not to be missed

June 1 MGs by the Bay – A run over to this time-honored tire kicking event put on by the MG Owners Club – tour leader to be announced

July 13 South Coast berry picking hosted by Norman Tuck & Brenda Hutchinson

August 25 – 29 GoF in San Diego

September 21 - note: this date was changed from the 14th due to your leader’s unavailability Sonoma County tour hosted by the Chalmers

October 3-4-5 58th Annual Conclave – ARR / TCMG in Sonora (CA, not Mexico!)

November 8 Dinner in or? Linda Chalmers/ Cindy Weiss

December 14/15 Holiday Party – Healdsburg – at the Taylor’s

Other Events

September 13,14 - British Fall Classic, Morgan Hill ______Missive from the desk of your president.

Great tour to West Marin. Thanks to the Storms for the brunch and drive. We had a really good turnout and as usual the weather was perfect. Cruz and I had a “Guys Weekend” and we were able to enjoy the event and the drive home through the valley in 80+ temps. Summer is near at hand. I appreciate the emails after each event from participants that let us all know that we have arrived safely home. No, we did not pull off the road due to a breakdown; I needed to remove my jacket because the temperature was rising. The only casualty was my tachometer drive as we passed through Sacramento. As you know, the mini-conclave is coming up the 2-4 May in Placerville. We currently have 17 cars signed up to attend. Any other members who want to attend all or part of the event should contact me up to the last minute and we can arrange participation. The arrangements for this event seem to include a lot of eating. All who are coming on HWY 80 to HWY 50 should check www.fix50.com for the latest information on the HWY 50 construction project. The schedule indicates that the work will be on the eastbound lanes during the mini-conclave. So coming to the event will be impacted. The trip home should be routine. Brian

New Member

We have a new member who’s been lurking in the Bay Area for quite a while and has decided to join us:

My name is Jeff Elfendahl. 5370 Hessel Road. Sebastopol, California. 95472. 707 823-1962. I have a 1948 MGTC #5561. I purchased this beauty in 1968 when I was a Senior in High School. I've had it all these years and little did I know what a joy I bought back then and held onto for all these years. I am about finished with a Top to Bottom, Inside & Out, Front to Back, Side to Side, FULL Nut & Bolt Restoration. I'm having the work done for me at British European in Rohnert Park, CA. (They have an Internet Site) Slow process but the Showroom NEW will be worth the long wait. I wish to join Abingdon Rough Riders. I've known about the Organization for years and now is my time to make a move and become a member. Keep Calm and Carry On...... Regards, Jeff

Welcome – can’t wait to see this car!

Dan Shockey fetches his cars

Dan arrived back in California from Illinois a while back, but not with his cars. Here’s his story about trip back with them:

With regard to my recent grand arrival in California, I had the TD inside a large Penske truck. It's only loss was a bracket holding the new running board on temporarily.

The PA was on an open trailer. One wind wing came adrift but ended up inside the car (no side screens and the tarp cover tore apart). I don't know yet how much of the bolt hardware was lost. The back leading edge of the top came adrift, pulling the stud out of the wood framed body. This sharp steel point pounded against areas of the door and fender, shot-blasting the area effectively. (Hope my touch up paint is still good.)

Likely more things fell off. But the cars still run. I had to scramble to find a loading dock where I could get the TD out of the truck. I found one at Zero Motorcycles in Scotts Valley, very near my home. They build electric motorcycles: zero gas, zero emissions and zero maintenance. (Lithium batteries).

Nigel Shiftright’s TC

Larry Pate, the current owner of FUN504, Phil “Nigel Shiftright” Frank’s TC, is going to give the car a sympathetic restoration by Doug Pelton of From the Frame Up. Looking forward to seeing the result.

Terry Horlick’s TC for sale

1947 Home model TC. Runs great, is original, not restored. Paint is about 60 years old white. The upholstery is about 1 year old black leather, very nice. Has a TF head with valves about 0.10” larger than stock. Cast racing valve cover, it comes with original head and valve cover. Spin on oil filter and oil relief pressure regulator, non-stock air cleaner on stock manifold. Alfin drums by Grunau, have stock drums. Grunau half axles with modern seals. Odometer not working right now, will work when speedo is serviced. 30 light works, as do all others. Period correct original Ray-Dot English spot light on the left windshield post. New Petronix solid state ignition. Heater (works great), carburetor heat shields from a TD. Stock steering wheel, Bishop cam with Tompkins kit. Turn signals with a buzzer to remind you to turn off. Rear package rack. Double rear spare on Grunau mount… all 6 wheels have good splines. Moss Aluminum pistons 30 over.

Well experienced knock-ons. Good rubber on all 6 wheels. extra brake lights and turn signals on rear. older top and side curtains with a new black vinyl top in the box ready when you are. Walnut veneer dash with chrome dash plate… have an original black dash plate just needs cosmetic refurbish and installation. Lots of spares including extra transmission and a new cluster gear from the recent run ($500 if I remember correctly).

Brooklands racing screens and hood strap. After market spotlight, but I just installed correct headlights (it had Deitz lights before… now it has Lucas!). Mirrors on both wings and the driver’s side of windshield.

This is not a show car but a fun driver. It could be restored to show condition, but then you’ve taken all the fun away!

I priced it at $24,000, but will sell at $20,000 to a club member or friend in the next few weeks.

I can be contacted for questions or sale at (530)205-6082

Spring Gaiters

Roger Morse has forwarded the web site of a company in Britain that will make up gaiters, per our historical article last month: http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/products/544-wefco-leather-spring-gaiter

Abingdon Rough Riders Regalia - from Brian

There were several attendees at the west Marin drive who expressed interest in ordering caps, shirts, etc. with the club logo. I can place an order and usually have the items in a couple weeks. The easy way to decide what you want is to go to the website of the embroidery shop I use, look up items, and let me know what you want. Because I have dealt with this company for a number of years they give us a good deal and the minimum number of items to be embroidered is 6. By consolidating your orders we easily meet the minimums. The size of the logo on the shirts is 2 3/4 inches and on the caps is 2 inches. For children I use the smaller size which fits better on the shirt. www.clicksundance.com is the website. Click on the "Embroidery" section and then "Browse the Embroidery Catalogue". You can segue through a lot of items. I usually buy the Port/Authority brand because of the quality and the fit seems to be standard. Historically, members have ordered the following items: Shirts S508 L508 SP10 SP11 LSP10 LSP11 K420 Most Popular L420 Most Popular

I have ordered shirts for my grandson in children's sizes so that is doable. I have even had the logo put on infant clothing. (We can't start selling TCs too young.)

We have done sweaters, jackets, vests and caps. If you have a jacket/vest or other item at home which you would like the logo put on, just get it to me and that is possible.

The best approach is to look through the catalogue and decide what you want, select size and color and then send me an email and we can move forward. If you want to talk, call me at (530) 748-9681.

The 2014 58th Annual Conclave

October 3 – 5 Sonora, CA

The Annual Abingdon Rough Riders/TC Motoring Guild Conclave this year will be set in the exciting, historic area of Sonora, CA, October 3rd through 5th, 2014.

Don’t forget to sign up before the rooms are gone. See the web site or last month’s newsletter

http://abingdonroughriders.org/Conclave.html

An Interview with Yours Truly, Pt 2 by Joe Marcotte

Allan Chalmers is the pre-eminent Abingdon Rough Rider, his name is known to everyone in the USA who has any serious interest in T Series MGs. There are no ARR club members who he doesn't know and no significant events in the club's long history of which he is not aware. As a full accounting would require a much larger space than is accorded here, this piece provides only a summary of his comprehensive involvement in the T Series world and the Rough Riders. This is his story.

1. Post World War II USA was a very different place than it had been in 1941. One of changes of particular interest to all Abingdon Rough Riders and TCMG'ers today was the introduction of the British into the USA. San Francisco was the second city west of the Mississippi where European cars were first offered for sale. As an SF native do you remember seeing any of these exotic vehicles when you were a kid?

In 1949 my neighbor showed up with a really cool modified TC – it was two toned, louvered bonnet, 16” wheels, running boards removed and with a rorty exhaust note. We went for a drive and it quit running a block away. I got out to push it and it ran over my foot! I have mentioned this before, but I feel strongly that it was the same car I bought from member Jim Miller, the Blue and grey TC, that I subsequently sold to member Don Sheu, who has done a fabulous job of refurbing it, complete with running boards now.

2. In the vanguard of this trend toward affordable sports cars was Kjell . In the book Lunches With Mr. Q I read about the circumstance which motivated him to enter the British car importation business. It seems that he had gone to New Orleans with the intention of obtaining a British motorcycle franchise, but on the way to the meeting to discuss this possibility he saw a small, distinctive sports car parked outside of the building. He immediately forgot about the motorcycle business as he had instantaneously lost his heart to the MG TC. At that meeting he was able to buy five MG TC Midgets. Mr. Q proceeded to open the British Motor Cars showroom on Van Ness Avenue, demand for these distinctive, cool cars wildly outstripped supply and the rest is history. Do you know anything about any of these five cars or anything about the 50 that arrived in the second shipment?

When the war was over and dealers were again selling cars, I would go down to Van Ness Avenue auto row, starting at Market Street, walking both sides, collecting new car sales brochures. I had a fabulous collection that my father eventually tossed (thanks, Dad!). One day, can’t remember when – a few years later, probably 1947 or 48 I was walking on Van Ness and came upon an open lot with TCs! Wow – these were fabulous exotics. They only had 54 horsepower however, and I was hot for one of the new overhead valve V8s. Not that I was old enough or had any money! The lot must have been Qvale’s .

3. Can you tell us something about Kjell Qvale? When did you first meet him?

My first car was a '36 Chevy business coupe and my second a 1937 Buick Roadmaster. I spent some bucks on the latter – '41 Buick Century dual intake and exhaust, new paint, whitewalls, and LOTS of chrome under the hood. I decided I should enter it in the Golden Gate Park Road Race Concours at the Polo Grounds in 1954. I went to Qvale’s office on Van Ness and applied for the Concours. He approved and I was set. Qvale was one of the organizers of the show.

When I drove the Buick onto the field I was placed between a '34 Pierce Arrow – original owners, and a '34 Chrysler Imperial, aluminum bodied dual cowl phaeton. Oh Oh, I’m out of my league big time! Both owners were very gracious and I had a fine time. Of course I didn’t win anything and a few disparaging remarks were heard.

The next time I met Qvale was years later at some event or other – I think at the Burlingame Candy Store, an old Packard dealership that became a storage spot for owners of exotics. Of course, Rick Storms used his red car for publicity shots for the book Lunches with Mr. Q.

4. In a previous article you mentioned that Bill Fieldhouse, a salesman at SF British Motors and ARR member, displayed Mr. Qvale's K3 Magnette at a concours which had been organized by the Rough Riders. Aside from that did Mr. Qvale have any association with the ARR?

Nope, afraid not. But Qvale used another member’s car, the late Stan Altshuler’s, for publicity shots a number of years ago.

5. One constant among Rough Riders appears to be their first impression on seeing a TC. Can you remember the circumstances of your first TC sighting?

Check back at the beginning for answers to the first two questions.

Peter Egan, the recently retired columnist for Road & Track mag was asked to speak to the TC Motoring Guild several years ago and called his talk, “Sudden Conversions”, about how people were struck dumb when spotting their first TC. I have run it in the newsletter at least once and will submit it to Rick to add to the web site.

6. How did you discover the Abingdon Rough Riders? In what year did you join? Are you the senior member in the current roster?

I had heard of the ARR at the time I bought the car - in wretched condition - in December 1958. Whilst down on Van Ness (my favorite street you might guess) at the BMC dealer one day at the beginning of 1959 I spotted a nice TC - except for a really torn up front fender - at the curb. It was ARR member Pat Sweeny’s and he was buying a new fender (oh the good old days –I bought a new bonnet side panel for $6). Pat’s stub axle snapped and the wheel did a number on the fender. He put me in touch with the club and I made out an application, which was required then. Mike deSoto is senior to me. That’s it I fear.

7. Is the TC that you currently drive, TC 7149 your first MG? Tell us about the situation that precipitated its purchase. And, whatever happened to its predecessor, that '56 Pontiac?

It was my first. I bought it December 1958 from Palo Alto British Motors for $500 and towed it home at the end of a rope. I kept the Pontiac until I traded it a couple years later for a '55 Magnette. That was replaced by a '56 TR3 that I drove everywhere.

8. Despite the fact that there seems to be no real concours venues left today for TC competition in our neck of the woods, that wasn't always the case. During the 60s-70s a couple of Rough Riders' TCs competed very successfully at the Pebble Beach Concours de l'Elegance, one of which was yours. What's the story behind this? Was it just accepted practice at that time to attempt to restore one's TC to concours condition?

When I finished restoring my TC I hit the show circuit in 1964. The first show was Pebble Beach where I took second to a tricked out TF. First prize was a crystal piece, second was a lousy ribbon. I took firsts at Palo Alto and Hillsborough and a couple more seconds and thirds. Never placed out of awards and quit while I was ahead.

Member Ed Pohle and I swapped firsts and seconds during this time. Yes, we always planned to show after restoring.

Waiting for the judges at Palo Alto – Ed’s car on my right Wow – I won! Sorry Ed.

9. It appears that after restoring your TC your personal MG infection went viral. Tell us something about subsequent MGs that you've owned; why you acquired them, what you used them for (e.g. touring, racing, concours competition) and what replaced each of them.

I bought, with Club’s funds, a wrecked TC for $200. It was sold in parts to club members.

From a friend I inherited a TD that had been destroyed by a runaway LaSalle. I had used parts from it to repair the next MG my friend bought and crashed. When he again crashed the TF I inherited that too, subsequently selling it. My next MG was another TF that I swapped with a different friend, for my Nash Healey. Both TFs sold for the princely sum of $750. The Nash Healey recently sold for $89K!

My next MG was a YT that I bought from our late member Dave Swackhamer, Barry’s dad. That was my family sporty car, transporting boys and sundry friends in the windy rear. Sold to a collector who subsequently sold it to Elliott Sopkin of Palo Alto. He still has it.

The next MG was the blue grey car mentioned (aka the Café Racer). The last was the TA that has been my leisure (!) time project, calling me from the garage; “come on Allan, I’ve been sitting here too long!”. This one was purchased from Bill Traill’s business partner, Ken Boge. It had previously been brought over by ex-member Bob Fabris, around 1970.

Bill Tantau and I went in together on a 1934 PB that had been rebodied with a TA body and was sold to us by Mike O’Connor. I kept the TA parts and Bill, the PB chassis and running gear. It was a weird car that somebody spent a lot of time fettling. The body and fenders on my TA were just crap, and these parts were a great find for me. Bill subsequently sold the PB and Dr. Peter Zernial in Germany has it now. I hope he gets it bodied and back on the road.

10. I would hazard a guess that although the TC is the main automotive focus of most ARR members, that's not true to the exclusion of other car brands. You also have an affection for . Are there any other makes that have more than a casual interest for you?

I mentioned the TR3 and the Nash Healey. I’ve had 38 different cars, not too many were terribly interesting. My first 356 nearly killed me (actually I killed it by attempting flight with it). and the second is now in my son Craig’s garage. Linda and I currently have a love/hate relationship with our Mini-Cooper S, the best drive I’ve ever experienced, so I let it get away with lots. It is currently dripping oil. What did I expect?

11. Can you recall a couple of high and low points of your association with the ARR?

High points? Always a pleasure, but the 50th Conclave was a real blast, with Linda and me doing a lot of work. Low point was when I decided to go to university full time and anticipated selling the TC mid-restoration. Thankfully I didn’t. Sell that is – but I did get my degree!

12. The foregoing notwithstanding, an all-embracing involvement with old cars does not a well-rounded person make. What else do you like to do?

When not wasting time at the computer I am working on the TA. When I retired I started doing kitchens and bathrooms and building furniture with former member Bob Anderson. Hiking the Bay Area on weekends keeps the blood flowing. When I finish the TA maybe I’ll resume my flying lessons.

Well, maybe not!

13. As with any group, the ARR consists of active, semi-active and passive members. My association with the club started in 1991. During those 23 years I can't recall any members of the ARR family who have been more continuously involved in the daily life of the club than the Chalmers’. Can you even imagine yourself existing in a less active capacity than you are today?

The Rough Riders has been an extremely important part of my life. I’ve met and kept great friends and expanded my horizons through knowing y’all and all those folks who have come and gone from our little fraternity.

Only if I completely fall apart will I be less active.

Allan, thank you!

Member Businesses – Support your TC vendors! Sure Fit Seat Covers Jim Silva (510) 357-4355 13922 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94578 Cross Streets: Between 139th Ave and 138th Ave