SEPTEMBER 2012 Affiliated to SAVVA e-mail [email protected] P.O. Box 651901 - Benmore - 2010 Clubhouse: 3 Athol Oaklands Road - Oaklands - Johannesburg From the Chairman’s desk August 2012 As this is the AGM edition I believe I should mention a few pertinent issues in that direction. At the last Club Sunday I did make an appeal for volunteers and nominations for the committee for the new year and I would like to share with you why I believe this is something that requires special attention at this time. Our club is a like a living organism and anything which is not growing is dying. The other altruism in this respect is that visible change is the only sign of life. If one accepts these two ideas then one has to accept that our club is also subject to these rules. The current committee has been in place with one or two exceptions, for many years now and fortunately they are still willing to work in the interests of our club. For this we thank them. The intention is not to suddenly remove all of them and replace them but the time has come when we need to see new faces on the committee who can start learning the processes and understanding the important issues which face us. We have been fortunate for many years now, to have competent and committed people who have done a good job in running the club and we can never let that slide. That is why this is a key issue for all of us this year especially. There are other similar clubs facing some tough times and while I don’t believe we are like that, I am appealing to all members to give this some thought and where possible to come forward with either volunteering or nominating someone who can help with the running of the club affairs into the future. There are perhaps members who have good ideas and the ability to organize more than what currently happens as well as just willing folk who are prepared to volunteer for a duty here or there without even joining the committee. The issues of having someone lock up on a Sunday or even just helping in the bar from time to time seems always to fall on a few and just one or two duties a year by more volunteers would lighten the load considerably. So please give this some serious thought this time around and surprise us with some names of people who are prepared to help. I look forward to a good response! I look forward to seeing most of you at the AGM Ian Holmes This month’s cover picture The theme for Club Sunday in July was “Your Favourite Car” and members brought a huge variety of different cars, from vintage to modern. Pictured here is a magnificent Riley (mini) next to Brian Lawlor’s Bentley, and around all the cars you could find a group in deep discussion. Overheard, however, when one gentleman was asked which was the favourite car that he brought, the answer was “The one that started”. - 1 - THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE VINTAGE AND VETERAN CLUB to be held on Sunday 26 August 2012 at 10:30 AGENDA Welcome Apologies Confirmation of Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting Chairman’s Report Treasurer’s Report Nomination of Committee General Closing of the Meeting Tea will be served. Minutes of the 51 st Annual General Meeting held at the VVC Clubhouse on Sunday 28 August 2011 at 10:30 Welcome : The Chairman welcomed all present and in particular Bill Nettleton Founder Member, Mike Milner-Smyth VMC, Rodney Norton Piston Ring and John Alison Sunbeam Club. Apologies : Rick Lewis, Peter Dahl, Clive Banks, Roger Manton, Nick Pryke, Bill Cunningham, Ian Huntly, Stewart Reeve, Neville Mayhew, Roy Watson, Joe Gates, Jolyon Simpson, Denis Bottomley, Aubrey Malden, James McGee. Present : Members as per signed register. Chairman called for a moment silence for members who had died during the past year. Confirmation of 2010 Minutes : The item pertaining to the Clubhouse lease raised by J. Steenkamp has been dealt with in the Chairman’s report. Proposed by C. J. van Jaarsveld and seconded by Brian Noik. Chairman’s Report : Read out by Ian Holmes. Additional thanks to Gwyneth Thomas for her work in the Library. Treasurer’s Report : As printed and circulated. The Treasurer, Paul Koski, gave a brief introduction. SAVVA Report : Eric McQuillian reported on the problems regarding licenses. SAVVA is endeavoring to coordinate the various provincial authorities who, at the moment, are not in agreement with each other with regard to licensing. It has been suggested by SAVVA that members should have all the relevant vehicles SAVVA dated. Nominations for the 2011/2012 Committee : The Committee for the forthcoming year will be: Ian Holmes, Ian Middleton, Brian Lawlor, Eric McQuillian, Marshall Murton and Noel Fordred. Presentation Of Awards : Don Beattie Trophy was awarded to Jonny Horne. General : Henry Watermeyer asked for clarity on using vehicles with an S license on September 24 th 2011. Eric Arnott thanked the Chairman and committee for their work for the past year. The meeting was closed by the Chairman who thanked all who attended. - 2 - SAVVA Technical Tip 63 - Gearbox Oils Many years ago I had a Cortina XR6 (company car) which during the winter was reluctant to change gears until it had warmed up. This you must appreciate was very embarrassing in heavy traffic. To solve the problem the agents replaced the gearbox oil with one of a much lighter viscosity. Come summer, the lighter oil was replaced with the normal heavier one – problem solved. Years later, I am having a similar problem with an early Buick. Come the winter, it’s rather reluctant to go from first to second when cold and it takes a long, long time to warm up. I mentioned this to a truck mechanic who said they have similar problems with certain trucks that also use heavy oils i.e. SAE 140. He suggested I try multigrade gearbox oil which has solved many of their problems. I had never heard of such oils but it was worth investigating. The local Midas, who caters more for the car industry didn’t carry it and suggested I try a Midas in the industrial area that caters for the truck trade. There I found it - they knew exactly what I wanted, in fact, they had a big display/promotion of this product. I take it the other oil companies have similar products, however the one they stocked was Shell, Spirax, Axle oil, 85W - 140. After using it, I have found out that it helps a fair bit when cold but it also helps when hot. After a long run when the oil is hot it seems easier to get back into first without the usual grating and necessity for double declutching. The Cars of 1974 Aaaahh… those were the days! When you could drive away with a brand-new Mercedes 230 for just over five grand! Or pick up a VW Beetle 1600 for a mere R1,995. Take a trip down Memory Lane as we roll back the years and recall the days when motoring was fun and affordable… Which of these cars did you own back in the days of bell bottom slacks, disco dancing and those hideous macramé plant hangers? Audi 100 LS – R3,930 Chevrolet Constantia 5-litre V8 – R5,700 Chrysler Valiant Rebel – R3,475 Datsun 1200 De Luxe – R2,195 Ford Granada 2500 L – R3,399 Peugeot 404 – R3,265 Toyota Corona 2000 Mk II – R3,285 Triumph Chicane 2.5-litre – R3,585 Volvo 144S 2-litre – R4,350 Fiat 1300 Mk II – R2279 (pictured here) - 3 - Profile – EricArnot As a schoolboy during the 1930’s Eric’s passions were cars, trains, aeroplanes and ships. During school holidays his time was divided between visiting the London showrooms of what we today call post vintage classics, such as Bentley, Lagonda, Railton, Riley and MG, and visiting the mainline railway termini to add to his collection of names and numbers of steam locos. 10am was the time to be at Kings Cross to see the Flying Scotsman leave for Edinburgh. Then a quick walk to Euston for the Rotal Scot’s departure for Glasgow at 10-30. Later in the morning the Cornish Riviera steamed out of Paddington for the West Country. Living within cycling distance of the RAF aerodrome at Hendon, Eric spent other school holidays watching Hawker Furies and Gloucester Gladiators landing and taking off. (RAF front line fighters were still biplanes until Spitfires and Hurricanes entered service only at the very beginning of the War.) This was also the era of the great transatlantic liners, Queen Mary, Empress of Britain, Normandie and Bremen. One wonders whether today’s engineering marvels give schoolboys the same thrill as they did 75 years ago? Still in London during the War (including during the Blitz) Eric did an engineering degree at London University, and then joined the Fleet Air Arm branch of the Royal Navy. Then, newly wed in 1948, Eric and Helene did a smart thing and emigrated to South Africa, to Cape Town nog al. Cape Town in 1948 was paradise, even more than it is today. It was under populated and living was cheap. On Eric’s salary of £40 per month, and Helene’s of £30, they could afford to buy their first car, a new Morris Minor, for £378, and pay it off over 18 months.