Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia Inc Hornet Special Newsletter Issue 53 June 2013 AGM 2013 Brisbane Qld 20th, 21st and 22nd September Camy Anderson’s race helmet, goggles, Queensland Motor Sporting Club car badge, some trophys and photographs of the Kenward car at White’s Hill hillclimb, Strathpine racing circut and Albion Park when owned by Camy post- war, have been given to the Club by his son Des. To be featured in a future Newsletter. WHS Club Contacts Secretary Bill Russell, ph (03) 9349 2262 President Lyle Cooper ph (07) 3312 2365 Editor Henry Hancock, ph (07) 3878 2850 3 Gilia Court Indooroopilly Qld 4068 [email protected] Vic News April Two Hornet Specials won awards at the VSCC’s presenta- tion lunch in April. John and Sharon Balthazar and their Hornet were recognised for their exploits on the Great Ocean Road Rally, while John and Annabelle Clucas and their ’35 machine took out the Rofe Trophy – awarded for the best presented post-vintage car. Later in April, Hornets were well represented at the RACV Classic Showcase held annually at Flemington Racecourse. John and Alec beside their machines Representing our marque were the Hornets of Jeremy Wil- liams, Bob Anderson and John Clucas. The stream of UK Hornet owners crossing the Atlantic to visit our continent (and especially our cars) continues. Chris and Kate Smith arrived in Melbourne on Anzac Day and stopped a few days with John and Annabelle Clucas The Smiths have two, nicely restored, 1935 14hp machines – a two-seat EW Daytona and a four-seat, Whittingham and Mitchell bodied EW Daytona. The Smiths’ four-seater is the same as that which John Clucas started with before converting his car to two-seat configuration; and their two-seater has the same bodywork as Alec Sturgess’s car in Vic. Despite only having three days in Melbourne, the Smiths squeezed in a visit to Alec and Marjory’s home (and garage) in Rye – travelling the 100 miles in style in John Clucas’s Hornet. It was the first time Alec and John had got their cars together, so a few photos were essential. Qld News May Chris and Kate Smith continued their Australian trip to Brisbane, having been greatly impressed by John Clucas and Alex Sturgess 1935 WHSs. The President was fortunate enough to have ridden in Chris’ 1935 WHS in the UK last year. We were able to arrange a run around the Brisbane Hornets, commencing with Gerry Dunford, Lyle Cooper, Monty Schofield, Peter Baker, Mike Hawthorne and Joe Wilson. Peter also took Chris to see his Austin Sevens and Henry Hancock’s doctor’s coupe a few days later. They did not have to time to visit John Ireland at Coomera or see the Kenward Hornet which was up the north coast. Chris was impressed with what he saw and was surprised at the number of unrestored Hornets still in garages around Brisbane. The Smiths were then flying to Cairns and Darwin and driving across the Gibb River Road to Broome and thence south to Perth. They will see more of Australia than a lot of us have who live here. Preparations are continuing for the AGM in Brisbane on the weekend of 20-22 September. We urge all southern Hornet owners to bring their vehicles to join the Qld contingent at the “All British Day” in Brisbane on 22 September. Lyle Cooper’s car is now at the painting stage and has been sand blasted and undercoated. Henry Hancock contin- ues to work on his Doctor’s Coupe ...... and Joe Wilson, despite having a set back with a fire in his Lancia Aprilia is working well on the 1934 Hornet. Page 2 Hornet Special Newsletter AGM 2013 20th - 22nd September PROGRAM Come and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather in Queensland in your Wolseley Hornet We suggest the following accommodation – please make your booking direct and let us know if you are attending so that if flying, arrangements can be made for you to be transferred from and to the airport and bookings can be made for the various activities Accommodation: Econo Lodge Motel Ph 07 3391 6222 650 Main Street (cnr Sinclair St) Email: [email protected] Kangaroo Point Standard rooms from $ 120p/n (Quote Wolseley Club special price) – book early as start of school holidays Secure parking for car and trailer (please advise motel when booking) Friday 20 September 6.30pm Meet and Greet – AGM Monty & Rita Schofield’s home – 35 Arthur St, Fortitude Valley Dinner at Jatt Flava Indian Restaurant, 421 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley (at own cost/BYO) Saturday 21 September 9.30am Run around garages - restorations Mike Hawthorne’s 1931 Hornet Coupe with vertical motor Henry Hancock’s 1933 Doctor’s Coupe Joe and Bev Wilson’s 1934 Hornet Special with 14hp motor Gerry Dunford’s 1934 Hornet Special Airline Coupe 9.30am Partners Program Galleries and Antique shops 7.00pm Dinner Pineapple Hotel (close to motel) 706 Main Street, Kangaroo Point (at own cost) Sunday 22 September 8.30am – 2.00pm All British Day St Joseph’s College Sports Ground, Vivian Street, Tennyson We have been invited to display our cars at an “All British Day” being organised by the MG Car Club Qld. It would be fantastic if we could have a few cars from the South to supplement the Qld cars to make this an exceptional display. More information/Contact/RSVP: Lyle Cooper 07 3312 2365 [email protected] (away from 11 Aug to 12 Sep) Peter Baker 07 3399 4517 [email protected] (away from 19 Jul to 31 Aug) Henry Hancock 07 3878 1850 [email protected] (away from 1 – 30 Aug) Issue 53 Page 3 Bill Russell in Newsletter Issue 37, May 2009, gave us “When the 1934 Hornet Specials first came to Melbourne” and in Issue 40 “When the 1934 Hornets first came to Sydney”. Now Henry Hancock has investigated Hornet distributors in Brisbane. When Hornets first came to Brisbane Three companies distributed Wolseley Hornets in Queensland:- • Walter M Trevethan who in 1903, in Toowoomba, built the first car manufactured in Queensland. • Sneddons Motors Limited, formed in Sydney in July 1923, initially to distribute Rugby and Durant Cars at 258 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, opened their Brisbane showroom in July 1931. • British Australian Motors Ltd. formed in Brisbane in 1925, originally to distribute Armstrong Siddeley and Albion Cars, directed by Mr Leonard G. Lee Mr Walter M Trevethan on the right in the car he built in his Toowoomba workshop in 1903, driven by his brother Mr T A Trevethan 1930 - 1932 No advertisements in Queensland newspapers for Wolseley Hornets, so apparently no distributors. 1933 First advertisement for Wolseley Hornets in Queensland, 2 May 1933: Walter M Trevethan’s showrooms at ON DISPLAY. this time were situated at “Ann Street, Wolseley Hornet Cars. Valley (below Valley Post Office)”. R. WALTER M. TREVETHAN, of MAnn Street, Valley, is now showing On 3 August 1933, Walter M Treve- the first of the 1933 model Wolseley than, distributor for Rolls Royce and Hornet cars. These cars are manufactured Wolseley cars, advertised a change by Wolseley Motors, of Birmingham, England, one of the oldest and most of address to “corner Creek and Ann respected motor firms in the British Sts, City.” Isles. The 1933 Wolseley Hornet has attracted ALTER M. TREVETHAN, distributor great attention wherever it has been Wfor Wolseley and Rolls-Royce cars, is shown, on account of its smartness, easy opening the Creek Street Parking Station on riding qualities, and complete equipment. August 7th. Amongst the features of the 1933 models OLSELEY cars, parking, and all are forward engine mounting, allowing Wcar repairs at new address, corner extra body space without increasing Creek and Ann Streets, city. Walter M. length and weight of chassis; centre- Trevethan. cast hardened cylinder liners, centre-seal pistons, and special spring steering wheel. Amongst the other refinements are startix EE the new Wolseley Hornet cars at W. automatic starting, 4-speed gear box, Lockheed hydraulic brakes, and hydraulic SM. Trevethan’s parking garage corner shock absorbers. Creek and Ann Streets (near Central railway station). Both advertisements, The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 2 May 1933, page 3 The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 15 August 1933, the first reference to “near Central Railway Station” Page 4 Hornet Special Newsletter The Courier-Mail commences publication, replacing The Brisbane Courier: HANGE of address, Walter M. Tre- Probable showroom of Walter M Trevethan, Cvethan, distributor for Wolseley and the parking station under the PLUME Rolls-Royce cars, late of Ann St. Valley, advertisement, looking across Ann Street, removed to corner Creek and Ann Sts. down Creek Street . Central Railway City. Station is immediately to the right of The first advertisement for Wolseleys in the iron railings. This building was the Courier-Mail newspaper. Monday 28 demolished to make way for the Ann Street August 1933, confirming the change of Commonwealth Government offices in the address early 1970’s. New Company formed: Presumably Walter M Trevethan was a sole trader until this date: Trevethan’s appear to stop advertising Wolseley Cars from this date, except COMPANY NEWS for one saloon at reduced cost which is for sale until December, together The following companies have been reg- with a Rolls Royce 40-45 hp Silver Ghost chassis. istered:- Trevethans’ Motors Pty. Ltd. capital £2000, motor garage proprietors, im- porters of cars, etc: offices, Creek and The Courier-Mail Saturday 23 Ann streets, Brisbane. September 1933, page 4 Sneddons Motors Limited, distributors of Citroen cars, take over the distribution of Wolseleys and Armtrong- Siddeley cars and Albion trucks.