MTWC Group Events are also listed after the GO’s report
BROOKLANDS LANCS AND LAKES Next meeting 3rd February at the New Inn, Send, Surrey GU23 7EN th Post-Christmas Dinner 28 February at the NORTH WEST MacDonald Stewart (Canadian) Pavilion Bisley. 11th February - Wednesday Lunch at The Smoker EAST ANGLIAN Inn, A556, Plumley
EAST ANGLIA – WOOLPIT OXFORD Saturday 28th February, Oxford Group Meeting, EAST MIDLANDS The Abingdon Arms, Beckley, noon. SOUTH COAST th FAR FAR SOUTH WEST 18 th Fri Feb 6 . Black &White breakfast meet, 10.00am, SOUTH EAST Fox & Hounds, Scorrier. th Wed Feb11 . VSCC lunch meet. 12.00pm, Hawkins Wednesday 4th and 18th February - Wednesday Arms, Zelah Irregulars lunchtime meetings Sun Feb15th. VMCC Run, 10.30am, Tesco's, Saturday 7th March, the annual SE Group mogjumble Wadebridge. at The Swan, Horndon-on-the-Hill Wed Feb 18th VMCC Lunch meet. 12.00pm, Victoria, SOUTH WEST Roche. Thu Feb19th MTWC Group Meeting 7.30pm, Fox & Hounds, Scorrier. FAR SOUTH WEST Y.N.D. th 10 February The Bay Horse, Scholes. M1, J35, A629 Rotherham, 3rd left Scholes (Sat Nav S61 2RQ). HERTS, BEDS AND BUCKS. WEST MIDLANDS Wednesday, 11th February, Mid-month Meeting. 18th Fruiterer’s Arms, Ombersley 20.00 Wednesday 25th February, Monthly Meeting. The Clent Club 20:00 Dates for your 2015 diary Sunday 12th April MTWC OPENING RUN May 22nd–25th 8th Dutch Run: Amersfoort see page 9 Jan May 29 to June 1st. Fougeres Rally July 24th-26th Viking Run see page 15 Jan 4th 5th 6th September 23rd German Dreirad Treffen see page Inverary Argyll Contents: 3 Editorial Twaddle 15 30 Group Reports Adrian M-L’s conrod 16 History Please 40 More About GH 8 OPENING Run 2015 20 Trials and 42 Mogspares Pricing 6 Grease and Trackrod Tribulations 43 Brightwells’ Auction Ends 44 New Members 22 Morgans Galore - 45 UPE/ EOH 9 Dratted Hole/Tax Disks French Interlude 46 Floggery 10 Competition report 23 Brake Wisdom 48 Morganalia 14 Letters/postcards/emails 25 Under/Oversteer 49 …..
Cover Photo: Vice President, Gary Caroline, sliding on full lock at the VSCC Winter Driving Tests at Bicester, heading for an unflinching, brave photographer .
2 Vol. 70 February 2015 No. 2 THE BULLETIN THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE MORGAN THREE- WHEELER CLUB AFFILIATED TO THE ACU: NON - TERRITORIAL CLUB WEBSITE: www.mtwc.co.uk
Editorial
In the January Bulletin, longstanding South On the matter of articles … yet again the Coast Group member Dave Pittuck requested editorial files are bulging … this is a Good the opinion of other members who had tried Thing and only problematic to those who have coupled brakes. Gratifyingly, this has brought submitted articles and are patiently awaiting a flurry of responses, each giving a differing publication. Please don’t stop sending in your view. When I rebuilt my first Morgan, I opted contributions as I would only have to ask for for pedal operation of the more when the files became depleted. tolerably well with the Sixty two years after his assistance of Paddy death, Haringey have O’Shea’s floating cams decided to commemorate After a few years when the founder of one of the I needed to overhaul the then largest employers in brakes again. I elected to try their borough. According and improve matters. This to a certain website, the time, I welded the two parts company was named JAP of original brake shoes Industries as ‘any fule doth which were originally only knoe’ commenced at 1 rivetted and fitted Lansdowne Road, appropriate linings for the Tottenham, in 1895, much stiffer cast drums. At the same time, behind the Prestwich family home. The reverting to handbrake-to-the-front brake famous façade was demolished in 2012 to operation, which I have used happily ever make way for a Sainsbury Supermarket, as part of the Tottenham Hotspur Redevelopment Have a look in Nev Lear’s commendable Scheme. Bulletin Index (link available on the of cinematographic cameras … website) and you will find a great deal of and pencils. information on the topic. You will find that the information on pages Dick Fripp writes with a bona scheme for 23 and 24 is fresh and fascinating … so, “yer takes yer pick”. Seems like this topic will run. The subject of greasing the track-rod ends has for years been declared a taboo. On pages 6 and 7, is an article by John Rowlandwith the opposite conclusion. Judging by the responses to the foregoing brake enquiry, I fully anticipate an overflowing email inbox for the March copy. Quote of the Month: “I will defend to the death, the right of the Editor to appear a Right Charlie.” Mrs Orinda Trellis, North Wales
3 Connecting Rod Adrian Murray-Leslie
It struck me on opening last month’s I have noticed a fear factor that creeps in Bulleting that my piece seemed to take up when owners stop using their cars for long less space than has been customary for the runs and seldom take them out at all. Fear Chairman’s thoughts, but then I have always also haunts those who are not so sure about thought that bite sized chunks tend to be their mechanical competence, both in more appetizing than large platefuls. preparing the car and in dealing with I was seriously impressed by Ian problems whilst on the road. There are also Parkinson’s letter and by his and Maria’s practical issues whilst travelling abroad that incredible determination, not to mention pain may seem daunting. threshold. The Club has always majored on Ian, I know, is keen to share his experience competition successes and rightly so because with anyone who needs their confidence from the very early exploits of HFS and Mc - bolstering and the gaps in their knowledge Minnies followed by the great competitors filling. Group organisers might also find a who have developed the engineering and the role in organising presentations by reputation of the threewheeler to this day, experienced long distance travellers to they have been a major artery supplying inspire their members to get out there and lifeblood to the Club. However, there have enjoy some real long distance adventures. been many equally significant achievements Expect to hear much more from Ian on on the road involving reliability (and coping this matter in the future. with unreliability) and sheer perseverance. Adrian
The West Midlands/South West Group Daffodil Run 2015 will be held on Sunday, 22rd March At the Beauchamp Arms, Dymock If you want lunch, please book for midday on 01531 89026 (please mention the MTWC)
Questions, Questions There are many members with areas of How many 8valve Anzanis fitted to expertise that may very well be of great Morgans are there in the Club ? assistance to the Club on a very occasional Similarly, does anyone have one of the basis. Members wishing to register their more unusual engines fitted by the factory skills can contact the Editor in the first in the early days … Blumfield or instance. Who would like to help? Precision?
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MTWC Opening Run 2015 Sunday 12th April Combe Mill, Blenheim Palace Sawmills, Oxfordshire OX29 8ET … Why not make a weekend of it?
The Opening Run is a great opportunity for members to get together …. so why not extend your stay and make a weekend of it? As well as catching up with friends, there are many things of interest nearby and good local accommodation. Of course there is Blenheim Palace and its gardens and their Winston Churchill Exhibition (5 miles from Combe Mill). In the churchyard of St. Martins, Bladon (3 miles away) is Winston Churchill’s final resting place. Opposite the entrance to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock is the Oxfordshire Museum which has
The Oxford Bus Museum & Morris Motors Museum (open on Sundays) is just 2 miles from Combe Mill - their fleet of 40 buses date from 1913 and the collection of Morris cars dates from 1925 to 1977. There is lots of good accommodation in the area. Tony and Peta Tebby who live close to Combe Mill and have kindly suggested the following: Gorselands Hall, Witney OX29 6PU, tel 01993 882292 Swan House Guest Rooms, Witney OX29 8BX, tel 01993 883563 Shephards Hall, Witney OX29 8HQ, tel 01993 881256 Also there is the Cotswold View Caravan & Camping Park, OX7 3JH, tel 01608 810314. This would be for the more adventurous among you who could camp or hire one of their camping PODs which are insulated wooden huts designed to be used like a tent. We are planning on organising some activities around the event and there will be more information about these in next month’s Bulletin and on the website.
Charles Smith Should We Grease Trackrod Ends? John Rowland
Steve Uprichard writes: “Don’t grease the track-rod ends on your Morgan. It’s the cones which provide damping to the steering and if you grease them you’ll get steering wobble”. That’s what I’ve heard over the years but I found that if I greased the track- rod ends or squirted chain lube, I got lighter steering without the wobble. I spoke to John Rowland at the 2014 Sporting AGM. Here’s what he sent me: “As you know, I believe that track rod ends were meant to be greased from day one....and probably were. The damping should be done by viscous drag in the grease film, not by metal graunching together. If this happens, My late-type track-rod ends were drilled and tapped 1/4in. UNF or whatever, and a apart from the strain on the track-rod, the car ths steers in an odd, jerky 'click-stop' way, small diameter hole, (5/64 , 2mm or similar) making it difficult to hold in a straight line; it drilled obliquely in each from as far down is always creeping to the left or right. Very the tapped hole as possible to emerge, one irritating. I fitted grease nipples around 1979 hoped, about half way down the taper bore. after this happened to me on a very long In the photo the 'tramlines' finish on the bore motorway in Belgium! was obtained by lapping with coarse valve- grinding paste. (Good for grease retention.) On the passenger side track-rod end, the nipple faces forward, and on the driver's it faces up.....I think I must have done this to stop the nipple getting squashed by the steering drag link on full lock. The bronze cones (10° taper on one-inch phosphor bronze bar) have been vandalised with a fine triangular file to hold more grease. OK, I'm obsessive. The lapping tool is just a 10° taper on a odd bit of 1in. steel bar. (The threaded end just happened to be there, but it is useful if you need to hold it in a chuck.) So, after
6 fitting the grease nipples, the obsessive The Bugatti shock absorber was a small approach is: lap the track-rod end bore until drum brake, with a single almost circular the worst of any ovality and seizure marks unlined cast iron shoe which was have gone, then drill a piece of bronze bar for permanently in contact with the drum. An the bolt, and machine a 10° taper on the end expander device was used to increase or of it. Keep trying the track-rod end until it is decrease the 'braking' effort. On some of the a snug fit;.....you may have to tweak the 10° attached photos a grease nipple can be seen setting; it only takes a few minutes! ....then near the edge of the damper backplate. part off, ensuring that your new cone doesn't (The usual 1920s flat-top hexagonal type protrude from the top of the taper bore. known as 'plug type', or 'Stauffer Type' in the USA.)
Yes, you can buy new taper bushes, but there's no guarantee that that they will fit accurately into 70-year-old components that have led an adventurous life! A good fit means a continuous grease film, giving efficient damping. Use any decent 'No.2' consistency grease, (the most usual type) NOT oil.
Another sporting motorcar almost as well known as the Morgan 3-wheeler also used sheared grease film damping devices; it was the Bugatti. From 1920 the Type 23 'Brescia Modifié' Type 30 and from 1924 the legendary Types 35 and 51 used shock absorbers which had to be greased. (The French term 'amortisseurs', or 'deadeners' is more accurate.)
7 MX Conversion to Needle Bearings Peter Gellert One of the inherent design failings of the is that it was originally designed as a motor- did not cater for flywheel end thrust and the simple expedient (astute HFS again) was to use a the “top-hat” timing side bronze bush. Peter Gellert from Rellingen in northern Germany tells of his solution: After a flywheel shift on my Matchless
. Experiencing excessive wear on these parts in the past, I thought it would be worth trying needle bearings to take up the pressure from using the clutch as in both the 60° JAP and Matchless motors with the plate clutch operating exerts pressure on the front main bearing. To take up the pressure you can install a set of radial needle bearings if there is enough space between the front flywheel and the housing. It helps if you can get a bearing with the inside diameter to fit the the front mainshaft I had to use metric bearings and had to turn a sleeve to hold the mainshaft centred. I also tried to replace the main bushing with two needle bearings but due to the oil pump drive the bearings did not have enough support in the housing. Using needle bearings in the camshaft, however was most successful. Again, using metric bearings I had to turn down the shafts which were then hard- chrome plated and ground to fit the bearings. When the financially- astute Harry Morgan changed from JAP to Matchless the story goes that he saved a whole half a crown, two shillings and sixpence in the deal (2/6d in Imperial or 12.5p post 15th February 1971). Readers are invited to write about their solutions to flywheel problems. Ed.
Morgans at the West Midlands Christmas Lunch photo: Dave Anscombe
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More on that Dratted Hole Alan Strutt I would like to thank John Rowland for his longer by an amount related to the specific amusing exposition on the matter of whether material from which the flywheel is made, and the central hole of the external flywheel gets to the temperature it is heated to. As each of larger or smaller when the item is heated. these strips has infinitely small width, there is While I’m sure some of John’s writing is best no change to their width on heating. understood by those with a mind like that of So, we heat up the flywheel made of strips, Stephen Hawking, we know of course his main and its outer diameter increases. Now, what conclusion is correct...or do we! Are we left about this annoying central hole? with the feeling that our intuitive belief of the Above we have fixed the strips immovably central hole decreasing in size with temperature at the central hole, but now let each one of rise has not been dispelled: indeed, the rod them be threaded at their very innermost ends John cites may well increase in length, making onto an infinitely narrow (i.e. no surface area) for a ring of larger diameter, but he does not annulus made of flywheel material...just like mention that the diameter of this same rod will keys onto a keyring...and be firmly fixed to the increase also ...therefore reducing its centre annulus. As before, the thickness of the hole! annulus maybe whatever you wish it to be. If While I do not want to enter the enduring the diameter of the annulus - which is the fray that exists between chemists and physicists diameter of the central hole - changes, the who perceive the world through beakers and strips will move. When this annulus is heated, rulers respectively, ( Y ou just Have!! … Ed,) I its circumference (i.e. length) increases, and would offer another way of considering the hence the diameter of the hole it encircles will problem. increases. The result is that the strips threaded Let us suppose our external flywheel is made onto the annulus will move outwards from the up of a large number of strips laid side by side centre. around the central hole, with their inner ends From this we can see that when the flywheel fixed immovably to the hole. Each strip is the is heated up, its new dimension will depend on length of the radius of the flywheel (less the the initial diameter of the flywheel, and the radius of the hole) and each strip has temperature to which it has been elevated. To infinitesimally small facial surface area. While stop the material of the flywheel tearing itself it is of no importance here, each strip can be as apart on heating, the central hole will increase thick as the thickness of the flywheel. in diameter, too. Now, Second Form physics will tell us that Now all I have to do to put theory into if we heat up these strips, each one will get practice, is get the d*m thing off!
Tax Disks Dick Fripp Under the new DVLC rules we will not be issued with the yearly paper Tax Discs to fix into the holders on our beloved cars. This will make the holders redundant and many would immediately think of beer mats to fill the void. I wondered what the original disc would look like and came across Earlswood Vintage & Classic, who can make replicas of any year you may wish. http://www.britishtaxdiscs.co.uk You will find your Car’s registration date year listed and illustrated, they provide a very good reproduction to put in your holder on the car. I attach a picture of my one fitted today. My SS was first registered on 4th January 1932 so its been a sort of 83nd Birthday treat for it! The Tax for that year (1932) was £5.
9 Competition Report Pete Clews
I’ve been a bit preoccupied with other things I had 17 of you who wanted to take part and getting the Montlhèry entries in so I originally and have worked on this basis so thought I would give you an update on the how many of you would be willing to enter at season as it is not that far away now and I £250 if it can be arranged. I need a definite shall be away skiing for the first couple of number to work with so can you email me weeks in February. YES or NO please asap. A copy of the latest calendar is attached. The dates will be 1/2/3rd May with practice There will still be a couple of things to add on Friday and one race on both Saturday and including a Sprint and Aske Hall Hill Climb. Sunday. The Sunday race would be early so Jonathan has sent me the Championship that those wishing to could make the Sunday Rounds which are attached. The Challenge evening ferry.We have been offered the usual Rounds will be the first Morgan Race at the excellent hospitality by the MSCCH if we can VMCC Mallory and Darley meetings. go. I’ve also attached the Sporting Formula The MSCC Brands Hatch drew very little with the change to brakes agreed at the AGM response so I’ll tell Tony Oliver we won’t go and the 5 Speeder Sporting Formula which we ahead with it. agreed at the meeting. I am waiting for VSCC Cadwell is Sunday 7th June, not the Rowena to come back to me about the usual Saturday this year. We need a good wording for the 5 Speeders in our turnout again and hope it will be fine not a Supplementary Regulations which she has boating lake! I still don’t have a cost for this promised to sort early next week. The Permit but it will not be dissimilar to last season with documentation will be ready for submission a small increase for the ACU Insurance. then. On the 5 Speeder front I have sent Mark Loton Park will be 2 days as suggested with Reeves our Eligibility Form for him to the best time for each day aggregated to get produce a draft 5 Speeder version for the final result as Bill proposed. I’m still Jonathan, Dave and myself to agree. As soon waiting for them to get back to me with a as we have done this I will ask 5 Speeder price but my guess is the Entry Fee will be owners to fill in copies for Jonathan to somewhere around £160. They seem to be in approve and issue cards and numbers ready chaos at present with a new Comp. Sec. and a for the start of the season. vacant spot where the Entries Secretary used Phil Reaney tells me that BHR are keen to to be! get some of us to Croft as it is going to be I’m still persevering with Zandvoort but the aimed at Sidecars and B3’s. He is also going cost is the big factor. I have told HARC (the to run the Taxi Rides at lunchtime at most Dutch Club) via Machiel Kalf that the most BHR events to raise funds for the Air we will pay will be £250 each for Practice and Ambulance as he did at the last Cadwell. 2 races.I think we could subsidise this slightly Anyone wanting to take part will need to let from the surplus from last season.The meeting myself or Phil know well before the meeting is open to 5 Speeders so a few of you would as he has to have ACU approval. boost the grid and make the meeting viable. I had a lovely letter from Stu Harper HARC want at least 20 on the grid and I have thanking us for the AGM Dinner which he been looking at assembling a joint grid with really enjoyed so I’ve attached a scan. another club. Apologies …Stuart’s letter would not reproduce While HARC are agreeable to this finding a with sufficient clarity ..Ed suitable partner club is not easy. I can only Sue Darbyshire has arranged for Avon to ask one group at a time and wait on their produce a batch of 130/65 AM23s which will decision before asking another so it very time be about £140 each and available for the start consuming. of the season. Anyone who uses this size and If the present enquiry falls flat, I intend to is interested can contact Sue for details. contact a few individuals with B3s and Outfits I want to try a Sprint Hillclimb series again to see if they would be interested. and I am still on the lookout for more venues.
10 11 MORGAN THREEWHEELER RACING CHAMPIONSHIP THURSDAY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING ROUNDS 2015 Round Date Venue Club Event 1 April 11th/12th Mallory Park VMCC Circuit Race 2 April 18th/19th Loton Park H&DLCC Speed Hill Climb 3 May 16th/17th Anglesey VMCC Circuit Race 4 May 24th Prescott BOC/MTWC Speed Hill Climb 5 June 7th Cadwell Park VSCC Circuit Race 6 August 15th/16th Darley Moor VMCC Circuit Race 7 August 22nd Curborough MTWC Twisty Sprint 8 September Cadwell Park VMCC Circuit Race th th 26 /27 All meeting dates are subject to confirmation The best 6 scores out of the 8 rounds are to count towards both the Champion- ship and the Catalogue Engine Trophy awards Points are scored on the basis of 1st place = 10 points and in descending order to 10th place = 1 point Please note that at a two day meeting the first race on the first day that in- cludes Morgans will be the qualifying round unless otherwise specified If you would like to receive any information by e-mail please send your details to Jonathan Garside at [email protected]
Is your car insurance due? Get a quote from the motor-insurance specialists. It will cost you nothing; it could save you a lot. SPECIAL SCHEME RATES FOR MORGANS AND OTHER CLASSIC CARS
Morgan Insurance Consultants William Curtis House, Lenton Street, Alton, Hants. GU34 1HH. 01420 594242. e-mail: [email protected]
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Email: [email protected] Tel: 01684 899084 Mob: 07815 119 447 Or visit or website www.cameronracingengines.com
13 Letters, emails, postcards Past Blast by email Here are a few pictures which follow on Terry, Terry, Quite Contrary! by email from Jeremy Jones’s letter in the December I don't agree that John Rowland should be Bulletin and mine. Not sure whether PH writing (January Bulletin) that 'white 8267 still survives though. Or for that matter asbestos' is really 'not particularly dangerous' Martin Stewart’s GK 5556. when all over the world it is thought to be so. Best wishes, Lyn Evans However I believe its import and sale has been banned in the UK since about 1999 so it's unlikely he has bought any recently. I would also argue with Robin Rew's article 'Tight Enough is Enough' where he says 'it is quite sufficient to use nuts with flat or spring washers'. Spring washers do not resist loosening and may assist it, and they should have no place on any motor vehicle or Morgan. As far as I know, flat washers under nuts are a very good idea, provided they are flat. Regards, Terry Wright, Australia Editors Note: Terry’s letter has been forwarded to both John Rowland and Robin Rew for their comment … which will appear in the Bulletin next month. A Model Answer by post A friend of mine who is an MTWC member, showed me the photographs in the January issue, of a Morgan pedal car. I instantly recognised it as one of several that I built in the 1980s. I ran a one-man business from the garden shed making pedal cars to order. I remember it had 16" wheels and
The rear brake was operated by the From Mrs Trellis formerly of North Wales As my beloved has cocooned our tricycle for the chilly season, I decided to sample on another form of transport. Obviously boating the tyre. was out of the question as the municipal lake The body had closed and as I have a morbid fear of was heights, flying was out of the question and aluminium the story of Daedalus and Icarus getting and and in two halves. hot and bothered in the sun, keeps my feet steel hubcap from a Datsun car. firmly on terra firma. So for something hot They were driven by pedals and chain. I and vigorous, I went horse-riding with my think I only built two with Sturmey Archer gears, the rest were single speed. ride but I had to help my Uncle Jack off his A East, Lincoln horse and clean up all of the
14 Membership Renewals 2014/2015 Steve Uprichard
Our updated Membership List and The glitches. This year we introduced Renewal Process went well this year. renewals by Standing Order. Unfortunately, the form was not included a lot of new features into the list so that we in the October Bulletin as intended. This can speed up the renewal process and meant that some Forms were processed chase up late renewals much faster. One late by the banks and resulted in a bit of simple “click” indicates a member has confusion. Members who set up Standing renewed and inserts the date of renewal. Orders on-line had fewer problems. We The new features also include a one step hope more UK members will use this process to produce the printers list of process in future. Lavenham Press forgot names and addresses (which include to print the Renewal Forms in December family members in November and despite being reminded by email. They December) and a direct link to the apologised immediately and promised to Membership Card printing routine. Eric send out forms to all members who hadn’t Bayley is very happy with the way things renewed. However, they omitted family are working. However, there were a few members and this has meant that some of glitches along the way and things weren’t you have renewed without the rest of your as smooth as we’d hoped they would be. family. If this happened to you, please The good things. In November, you all contact Eric with the appropriate money got Renewal Forms with the majority of and you’ll get the extra membership cards. information completed. Howard Joseph, Next Time. Hopefully, things will be even Eric Bayley and Steve Uprichard spent a better next time. If you live in the UK, why lot of time re-uniting family groups to not take advantage of Standing Orders? make this possible. All that was needed Renewal is automatic and you won’t miss was to check the details and send a cheque, out on any Bulletins! You can download a maybe adding another £2.50 for a form from the website or set the details up Membership List. Many of you did this. on-line if you have internet banking. We’re The new Membership Cards involve a lot hoping to introduce electronic payment via less work for Eric and we think they look the internet too which will help more attractive than the previous cards. our overseas members a lot.
Here’s a pretty view of the Malvern Hills to restore the equilibrium Photo: Dave Anscombe
15 History Please? GPB 108 Richard Woodcock
At 57 years of age, and a life long Motoring the autumn, in the form of an unexpected Enthusiast, I have owned many cars and legacy, from a dear Aunt, sufficient to finally motorcycles of varying make, model and bridge that gap. age, yet the one which has always been my Just before Christmas I took possession of favourite, yet eluded me is the fabulous GPB 108 – a 1938 3 speed ‘Barrel Back’ ‘Three Wheel Morgan’. Super Sports with Matchless MX2 engine. The car is red in colour, has been re-bodied at some time and has not been on the road since 1996, so understandably has a few jobs to bring up to scratch. Its not concours, but not scruffy either and has a pleasing patina commensurate to its age. The former owner at that time and for just over 23 years was Mr Bill Wilson from Bournemouth, a former Morgan club member, whom I am pleased to inform you is alive, well and in correspondence with me. The Mog was featured in the 1996 official Morgan Factory calendar, and is quite distinctive as the Rocker Box covers are Since a teenager, I have coveted the desire to own one, yet the more I saved my hard earned cash, the faster they went up in value, and the gap grew wider. Last year I finally caught up, yet the Morgan still evaded my grasp, as I was offered a 1903 Humberette which I had campaigned in the VCC London to Brighton on loan for several years - at a price that I could scarcely refuse! My appetite was whetted further by discussions with Dave Pittuck and Malcolm Bull - and by the excellent Gaydon Test Day and Malvern AGM meet. Lady luck finally came my way in
attractively embossed ‘Morgan’ instead of the usual ‘M’. I should be interested to know the origin of these presumably ‘after market’ additions? As a new club member, I shall hopefully soon be joining you on the roads and rallies – look out for the chap with the wide grin ! In the meantime, I am researching the history, so if anyone has any information, photos or memories of this charming car, which I have named ‘The Nipper’, please email me on: [email protected] or Tel 01926 810138
16 Super F Super Sidescreens Oreste Bianchi
The F-Super is the very last model of the members (they are ALL very keen) has sent original three-wheeler production line. It is photos of the sidescreens he has made to fit possibly the most refined as far as smooth- his car. The rear section of the screen slides ness and comfort and overall practicality. to afford a degree of ventilation with the Originally it was supplied with plain, rather hood raised. They have warm rain in Italy … inconvenient non-opening sidescreens. Construction is self-explanatory and a Oreste Bianchi, one of the enthusiastic Italian very worthwhile improvement. REBUILT AND REPLICA COOPER-STEWART SPEEDOMETERS
Cooper Stewart Cooper Stewart Cooper Stewart Cooper Stewart Replica speedometers Rebuilt speedometers Rebuilt speedometers Rebuilt speedometers for late M chassis and for Sports and Family for Super Sports for our Continental early three speeders models models members models 0-85 mph dial 0-70 mph dial 0-90 mph dial 0-130 kph dial
Speedometers are shipped postage paid within the UK, rest of world at cost. New Speedometer Cables for three NEW speeder Sports and Super Sports Models Replica wiper motor driven by the front controls. off side wheel £60.00 plus shipping at £65.00 cost from the UK, $100 plus shipping at Cables are shipped from the USA at cost. cost from the USA.
Contact Brian Pollock at [email protected] Phone +1-206-228-1814 (8 hours behind GMT)
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George Darbyshire Work on any classic and vintage cars. From maintenance and repair work to full restoration including fabrication and engine work. Pease call George on 01608 664996 or 07905168142 Or e-mail [email protected]
WHEEL BUILDING All types - Heavy-duty spokes. Well-proven. 2 and 3 speeder rims in stock. Other wheels: price on application. Wheels can be collected and delivered to race meetings. Quick service. Also Morgan paintwork undertaken by long-term enthusiast. Phone Greg Bibby on 0116 279 3048 (day) or 0116 279 2120 (evenings). Mobile 07860 237 945. E-mail: [email protected] The Nurseries, Fleckney Road, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, LE8 0HJ
The Gerald Carr F4: now available for borrowing by members
The car has had extensive restoration to woodwork, bodywork and rear suspension, and the insurance has been re-negotiated.
Note that there is still an age limit of 25 years minimum.
To borrow the car for a long weekend, we suggest a donation of £45, to cover insurance and maintenance. To keep the operation going successfully, more bookings are required. . . . so get planning!
Contact; Ross Herbert, Hareley Farm, Linley Green Road, Whitbourne, Worcestershire. WR6 5RF Tel: 01886 884362 email: [email protected]
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G.E.E LTD Workshop: Gigg Mill, Old Bristol Rd, Nailsworth, Glos GL6 0JP Visitors by appointment, please. Tel/Fax: 01453 832 113
F-type chassis from £520 4-wheeler chassis to your spec: 4/4,+4,+8. Crossheads for all models. 3 and 4-wheeler. Hubcaps: polished alloy as original £29 pair, Stainless £35 pair. Mayflower rear lamp die-castings £58 pair, lamps red or amber £36 pair Dash parts, red and black sockets £21.50 pair. Our replica horn push Super Sports etc. £34,
Small chrome Horn push £9, Late F-type Bakelite horn push £20 Steering columns re-built, parts supplied. Morgan rear brake cam. £32.00 Cast polished rad cap mascots, Morgan flying ‘M’ flat or domed cap versions. £19 Paired wing Family type £30, Polished alloy Stork mascots £42 Bronze Storks £50 Radiator badges, German silver, for Super Sports, Aero, F-type and Grand Prix Stub axle inner nuts £4, lock tabs £2.50 F-type and 3-speeder stub axles £65 pair. Stainless steel bonnet knob sets of 4, suit F-type Series 1 and early +4 and 4/4 £55, escutcheons to match £15 set.
Brake shoes relined, clutches rebuilt, any make Morgan to Rolls Royce.
Many other new and used parts also in stock, yes we also have a range of bits for Bentley and Rolls Royce, mainly MKVI
19 Trials and Tribulations Julian Vincent
In "The Cyclecar" of April 9th, 1913, the Cyclecar Club announced its Fuel Consumption Trial, to take place 10 days later. The headquarters for the trial were to be the White Lion Hotel, Cobham, on the Ripley road. The objective of the trial was to assess not just economy but comfort. So a touring cyclecar with all mod. cons. could compete with a stripped- down racer, although the published results seemed not to consider this. Competitors provided their own fuel, or could buy it at the start of the trial. Brands on offer were "Shell I" or Carless; Capel & Leonard's "Movril" and "Carbus". Each competitor provided a passenger who functioned as the The best consumption was recorded by a observer in one of the other cars; observers Mr HF Welham in a cyclecar that he had had to stay in the car and were not allowed to designed and made himself. The engine was push or help in any way. Maximum time a 402cc Ariel made in 1899 that he had allowed for the course of 25 miles was two picked up off a scrap heap. The drive train hours. At Leatherhead and Cobham there was a pair of friction discs at right-angles to were sections with a 10 mph speed limit. each other (a common substitute for a gear On the day there were 21 entrants of which box) with belt final drive. He achieved two were Morgans: AW Lambert (1082 cc 82mpg. Clearly a Morgan owner at heart. JAP pulling gears of 4.5 and 8 to 1, weight + This short trial clashed with the Bristol 2 people 938 lbs) and RD Oliver (965 cc JAP MCC reliability trial, 107 miles non-stop. pulling gears of 4 and 8 to 1, all-up weight HFS appeared at this one, but had his 854 lbs). troubles and didn't get an award. Lambert's Morgan managed 54 mpg but His nemesis was Draycott Hill in the had a cracked petrol pipe, so was probably Mendips near Cheddar, Somerset (the lucky to finish the course without going up in Editor attended Junior School in Draycott flames. Oliver fared much better with 69 and is very familiar with the road) It's not mpg (although he didn't put his petrol cap steep but had an atrocious surface strewn back on at the start when he had his full tank with masses of loose flints, in places 6" and so also lost some fuel). Nonetheless, he deep. It looked more like a dried up river won the 1100 cc class. He then drove his car bed with deep ruts. Although extreme, back to Malvern whence he had come the this sort of surface was not atypical. day before.
20 Notes from the Custodian/Regalia Officer Ross Herbert The ‘Gerald’ is still tucked in for the winter. A trickle of enquiries for ‘borrowings’ in the summer including a definite booking for the A.G.M. As in previous years the chance to borrow ‘Gerald’ was part of an auction in aid of the NSPCC although no news as to when the winners want to borrow him. Interesting to see the F4 was one of the winners in the MOG magazine 2014 awards for ‘best restoration'
Regalia Matters Some new items are now available from regalia; a range of high quality cards from Also a Pearson Bark. £2.00 each or £12.00 for all stylish high eight designs. quality Retro Classic Gwenda Stewart - style man’s t-shirt at £20.00
Ross Herbert, Hareley Farm, Linley Green Road, Whitbourne, Worcestershire. WR6 5RF Tel: 01886 884362 email: [email protected]
21
Morgans Galore… French Interlude J ean Vigneau I have read with a great pleasure Eric Eadon's Morgan Galore series and hope you will find my models of interest. Photo top left : Unknown maker of an unknown 3-wheeler, presumably a Morgan Sports 2 seater Metal, 18 mm long, with a hood and spare wheel at the back, minute crude wheels. The hole on the off- side floor suggests there may have been a driver? Or maybe a chip from a game ? Photo middle left: 3-Wheel Morgan by Acorn (GB) # 11. Made in 1969 and one owner from new (me), it is the proof of my long interest in MTWs. 27 mm long, metal with transparent plastic body, crude and from the beginning era of kits. A 1933 Super Sports Matchless with the Magna wheels ?
Photo Bottom left: 1923 Morgan 3- roues by Michel Aroutcheff (label underneath) 310 mm long, mostly wood, it recalls an old period toy rather than being true to scale. Born in 1946, Michel Aroutcheff started designing wood toys (mostly cars) for Vilac in 1973 before starting on his own in 1986. Most toys are based on characters from French children magazines : Tintin, Spirou, Gaston Lagaffe, ... They are very accurate and have a strong following. You rarely find one under 500 € on the net and many fetch over 1,000 when there are several figures. He also made a nice 1955 Morgan 4 -wheeler but I was not ready to spend 500 € for it! I saw only one each (4 and 3- wheeler) in about 10 years looking on the net. Those interested will learn more here : www.objets-du-mythe.be. and I am longing to read Eric's Part 4.
22 Brake Wisdom: Coupled? Pedal Conversion?… you choose! Robin Webb, longstanding member no 1062 handbrake lever, and make them all floating writes from Hertfordshire: Although I cams. With this set-up I could lock the front haven’t done anything Morgan-wise wheels on a dry road, but still have control “recently”, not in fact for several decades, I over how much braking effort the rear wheel cannot resist coming in on this subject in was providing, according to the road response to your invitation in the January conditions. Incidentally, I never had any Bulletin. Then came comments from Alan problem with asymmetric braking on the Goodwin, Devon; Lars Hageman Sweden front wheels with a compensating pulley on and Warwick Bisley, Australia. So, here are the cable. It’s all a matter of easy cable runs their comments - and lubrication. Robin Webb (member no 1062) Alan Goodwin (member no 5630) Whatever you do, don’t couple all three I worked on the development of ABS at a brakes!! It is impossible to balance the split test track and skid pan for 7 years, and think of braking effort front/rear to suit all the wide that coupling the front and rear brakes of a variations of road surface conditions, and at Mog trike is asking for trouble. all costs, on a wet or icy road you need to If the front wheels only are locked, keep that rear wheel rolling freely. Whilst steering control is lost, but the vehicle is it’s rolling it will go straight, but if it locks at directionally stable and ploughs to a halt in a speed the back end will come round so fast straight line. If the rear wheels are locked the you will be lucky if you catch it before you vehicle performs a "handbrake turn", which spin completely. for our trikes, travelling sideways on a dry With all three brakes operating, once the road can result in capsize. back wheel locks you have an unstable So locking the rear wheel(s) is not good situation. All the retarding force is now news, and ordinary post war cars with acting down the centreline of the car at a hydraulic brakes used a pressure limiting point on a line joining the contact points of valve in the pipe to the rear brakes to reduce the front wheels on the road, but the Centre the likelihood of these locking up when of Gravity of the vehicle, where the “g” force weight is suddenly transferred from the rear will act, is well behind this, somewhere wheels to the front in a panic stop and the around the middle. If you are driving solo front wheels try to dig in. Also it was found then your weight will put the CG to the right beneficial to restrict the size of the outlet port of the centreline, and immediately these two on the master cylinder to reduce the chances forces form a couple to rotate the car anti- of the front wheels locking prematurely clockwise, viewed from above. If you have a before the body had time to rock forwards passenger and your weights are equal the CG and apply this download via the front will be on the centreline, and all will be well springs. until a slight change of direction moves the Theoretically it might be better to restrict two forces out of line, and then you have this port further for operating just two brakes. your couple again, and round you go. A But the bottom line for me is driving the trike Moggie is directly analogous to a “tail down narrow single track lanes with grass dragger” aircraft. With a tailskid or a non- and wet mud down the middle, on which the castoring tailwheel the aircraft will track back wheel has to run (common as muck straight on landing, but you put on a down here in darkest Devon), where merely castoring tailwheel, which offers no lifting off the throttle , is sufficient to send resistance to the tail moving sideways, and, the tail waggling about while the trike in plane-speak, you will “ground loop”. decides which bank to charge up. A quick If you want maximum braking at all times dab on the clutch helps here. from cable brakes, then put the front brakes Out of interest, yonks ago I made a test on the pedal and the rear brake on the on ordinary, new, oiled, Bowden cable of the
23 sort used for the front brakes on the Twin. A From the other end of the crank, a rod was 12lb weight was hung on one end of the cable, connected to the rear brake arm, which had a 180 degree gentle curve in it, and You may rightfully point out that the front the other end was pulled with a spring balance. rod has a pushing action and will bend. Yes, It took 24 pounds pull to raise the weight, and and that is the whole idea. You want most of this had to be relaxed to 6lbs for the weight to the braking power on the front, with the rear fall again. Tightening the curve to a smaller brake to assist braking and balance the car. radius made little difference to this. The bending should act as a brake reduction All of this I found most surprising, until I valve on a hydraulic system. Tests showed that realised that dragging the inner round a bend the rod bent too much, so by letting it pass in the outer is no better than dragging it round through an eye, with the hole slightly bigger a seized pulley of the same wrap and radius. than the rod diameter, and placed half way the The virtue of the GIRLING (the company I rods length, the bending was controlled. worked for) wedge operated brakes on the F Unfortunately I have been unable to develop type is obvious in eliminating 90 degrees of and test the system further, but if anyone bend. Friction when the cable is straight is believes this daft idea is worth testing, I would very small. be glad to hear from them. Personally I'm sticking to the Morris 8 hydraulics that came with my twin, but guess that the high and variable friction inherent in the standard cable system is a bigger villain than the balancer pulley. This friction could be reduced by using a single Bowden cable running parallel to the footboard between the two front brakes, with a break in the outer near the middle of the run, the ends of which are prized apart by some sort of bell crank. Balance is then automatic and two bends are eliminated. Also nowadays lower friction cables with plastic liners and PTFE lubrication are Warwick Bisley, (Member no. 10262) available. On page 37 of the January Edition, which Lars Hageman (Member no.6039) has just arrived down under, you ask for I read Dave Pittuck´s and the Editor´s experiences on converting the front brakes to request for brake improvement…. foot operation…. When I was building my 2-speeder racer I I did this recently on my 1929 2 speeder SS was recommended to operate the front brakes along the lines shown on page 20 in "The Best from the foot pedal and the rear brake from the of Clarrie". I adjusted the leverage to get hand lever. Although the brakes were OK maximum mechanical advantage while (Morganwise), I did not have the coordination limiting pedal throw to what was available. to operate them evenly. Furthermore, if I was The result was not worth the effort - I have to change down at the same time, I was short reduced the reaction time taken to grope for of one arm. the hand brake but otherwise the retardation is I had to find a way of operating all three gentle, as before!! I am told going to hydraulic brakes from the foot pedal. To incorporate the risks front suspension damage and I do not rear brake I extended the brake pedal want to beef things up and lose originality, so downwards. Then a long rod was connected, will just drive very modestly on deserted which kept just below the lower frame tube, roads. There are not enough 3 wheelers on the The rear end of the rod was connected to a road here to have a convoy outing (safety in crank that was pivoted on a long bolt that also numbers?). held the rear leaf spring to the U-channel.
24 Understeer/Oversteer Eric Eadon The modern 5 speeder I drove at the AGM in Neutral Handling. The ideal throughout my opinion should not have understeered so the speed range with a power oversteer op- much at such low speeds and having brought tion. Adjustments to tyre pressure and/or the subject up I thought I should make some tyre widths help achieve this. comments on how to correct it. My sugges- Tyre Contact Patch. As a car goes round tions depend upon what facilities, warranty a corner the side forces generated are op- restrictions, money and time can be spent on posed by the friction between the patch of it and have been restricted to options that do contact between the tyre and the road. The not require structural changes. ‘Bump area of the contact patch can be controlled by Steer’, the ‘Effect of Roll’ and ‘Suspension increasing or decreasing the tyre pressure Design for a 3 Wheeler’ may come later – (within tyre manufacturer recommendations). Editor permitting (and what about the poor See diagram below left typist!!! – H) Key: Oversteer (on a rear wheel drive car). Is a At high tyre pressure the side walls are tendency for the rear wheel(s) to try to over- stiff and allow only a small contact take the front wheels when turning into a patch to present to the road. This re- corner. duces rolling and side load resistance Understeer (on a rear wheel drive car). Is At medium pressure the side walls will a tendency to go straight on when attempting deflect more, increase the size of con- to turn. Racing drivers like a trace at the tact patch. The rolling and side roll limit of adhesion because they are brave or resistance will be near to the tyre manu- sensitive enough to get it just right, but if the facturers’ ideal. front wheels ‘let go’ you are immediately in At the lowest pressure the tyre walls will the ‘kitty litter’ or Armco. It is very difficult be soft. The contact patch will increase to control at the limit of adhesion and not to the maximum as will rolling and side recommended for road use. load resistance.
It is use of the above 3 conditions Contact Patch which allows alteration in attempt to balance the front and rear side
but, there are side effects. High pressure also leads to light steering, hard ride and ‘skittish’ rear end; low pressure the opposite, soft ride and a ‘sloppy’ rear end. This must be taken into account when calculat- ing the best over/understeer com- promise.
The Solution. 5, 3 or 2 speeders should not understeer at such low speeds. The front and rear con- tact patches need to be balanced so that the front end responds positively to steering input and, if required, the rear gently starts to tighten the line when power is added.
25 Be prepared to spend some time on the should do a set of records e.g. 40, 50, 60, following tests to get accurate information. 70mph, but it is worth it. Try and be objective Select a test run of a range of bends you know and record as you finish each run. well where it will be safe to approach at a The results shown are what I would like to range of speeds. see and if it is mirrored at higher speeds – Set the tyre pressures, with an accurate perfect. I expect there will be improvement gauge, to those recommended for the car. throughout but it is nigh on impossible to Drive your route. Fill in the ‘Test Record’. get ‘neutral handling’ throughout the full Leave the rear tyre and decrease the front by speed range because I suspect the tyre sec- 5psi (or the lowest allowed by the tyre man- tions as supplied are not suited to the car. ufacturer). Drive and record. Tyre Section. From the fictitious exam- Leave the rear tyre and increase the front by ple above, less front pressure and increased 5psi above Run 1 (or to top tyre manufactur- rear reduce understeer but make the steer- er figure). Drive and record. ing imprecise. To me that suggests a better balance would be gained with fitment of wider section front tyres (larger contact Leave front pressure and increase rear to patch) and a narrower rear tyre (smaller 5psi above Run1 (or highest safe pressure). contact patch) then apply tyre pressure Drive and record. ‘juggling’ to achieve ‘neutral’ without side Study results of runs 1-5, you should see a effects. pattern. Set tyre pressures as per your con- NB – only change one variable at a time, if clusion. Drive and record. you make multiple changes you don’t know I know it sounds complicated and ideally you what did what. Next time – ‘Bump Steer’ 50mph test – Conditions dry, sunny Date 18/10/2014 Run Rear pres- Front Pres- Oversteer/ Other comments No sure sure Understeer Com- ments 1 15psi (1 15psi (1 Understeer. Morgan recommend- bar) bar) No response to ed. Steering slightly power heavy
2 15psi (1 10psi (0.7 Less understeer. Heavy steering – bar) bar) No response to sloppy direction power control
3 15psi (1 20psi (1.3 Massive under- Light steering – very bar) bar) steer. No response pointy – difficult to power 4 10psi (0.7 15psi (1 Neutral. Front end answers bar) bar) Sloppy back end steering – rear poor
5 20psi (1.3 15psi (1 Neutral. Tail happy under bar) bar) Oversteer under power – steering power okay 6 20psi (1.3 12psi (0.8 Neutral handling. PERFECT (in your bar) bar) Slight power in- dreams!!!!) duced oversteer
26 Officers of the Club
President: Alan Lazenbury Vice-Presidents: Rose Hoar, Laurie Weeks, Gary Caroline Directors of the Morgan Three-Wheeler Club Ltd. Adrian Murray-Leslie, Alan Lazenbury, John Scruton
Chairman Adrian Murray-Leslie, Woodside House, New Road 01246 819021 Barlborough, Sheffield S43 4HY [email protected] Secretary Chris Harfield. Little Edge Farm, Broadmead, Edgworth, 01204 853561 Bolton, Lancs. BL7 0JG [email protected] Treasurer John Scruton, Nonesuch, 48 Private Road, Mapperley 0115 960 6240 Notts. NG3 5FQ [email protected] Membership Secretary Eric Bayley ) Bulletin Editor Nick Taylor ) See page 27 for details. Website Officer Steve Uprichard ) Joint Eligibility Jonathan Garside, 174 Victoria St, Newton, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 4AS Scrutineers [email protected] mob: 07979541223 0161 366 5015 Dave Hodgson, 74 Union Road, Low Moor, Bradford BD12 0DF 01274 674381 [email protected] Competition Sec Pete Clews, 141 Stallington Road, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent 01782 396762 Staffs ST11 9PB mob: 07759 983993 [email protected] Registrar Steve Lister, West End Farm, West End, Elton, Matlock, 01629 650 933 Derbys. DE4 2BZ [email protected] Librarian Peter Thompson, Snapdragons, Gold Hill North, 01895 236 246 Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 9DS [email protected] Regalia Secretary Ross Herbert, Hareley Farm, Linley Green Road, 01886 884362 and F4 Custodian Whitbourne Worcs. WR6 5RF [email protected] Archivist Jake Alderson, 36 Stone Delf, Fulwood, Sheffield S10 3QX 0114 230 7197 Mogspares Charles Smith, 10 Elizabeth Way, Kenilworth. Warks. CV 1QP 01926 852228 Coordinator [email protected] Mogspares Financial Len Critchlow, Grange Wharf, Grange Road, Alvechurch, 0121 445 3199 Administrator Birmingham, West Midlands B48 7DQ [email protected] JAP sales Andrew Morison, Tursiops Cottage, Durford Wood, Petersfield, Hants. GU31 5AW Phone: 01730 890199 Fax: 01730 890189 [email protected] Matchless sales Roger Orford (T), Nethergreen Farm, Ridgeway Cross, Tel/fax 01886 880 387 Malvern, Worcs WR13 5JS mob: 07969 950015) [email protected] Transmission sales Bob Derricott, The Laurels, Langley Road, Lower Penn, 01902 762 017 South Staffordshire WV4 4XX [email protected] Ford sales Dave Young, The Garden Cottage, West Cross, 01580 766637 Tenterden, Kent TN30 6JL [email protected] Used Parts David Browne, Gorse Farm, Fulletby, Horncastle, 01507 534 315 Exchange Lincolnshire LN9 6LA Technical Adviser Chris Booth (T), 65 High Street, Rolvenden, Cranbrook, 01580 241 234 2-speeders Kent TN17 4LP [email protected] Technical Adviser Bob Angell (T), Castle Bank Cottage, Ewloe, Deeside, 01244 532 714 3-speeders Flintshire CH5 3BZ Technical Adviser Colin Harris (T), 375 Amersham Road, Hazlemere, 01494 716 463 F-types Bucks HP15 7HR [email protected] Greg Bibby (T) The Nurseries, Fleckney Road, 0116 279 2129 (eves) Kibworth Beauchamp, Leics, LE8 0HJ Overseas Liason Bruce Campbell, 7 Bishops Close, Seaford, E Sussex, 01323 895512 BN25 2NW. [email protected] Event Co-ordinator Ian Parkinson, 26 Hamilton Road, Taunton Somerset , 01823 277832 (Co-opted) BN25 2NW. [email protected] AGM Organiser Richard Atherton, 11a Kings Road, Portishead, Somerset 01275 817261 (Co-opted) BS20 8HH. [email protected]
NOTE: On this page and in the list of Group Organisers, Officers of the Club listed who have a (T) after their names have indicated that they are trading in Morgans or Morgan-related parts. 27 Contacts
Bulletin distribution Advertisements One-off Morgan-related small advertisements The Bulletin is distributed for the Club in The Floggery are free for members. by the printers: Lavenham Press. Details should be received by the 5th of the
For queries regarding non arrival previous month. Continuous free ads at the - discretion of the editor. of your copy of the magazine, To submit an advert please contact: please contact: Doug Forbes Membership Secretary 2 Woods Batch Eric Bayley, 8 Manewas Way, Street Newquay, Somerset BA16 OBH Cornwall, TR7 3AH. 01458 841418 [email protected] Tel: 01637 872618 E-mail: [email protected] Requests for commercial advertisements or Bulletin enclosures should be discussed with the Editor.
Subscriptions and membership records New membership forms, subscription renewals, and notification of changes of address and non-arrival of your Bulletin should be sent to the Membership Secretary Eric Bayley, 8 Manewas Way, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 3AH. Tel: 01637 872618 E-mail: [email protected]
Editorial Material Group Reports Material submitted for publication Group officers should submit their reports MUST reach the Editor before the 10th and dates of events and meetings, BEFORE day of the month preceding the date of the 10th day of the month preceding the issue, except when earlier delivery has date of issue, to the Assistant Editor been agreed or by contacting: with a copy to the Editor
Nick Taylor Doug Forbes Harts House 2 Woods Batch Gloucester Road Street Almondsbury SOMERSET BS32 4JB BA16 OBH 01454 617002 01458 841418 [email protected] [email protected]
Website Officer Back issues and the Index
Steve Uprichard Back issues of the Bulletin up to the year 5 Hall Drive 2010 can be read on the CDs advertised in Mottram-in-Longdendale, Regalia. Hyde,Cheshire, SK14 6LH Nev Lear‘s Index of Bulletin articles +44 (0)1457 762682 [email protected] is also included .
Articles and advertisements in The Bulletin are the copyright of the Morgan Three-Wheeler Club, and must not be reproduced either whole or in part without the written permission of the Editor. Views or opinions expressed in The Bulletin are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Club Committee. Reference to products or services does not imply the endorsement of the Club or Mogspares.
28 Group Organisers/Contacts
Australia Terry Doyle, 94 Disraeli St, Kew 3101, Victoria, Australia 03 9853 1908 Brooklands Trevor Seymour, 1 Chequer Tree Close, Knaphill, 01483 480 388 Woking, Surrey GU21 2PB email: [email protected] East Anglia Pete Jones, Spring Cottage, Tucks Yard, Manea, 01354 680430 Cambs, PE15 0JE email, [email protected] East Anglia Mike Pilgrim, Little Orchard, Bredfield, Woodbridge 01394 382773 (Woolpit) Suffolk IP13 6AW E Midlands Malcolm Bull (T), 53 MacDonald Road, Wyken, 02476 444 282 Coventry CV2 5FE email: [email protected] Far SW Mike Goldring, Rohan Coombeshead Rd, Newton Abbot, 01626 353717 Devon, TQ121PY 0777 3884256 email: [email protected] Far Far SW Eric Bayley,8 Manewas Way, Newquay, Tel. 01637 872618 Cornwall.TR7 3AH email; [email protected] Herts, Beds Angus Tozer, 57 Beechcroft Way, Dunstable, Tel. 01582 606812 and Bucks Beds. LU6 1EE email; [email protected] Lancs Steve Hughes, 5 Chelmsford Walk, Leyland, Tel. 01772 453054 and Lakes Lancs. PR26 7AA email; [email protected] North West Mike Guess, 189 Chester Road, Grappenhall, 01925 262 264 Warrington, Cheshire WA4 2QB email: [email protected] Oxford Bob Cragg, 1 Manor Farm, Culham, Abingdon, 01235 532 565 Oxon OX14 4NP email: [email protected] Scandinavia Lennart Nilsson, Skogsvillan, Grytetorpsvägen 6, SE-647 51 Åkers Styckebruk, Sweden mob +46 (0)708 937603 email: [email protected] Scotland Dan Smith, 26a Quality Street, Edinburgh, 0131 312 8330 EH4 5BS 07713099010 South Coast Stephen Clark, Lower Sandhill House, Bodle St, 01435 830161 Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 4QU. e-mail: [email protected] South East Dennis Plater, 5 Wakelin Chase, Ingatestone, 01277 352 867 Essex CM4 9HH South West Tony Quinn, 3 Chard Close, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 4QA 01275 854789 e-mail: [email protected] North America Duncan Charlton. 1121 Lower Elgin Rd, Elgin, Texas. 512 965 7583 USA 78621 e-mail: [email protected] W Midlands Dave Anscombe, 80 High Park Avenue, Wollaston, 01384 372 307 Stourbridge DY8 3NA email: [email protected] YND Dave Hodgson 74 Union Road, Low Moor, Bradford 01274 674381 BD12 0DF [email protected] CONTACT ONLY Germany Ulrich Middelanis. Westenzaeune 38, Kamen D-59174 Germany email [email protected] This space is reserved (hopefully) for additional volunteer organisers/contacts Maybe from Italy, Spain/Portugal or Japan …. surely someone would like to send occasional notes of activities where you are … join in the fun and let us know what’s happening … a prize for the first entry! In accordance with the Club principles, no officer of the Club, nor the Club itself will enter into any mediation between any member and a commercial organisation over any dispute or complaint, even if the said organisation advertises in The Bulletin.
29 single seat racers and rally cars, Last year was Group Reports oversubscribed and I would suggest and early BROOKLANDS entry. See: [email protected]. Earlier in the day, I had finalized the menu for My Sports Family engine was assembled th and stuffed back in the car just in time for a our Christmas bash on 28 February at the run to Brooklands Museum on New Year’s Canadian Pavilion, Bisley. We will have a 4 Day. Despite the cold I should think it was course meal with waitress service for £25 per the most successful meeting yet, there were head. Accommodation is available as before etc. a wide range of vintage and classic car on Booking forms will now have been sent out – if display, with four pre-war Morgans three you have not had one please contact me. wheelers parked around the club house with The Sports Family was coated in frost when at least an equal number of five speeders we went home. We experienced a bit of carb. parked on the banking. We met up with icing, the throttle would not close fully, but it many group members with or without their was so enjoyable to be out in the car. My hand Morgans. We and had a good nag and lunch froze again as I still could not find my glove – I in the members dining room and bar. was sitting on it! Trevor Seymour The evening of the group meeting was rd also freezing cold but I was not going to The Next meeting 3 February at the New Inn, miss an opportunity to drive in the Morgan Send, Surrey GU23 7EN Post-Christmas Dinner 28th February at the having been deprived for so long awaiting MacDonald Stewart Canadian Rifle Pavilion Bisley. new parts to be made. Carol and I were road testing new furry hats with ear flaps – EAST ANGLIA marvellous, however, my right hand froze. I did not find my glove until we reached the a couple of days too late for inclusion last New Inn – Carol was sitting on it! month. Once again, big thank you to Simon and Sylvia for all their hard work. An excellent enjoyed by all on the run up to Christmas time. Sam Savage missed New Year’s day at On the 'home front', the silver aero's bevel box Brooklands due to illness however he was has been re-bearinged, bevels lapped in on the hail and hearty enough to bring along a miller and re-assembled. (not an easy job with vintage pillar drill and selection of body on) The adjustable prop has been modified, interesting spanners, all found new homes. using an old car clutch centre and gearbox Robert Carter showed a repaired rear output shaft, making it easier to adjust. Seems to fork and a new un machined replacement. handle the power of the 8-valver ok. Next job, The old fork had been repaired with a plate starter motor, as you do when you get old! brazed to the end. It was generally agreed it What have you all been up to? See you at the should not be used. Robert is now next meeting. Mr Josnes. contemplating how to get the new forks rd th machined. I enjoyed Steve Lister taking Next group meeting, 3 Tuesday, 20 February. John Mattey to task suggesting he sit on the Hare Arms,Stow Bardolph. 8 pm naughty step for infiltrating the group EAST ANGLIA – WOOLPIT meeting as a lapsed member, John’s We were only five in January, yet again only pleading was ignored. Brian Finch arriving on three wheels in his John Cowley had a wooden former and trusty F4. He enthused over learning to cook a part made exhaust fishtail for the Darmont Turkey crown, so we’ll drop in for a taste next he is rebuilding. Gordon Button had been Christmas. Martin Brown’s 5-Speeder was in absent for a while, his excuse was he had dock after the engine conked out, local Morgan been cycling. agents “Crazy Horse” blaming faulty camshaft Gordon Naisby had details of the local assembly from new. So Martin came “incognito” Shere Hill-Climb event on 6th September. in a tin-bin, uncharacteristically lacking a This charity event is over a “closed” public notable registration, though Brian mused that road and is non-competitive. It is open for personal numbers cost more than this car – a few all cars from veterans to modern super-cars, hundred quid’s worth from Brian Watts.
30 Several of us had enjoyed Simon and Sylvia FAR, FAR SOUTH WEST Rayfield’s pre-Christmas Soup Kitchen, and Start of another new year, lots of events to we thank them heartily. Ken Hinton has been look forward to down here in Cornwall together in association with other classic car his son’s spirited piloting! Mike Pilgrim then and bike clubs in our area..December last was recounted receiving a police “First Caution” a busy time with invites to the VSCC for doing 40mph in a 30 limit - according to Christmas buffet gathering at the Hawkins “Community Volunteers” with a radar-gun at Arms, Zelah, followed by a Christmas lunch Lowestoft. Yet his car, with the registration invite from the VMCC at the Killburny Hotel, quoted, had neither turned a wheel on the day Newquay, great food, good company together in question, nor been to Lowestoft since 18 with a few drinks makes any party go with a months earlier. Surprisingly, the officer-in- swing.Finally, The end of year run organised charge didn’t require proof of his movements again by the VMCC starting a Lanivet, Bodmin rounded off the year, weather on the make mistakes when recording registration cold side, but, sunny, ideal weather for the F2, numbers”, and expunged the matter from the nothing better than blasting down the A30 in record, thank goodness. an open top Morgan will all the moderns fly past in the fast lane. After short run around “Raedwald” clay country we returned to Lanivet for bacon sandwiches and a hot drink and a chance to meet up many friends, a good day out was had by all. Early January saw a good crowd at December’s highlight was the group Christmas Lloyd's Black & White breakfast meet at the dinner, where we had a record number sit Fox& Hounds, Scorrier, in addition to the down to a very pleasant evening of food and regulars, the gathering included quiet a few entertainment, provided by the antics of Paul VSCC members who came along in their Baker. It was sad that Bessie and Doug classic cars. Hickson, Ron and Pauline Cadman could not I went along on two wheels, the F2 is off the be with us but nice to see first-time road and in the garage for its winter check out. and to hear The engine stripped, set of new rings and main that Adam has taken over the use of the bearing shells together with a top end decoke Morgan from his father. I hope we will see should be sufficient to keep the F2 running more of them both in the future. nicely, the gearbox oil leaks will be next. Julie Morley won the raffle second prize, Eric Bayley first out of the hat, and John Stringer won th Fri Feb 6 . Black &White breakfast meet, won 10.00am, Fox & Hounds, Scorrier. the bingo full house. Thanks must go to Bev Wed Feb 11th. VSCC lunch meet 12.00pm, and Michael Underwood, for providing a new Hawkins Arms, Zelah signing in book - as the last one, after only Sun Feb 15th VMCC Run one year, is falling apart! 10.30am, Tescos, Wadebridge. We all appreciate the effort Paul puts into Wed Feb 18th VMCC Lunch meet 12.00pm, Victoria, Roche. making this such a great event, and plan for th more of the same, next year. Thu Feb19 MTWC group meeting This year, I was not able to attend any of the 7.30pm, Fox & Hounds, Scorrier. events held over the Holiday period, like Eric Bayley. Boxing day run, Mallory Park Plum pudding FAR SOUTH WEST races, New Year’s day run, or the Austin 7 With John Thomas standing down after a club trial but if other members attended, I am valiant and long term reign as our group G.O. sure they would have had a good time, and it has fallen to me to pick up the reins! At our we will hear about it, at the next group last meeting in November it was reported that meeting. with great regret John Thomas had finally Malcolm D Bull decided to stand down as G.O. (see Brian February Group Meeting: Wednesday 18th from Galbraith's report in the January Bulletin) Thus 6pm till late. the main item of note at our pre-Christmas
31 get-together was the election of a sucker, HERTS, BEDS and BUCKS (sorry- "successor" ) to pick up the mantle so Christmas Lunch - in the words of the late, effectively worn by J.T. great Fred Dibnah, …. “Did yer like that?” As the Sucker drafting this report I would It all went very well. Everyone had a splendid simply say that John will be a difficult act to time and you could hardly hear yourself think follow. I will personally miss his in-depth for the merry chatter. Various home-grown critique of the Government of The Blessed Santa headgear was sported and the Swan Margaret Thatcher and his apparent blind spot provided crackers. One member later told me for the wonderful benevolent policies the lady that, of the four club Christmas lunches he had introduced for the Trade Union Movement and had to consume over the festive period(!), ours the working classes!, (that should perk you up was the best both in quality and value. Well a bit John and we all wish you a speedy return done The Swan. to better health). Other items discussed: and were also very pleased to welcome Roger 1. What should Doug Yates shift from his and Sue Hall from Whitney, Oxfordshire, and garage now that the Cooper/JAP is running, their son Chris who is a local member and the Riley is finished , the MGA is ready for shares his grandfather's F4 with his dad. Later the road, at least a brace of Austin 7s need on, the Rambling sub-section did a festive renovation, and somewhere there lies the ramble, returned safely but reported very makings of a Two -Speeder. muddy conditions. 2. The on-going mystery over the rear forks on Family commitments took Dorothy, Clare Brian Galbraith's early Two-Speeder. The and myself to Belfast, N.I. on the Friday to Two-Speeder forks on these cars are not support youngest daughter in panto over interchangeable ,left to right, so there can be Christmas, 'Oh Yes they Did !' Actually it no confusion over assembly. On the only was the Stena Line Birkenhead to Belfast ferry early car that I have owned,1921 popular, the that took us. (166 sea miles and 8hrs across the half -round casting at the fork-end which Irish Sea in December! don't ask - we belong takes the brass end cap had the convex side to the M.T.W.C. - we do adventure!) outwards and the flat carrying the bolt next to the brake drum. Day vehicle meets. Howard Andermahr Brian's forks, left and right, are the opposite attended The Boot at Sarratt and reports that it and others have been found with the same was 'heaving' with vehicles and people. So format. Would early Two-Speeder owners much so that it was necessary to park on the like to comment via the Bulletin grass. He lost traction in the mud but was as assembly has been a problem? saved by his stalwart (“dependable and 3. I somehow found myself recounting the courageous”) lady Joan, giving him a push! more hair-raising moments of my flying (Proving again, 'Behind every great man there history with the Autogyro which apparently is a great woman' - luckily in this case - not formed the major entertainment section of spattered with mud!) Four other 3Wheelers the evening and there were no takers of my including one 5 Speeder and a Glyn Chambers offer of a free Christmas trip aloft. As a final were seen. Sorry no details. Were you there? note on matters Morgantic, it is hoped that On New Years Day, not sure of anyone the group will endeavour to interact with our else's intentions, I ventured up the A5 to Stony neighbouring groups in 2015 and get a little Stratford north of Milton Keynes to sample more mileage under the wheels. their vintage/classic car get-together for the Wendy Clements has had another visit to first time. The town was full of cars by around hospital over the Christmas period but is now 11a.m. with an approximate two-to-one ratio back at home and we all wish her a rapid of classics to vintage. I counted 6 four- recovery. wheeler Morgans including one flat rad., Happy New year to you all. Lomax and possibly 1 x JZR. Not a proper Mike Goldring Morgan to be seen! FSW meetings continue at the Huntsman's After a brief natter, I rushed back south to Lodge, Ivybridge - Third Tuesday evenings. the Bentley O.C. meet at the Holiday Inn near Flamstead. Too late! One MG A and a Citroen
32 much earlier and reports a very small turnout. so fingers crossed she may be up and running Next year we must get ourselves organised some time this year! With Anne’s “Stan”and and do a drive-in somewhere in a triumphal Bryans new F4 hopefully joining us on club cavalcade? (Mog 3 Wheelers would be better!) runs this year we may well be overrun with F- Somewhere mutually convenient - Sarratt types! Time for the JAP boys to get their act maybe - To be discussed. together. Best wishes to you all! Steve Hughes Thursday 19th February – group meeting at the Angus Tozer. Royal Oak, Garstang (group eating from 6.30pm) rd 3 Wednesday, every month, Noon. The Swan, NORTH AMERICA Northall, Beds., LU6 2EY. Next meeting Wednessday 18th February LANCS and LAKES We were slightly lower on numbers for our
lunch and pleasant company. I hope that everyone is by now be fully recovered from their various winter ailments and looking forward to an exciting . April will be soon upon us with opening runs to look forward to on the weekends of the 12th and 26th Loton Park and on the 18th/19th and hopefully the rescheduled Night Trial. Then in early May some of us will be off to the biennial Vintage Revival in Montlhèry south of Paris. This is always a fabulous event with our man Freddie Frot being one of the main organisers. There is a full complement of three wheelers and cyclecars entered again this year (Morgans, Darmonts, Sandfords and some other rarities) and you will never see as many three wheelers out on the track together anywhere else! One of the Preston & District Vintage Car Club stalwarts, David Lawson, is starting a new monthly vintage and classic car meet on the first Sunday morning of the month at the Corner House, Wrightington (just north of Wigan) starting on March 7th. This is a nice pub with a good restaurant and a spacious car park so this may well become a popular event and well worth supporting knowing how much we all like group eatings up here! As I write this early in January, there is not much else to report from up North. The weather has been quite mild so far and so I hope that you have been able to spend some productive time in the workshop during the dark and dismal months. operating temperature, the recommended oil Patience (Val’s F4) has been receiving change interval of 100,000 miles printed in the
33 operating manual was completely inadequate. OXFORD He has recently fitted a pump, filter and oil The New Year's Eve meeting at the Tebbys' cooler (overseen by the Morgan dealer in house in Church Hanborough seemed to be a Charlotte, NC) which he hopes will keep the great success again. The weather was dry and oil temperature down to a level that will allow not too cold and the food was excellent. the specified 100,000 mile oil change interval. Many thanks to Tony and Peta for making us Properly judging the effectiveness of the all so welcome. There were only three trikes modification will have to wait for summer, but present, Tony's Super Sports of course, so far he has not seen the bevel box Roger Hall's F-4 and our F-4, which seems to temperature exceed 40 deg C. Further details be going well, except for the inability to stop of the modification are forthcoming, pending quickly. There was also a very smart 1931 full evaluation of its effectiveness. Morris Minor which belongs to one of Tony's In spite of the 5 Speeder’s problems, he is friends. thoroughly enjoying the it and accepts that in Because the January meeting fell on a some ways it is like his 1935 Model F4. Saturday, and 2015 is not a leap year, it Duncan Charlton means that we have another Saturday NORTH WEST meeting this month, which is a nice bonus. It was the Romans who, years ago, exploited After that, the next weekend meetings will the salt mixed with the sandstone in the depths be in May (Sunday) and October (Saturday). of Cheshire. The deep caverns now under Bob Cragg Winsford, much to the delight of local Saturday 28th February, Oxford Group Meeting, councils, are today finding their product The Abingdon Arms, Beckley, noon liberally spread over the roads of our and other SCANDINAVIAN counties. Having seen the effects of this A heavy snowfall now and a storm is product on the aluminium parts of my own expected in a few hours. In our trailer a Morgan, I am not surprised that I have been unable to spot any examples of our breed crawler driven rotary snow plough is waitng enjoying the highways so far this year. and I do really look forward to use it. Not (Warning. If you have been out and about in today though as we have had our the salt, wash it off immediately. Now, or even grandchildren here, sweet but snivelling and sooner.) affecting both Ingvor and me. I suppose I Not that we’ve been hibernating, however. have to do it anyway so that we can get some Although attendance was down at the latest food. We bought the plough a couple of meeting, there was much discussion on travel weeks ago and the price was low as there had options to get to Montlhery, DFDS having been no snow then. Crawler drive is new to ended their Portsmouth crossings. According me, far away from Morgan 3W driving I to the Comp. Sec’s list, it would appear that presume. half of the 28 members going are from our I have started planning for our Opening group. Shall we nominate it as a Group Run. I do hope that we can see the Meeting? The rest are welcome to join in if production in Åkers Styckebruk, one of the they want to. main producers in the world for work rolls. Asking around, it doesn’t seem there is The plant comprises a state-of-the-art much to report on the restorations front in melting shop, nine induction furnaces with recent weeks. Progress on my own Super between 6 and 30 tons capacity, maximum Sports doesn’t seem to have moved since I last 27.000 tons per year. That process is looked at it. Must try harder. Fortunately, fascinating to see, even from outside when technical support and expertise within the we pass there in the evenings. The only Group leads me to hope that 2015 may be the possibility to see the plant is Monday to year. Forty-five years has been a long wait. Friday so I intend to start the meetng on Mike Guess th Friday the 24th of April insead. 11 February - Wednesday Lunch at The We are also invited to see the restoration Smoker Inn, A556, Plumley 27th February - Friday meeting, The Whipping shop and the railway cars of the narrow track Stocks, A50, Over Peover steam railway in Mariefred. I still have to
34 discuss and negotiate some more things, but intrepid crews with their MTWs reported for there are many interesting things in arts and a duty with a TR3a, a 4/4, a vintage Sunbeam royal castle to see as well. I do also promise motorcycle and various moderns in support. you some very nice roads for Morgan driving. The landlord of the Ostrich was accompanied Accommodation is available in a B&B by “The Duchess”, his venerable pre-war about 6 miles from us. I was very pleased Daimler, for good measure. After the usual pre- when staying there a couple of times last year. run refreshments and social the crocodile set In Mariefred there are some hotels but I have off at 11.30 to tackle the hazards which lay in not checked them yet. The town itself is very wait, namely hairpins, single-track lanes, picturesque. Please contact me for more potholes and an abundance of mud. information. I’ll definitely have that when you On arrival at the Ostrich I thought the car read this. park seemed worryingly short of three- The Viking Run is ready for you to come wheelers. A couple more limped in – Mandy and very conveniant regarding travel distances, Pachol’s with a blown head-gasket - but the so we hope for many new members as well. Campbells’ F Type had succumbed to ignition For UK members, don’t forget that you can failure in Battle, eventually returning home on take Tor Line’s freight ferries from a low-loader, and there was rumour that Andy Immingham to Gothenburg. You are all Brown’s SS had been spotted with collapsed welcome. front suspension. The search party found him Lennart Nilsson in the wilds not a moment too soon; having mislaid his glasses, he was trying to contact the SCOTLAND and NORTH EAST I outside world on his cordless shaver. The car am away in NZ again just now, so not much ne would clearly be going no further under its own ws this month. The January report should have steam and Dave Pittuck immediately alerted the Scot/NE members to the commissioned rescue transport to the Isle of potential visits by our Chairman and by the Wight. Touring Group in 2015 so will be in touch We took Andy back to the Ostrich for lunch with everyone by email , post or ‘phone with where, for the second year running, he was proposals for activities for 2015 upon my awarded the Holly Trophy for the furthest (by return in February. far) distance driven. Miraculously, and after Dan further adventures, both he and the Morgan SOUTH COAST slept in their own beds that night. Our party of Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons’ comic thirty-one had all but taken over the Ostrich parody of the grim rustic novels of Thomas and enjoyed a slap-up lunch immersed in its Hardy and DH Lawrence - is reputedly set in a high Victoriana, a spirit of joie de vivre and lonely tract of elevated woodland and pasture great camaraderie. Many thanks to Dave near Burwash known locally as the Sussex Young for organising a memorable day. Highlands. The story hints at incest, bestiality As with everything else he does for the club, and repressed lust against a background of Grahame Joseph invests much thought, time madness, misery and mud. and effort into the annual Scalextric GP. So it th was very sad that, after all his preparations for This year’s Holly Run on 7 December th featured all three of the latter elements but, as 17 December, the electrical gremlins ordained far as I know, none of the former, although in that this year’s GP would not proceed. A the later stages some participants caught a taste turnout of thirty-nine attested to the popularity of Something Nasty in the Woodshed. Dave of the event and rose to the occasion to make it Young, master of ceremonies for the day, had a jolly and festive evening despite the devised a challenging twenty-six mile route disappointment. from the Bear Inn, Burwash to the Ostrich I take my hat off to Bob Derricott (stage Hotel, Robertsbridge via Kipling’s beautiful name Jeremy Swift) for completing his second house Batemans, the Highlands, Brightling, series of Downton Abbey as Spratt, the Dowager Countess of Grantham’s prickly The day dawned damp and overcast and I butler. How does he find the time? was almost thankful that Maud was hors de Stephen Clark th combat, tucked away in her snug shed minus Wednesday, 18 February8.00 pm. Six Bells, radiator, clutch and fork. Nevertheless, eight Chiddingly
35 SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST The pre-Christmas lunch on 17th December was In mid December twenty seven members and enjoyed by 16 members, former members and friends. Parking at or near the venue was at The Bell organised by email newsletter at virtually impossible, so Bob Wood with friend short notice. The New Years Day get together Brian, and Derek Roff who had driven over from Kent just to meet up and have a drink was well attended with four three wheelers with the lunchgoers abandoned that idea and among the plethora of cars, bikes, traction drove into Brentwood for something to eat at engines and large vintage commercials. Sainsbury’s. On emerging from the Otherwise January is a quiet month with supermarket Derek was not best pleased to find nothing planned. We start the first Saturday that he had exceeded, by only a few minutes, lunch meetings in a north/south cycle in the ½ hour free parking period and was February (south) and March (north). The lumbered with a £30.00 parking charge. Daffodil Run at Dymock, Glos is on Sunday 22 The meeting at The Swan on 3rd January was March at The Beauchamp Arms for lunch. This reasonably well-attended with members from is supposed to be a joint West Midlands/South south of the Thames just outnumbering those West meeting, but our showing in recent years from the north of the river. Chris Booth has been poor. Can we do better in 2015? brought along a photograph showing the Dick Fripp is organising a camping weekend progress he has made with the pre-WW1 in the Weymouth area probably in May. There prototype 4 wheeler: it should be finished in will also be local B&Bs available. Members time to be displayed at the Opening Run in from other groups are more than welcome. April 2015. We have a number of five speeder owners in Robert Carter had been stuck for 3 hours the group area. It would be lovely to see you at when the M11 was closed while he was driving our meetings. home from Norfolk, so he decided to visit The Tony Quinn Swan en route to talk over the problems he is still having with the restoration of his three Putts Corner, Sidbury. - th wheeler Morgan. The latest problem he has Sat 7 March - Lunchtime - The Bell, Frampton encountered is with one of the rear fork blades on Severn, Glos. which had been damaged and very badly WEST MIDLANDS repaired in the past. Less Mogs than usual were out on the Colin Wilson kindly retrieved a pair of rear Holly Run in December but the other mix of fork castings from his workshop which he classic vehicles made up the numbers and a offered for consideration as a solution. total of twenty-six vehicles negotiated the Robert was delighted to have left the Group slightly shorter-than-usual route around the meeting having found both the necessary advice and parts to solve his problem. Dennis Plater has been busy chasing up those members who failed to renew their membership for 2014/15; so far 5 have responded saying that they will renew or have done so. Selling your three-wheeler Morgan, or your death, is the only acceptable excuse for non-renewal nowadays! Finally Colin Wilson should by now have finished working on the roof over his premises in Horndon-on-the-Hill, and resumed making Morgan parts. Duoika Saturday 7th February at The Swan, Horndon-on-the-Hill Wednesday 4th and 18th February - Wednesday Irregulars lunchtime meetings Saturday 7th March, the annual SE Group Mogjumble at The Swan, Horndon-on-the-Hill Nick Edwards - Holly Run
36 Worcestershire lanes. This took in two welcoming in 2015 with a profusion of sections of the Roman Icknield Street, both of fireworks. which were not very straight and one was Unlike last year, the VSCC meeting at the definitely not level. Everybody seemed to Royal Oak on New Year’s Day was well find their way back to the pub at the finish and attended with the usual collection of vintage several of the crews seemed to find answers to cars ranging from those of humble origin to most of the silly questions en-route. This the crème-de-la-crème and a good selection of included at least one couple who found all Mogs to liven up the proceedings. A much twenty (although that did involve retracing smaller than usual group subsequently their steps to revisit one answer they had enjoyed the customary hospitality at chez missed the first time around). Lunch at the Clutterbuck, although this did mean that there pub was very palatable, although the service was plenty of tasty soup available for those of was appalling and we had a very long wait to us who did gather to discuss the past year and be fed. The weather was cold but dry during look forward to the next. Yet again, the rain the run and the afternoon rain held off until waited until the afternoon to dampen the after lunch. journey home. Our next group event (unless anyone suggests otherwise) will be the Daffodil Run. This is scheduled for Sunday 22nd March and will follow the now familiar format of meeting at the Beauchamp Arms in Dymock with the usual options of lunch and/or a walk around the daffodil fields afterwards. Afternoon tea and cakes will be available either in the church or at the pub and A hardy group of WM members took a (weather permitting) we can all park on the ramble over the Malvern Hills on Boxing green in front of the church. If you wish to Day, including a visit to the top of the eat at the pub, book in advance please for Herefordshire Beacon. Again, the weather 12:00 on 01531 890266 and mention the stayed fine until we had enjoyed a well-earned MTWC. lunch at the traditional Morganists watering Our regular monthly and mid-monthly hole of The Swan at Newland. Much to the gatherings will continue and we will be graced surprise of most, we discovered afterwards at our meeting on 28th January by a visit from that this had been very generously bought for our Chairman and so I urge you to come along us by one of those present, whose blushes I and meet the new leader. will spare but publicly thank for her Above all, enjoy your Morganning in 2015 generosity. Unfortunately, the heavens again Dave Anscombe opened just after lunch and resulted in a very Wednesday, 11th February, Mid-month Meeting. Fruiterer’s Arms, Ombersley 20:00 wet journey home. th New Year’s Eve saw a number of us gathering Wednesday 25 February, Monthly Meeting. just before midnight in a very dark churchyard The Clent Club 20:00 Wednesday, 11th March, Mid month Meeting. (!). This venue was selected not for a session - Fruiterer’s Arms, Ombersley 20:00 of grave-robbing or searching out departed Sunday, 22nd March, Daffodil Run, Beauchamp spirits but to provide a good vantage point Arms, Dymock 12:00 from which to watch the Black Country
37 YORKS. NOTTS. and DERBYS. and appears to be in very good condition and Now we must have your support! For the running order. The other is a beautiful ‘1934 first time in many years we are having a YND Super Sports’, OHV, Matchless. It has Group Fuddle at The Bay Horse on 10th ‘Girling’ brakes which I didn’t think were March (club night), 8.00pm for 8.30pm. It fitted to twins until 1938, otherwise it is very sounds a long way off but there is only one original and ready to go. All he needs now is club night to go. It is intended to be a bit of the confidence to use them. A couple of long fun for all, ladies, wives, partners, friends all standing worthies who live nearby offered to (within licensing laws) welcome – excuse me help with this. I wonder how he is going to dad, but I don’t fit into any of those use them both at once!!! categories!!!! – H. Suggestions for activities It was nice to see Terry Green’s ‘Christmas welcome – the idea is that there will be Tale’ in the December Bulletin, apparently something for all not just Morgan nuts. written in one sitting between 11.00pm and The December club night at first looked 3.00am, just before going abroad on holiday. sparse but we eventually made a respectable His wife insists the sunny weather does 11 and 2 apologies, but it wasn’t the weather wonders for her arthritis. Sorry, I didn’t wish for 3 Wheelers. 5 Speeder handling was everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New discussed and Adrian commented that his 2 Year – I forgot, but as a very long standing Speeder behaviour improved by reducing the friend of mine points out, as a none believing, steering swivel axis to tyre contact patch none drinking vegetarian there’s not a lot in distance when he re-built the front wheels Christmas for me!!! (I’ll send your grandkids with reduced offset. round for the fortnight!!!! – Hx) We welcomed Michael Morton, a new Don’t forget, I expect a deluge of bookings member who is re-building a ‘1933 Super for our March Buffet (and your money) - Sports’, beetleback. He brought some very £6.50 cash or cheque to Eric Eadon, 8 interesting period photographs of it racing at Ridgeway Road, Brinsworth, Rotherham, S60 Brough just after the war, a Vol 1, No4, copy 5HL tel 01709 379037 or £7.00 by PayPal to of The Bulletin and a letter from Clive Lones [email protected]. about Blackburne valve timing. I hope we see Happy Valentine’s Day! him on a regular basis. Another new member Eric Eadon and Heather who was looking for a 3 speed twin a couple of months ago, now has not 1 but 2. One was Next meeting 10th February The Bay Horse, Scholes. originally an ‘M type’ 2 speeder neatly rd converted a long time ago into a 3 speed M1, J35, A629 Rotherham, 3 left ‘Super Sports’ with a flat sided boat tail body Scholes . (Sat Nav S61 2RQ).
Third Driving Licence Directive Stuart Tallack I have a little information about 3DLD which ought to be passed on. I am not sure whether to regard the following as good news or just indifferent. Since the last piece of information from Brussels, there has been a new commission appointed. You probably knew that. The new is like the mills of God, which grind slowly President is Jean-Claude Juncker and the new but exceeding small. I have made the point Commissioner for Transport is Violeta Bulc that, although the legislation affects young from Slovenia. drivers who would like to try Morgans, a The first thing the new Commission has to substantial number of the predominantly old do is to sort out the priorities for all new MTWC membership would like to see proposed legislation and that includes amend the change made in their what is left of - . our lifetimes.
38
MERLIN ENGINEERING 01384 571936 Producers of the press-fit flywheel assemblies
with con-rods for 25 years
Machinists of all castings for Morgan V-Twin Engines Available NOW Matchless MX2/4 Crankcases
39 GH 8 - The Owners Response Tim Giddens
Then …. 1959
4037 Now
4241 Mogspares Pricing Structure Review Grahame Joseph
As mentioned in the CCM notes in last was more than double at 6.56% per annum. month’s Bulletin, Mogspares has reviewed the A part costing £50 ten years ago would now mark-up on the spares we produce. As cost us £94.39, £25.88 above the 3.2% reported, the CCM wholeheartedly approved inflation rate. proposed changes, which are needed to The difference between the Bank of improve our Club’s Spares Scheme. This England inflation rate and our CAGR is not article is not all doom and gloom of hiking altogether unexpected, as the costs of other prices, so please read on. manufactured goods such as mobile phones The cost of parts is of great concern to many and domestic white goods used in the members but the most important priority is for calculation of PPI, CPI and RPI have fallen quality parts to be available on our shelves. If dramatically. What these figures clearly parts are of poor quality or not in stock, price illustrate is that any ability to purchase larger is immaterial. batches would also bring the added bonus of Our business situation is becoming ever significant savings if we bought parts sooner more difficult with less money in the kitty with rather than later. which to develop the service and in particular Our proposals endorsed by the CCM were: undertake the bigger and more expensive vital projects necessary to keep our cars on the Adjust our 2003 mark-up scale to reflect road. Overhead costs, like insurance, have the effect of inflation on our purchase costs, been increasing and sales have been falling. thereby restoring the relationship between We have a mark-up scale whereby the mark- cost and mark-up as originally intended. up percentage reduces as the cost of the parts This change will take place at the start of increases. This scale was devised in 2003 and the next financial year, which will now be has never been adjusted to take account of 1st April 2015. inflation. Similarly the selling price of all In the future, adjust selling prices annually existing stock on the shelf has never been to reflect the effect of inflation on buying adjusted. Parts made a few years ago are prices, thereby going some way to sitting there as real bargains - if you are quick. safeguard the funds for replacing parts. In a normal business situation we would go to the bank and borrow money. With a larger The annual inflation increase would be pot of money we could make significant made savings in several areas. Ordering larger batches could bring costs down and also save Jim Stokes Workshops, a very successful much work for the team throughout the whole vintage and historic car restoration and re- procurement process. We would also have manufacturing business, machined our JAP greater protection for the future, as in time we Cylinder Heads. They were astonished when, may have to pay for such things as storage or out of interest they asked me how much we expertise. It would be useful to have spare charged our members for them. “You should funds available to take advantage of any have at least a one in front of that figure” was exceptional opportunities. Several of our their reaction. manufacturers have, or are planning to cease We do not know of any other vintage trading and we would not wish to miss out by motorcycle or car club operating a spares being unable to afford stock they may wish to scheme offering parts with such low overall dispose of at an attractive price. mark-up. With modern car parts apparently As part of our review we took a random 1000% is not uncommon. basket of thirty-four parts to see how our purchase costs had risen over the past ten years In order for Mogspares to thrive and and the result was interesting. For the ten-year produce the parts you require, we need period the Bank of England inflation rate was members to support your Club’s spares 3.2% per annum but the Compound Average scheme. We hope you can help by Growth Rate (CAGR) of our purchase costs making us your first choice of supplier.
42 Brightwell’s Sale ... by our Welsh Correspondent
Brightwells of Leominster, Herefordshire is At the time of writing, the auction holding another of their classic car auctions catalogue has not been completed and merely on Wednesday 4th March 2015 at noon, lists the entries. Webguru Steve Uprichard taking place at Easters Court, Leominster, has placed a link to the auction in the Club HR6 0DE included in the sale are three website and no doubt will update as further Morgan Threewheelers and a 1955 four- information becomes available. The wheeler. They comprise a 1933 Super Sports estimates are: '33 JAP SS - £28k-32k; beetleback with a JAP Dog-Ear motor; a '35 MX4 Sports £23k-25k and the 1935 MX4 Sports 2 seater and a 1939 F4. '39 F4 £8k-10k.
43 New Members and Re-joined Members Eric Bayley
UK Charles Baker. Dunston Heath, Stafford, Staffs, ST18 9AQ Tim Shaw. Golcar, Huddersfield, W Yorks, Hd7 4QL Stephen Hope. Sagbrook, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5TD. Paul and Rachel Pitfield Oldbury on Seven, Bristol, Somerset, BS35 1PS. Joseph Gill. Sale, Cheshire, M33 3FH. Hannah, Richard, Emily, and Oliver Perry. Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B75 5DR. Caroline, Ben, and Hannah Enticknap. Pembridge, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9EL.
ROW Paul Anderson. Daylesford, Victoria 3460, Australia. David Stein. Philomath, OR, 97370, USA.
Rejoined. Julian Pearl. Fairfax, CA 94930, USA.76
COWLEY RESTORATIONS ALL ASPECTS OF RESTORATION WORK REPAIRS, SERVICING, MoT PREPARATION
4 Osmaston Lane End, Yeldersley, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1LS, UK [email protected] 01335 348718
JAP magneto bevel-drive gear sets, £80.00 pr; twin mag set, £115.00 Plus postage £2 UK, £2 Europe, £3 overseas. Square ML magneto pick-up and brush; £10. each incl pandp anywhere. JAP D shaped bevel-gear covers £25. incl pandp anywhere JAP half-round bevel-gear covers for late KT series engines with mechanical oil pumps: £25. incl pandp anywhere. (must be finish-bored in timing cover ) 50°/60° JAP engine plate sets £40. plus pandp £8. UK, £32 Europe. If you are not entirely satisfied with goods supplied, please do not hesitate to return them for a refund. David Browne, Gorse farm, Fulletby, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LA Tel: 01507 534315
44 Used Parts Exchange David Browne. tel: 01507 534315
Just a few odds for clearance this month to start the year off: Concentric AMAL carb, flange fit Plate Clutch outer Flywheel for Matchless 3 with half pulley and new taper insert £20.00 1 /16"/ 30mm choke, stamped 930 R17 £40.00 Clutch cover assembly 100E FREE! Last 4ft length of ½" seamless tube for M/cycle mudguard stays FREE! Pair new F-Super main and rebound springs £20.00 Pair JAP KTW barrels for repair £50.00 Pair, new flasher lamps bas mounting Passenger KTW industrial barrel £20.00 Chrome 2¼" dia x 3" long £20.00 Passenger KT Small-port barrel £20.00
Editors note: Suzanne and David have undergone significant joint surgery recently ...both almost at the same time. I asked David if I should mention their likely incapacity in the Bulletin … but typically … he demurred . The Club sends best wishes … now that they have recovered!
EOH 896 the Story Continues … Brian Ward
I bought EOH 896 on the 7-4-1974 from a chap by the name of Sinline in Ealing, West London for the grand sum of £350 - I still have the receipt The Mog was in a sad state . It had an F4 radiator, a strange bonnet held down with straps and the rear part of the body was made of metal conduit. It had full wings but they were folded down so the bonnet could go down past them . I was living at the time in Broadway in the Cotswolds when I did a complete rebuild the grand sum of £38.00. I hand painted it - I have photos of before and after. I made a cream and black with coach enamel. I used it new ash body, resurrected the full wings, had to travel between Broadway and Worcester the radiator cut down to the right size and to my in-laws. then trailered it up to the Morgan factory I sold it to Tony Dowden after I bought a where they made and fitted a new bonnet for 1932 Family in a worse state than EOH . I shipped the Family out to Australia and rebuilt it here . When I was rebuilding EOH the two people who gave me the most help were Tony Birks and Peter Morgan . I am not much good with computers next time one of my girls come around I will find out how to send you some photos. Hope this has been some help to you. Brian Ward. Victoria Australia
45 FLOGGERY For Sale: 1934 2 seater sports with a barrel back body and 1100cc JAP water For Sale : Morgan Aero Weathervane cooled engine. The car has been fully and in heavy steel. 320 mm long and weighs expensively rebuilt in 2011 since when it 371g. With tags for fixing on your has only covered c 350 miles. Original weathervane base. Or just pivot it on its engine rebuilt by Cameron Motorsport own. These are of fantastic quality. Laser and uprated to 7000 revs. The original cut in fine detail and expensive.(See engine gearbox and bevel box and all picture below) So I will only order from other parts have either been rebuilt or a specialist firm in London once I have replaced. but the car is a matching orders from you. Price £22. UK postage numbers car. The body has been rebuilt £1.48 say Royal Mail and £7.45 to with a new ash frame and metal panels. U.S.A./Canada. All the first batch has A new starter motor is fitted together been sold. Contact [email protected]. with an alternator and electronic ignition. The restoration is supported by bills and photographs. It is finished off by virtually new Blockley tyres and a fitted cover £38,000 Paul Mostyn Tel 01296 715736 (North Bucks) Member 10911 (see picture below)
Wanted : Urgently - 2 cylinder barrels for JAP LTOWC 16352 or the whereabouts of them. State condition, bore, with pistons or not, price, etc ... to [email protected] Thanks a lot, JV. Wanted: Girling brake compensator & For Sale: Unused surplus project 6 volt Cut-out / fuse box. Suitable for an fastenings. early 1934 model, chassis no. F37 It has 16 off 3/8” BSF Caphead Screws (all had the front crosshead replaced in thread) x 2” long £8.00 +P & P. previous ownership with a much later 16 off 5/16” BSF Caphead Screws (3/4” shank) x 2” long. £8.00 + P & P. the Girling compensator. The brakes 8 off 7/16” BSF Caphead Screws ((1/2” currently cam operated, so I’m hoping the shank) x 2” long. £6.00 + P & P. change to Girling will improve braking 16 off 5/16” BSF CTSK Cap Screws (All without detracting from the originality of thread) x 1 1/2 “ long. £8.00 + P & P. cable operation. David Blight M9755, tel. 24 M8 Stainless Steel flat head Rivnuts, 01209 216640 or [email protected] perfect non corrosive anchors! £16.00 + - Wanted: Super Sports – Unfinished or P & P. restoration project. Anything considered. Will split or £40.00 the lot plus £4.50 P Steve Crowder Member A11001 & P. (Collection possible) Tel. +44(0)7713 055069 Mick Smedley Mem No A 10375 Tel: email [email protected] 01332756138 Derby.
46 MTWC Opening Run 2015 Sunday 12th April Combe Mill, Blenheim Palace Sawmills, Oxfordshire OX29 8ET … Why not make a weekend of it? See page 5
Super stainless parts to complement your Morgan in 2013. New: Front hub protection plates, laser-cut for accuracy and flatness. £15.00 per pair. Beetleback catches. As original but with internal spacers to prevent crushing; polished stainless steel. Drawings showing fitting details and clip positions available if required. £110.00 per set of four. Morgan heat shields. ‘Morgan’ in script with or without the wording ‘Super Sports’ in small print underneath, or just a set of holes like a cheese- grater. Polished stainless ready to clamp to your exhaust pipes - no more burnt elbows. £100.00 per pair. Front spring covers, in polished stainless; £100.00 per car set. Hi and low level exhaust systems for all twins in stainless steel, p.o.a. All prices plus post and packing. Castle Bank Cottage, Ewloe, Deeside, Flintshire CH5 3BZ Tel. 01244 532 714 [email protected]
The Bulletin is printed by Lavenham Press Limited, Water Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9RN. Tel: 01787 247436
47
New Year Morganalia
The Morgan Club Nippon New Year Rally, Narita, Tokyo Hiroo Tanahashi, sets off in his 1936 MX2 Super Sports
The New Year’s Day gathering at Much Marcle, Herefordshire Photo: Julia Critchlow