Classic and Vintage Motor Club of Eurobodalla Newsletter

Volume 16 No. 1 January /February 2017

CVMCE NEWS

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Four Wise Men

The Others

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Worst Fire Day Ever -by Jim Wilson

After Saturday being warm and sticky but nowhere near the Heat Wave predicted we were reasonably sure the Sunday

Valentine’s Day Picnic at Mystery Bay would not be a searing affair.

We woke to a cloudy day with a Southerly whistling in through the trees. Bravely we packed Lenore’s little Hillman and

headed off to meet the picnic goers. Arriving around 11 am we found an empty site and no sign that anyone else was

coming. Waiting in the car and watching the surf we at last saw a few hardy souls arrive and we joined them under the

Rotunda where last year we had all crowded to avoid the hot sun.

Joking and shivering we talked for some time then about half of the crowd decided to call it quits and go home. A few

hung on for a while thinking of a reason to stay when all of a sudden our fearless Events Manager - Peter arrived with

Ward in company – he instantly rallied the shivering troops and suddenly we had some stayers and a Function!

Using Peter’s Webber inside the shelter and helped by Ward and their guest Mr. Red Wine; the smell of cooking sausages

and onions was soon filling the air and quickly blowing away to Queensland. Out came our picnic blankets, old rags and

anything we could wrap around ourselves to beat off the wind chill factor. The Council electric BBQ could barely warm

our onions – a great BBQ design if you like your food served late, cold and raw.

Given time, a few more slowly arrived to see if anyone had been silly enough to actually have a BBQ, after a good chat

and feed we all drifted away to home. We made it back to Bingie just in time to pack away the Minx before a storm sent

down a few welcome mms of rain.

Surprisingly the stayers actually enjoyed the picnic - yes it was cold - but still we had some good laughs, the hot sausages

were great and all felt we had done well to survive the Mystery Bay “Heat Wave”. Our sympathy to those elsewhere in

the State who really had a horror day of heat, wind and fires.

Those attending that I can remember, apologies to any I missed:

Stayers and sort of stayers:

Peter Smith and Ward Hack ( sans Wives) - Peter’s Red Merc,

Jim and Lenore –Lenore’s 1957 Hillman Minx

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THE CLASSIC AND VINTAGE MOTOR CLUB OF EUROBODALLA, Inc

Committee Other Appointments

President: Brett Moore (Glenda) Regalia: Rob and Donna Upton 0417 221 467 brett.moore50@gmail.com 0413 000 643 Vice President: Graham Wilkie (Lorraine) Librarian: 4474 5655 glwilkie1@bigpond.com Treasurer: Dave Gibson (Robyn) Life Member: Stewart Kendell 0468 424 610 – deandar31@gmail.com Vehicle Inspectors: Secretary - Neil McIntosh (Leslie) 0458 250 234 - neilmcintosh2@bigpond,com Andrew Redwin - 4473 8062 Events director: Peter Smith Noel Hand (Older Vehicles) - 44742128 4474 2251 – sharper5@bigpond.com Dean Price – 4474 2962 Membership: Bob Thistleton David Nettle – 4474 4293 4472 9935 – thisso4@bigpond.com Barry Apps – 4471 1294 Editor - Huw Owen-Jones (Barbara) Volker Oldenburg – 4472 9288 4474 3237– huw@acslink.net.au Graham Symons – 4476 4827 Public Officer—Rod Shanahan Rob Upton - 0413 000 643 0458 716 699 Webmaster: Dave Gibson (Robyn)– 0468 424 610 deandar31@gmail.com Bush Council Delegate: Mark Beaver – 4474 3461 mcbeav@ozmail,com.au OBJECTS OF THE CLUB: To bring together persons with a common interest in Historic, Veteran, Vintage and Classic motor vehicles and motorcycles. Principal Activities The use, maintenance, restoration and display of historic vehicles and conduct club meetings and Social Events. REGULAR EVENTS General Meetings: First Monday of each month (except January) 7:30 pm at the Moruya Bowling Club 38 Shore Street, Moruya. Saturday Runs for Coffee at: The Waterfront Hotel, Moruya, Dairy Shed or Bakery, Bodalla, Maloney’s Beach Cafe or the Star at Milton. If your car has conditional registration please sign the run sheet at the relevant location or notify the Secretary (neilmcintosh2@bigpond,com) Wednesday Morning Runs: Meet in the car park behind the Adelaide Hotel (opposite Russ Martin Park) – 9:30 am for 10:00 am departure. All mo-tor vehicles welcome. A run sheet will be passed around – all should sign, not just those with conditional registration so that numbers can be re-layed to the coffee shop!

PO Box 684 MORUYA NSW 2537 www.cvmce.org.au

10% Off

to Club

Members

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Presidents Message

Huw Owen - Jones does a fantastic job gathering material for the magazine and then assembling it for publication which I hasten to say, is no mean feat when it is completed mostly solo. Huw very kindly sends me a reminder prior to publica-tion, which gives me time to write some words for our magazine.

His reminder message to me had a small but very notable typo in his request. He wanted me to write some swords for the magazine. I smiled when I read this knowing full well he meant words. For one fleeting moment I could see the com-mittee marching into the meeting in the new regalia, which Rob and Donna Upton are in the throes of developing. I can just see Graham the “wing man” Wilkie with a Sam Brown and Wilkinson sword by his side with his old JAL cap perched strategically on his head at a slight tilt. Then again maybe not Huw, no swords, only words.

As most of you know John Nader is wanting a rest as coordinator of the Wednesday runs and as such we have been searching the membership to find a member who is willing to step into the breach. Enter Tim Collins or, as he prefers to be know, TC. I am pleased to say Tim eh, TC has hit the decks running and will do a fantastic job taking over from John. TC has assistants in the form of Ross Hayward, Don Greig, and Dickie Fitzgerald who will no doubt handle things if TC is not available. The Wednesday runs have become a huge success at the club and I would encourage members to participate when you can. The Wednesday calendar is on the website to view and print as required.

The committee is working on a remote Pay Way system to allow members to pay on the spot just like any major retail outfit. Dave Gibson has the lead on this and has almost completed the paperwork required of our bank to get this up and running. I anticipate we will make an announcement in the near future about this new system once formalities are com-plete.

The RMS has now approved the Bush Council as an approved organisation in relation to the recently announced Classic Vehicle Scheme. We will keep members informed of developments relating to this scheme

The weather is getting cooler and old vehicles appear to like the temperature down from what we have be contending with over the past few weeks. Please review the events calendar and blow the cobwebs out on a cool run.

Safe motoring to all.

Brett Moore

WELCOMET TO FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS John Vandenbergh

Mark Thain

Baz Bowling & Marion Calder

Steve Deck

Brad Fairburn & Karen Cooper

Phil Maughan & Rhonda Casey

Janice Sager

Dave Boyes

Martin Diaz

Phil Griffiths

Graeme Osborne & Nelsie Galway

Thomas Derwent

Ray Dukes & Delia Wedgwood

Tario Triantafillopoulos

Daniel Lloyd Jones

Phil Rose

Wayne Byard

Vale Ray Boller

Sadly CVMCE member Ray Boller recently passed away.

The Club offers its condolences to his family.

CLUB ASSETS

Graham Wilkie has been assigned the task of creating a list of all Club assets and their location

Would members who have custody of any Club asset to please contact Graham, so he can add them to the list for future reference?

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CVMCE Club Events 2017

February …….. Sun 12th Valentines Day Picnic. Mystery Bay.

March ………… Sat 11th Bermagui Seaside Fair. The fair Organisers will need to know of numbers from this club

……… An attendance sheet will be circulated.

April …………….Sun 2nd BBQ at Airport with 64 members of Goulburn Valley Vehicle Drivers Club. Your Club will

provide food to those listed on the Attendance sheet and the cost will be $5.00 per member including Goulburn Valley

club members and $10.00 per guest of members.

Tues 25th …………Anzac Day Dawn Service (Moruya / Tuross / B/Bay)

May ……………. Sun 21st National Motoring Heritage Day. Many members will be attending the Excellent Italian

Themed Car Display on the Oval at Berry, but if you don’t want to travel that far there will be an alternative picnic TBA

closer to home.

Sat 27th Australian National Busking Championships Narooma and Vintage Car Display

June ……………Sun 18th Shed Run to Members Properties and BBQ

July ………….. Mon 3rd 2017 AGM at Moruya Bowling Club

Sun 9th Lunch at Bermagui

Aug ……......... Sun 13th Presidents Run to Mollymook Golf Club for Lunch

Sept …………… Sun 10th TBA

Oct …………… Dates TBA Annual Trip Away ( This could be moved to November )

Sun 29th SHOW & SHINE Moruya Bowling Club

Nov …………...Sat 25th South Coast Nationals Moruya

Sun 26th Airing of the Quilts Braidwood. This is village pic-nic day with various activities and a

Vintage Car Display

Dec ……………. Sun 10th X/mas Party at Malua Bay Bowling Club

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Invitations received from other Clubs and Organisations

February Sat 18th Gerringong Lions Club Motor fest / Car Show will feature Collectible, Performance and exotic

vehicles both old and new. This is also Gerringong’s monthly market day.

February Sun 26th Sussex Inlet Choppers for Charity This is a family oriented weekend with car displays , wooden

boat sail pasts as well as all types of village picnic activities.

March Sun 12th … Shannons Wheels 2017. Treasury Carparks ACT Organised by the HSV and BMW Clubs.

March Sun 26th Cooma .. Mt Gladstone Hill Climb

March Fri 31st March – Sun April 2nd Braidwood Machine Show. This event is specifically for motorcycles.

April Fri 31st – 2nd Cooma Car Club Classic and Pre 1960’s Car Rally

April Sun 2nd Auto Italia Old Parliament House

Please note. Invitations to other Clubs and organisations events as listed above are not CVMCE Club Events. They are

listed for your information only. If you decide to attend you must advise the club Registrar (secretary) either by phone

or by Email who will put you name and plans into his “Day Book”. You should also carry some documentation pertaining

to the event, in case you are asked to explain the reason for your conditionally registered vehicle being on the road. Al-

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Wednesday Club Runs No: 74

Runs are for all members and friends. Departure is from behind the Adelaide Hotel, Moruya, 10am sharp. We assemble 9:30 am for a little FELLOWSHIP, and sign in.

Please remember to sign in.

You are encouraged to contact anyone of our club committee for any comments or questions. Feel free to invite a friend

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Club Committee:

President: Brett Moore

Secretary: Neil McIntosh Membership Bob Thistleton

Treasurer: Dave Gibson

Newsletter Editor: Hugh Owen-Jones

Events Coordinator: Peter Smith – 4474 2251 Wednesday Run: Tim Collins 0418 945 224

Run Captains: Andrew Redwin 4473 8062 Geoff Radcliffe 0427 023585

Date Venue Contact Phone Notes 15 Feb 2017 South Durras General Store Erin 4478 6148

22 Feb 2017 Tilba

01 Mar 2017 Maloneys Beach BBQ Dick/Don BBQ $5 ph

08 Mar 2017 Narooma Ice Creamery Kristy 4476 1296

15 Mar 2017 Maloney Beach French Café Sylvie 4472 5815

22 Mar 2017 Botanical Gardens-Mogo Wendy 4471 2400

29 Mar 2017 Kosta’s Dalmey Kosta 4476 7451

05 Apr 2017 Tern Inn Dianne 4473 6373

12 Apr 2017 Courtyard Café Mogo Dave 4474 3389

19 Apr 2017 Narooma Bowling Club Danielle 4476 2136

26 Apr 2017 River Café-Nelligen Rick 4478 1153 (4478 1109) Alt

03 May 2017 Tuross Boat Shed Shannon 4473 8127

10 May 2017 JJ’s Batemans Bay Mattie 4472 4499

17 May 2017 Anton’s Dalmeny Janine 4476 1802

24 May 2017 Rivermouth General Store Tomakin Steve 4471 7272

31 May 2017 East Lynn Roadhouse Dean 4478 6050

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Council of Heritage Motor Clubs - NSW Inc.

CHMC UPDATE February 2017 #2017:01

1. Seatbelts for beginning drivers in HVS registered vehicles

2. CHMC welcomes new Minister for Transport, Hon. Melinda Pavey

In late August 2016 Council’s Committee was alerted to an impending change in regulations notified on the Transport for NSW website - “Learner, P1 and P2 drivers can only drive a vehicle that has a seatbelt fitted to the driver’s seat.”

CHMC Actions:

September 2016 - Committee agreed that a combined response from CHMC and CMC was advisable to seek an exemption for historic vehicles. The CMC President responded: “I have now spoken with 3 very senior members of the Centre for Road Safety, 2 from Transport for NSW and 4 from RMS Policy branch. None of them are aware of any proposal or intent to introduce any rules or law changes regarding young drivers and cars with no seat belts.”

Your Committee however considered that if Transport for NSW had the notice on their website there was some substance to this proposed regulation and we pursued the matter with the Minister.

October 28th 2016 – CHMC President Ray Ives wrote to Hon. Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads, Maritime & Freight as follows:-

I refer to recently published requirements, to apply from November 2017, whereby “Learner, P1 and P2 drivers can only drive a vehicle that has a seat-belt fitted to the driver’s seat...”

The Council of Heritage Motor Clubs NSW Inc. represents…members who own an estimated 8,000 heritage motor vehicles made prior to 1986. More than 50% of these vehicles have been manufactured prior to the mid-1960’s with no seat belt anchorage points. More than 10% have coach built (timber framed) bodies which are totally unsuitable for installation of seatbelts.

Almost all of Council’s member Club’s vehicles are Conditionally Registered under the NSW Historic Vehicle Scheme (HVS) the vehicles are used infre-quently, under the stringent controls mandated by the HVS, and generally in family/group outings with close peer supervision. They consequently have a negligible involvement in road accidents or traffic infringements, evidenced by very favourable insurance considerations.

[Council’s] participation in a national awards scheme to assist under 25’s in the restoration of heritage vehicles demonstrates its commitment to extend-ing this objective to new and younger members. Like many organisations, Council is aware that its lasting future requires creating a positive and active interest amongst younger people.

The inability of L or P plate drivers to operate a large percentage of the heritage vehicles within Council’s member clubs from November 2017 denies them the opportunity to participate in an activity which is wholesome, well supervised and controlled, and important to the preservation of Austral-ia’s motoring heritage.

Council respectfully requests that you grant a Ministerial exemption from the aforementioned provisions to drivers of Conditionally Registered HVS ve-hicles who are participating in activities properly authorised by a RMS approved Motoring Club.

Yours Faithfully

Ray Ives

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President C.H.M.C.

February 2nd 2017 – The response, when finally received, confirmed in fact there was a regulation for L and P Plate drivers : -

Thank you for your correspondence to the former Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight about seatbelt concessions for learner and provisional drivers. I have been asked to respond.

I appreciate the reasons that prompted you to write. However, I am advised your request is not consistent with current priorities in road safety. Sadly, younger drivers and their passengers continue to be over-represented in crash statistics. The seatbelt restrictions applying to provisional licence holders are an important measure to protect them and their families.

I hope your members can appreciate Transport for NSW provided owners of historic vehicles with more flexibility to use their vehicles on the road. However, it would not be desirable to extend this flexibility into the driver licensing system. Road safety is our top priority and NSW licence standards put the safety of all road users above other considerations.

I hope this has been of assistance.

Terry M Sweeney

Principal Manager, Ministerial & Government Services

February 7th 2017 – Unsatisfied with the response that indicated a lack of appreciation of heritage motoring Committee members are taking the matter up directly with various MPs and will also explain the issue to Minister Pavey. Council will continue to discuss this matter at the highest level with the RMS. Clubs will be advised of the responses.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay was replaced on January 29th by Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey MP.

CHMC Actions:

February 1st 2017 - On behalf of CHMC’s affiliated clubs a formal letter of welcome was sent to Hon. Melinda Pavey, Minister for Roads and Maritime Services, congratulating her on her new ministerial position and introducing CHMC:

The Council of Heritage Motor Clubs NSW Inc (CHMC) congratulates you on your appointment to the position as Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight (the RMS).

The Council of Heritage Motor Clubs NSW Inc. (C.H.M.C.), founded 1970, represents some 85 RMS approved motoring clubs across NSW…Most of Council’s member Club’s vehicles manufactured prior to the 1970’s are Conditionally Registered under the NSW Historic Vehicle Scheme (HVS). This means that the vehicles are used infrequently, under the stringent controls mandated by the HVS, and generally in family/group outings with close peer supervision.

The Council actively promotes good heritage motoring stewardship including the Heritage Vehicle Scheme (HVS), the Classic Vehicle Scheme (CVS), and the 60 Day Log Book Trial that have been developed by the RMS in consultation with the heritage motoring movement, of which CHMC has been an active participant.

The Council is looking forward to working with you on matters of concern and items of achievement involving heritage motoring.

Yours Sincerely

Ray Ives

President C.H.M.C.

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MIKE HARRIS AND A “Q” TYPE MG

This is a photo of me in a race car with an idiotic grin on my face, that makes my head look like a split watermelon. You

see our family usually attends the Sydney MG concourse each year and we had followed the black Q Type MG in the

photo into Silverwater Park on the Parramatta Riv-

er. After parking dad’s MG TA with the others in

our class my sister took on point duty (never leave

a pre-war MG unattended in public). Dad was talk-

ing 15 to the dozen with one of his old mates. So I

decided to go for a walk and look at some of the

magnificent cars before it got too busy. I know

what John Lackey (the current owner of the car in

the picture) and Richard Moore (the guy who

brought it back from the brink of extinction) look

like and they were both conspicuous by their ab-

sence. No one in the park looks even vaguely like

an Ison (the family who had previously owned it)

and my only memory of Jumbo Goddard (a flam-

boyant owner before the Isons), was as a passen-

ger in a pre-war MG, chasing a British Racing Green

Blower Bentley on a spirited drive through the

southern highlands somewhere near Bowral in the

1960’s. I was only in primary school at the time but

remember thinking how cool (cool was a new 60’s

word) it was when the police were cracking down

on having your arm out the window Mr Goddard

had to do it to operate the controls!

No matter how hard I try to look at the many beau-

tiful cars, I keep catching glimpses of the Q Type.

It’s a lot like going to the beach in summer and no

matter how many pretty girls there are in skimpy swimsuits you can’t not look at the topless one. QA257 looks better

than anything I’ve seen on the beach in the last 20 years (I was in primary school in the 1960’s so I’m now well over 50!)

The Q attracts more attention than a pair of white pointers in the Parramatta River.

As the day rolls I try to account for all the custodians of Pre-War cars, there are not many of them as there are usually

more trophies in this class than cars on display! I know the bloke with the blown ex Gordon Stewart race car, a blue L

type because I’ve been to his place in Bowral. Luckily my dad is in deep conversation with he’s mate Brian who owns the

very desirable TB. Because if dad knew what I was about to do he would be horrified and forbid it. My sister, who thinks

I’m a little bit weird for writing these stories is making new friends with the Simpsons who have a lovely SA that has been

imported from the West (Australia). That only leaves John Hurst and a guy called Robert camped on folding chairs having

a chat I know who John is because he’s a famous artist and has the red F Type. So Robert must be the man. Like my sis-

ter, you never leave a pre-war MG alone in public.

At this point My brother-in-law can’t thwart my plans because he is off talking to some VW nut on the other side of the

park (which is quite refreshing because everyone else here is a MG nut). The Abingdon cafe is distracting most of my oth-

er competitors with excellent steak sandwiches from the BBQ.

If this story sounds like a Grand Prix report, at this point I’m more nervous than a F1 rookie in his first qualifying session. It’s now or never, so I make a move that Hope Bartlett (who previously raced this car) would be proud of and I wander up and interrupt the conversation between John and Robert. I’ve rehearsed this move over and over in my head.

“Um excuse me Robert I have a favour to ask”

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“yes” he says “look” I stammer “I won’t be offended if you say no” “but” I say “do you reckon I might be able to sit in the Q Type?” “of course you can” says Robert “I’ll take the steering wheel off”

I now feel like a Formula 1 driver “its normal” to remove the steering wheel before lowering yourself into a Grand Prix Car. Hence the grin in the attached photo. My brother-in-law describes me as “looking like a worm on the way home from a fishing trip”

Robert whose last name has been suppressed to protect his identity offers to remove the steering wheel and I feel like a Formula 1 test driver because that’s how you get in a real race car! I decline because I want to feel like Cec Warren the guy who left Australia to buy the car new direct from the Abingidon factory in the 1930’s I remove my footwear and thongless prepare to get in. I avoid touching the body of the car which I know is lightweight aluminium and is easily damaged. So with one hand on the near side seat I put my left foot in the drivers foot well and with my left knee in the centre of the car, I then place my right foot in the gap where the steering wheel curves away from the Right Hand Side body work and my right knee hits the steering wheel “shit, there’s not much room here!” and lower my backside into the blue leather seat. It grabs my arse cheeks just forward and below my hips like a drunken sailor at the gay mardi gras. I straighten out my legs and the balls of my feet brush the ridges on the foot pedals. This sends a tingle through my whole body. My hands automatically hold the steering wheel at the 17 past 8 position. I’ve seen pictures of Nuvolari and Allan Tomlinson ( both famous MG race car drivers of the 1930’s) and they hold the wheel in exactly this position, and it feels natural. The pre selector gear shift is right there, I know where it is by instinct but I don’t dare touch it, its weird science, a Q type normally has to be jacked up of the ground and started with the wheels turning. The instru-ments loom huge in front of me and make me feel like a fighter pilot ( I wish I had brought my 1930’s style leather flying helmet) I’m sitting very low as I look out through the tiny aero screen. I now know why race drivers refer to this as the ‘office’ nothing else does the business.

I have a very strong urge to hunch down out of the 200km/h plus wind blast and lean into the Brooklands banking but quite a few of my race fans have wan-dered over, steak sandwiches in hand, to watch and I would look like a madman hunched down and leaning into a corner. This is a parked car and the only banking around here is on the side of the Parra-matta River so I resist the urge and check the instruments instead, they loom large in my vision and the polished surrounds look spectacular even if a bit distracting. I could sit here all day, but by now quite a crowd have gathered around to make me feel like Daniel Ricciardo! The crowd in-cludes my sister, father and brother- in-law. This is quite a momentous occasion for our family as it’s the first time in living

memory that the TA has been left alone in public. But at least my sister has a camera and is taking photos. Time to get out I don’t want to overstay my welcome and be like my brother-in-law who turned up uninvited to my 21st in 1983, met my sister and is still hanging around like a bad smell. Robert tells me the fuel tank makes a solid hand hold in the centre of the car and with the other hand on the driver seat I extract my bare feet without standing on the seat and this time without knocking the steering wheel I know exactly where it is. This car fits me like a glove.

What happens next threatens family harmony for years to come even worse than when Uncle Jack’s girlfriend wiped out the right hand back right hand back mudguard of the TA on a white post on Mount Ousley

Robert gets the genie in a bottle award because if I had 3 wishes I only want one of them to come true. Do you reckon I could sit in the Q Type?You meet the nicest people in an MG, I think I stole that from Honda, but it’s more true of an MG and even more so of the custodians of pre-war MG’s. They are so Un assuming, I’ve just clambered out of a genuine Q type MG not a

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replica like they make in England out of a TA but a real life 2&1/2 atmospheres Zoller fed, fire breathing, methanol quaffing alcohol swilling Q type! Now I’ve sat in a lot of cars in my life (but this one has just toped the list) and there are a lot more I would like to sit in a Bugatti Chiron a McLaren road car a Lamborghini Contach or a full on top spec factory race car. Of the factory race cars I would like to sit in. The MGK3 a type 35B Bugatti are two of my favourites but any of the cars that have taken an Australian to a F1 win would be pretty cool. The first F1 car I saw up close and personal and close enough to touch was Ayrton Senna’s Camel Lotus in 1987 (The third place getter was closest to the fence when my English girlfriend got me into the pits after the Silverstone Grand Prix) The last F1 car I could have touched was the Allan Jones’ ground effects Williams that used to belong to Peter Briggs (a certi-fied MG Nut by the way) in the York museum in WA. Disappointedly I never got to sit in either of them. I can’t see the difference between Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes and a 1923 blower Bentley they are both top notch race cars at the top of their game but I have just got out of the one car that was at the top of my wish list. One of the 8 Q type MG’s ever made! My favourite just because it’s so small and it looks nicer than the others and it’s so small (did I mention how small it was)

Now that I’m back on terra firma my legs are a bit wobbly but then this has been more momentous than meeting the Prime Minis-ter or the Queen. I catch a glimpse of a MGCC official reading to specs on the board behind the car, they are a bit hard for the un-initiated to interpret so I have an urge to tap him on the shoulder and say “mate in 1934 this car produced more horsepower per litre than any other vehicle on the planet” I resist the urge because most MG nuts know more about this car than me but for the uninitiated. A top of the range of the range Ford Typhon XR6 turbo blows (puffs) fuel into the cylinders at about 40kpa this thing Quaffs alcohol at over 250kpa!!!

Robert (the cars custodian for the day) tells me in a rather surprised voice that I’m a good fit. Of course I am, I think to myself “this feels more comfortable then my favourite pair of RM Williams moleskins”. If you took me to one of those clairvoyants who believe in reincarnation to reveal your past lives as an Egyptian Pharaoh or Roman Emperor, I could tell you what colour the car and seats were at Sellicks Beach (the cars first race) in 1934 the instrument surrounds weren’t polished (too much distraction) they were black, absolutely no disruptions in the “office”

Much to my dismay Robert (being one of those MG People that are just too nice and too obliging) insists that both my sister and father sit in the car! After all my hard work I feel like Daniel Ricciardo in Monaco being let down by his pit crew. When my sister sits in the car her shoulders are stiff and she holds the wheel way too loosely, she could never hold it over the bumps. Dad is much more relaxed but holds the wheel far too high in the classic 10 to 2 position of a pro-fessional bus driver his knuckles out in the windblast dropping 0.4mph off the top speed (a significant figure given that the all-time class H record at Brooklands is 122.4mph held by George Harvey-Noble in a Q type) neither my father or my sister fit this car like I do (Ha Ha).

14

Greenslips

.com.au

'This is wizard!' 100-year-old woman who flew spitfires during the Second World War celebrates her centenary by getting behind the controls again Mary Ellis was in a select gang of female pilots who flew during World War II She has now celebrated her 100th birthday by flying a plane over West Sussex Mrs Ellis flew next to one of the Spitfires she was in more than 70 years ago By Sarah Oliver For The Mail On Sunday PUBLISHED: 09:03 +11:00, 5 February 2017 | UPDATED: 10:00 +11:00, 5 February 2017

Mary Ellis (pictured during her time as an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot in WW2) has celebrated her

100th birthday

Tearing through the skies above the South Coast, two Spitfires evoke powerful memories of Brit-

ain's wartime resilience.

But this stirring image holds a further poignancy – for in the cockpit of the lead aircraft sits Mary

Ellis, celebrating her 100th birthday by recreating her time as one of the 'Ata-girls', the select gang

of female pilots who flew Britain's fighters during the war.

And over her shoulder is one of the actual Spitfires she flew during her 1,000 flights as a First Of-

ficer with the Air Transport Auxiliary.

'Wizard, this is wizard!' yelled the delighted centenarian through her intercom.

Mary was handed the controls of the 275mph twin-seater as it swooped over West Sussex. After

about 15 minutes, she turned for home, and told her co-pilot Matt Jones: 'Goodwood on the nose,

you have control…'. Then she settled back to enjoy the ride back to base.

Earlier, Mary watched in delight as Spitfire MV154 took its place beside her in an extraordinary

airborne tribute. It was a plane she had delivered to RAF Brize Norton from Southampton on Sep-

tember 15, 1944, and it hides a sentimental secret. For at the end of the 25-minute wartime flight,

she signed the cockpit, scrawling her maiden name Wilkins and the initials ATA.

______________________________________________________________________________

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+4

Mary Ellis (circled) was handed the controls of the 275mph twin-seater as it swooped over West

Sussex

She hoped her tag might be spotted by a handsome pilot and lead to a wartime romance – alt-

hough the impulsive act, a career one-off, didn't bag her a boyfriend.

Mary, originally from Oxfordshire, had her first flying lesson in 1938, and flew for pleasure until

1941 when she heard a BBC radio appeal for women pilots to join the auxiliary service and so re-

lease male pilots for combat duty.

Speaking at a surprise birthday party on Thursday, Mary said: 'The war was a challenge and one

had to do something about it. I went on and on until I flew everything. I love the Spitfire – it's my

favourite aircraft, it's everyone's favourite, it's the symbol of freedom.'

For four years she ferried warplanes from factories to frontline squadrons. The 166 women of the

ATA – about one in eight of the total – have been dubbed 'The Female Few', echoing Winston

Churchill's description of the RAF airmen who fought in the Battle of Britain.

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+4

Mrs Ellis looked back over her left shoulder and glanced at the aircraft she once flew

Mary was usually found at the joystick of a Spitfire or a Hurricane but ultimately flew more than 50

types of aircraft, logging 1,100 hours of flight, much to the astonishment of some colleagues.

As she sat on the airfield ready to deliver her first Spitfire, the mechanic standing on the wing asked

how many of them she'd flown. When she said it was her first, he was so startled he fell right off. The

largest aircraft she flew solo was the Wellington bomber. After landing at an East Anglian airfield,

Mary was greeted by the ground crew who asked where the pilot was. 'I'm the pilot,' she said. They

insisted on searching the aircraft before they believed her.

It was dangerous work. Mary was sometimes ordered to move combat-damaged planes that were not

officially fit to fly, but had to be taken for repairs. She crash-landed twice and was shot at once.

+4

Mrs Ellis toasted a glass of champagne with co-pilot Matt Jones, managing director of Boultbee Flight

Academy

Fourteen of her fellow ATA female flyers lost their lives, including aviation pioneer Amy Johnson.

Mary – who to this day needs no spectacles, nor a walking stick – was one of the last six women serv-

ing in the ATA when it disbanded after the war. She remained a private pilot and then became manag-

ing director of Sandown Airport on the Isle of Wight. She married Don Ellis, a fellow pilot, in 1961, but

was widowed in 2009. Matt Jones, who flies Spitfires for Goodwood-based Boultbee Flight Academy,

17

reunited Mary with MV154 after first meeting her in 2015. He conspired with the plane's current own-

er, pilot Maxi Gainza, to bring it to the UK from its base in Bremgarten, Germany.

.

He said: 'I gave Mary control of our Spitfire. I wasn't sure where we were but Mary was very clear.

She pointed us towards Thorney Island, up through the Witterings, flew on to Selsey Bill and then

Bognor Regis, never losing a foot of altitude.

'She showed me precisely how she was able to deliver all those aircraft with just a map, a compass

and a stopwatch. I was utterly humbled by a superior aviator who also happens to be 60 years my

senior!'

This article was submitted by Ward Hack

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

18

Hi

My brother has a 1941 Austin K2y Ambulance, that served with the 2nd Australian Ambulance Car Company , 1942-48ish.

I think it may have been used by the SES or similar organisation after the war, still as an ambulance,

One was used on the snowy mountain project,

Just looking for any information on these Ambulances here in Australia wartime and post war.

About 50 came to Australia. during 1942, and some in the 1950s

regs

Rupert

1207004 (A1207004) 1942 Darkes Forest NSW A1207004 restored WA 2014

FOR SALE –JAGUAR XJ6 4 DOOR SEDAN 4.2 LTR Auto Series 2 Long wheelbase

1/1977 Aust Compliance Plate—Blue Body and Paint in good condition

Not running at present—Fuel pumps not working—Reason unknown

Engine O.K. but has timing chain rattle. Gearbox needs overhaul

Vehicle is under cover and looks good, but has been standing for a long time

In Moruya area—offers

Noel Prowse 0437 965 834

NEW YEAR 2017

What does the new year bring?

We ponder deep, ponder long,

But never do we know,

The future.

If we had a crystal Ball,

Would we be happy,

Say g’day to one and all?

Or hide away, not to be seen,

Afraid of the future,

Or what life has in store.

So sure be happy.

Enjoy laughter galore,

Go on a ”run”,

Enjoy coffee with friends,

Because the road ahead,

Is full of twists and bends’

To be driven with care,

Till 2017 ends.

Tony Maynard January 2017

19

1975 Mercedes 450SLC Coupe, silver, 4.5 litre fuel injected V8, auto. electric sun roof, windows etc. owned 10 years, mechanically sound, drives beautifully, lovingly garaged. Asking $20,000. John Gillett 0407299176

G'day Huw. .Please can you pass the word around that the Humber is available to anyone that might cherish it. I took it for a spin around the Block before the dust sheets went back on and it's a really lovely car to drive with the 3 litre en-gine. Comfort supreme. Only the screens to do and all my help with spares from here which are plentiful.

I can arrange with my nephew for anyone to have access to view and drive if required. Ex RAN staff car 1961 Series 3 Super Snipe probably assembled in Australia but not certain of that.

I am now back in UK as of Aall the hub caps are in the boot with numerous spares. Also five or six sets of screen rub-bers and screen trims ( the larger ones are with my furniture storage in the factory). Tyres are brand new. Spare glass windscreen on back seat. Much has been done over the years including king pins, new brake cylinders and shocks. Inte-rior trim is new but mistakes need to be rectified where vinyl has covered the de-mist vents and the door trim vinyl has to be adjusted to take the wood trims. Engine ran first time last Sunday and I took her out around the block. Paintwork is OK but there are a few blemishes. Boot has had a new floor piece welded in.

She could be made into a really nice example with relatively little expense if a good mobile windscreen company were employed.

I would like to get at least $2500 for her but will listen to offers. Many thanks for bringing it to the members' notice.

Many thanks, Michael.

20

CUSTOM MADE SHEDS, CARPORTS, GARAGES & HOUSES