A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE VANCOUVER COAST BRANCH OF THE OLD ENGLISH CAR CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
JanuaryJanuary----FebruaryFebruary 2019 Volume 24, Number 1 oecc.ca/vcb
Special Feature: John Peirson’s photos from the 2018 London to Brighton Run (see page 13)
Chairman Introduction, January 2019 Alan Inglis, VCB Chairman Hello from me and welcome to another year of wonderful British motoring in BC. You may have noticed this is my first Welcome from the branch chair and I want to give a big thank you to last year’s departing execu- tive, John McDonald as past-chair and Bernie Miles as treasurer, another thank you to those members of the executive who agreed to continue for another year (at least!), Steve Hutchens as secretary, and Roundabout editor, John Chapman as membership co-ordinator, Lorna Hoare as events co-ordinator, Alan Miles as web- master/communications co-ordinator, Bart and Audrey Shaw as good and welfare representatives and another thank you to those club members who volunteered and were elected as new members of the executive, Mal- com Tait as treasurer and Tom Popovich as vice-chair. And finally, a really big thank you to Walter Reynolds for his years of service as chair of the branch, taking on the role of past-chair, and for the mentoring and support he has provided and, I hope, will continue to supply. Thank you one and all. I think I need to introduce myself because even though I joined around 1996 my club involvement has waxed and waned (probably based how much I loved my car!) and for large periods of time I lurked in the background. It was in this little red car that I drove to my first club meeting. The passenger has now finished university and the dog still loves road trips.
AT THE WHEEL Chairperson : Alan Inglis [email protected] | 604-737-0044 Vice Chairperson : Tom Popovich [email protected] | 778-355-8885 Yes, you can drive the car – over my dead body! Past Chairperson : Walter Reynolds [email protected] | 604-463-6305 There was a succession of MG Midgets (two were or- Treasurer : Malcolm Tait (membership renewals) ange, one green, another red and a white) but none out- lasted the original red car until I was lured to an Austin- [email protected] | 604-224-0938 Healey Bugeye Sprite in Oakland, CA. Shipping and im- 4743 W 7th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6T 1C7 porting the car into Canada is story for another day. The Secretary : Steve Hutchens body restoration of what was supposed to be a “rust [email protected] | 360-483-6873 free California car” is another story but Randy Schultz Event & Meeting Coordinator : Lorna Hoare did a terrific job of it. Then the car was totaled on Labour [email protected] | 604-584-2564 Day 2018. The good news is that it will live again as Steve Membership Coordinator : John Chapman Sillett at Panel Craft has bought it for a rebuild. (new memberships and correspondence) [email protected] | 604-590-3749 The ICBC settlement allowed me to buy a 1969 Lotus 7923 144A St., Surrey, BC V3S 8C1 Elan so now my garage is filled with a car that has not Communication Coordinator : Alan Miles moved much in 18 months. That has to change in 2019 [email protected] | 604-272-2145 and I intend to use the car a lot. Roundabout Editor : Steve Hutchens Our January meeting was in Crescent Beach at Randy [email protected] | 360-483-6873 Schultz’s shop where a good turnout of members saw Webmaster : Alan Miles John Chapman’s Big Healey in a naked state while Randy [email protected] | 604-272-2145 demonstrated various techniques for shaping sheet Good & Welfare : Bart & Audrey Shaw metal. [email protected] | 604-946-4700 Tom Mellor hosted our February meeting where, in an Regalia : Position Open
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 2 unlikely setting in Kerrisdale, he revealed the world headquarters of development of the 200 mph Tri- umph Trident. Tom is a remarkable man who also drives two Rolls-Royce and a Bugeye Sprite. In March we visited Jellybean Autocrafters where Ewald and Kurt hosted us and revealed a remarkably clean shop. It was good to see they have recently expanded into the shop next door. As well as the monthly Tuesday meetings, Steve Blake again organized his valentines Hearts and Tarts run where I hear there was good participation taking advantage of a break in the very cold weather of February. Your fellow club members are organizing events that will carry on through the year (see listing on Who needs yoga? page 4) so please take advantage of that and join in as many events as possible. If you can manage two events in one day, even better. So please join us at as many events as you can possibly manage, with or without your old English car! Finally, I am new to this job, and I have let some things slip. So, if this edition of the Roundabout is later than normal, then it is my fault and not the fault of your editor. My apologies.
NOV/DEC 2018 ROUNDABOUT CLARIFICATION Austin Healey Sprite Mark I (commonly referred to as Bugeye) being built at the Jensen factory. While the Jensen From Walter Reynolds: In the opening paragraph of my brothers had planned to build the Sprite at their West article “The Commercial Vehicles of Jensen Motors” Bromwich factory, BMC decided to build the car at their (November-December 2018 Roundabout), I refer to the Abingdon factory.
The Old Editor’s Rambles Steve Hutchens, Editor
OUR N EW E XECUTIVE H AD I TS F IRST M EETING Starting off the new year, our VCB Executive met January 10 at Lorna and John Hoare’s home. I think it is a sign of club health and vitality that three members stepped up to fill positions on the executive. Two of the members at the table in the Hoare’s dining room were new to the VCB Executive: Alan Ing- lis, Chairman, and Tom Popovich, Vice-Chairman. A third member, Malcolm Tait, Treasurer, also new to the Executive, had an excused absence. Thanks to all of you for stepping forward. I look for 2019 to be a very good year. Attract- ing new leadership to the Executive gives us a fresh perspective and energy to guide the VCB’s activities.
PLAN ON ATTENDING THE OECC AGM IN K AMLOOPS IN J UNE The 2019 OECC club-wide Annual General Meeting will be sponsored by the Thompson Valley Branch of our club and will be held in June. The exact date isn’t available yet, but Stephen Way, OECC President, says that they hope to have complete information and registration materials available soon. Watch your club email for the announcement. We will publish all of the pertinent information in the March/April Roundabout if it is avail- able at that time. Plan to attend this annual event.
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 3 2019 Vancouver Coast Branch Calendar of Events
OECC Regalia Walter Reynolds
We have a vey limited quantity of screw-on type OECC Grill Badges! We ordered 15 for VCB members and now have no more than 5 available at $20 each. If you want to purchase a grill badge, you can pick it up at our April 2 meeting. To re- serve a badge, please send a cheque for $20 made payable to “OECC-Vancouver Coast Branch” to Walter Reynolds, 120 - 22514 116th Ave, Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 0N8, call 604-312-9015, or email [email protected].
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 4 Tuesday, February 12, 2019 The Precursor to the Hearts and Tarts 2019 By Steve Blake
It is five days before the run and I am sitting in my den looking at the snow falling. There is a total accumulation of 10 inches and it does not bode well for an English sports car drive. The Hearts and Tarts is now in its 21st year, being started by the Blakes back in 1999. In that year, they drove their 1953 MGTD (the purchase of their Morgan came later that year) accompanied by 5 Morgans and two “tin tops.” Three more Morgans joined us for lunch at the Rusty Anchor Pub. The drive started at the Mandeville Gardens in Burnaby and highlighted the old cow tunnel under- neath the freeway. Unfortunately, this tunnel was removed when the new Highway 17 was con- structed. Today I sit here watching the snow and hope the 28 brave souls who signed up for this year’s drive won’t experience the problems the two in this old Morgan photo are having and that we will see the sun out on February 17, 2019.
Sunday, February 17, 2019 Hearts and Tarts 2019 By Steve Blake
The day before the drive, I checked the weather fore- cast one more time and saw that they promised sunny weather. Instead of taking Susan’s SUV, I decided it would be a British Car Day. I shoveled snow off the street so I could get the car out without the use of snow tires. The roads were all clear except for our side street. There was too much snow piled up in the third driveway so it was impossible to get the Morgan down off the lift and out for the drive. The Austin Healey be- came the choice for the day. Tom Morris caught an early morning ferry, so stopped in to drop off some Morgan parts for me before we
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 5 drove to McDonald’s for coffee and hot chocolate prior to the drive.
As this was a joint PACMOG-OECC event, we had an assort- ment of cars in attendance. The British cars were two Mor- gans, two Jaguars, a TR8, a Jensen Healey estate, and an Aus- tin Healey 3000. The group was comprised of 21 people for the drive and another 7 who met us later at the restaurant. Nine members were from PACMOG and 19 were from the OECC. However, all the PACMOG members are also members of the OECC.
We left McDonald’s and regrouped across Highway 17 at the Sunnyside Nursery. This was appropriate as the sun came out after burning off the morning cloud. The rest of the day would be blue sky and clear roads. A drive through Ladner took us past frozen over irrigation ditches where Mallard ducks were sipping water from the edge of the ice. We journeyed past the snow-covered fields and observed many Bald-headed eagles sitting in the trees.
Along River Road, we passed through the Tilbury Industrial Estate and saw many new buildings as the light industrial area has expanded over the last several years. Being Sunday, it was great that there was very little traffic. As we passed one busi- ness, there was a large sign saying, “Triumph - Visitors En- trance.” I thought we were going to lose John and Lorna in their Triumph TR8!
As we turned the corner from 96th Avenue onto Highway 17, we saw the aftermath of an early morning accident. A large tractor-trailer rig overturned as he made a left turn off High- way 17. The towing company had air bags under the side of the trailer and they were just getting ready to try to flip it up- right. We couldn’t wait to watch the show but assume one driver had a very bad day.
As we approached the overpass at Highway 99, more eagles were seen in the trees. This is the traditional win- ter roosting are for the Bald-headed Eagles. Sometimes, we spot thousands of the birds keeping warm and grouping to- gether in the trees. It looks like Christmas trees filled with or- naments as 30-50 birds perch in a tree. This area is beside the Delta Turf farm and the Burns Bog. It is the warmest outdoor area due to all the composting. There are also many ducks and gulls available for meals for the large birds.
We continued on to the new Tsawwassen Mills and Tsawwas- sen Commons Shopping Centres. Following Salish Sea Drive, we passed a huge housing estate under construction on the
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 6 Tsawwassen First Nations lands and saw the new light industrial areas also being developed. The huge con- struction projects that have been completed or are un- der construction are joint projects between private companies and First Nations companies. The Tsawwas- sen First Nations will become a very wealthy group.
We wound our way back toward the Boundary Bay Air- port and again got very close looks at the Bald-Headed Eagles. Bernie Miles reported seeing two Golden Eagles sitting in one tree. We tried to park close to the turf farm to get a better look at the eagles since we were early for lunch, but there was no room in the car park for our dozen cars. We circled past the farm one more time and drove to our destination, the Skyhawk Restau- rant at the Boundary Bay Airport.
Our large group of 28 people were seated and by all ac- counts people enjoyed their meals. Susan handed out Purdy’s Chocolate hearts to everyone. Good food, good company, sunny skies, no breakdowns, and little traffic on the roads made for an enjoyable Hearts and Tarts drive.
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 7 CARS OF BRANCH MEMBERS AND THEIR STORIES By Walter Reynolds
In this Roundabout we learn about the cars of Branch member, Dave Collis. This is his story which covers several brands of British cars and as told to me. All photos are from Dave, except as noted.
To the question, “Why British cars?” Dave replied that it is probably due to his British heritage. He was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1954 along with his mother. He was the first in his fam- ily to get a driver’s licence and was also the first to own a car.
Dave’s first car was a 1956 Austin A50 which he bought in 1962 from Fred Deeley on Broadway in Vancouver. The A50 was cream or An- tique White in colour and he owned it for 8 years. His mother even learnt to drive in it and successfully passed her driving test in it, though Dave does admit that he inspected the car for damage when she drove it home; none found! Shortly after buying the car he had to buy a rebuilt engine for it from Deeley. From his recollection the engine cost him less than $100. Dave and his 1956 Austin A50
The next car for Dave was a 1962 Morris 1100, probably the most unreliable car he has ever owned!
Dave has owned a fair number of British cars over the years, but only owns two at the present time; a 1963 Morgan 4/4 which he has owned for 51 years as of this year, and a 1965 Ford Anglia 124E which he bought in 2017. More on these cars later. Back to the other British cars he has owned, the list includes (in no particular order) many Morris Minors, many MG TDs, 6 MG ZA and ZB Mag- nettes, a MGA and 2 MGB GTs, 3 Rovers – 3500S, 2000TC and a UK version of the 3500 called the 3005, the Arnold Special, a 1934 Mor- gan 3-wheeler and the above mentioned two cars that he currently owns. Also in Dave’s garage over the years have been several exam- ples of mid-1950s Chevy’s plus a Volvo 244 wagon. Dave and his Morris 1100 The A50 was mainly an around-town car but he and his mom did prior to the start of a rally. take it over to Cowichan Bay one year on a holiday. Even though the Morris 1100 was an unreliable car, it too was an around-town car which he also drove in a few rallies.
The MG TD stable consisted of one driving car and several parts cars. He bought the drivable car from Dick Milner. The parts cars came from a variety of sources.
Dave rebuilt the car by making a new wood body frame and rebuild- ing the engine. He eventually did a straight swap of the MG for a 1934 Morgan 3-wheel Super Sport Barrel Back which he towed Dave’s 1951 MG TD
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 8 home behind his Morgan 4/4 (with a suitable and stabilized tow bar).
Dave bought the 1963 Morgan 4/4 in 1968 from GB Sterne Motors, Morgan distributors on Boundary and Grandview Hwy in Burnaby while he was employed there. He worked for Sterne from 1966 to 1975 and served his mechanic’s apprenticeship there.
Leaving Sterne, Dave went to work for Ian Newbie until 1979 at his Shell gas station at Fisherman’s Cove, West Vancouver. Returning to the British car industry, he joined Ross International in Richmond working as a mechanic for Service Manager, Ruth Burgess. At Ross Dave’s 1934 Morgan 3-Wheeler he worked on British Leyland vehicles and small Suzuki SUVs when Super Sport Barrel Back they started coming into Canada and on Skoda’s. He eventually left British vehicle work and from 1983 to his retirement in 2008 worked for Honda Canada as a mechanic.
As described earlier, Dave still owns the 1963 Morgan 4/4. He has raced it at Westwood, Seattle, and Portland and has also driven it in the Victoria hill climb and the Knox Mountain hill climb in Kelowna plus many slalom competitions. While competing in a race at the Portland race track, the Morgan shed a wheel which can be seen in the photo below. Of interest, the driver of the Lotus (Car 40) is Ian Wood of IWE Rear Ends Only. Dave’s 1963 Morgan 4/4 that he’s owned for 51 years in 2019 The 1934 Morgan 3-wheel Super Sport Barrel Back had a V-twin 1000 c.c. Matchless water-cooled engine – single wheel in the rear. He drove the car in one slalom event which was on BCIT’s grounds. The car recorded the slowest time of the event. Bob Sterne was the passenger and his job included standing up the cones that the Mor- gan was knocking down because it couldn’t turn tight enough around them. The car had Vintage plates but he drove it lot. While driving the 3-wheeler one day outside of the Vintage plate-allowed time periods, he was stopped by a police officer who suggested that in future if he is out and caught he should say that he is demonstrat- Dave looking bewildered as one wheel of his ing the car. 1963 Morgan 4/4 bounces away.
After Dave stopped driving the Morgan 3-wheeler it sat in the Sterne’s showroom. One visitors to the Morgan dealership remi- nisced that he had owned a 3-wheel Morgan and remembers having to get out and lift the rear wheel out of tram tracks. Around 1974 Dave sold the 3-wheeler to the Museum-Collection in Williams Lake but after the owner died, no one knows where the car collection ended up; it was quite considerable.
Dave’s stable of cars has also included MG ZA and ZB models but not the Veritone which had a two-tone paint scheme.
His friendship with Ian Newbie arose from the fact that they lived An MG Magnette ZB similar to that owned by Dave (Bill Postins photo)
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 9 next door to each other for several years and they both had MG TDs. They were two of the Founding Members of the Jag-MG Club.
As for the Rovers, Dave bought the 3500S in 1980 or 81 and sold it shortly thereafter. The 2000TC was in his stable for two years and then he sold it to Ruth Burgess. The right hand drive UK 3005 was sold-on a short time after he bought it.
Rover 3500S similar to the type Dave owned The Arnold Special was built by Ed Arnold of Surrey, B.C. and con- (Hemmings Motor News photo) sisted of Triumph engine and running gear with an Arnold-designed and built racing body. Dave owned the Arnold Special for a short time but didn’t race the car. It sat in his garden whilst he thought about installing an aluminum Buick V8 …something which he never did accomplish. He eventually sold the car. He believes that the car is still racing but in the eastern U.S.
Dave’s most recent purchase is a 1965 Ford Anglia 124E which he found by chance on Kijiji. The car’s previous owner was Paul Bailey the son of Ken Bailey, an old friend and owner of the old Abingdon Motors in Vancouver.
Paul had restored the Ford’s mechanicals but the body was restored by students at a Craftsman Collision body shop. The interior is origi- The Arnold Special that Dave owned but never raced (Concept Carz photo) nal. Work was needed on the radio and this was handled by ex-VCB member, Patrick Jones. So far Dave has taken the car on approxi- mately 5 VCB runs including two London to Brighton and two Fort Langley runs.
Many thanks to Dave for telling us about the British cars that he has owned over the years. Editor’s Note: As editor of the Roundabout, I want to sincerely thank Walter for this phenomenal series. It has made great read- ing and, perhaps more important, helped us get acquainted with our members. If the average article has been three pages, that’s 99 pages of quality content. I know that Alan Miles and I thank you! Dave’s 1965 Ford Anglia 124E
Well, readers, Dave’s story is my final episode of “Cars of Branch Members and Their Stories.” I started these articles nine years ago and with Dave’s story, have featured 32 Vancouver Coast Branch members and one South Island Branch member for a total of 33. I started this feature after listening to ex-VCB member Joe Carroll tell me about the history of his green MGB GT at the 2009 Vancouver ABFM. While there are many VCB members whose car sto- ries can be profiled, I will leave it to someone else to chronicle those tales. See you around. Walter Reynolds, Maple Ridge, January 30, 2019
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 10 John Peirson’s Photos from the Display in Regent Street on November 3rd and the Start of the London to Brighton Run on November 4th, 2018
Cars set off in groups a few minutes apart. This is not the first group. The crowd control marshals were far too busy taking photos to worry about all the people filling the road. It was amazing there were no accidents.
1893 Peugeot Vis-à-vis, 2 cyl 2.5 hp (made in France) The oldest car in the run. Entered by the Museo dell’Automobile di Torino (Italy). Driver: Alessandro Rossi di Schio. Body restored in 2007, engine and mechanical parts restored in 2017.
1896 Salvesen Steam Cart, 2 cyl 10 hp (made in Scotland) The driver was a young lady! There was also a hearty stoker at the back shoveling coal and blowing the whistle. There’s a video on the internet showing it in 1896 Raynaud Vis-à-vis, 2 cyl 8 hp (French) action. On November 4th it was moving very briskly.
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 11 1898 Marot Gardon Tricycle, 1 cyl 2.75 hp 1898 Peugeot Double-Phaeton, 2 cyl 6 hp
1899 Peugeot Double-Phaeton, 2 cyl 5 hp 1899 Daimler (UK) Wagonette, 2 cyl 8 hp
1900 Bardon Tonneau, 1 cyl 4 hp (French) 1900 Darracq Voiturette, 1 cyl 6.5 hp
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 12 1900 De Dion Bouton Vis-à-vis, 1 cyl 3.5 hp Note the driver sits at the back, and has to see past the two passengers in the front!
1900 Daimler, 2 cyl 6 hp
1901 Waverley Electric, 3 hp
1901 M.M.C. (Motor Manufacturing Co, UK) Coupe, 1 cyl 8 hp 1901 Albion Dogcart, 2 cyl 10 hp
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 13 1901 Mors, 4 cyl 10 hp (blue on right) 1902 Columbia Electric Tonneau, 3.5 hp (US) 1902 Peugeot, 1 cyl 5 hp (green on left) Its custodian said it has a range of 200 miles, so it should reach Brighton easily. Top speed is about 20 mph, but it does not stop very well, so he does not drive that fast!
1902 Panhard et Levassor Tonneau, 4 cyl 20 hp
1902 De Dion Bouton Tonneau, 1 cyl 8 hp 1902 Wolsele,y 2 cyl 10 hp (Left) 1902 Gladiator, 2 cyl 10 hp (Right)
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 14 1902 Wolseley Rear Entrance Tonneau, 2 cyl 10 hp 1903 Panhard-Levassor Tonneau, 4 cyl 10 hp
1903 Berliet Closed Swing-Seat Tonneau, 4 cyl 20 hp 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout, 1 cyl 7 hp
1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout, 1 cyl 7 hp
1904 Renault Swing Seat Tonneau, 4 cyl 20 hp ►
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 15 1904 Aster (French) Tonneau, 4 cyl 20 hp 1904 Oldsmobile Curved-Dash Runabout, 1 cyl 7 hp
1904 Cadillac Runabout, 1 cyl 8 hp 1904 Mercedes/Simplex Rear Entrance Tonneau, 4 cyl 32 hp
1904 Maxwell Side-Entrance Tonneau, 2 cyl 16 hp 1904 Columbia, 2 cyl 14 hp (left) 1904 Oldsmobile, 1 cyl 7 hp (right)
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 16 1904 Darracq Demi-Limousine, 2 cyl 12 hp 1904 Pope-Toledo Rear Entrance Tonneau, 2 cyl 14 hp
1904 Darracq “Genevieve”, 2cyl 12 hp 1904 Talbot Brougham, 4 cyl 12 hp
1914 Ford Model T Hearse on a side street off Regent Street
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 17 Collector Plate Spousal Issues Submitted by Les Foster I received this from the BC Pioneer Truck Club and it struck me as being of interest to our Club. From: Richard & Sally
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 18 Re-application helps to maintain the integrity of the collector program by ensuring: Vehicle continues to remain eligible for the program Protects any new owner(s) from future insurance coverage issues by ensuring all owners fully understand and have acknowledged with their signature that they undertake to adhere to the strict requirements of the Collector Vehicle Program. Any change in ownership increases risk that compliance declared by one owner could put coverage at risk. ICBC commits to fast tracking applications that are clearly identified as joint ownership or estate transfer applications. Also mark the outside of envelope as such. To allow a close family member (husband, wife, son, or daughter) to be added as joint regis- tered owner(s) of a Collector plated vehicle without inspection . Private vehicle inspections from a Provincial Designated Inspection Facility are not required for collector vehicles at the time of transfer: Except in limited circumstances for stock vehicles as noted on the Approved Parts and Ac- cessories List Unless additional modifications have been made since initial application to either as Modified Collector or Replica vehicle. To allow a close family member (husband, wife, son, or daughter) to be added or removed as joint registered owner(s) of a Collector plated vehicle without changing the plate . Unfortunately a new plate is required when one of the parties of the contract of insurance changes because: A policy of insurance is a contract, and when one of the parties to a contract changes the contract needs to change. With ICBC, that contract is the policy number or plate number The Motor Vehicle Act (section 3.06) provides only one situation in which a plate maybe re- tained and that in when a vehicle was owned by, or co-owned with, a deceased spouse and is transferred to a surviving spouse. All other situations the plate must be removed and dis- posed (Motor vehicle Regulations section 3.05, 3.08 and 3.09). Therefore ICBC is unable to facilitate an addition or removal of a party to the insurance con- tract without a change in policy number or plate number. All surrendered ICBC plates are recy- cled. To allow a spouse or close family member (husband, wife, son or daughter) to be removed as a joint registered owners of a Collector Plated vehicle without re apply- ing, inspection or changing the plate. The surrender/ transfer requirements mentioned above do not differentiate between adding or removing owners and therefore Regulations do not allow for the removal without plate change. But we would like to reiterate that it is more than just Regulations that drive this requirement. As stated above, we believe that the integrity of the Collector Vehicle Program is enhanced with having the inspection and application process repeated with ownership change. It pro- vides value to the community by ensuring vehicles remain qualified and owners are protected from unexpected insurance coverage issues resulting from a lack of understanding of the strict requirements of the Collector Vehicle Program.
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 19 What’s Charles Morgan up to? Meet Alcraft Motor Company! Alcraft Motor Company … Britain’s answer to Tesla? By Steve Hutchens
Never heard of Alcraft? Neither had I until I did a quick search on “British electric cars” and found an article with enough sizzle that it led to more searching and, soon, it appeared that that this could be more interesting than I thought. Alcraft Motor Company, based in the Innovation Centre, Silverstone Park, Towcester (Editor’s note: my Hutchens ancestors left Towcester about 1645). The Chairman and Founder is David Alcraft whose background includes pharmacy and chemical engi- neer before becoming CEO of several businesses in the medical devices and healthcare field. David’s track record includes building British businesses and he has twice received the Queen’s Award for Industry. David loves vintage and classic cars and was apparently fascinated by steam but realized that electric cars have the same instant torque as steam without the drawbacks. His interest turned to starting an electric car company which is focused on British design and engineering. The company’s website, www.alcraftmotor.com, has lots of nice photos of interesting cars that are presuma- bly concepts. Then I clicked on “About” and soon it got really interesting. The top of the “About” page a short bio on Alcraft and a link a his story. I scrolled down the page and found Mark Carbery who has been involved in the launch of Lexus and Daewoo. I was about to click back to the pic- tures but probably out of curiosity scrolled down further. Glad I did. The face looked familiar. Then I saw the name: Charles Morgan, Director of Innovation. I believe that’s Charles in the top photo holding the large photo of the Alcraft GT. His bio: “Charles is synonymous with Britain’s specialist car industry, having spent almost 30 years at Morgan. As well as roles as Strategy Director and MD he drove its adoption of new technologies, including aluminium and electric powertrains. … Charles brings uniquely relevant experience to Alcraft Motor.” Further down the page I found Matthew Humphries, Head of Design. His bio: “Matthew is formerly Head of Design at Morgan Cars, where he modernised the company’s design capabilities. He created the hydrogen fuel-cell Life Car, Aero- max, Plus 8, Eva GT, Supersports and Aero Coupe, and reinvented the iconic Mor- gan three-wheeler. … [and] is a senior vehicle design tutor at London’s world- renowned Royal College of Art. Matthew leads the development of Alcraft Motor Company’s design language.” The Alcraft GT design specifications certainly sound impressive: 4 wheel drive with three motors, 840 lb ft of torque, 600 hp, 300 mile range, 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds, weight of 1700 kg (3748 lb, about 25% less than a Tesla S), 2+2 seating or 2 seats and 500 litres of load space. Sounds aggressive … and expensive and like it will be in a small niche market if it comes into production. One article dated September 6, 2017, said the Alcraft GT was slated to launch in 2019. A bit more surfing found that this isn’t new news. There are two pages of responses dating to the fall of 2017 on TalkMorgan.com [http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/493317/1]. I found no recent refer- ences to the status of the company nor to the likelihood of production. Apparently they attempted crowd- funding but raised only £10,825 compared to a goal of £600,000 which doesn’t look promising. With major auto manufacturers scheduled to spend a total of something like $90 billion in the next four or five years on electric cars, the time for small firms to get a toe hold has probably passed.
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019 THE ROUNDABOUT PAGE 20