June 2017 Volume 5, Issue 5 British Driven: the hbcc news A Newsletter for the British Car Enthusiast The Cuban Grand Prix: A Political Kidnapping By Peter Pontsa Seeing Cuba for the first time with We knew about Castro’s politics, my wife Angela in 2001 was a we visited Che Guevara’s Tomb and The Incredible Mr. A.K. complex combination of different, felt the historical implications of Miller, Eccentric Collector often contradictory socialism. Antique By Angela van Breemen factors. With that American cars and other influences, were plentiful and Recently, HBCC Members Bill we experienced a maneuvering about. and Marion Mason sent me wonderful conflict in We had drinks at the some intriguing information cultural dynamics. bar Ernest Hemingway about A.K. Miller, an eccentric used to hang out in old collector. We had been told to bring small personal Havana. Alexander Kennedy Miller hygiene products that On New Year’s Eve in and his wife, Imogene lived in many families lacked. a Havana night club pauper like conditions on a farm Often we would we were immersed in in East Orange, Vermont. Alex tip our maids and Cuban Jazz till 3AM died on October 23rd, 1993, waitresses with these in the morning. Then and his wife passed away a few items. we spent three days years later in 1996. It was an odd feeling at Varadero beach They seemed so poor, that being there, since sun bathing; a good the local Church took up a as a student in high school I still cultural vacation. collection so that they could be remembered the impact of the missile buried in the churchyard. crisis of the 60s. continued on page 3 continued on page 4 My View: Energy Efficiency By Ed Taccone TABLE OF CONTENTS As a partially responsible global probably the fault of the San Andreas Page 1 My View; Ed Taccone citizen I aspire to become more Fault. Page 1 The Cuban Grand Prix; energy efficient. I remember reading Peter Pontsa not long ago You see here in Page 1 The Incredible A.K. Miller Ontario buildings Page 5 HBCC All British Car Show on “Energy Efficiency” and it generally stay in the Page 6 Upcoming Events same spot. Page 7 Sponsors’ Corner read… “Energy Efficiency is A California building HBCC Board of Directors a must for jumping around President: Ed Taccone California doing the Locomotion Vice President: Jean-Louis Valade Secretary: Gayle Fysh Buildings moving Dance routine or Treasurer: Angela van Breemen forward”. even jogging slowly Membership Chair: Mary Valade After reading must waste tons of Event Co-ordinator: Sandra Mason energy, so I can see Directors at Large : that I have to Don Fysh and Leah Hill believe they do why efficient building Past President: Peter T. Pontsa things differently in California. There, movement must be a priority. Web Co-ordinator: Angela van Breemen buildings move forward and must be continued on page 2 Editor, British Driven: Angela van Breemen designed to do so efficiently. This is Page 1 HBCC Newsletter June 2017 visit our website at http://www.headwatersbritishcarclub.org HBCC Newsletter June 2017 My View: Energy Efficiency… continued from page 1 Now after pondering over this I came barking, jumping around and few hours to stroll to the nearest spot, to the conclusion on the fundamental slobbering at breakfast time, Suzi thus maximum efficiency. first principal of energy efficiency. then automatically seeks out the Suzi has also instinctively overcome “Just stand there”. window with the most sun rays or the problem of high temperature That’s it; it most certainly would the sunniest part of the garden (some inefficiency. Solar panels decline be the answer to energy efficiency. people call them yards) and stretches in efficiency if they exceed their Minimal energy is expanded and out in her “dead dog” post. This optimum operating temperature maximum efficiency is achieved, minimizes her energy efficiency. Her of about 25 C. This problem was should everyone and everything languid lack of locomotion makes her solved by Suzi and all her fellow just remains stationary. Humans a masterly energy miser. canines generations ago. If she gets and buildings and all sorts of things Suzie is very good at absorbing too hot she simply takes a few steps would be much more efficient if they energy. Let me show you how much into a shadier location. Simple. No simply stood there and didn’t move we can learn from Suzi regarding fancy electronics required. As energy around. energy efficiency by comparing her absorbers go, dogs are ultra efficient. This theory was fortified after with solar panels. For maximum Just by staying stationary with a few spending a few days with Suzi. Yes, efficiency, solar panels can be installed efficiency adjustments now and then. Suzi. This opportunity came about on a tracker which tilts very slowly to Human beings can make their when Ralph and Kimberly Evans ensure that the panels always directly own unique contribution to energy asked me if I could look after their face the sun. efficiency through maximising energy Bouvier Suzi. Really how could I storage. Who needs expensive Tesla refuse? batteries to store energy for personal Suzi gets along with me and her use? sense of great character identification Humans are already perfectly adapted knows I will spoil her. You’re for efficient energy storage. Human probably thinking by now, what’s this fat cells can store huge amount of got to do with energy efficiency? excess energy automatically. This energy bank is always on hand 24/7, whenever it is needed. Human fat is cheap and easy to expand just add pizza, no belly batteries or clumsy chargers are needed. If you are moving around too much and using up your energy reserves, just fill up the fat tank by ordering more pizza. In comparison, Suzi just rolls her big If you are looking for premium fuel, belly slightly every half hour or so. try pizza with a cheese filled crust. This ensures that maximum doggy Mmm. Energy plus!! surface area is exposed to incoming Thank you Suzi for showing me the solar energy. She can even do this in fundamentals of “Energy Efficiency” her sleep. Suzi knows that reduced this past week. I believe a treat is in fur insulation on her belly means that order, PIZZA ANYONE? this is her most efficient body part for O.K. let me explain, my observations heat absorption. A solar tracker has a And that’s my view. while Suzi is sitting. What I noticed significant design drawback because Ed Taccone was Suzi has acquired a special skill it is usually limited to one fixed To respond to Ed’s My View, please and has turned energy efficiency location whether that spot is sunny click on the link below: into an art form by staying “still” or not. In comparison, Suzi expends [email protected] most of the time. After a bit of a tiny amount of dog leg energy every Page 2 HBCC Newsletter June 2017 visit our website at www.headwatersbritishcarclub.org HBCC Newsletter June 2017 The Cuban Grand Prix: A Political Kidnapping... continued from page 1 What I didn’t know until much later Fangio as with many others was of the race Fangio could still not was that a famous car racer named staying at the Hotel Lincoln in old be found and after a delay of 1 1/2 Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped Havana. One evening, he was in hours the race was started. by Castro’s forces. the foyer speaking with his friend The adversarial Stirling Moss and The first time I heard his name was Alejandro de Tommaso (the man Masten Gregory in their Ferraris took at the ILR Car Control School. who later built Mugusta and Pantera the early lead. By the fifth lap the 3.5 I was there at Mossport for track automobiles), his mechanic, mile circuit was coated with a film of motor oil. Robert Mieres, Porsche school. Ian law was explaining Vision had a damaged oil line. At the next Training. He was using Juan Fangio as an example. He explained while racing in a commanding lead Fangio noticed the crowd was not watching him. All eyes should have been following the lead car. However the spectator’s eyes were staring up and away. Fangio immediately stepped on the brakes; over the hill the track was blocked by a multitude of mangled cars. If he had not concentrated his Sir Stirling Moss vision further up the track, the car’s velocity would have forced him into lap, Cuban driver Armando Garcia the pile up. It was a valuable lesson Cifuentes’ yellow Ferrari lost traction on the oil laden track and that I was taught at track school. went straight out into a group of I still use it today and it’s a great spectators. driving method for remaining safe. More than 40 fans were hurt and Fulgencia Batista was leading the Juan Manuel Fangio seven were killed. Moss was unaware Cuban government after a coup of the tragic incident and continued d’état in 1952. Even though his to race Gregory’s Ferrari. The red flag government was corrupt and dealt manager and promoter, when he was was thrust out indicating that a very with underworld leaders, the United approached by two gunmen. serious incident had occurred and that all cars must proceed slowly. States condoned it, given that it was On orders from Castro, his head of a stable regime and not communist. clandestine operations kidnapped At the time Gregory was ahead of However, there was dissension and the World Champion of motorsport Moss well into the Start-Finish line murder in the streets.