Continued on Page 6

Ladies Day 11 December 2011. Members gathered at North Strathfield in five Austin 7’s and one modern for the start of our Annual Ladies Day Run. First stop was beauti-ful Oatley Park where we were met by another two Austin’s, two Buick’s and another five moderns. There was Maureen & Mervyn Boatwright and their friend Lal, Sandra & Paul Boat-wright with Jessica, Katie and Jackie, Madge & Allen Blythe with five family members, Jean-

ette & Cliff Edwards, Helen Lewis & Carolyn Thompson, Amy & Paul Pui, Judith & Bob Riches,

Ken Rolley, Joanne & Mark Wel-lington and Faye & Robert Yar-roll.

Everyone enjoyed a lovely morn-ing tea at the Park, complete

with scrumptious Christmas cup cakes and home-made cookies.

After these yummy refreshments it was time to further explore the Park, and when walking down by the water’s edge we found the local Amateur Swimming Club competing in races. Joanne and

Faye were also sighted getting their photo taken with Santa! You just never know who you

Page 2

Committee

The deadline for all contributions to Baby Torque is the 2nd last Friday of each month. Contributions should be sent to The Editor, Baby Torque,

10 Lorraine Street, North Strathfield NSW 2137.

Magazine Deadline

Club Meetings

The Austin 7 Club NSW Inc meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8:00pm in the NRMA Training Rooms, NRMA Building, George Street, North Strathfield. Parking is available in the NRMA car park opposite the

building.

Name Home Phone Mobile Phone

President Warren Gracie (02) 9569 2108 0417 417 826

Vice President Paul Pui (02) 9958 1791 0413 621 078

Secretary / Public Officer

Maureen Boatwright (02) 9822 8609 0413 017 263

Treasurer Helen Lewis (02) 9709 2344 0407 108 196

Spare Parts Mervyn Boatwright (02) 9822 8609 0412 940 001

Club Examiners Warren Gracie Mervyn Boatwright

(02) 9569 2108 (02) 9822 8609

0417 417 826 0412 940 001

Membership /

Registration Faye Yarroll (02) 9706 8007 0412 830 041

Editor / Webmaster

Robert Yarroll (02) 9706 8007 -

As a courtesy, please do not contact Committee Members after 9:00pm.

Banking Details

Austin 7 Club NSW Inc

Spare Parts Austin 7 Club NSW Inc

Bank Laboratories Credit Union Bendigo Bank

BSB 802-841 633-000

Account 0000009132 128875804

Page 3

Members at our recent Annual General Meeting were presented with reports from Club Officers outlining a very successful year of operation and events.

The election resulted in the return of the previous Committee, so I guess that’s a vote of confidence in them and the other Club officials. No vote was required from the

members present as all nomina-tions were in favour of the sitting committee.

We can now settle into another year of events for our Austin 7’s; and the calendar looks very prom-ising with a National Rally in South Australia and two or more events each other month.

The Committee extends an open invitation to all members for their input regarding Club events they wish to attend or organise; so please don’t be shy about ap-proaching a Committee member with your ideas.

So, it’s time to start preparing our Sevens for another fun year.

Happy Sevening ... Warren Gracie

Presidents Report

it’s on again … see you there!

Other Events of Interest

Page 4

Coming Events

11 January 2012 … Pre-Meeting Sausage Sizzle - Bicentennial Park

Our Club will provide a Sausage Sizzle prior to the General Meeting on Wednesday 11 January 2012 in Bicentennial Park at Homebush Bay. If com-ing from Homebush Bay Drive direction get onto Australia Avenue and be prepared to turn right at gate entrance at the park. The BBQ will be in the first available area on left. Cooking will begin at 6pm. We will provide sausag-es, bread, salad, plates and cutlery, etc and all you need to bring is drinks, tea, coffee, etc. Come and join your fellow members to celebrate the begin-ning of a new year filled with outings and touring our wonderful countryside in our beautiful babies. For catering purposes please RSVP to a Committee member by Thursday 5 January 2012 if you will be joining us.

15 January 2012 … Breakfast Run - Scarborough Hotel - Scarborough

Departing NRMA car-park North Strathfield at 7:45am or Heathcote Railway car-park at 8:30am. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are interested in attending and advise your starting place. Our destination is the Scarborough Hotel, 383 Lawrence Hargraves Drive, Scarborough.

26 January 2012 ... Australia Day - NRMA Motorfest / Flagstaff Park

NRMA Motorfest - Sydney. Entries are now closed. Flagstaff Park - Wollon-gong. The Austin Motor Vehicle Club has invited us to join them in a Run to Flagstaff Park at Wollongong to celebrate Australia Day at an event organised by Wollongong Council. Meet at Loftus Oval off Princess Highway at 8:30am to depart at 9:00am. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 ASAP if you are interested in attending. You MUST advise a Committee member prior to 26 January 2012 of the intended movement on Australia Day of your HCRS registered Club vehicles.

12 February 2012 … Breakfast Run - Hawkesbury River Marina Brooklyn

Departing NRMA car-park North Strathfield at 7:40am. Our Destination is

Welcome to 2012! And what could be better than enjoying a year packed with great runs for you and your Baby Austin 7 travelling around the countryside.

Ladies Day was enjoyed by 29 people travelling in seven Austin 7’s and another seven moderns. We visited Oatley Park for morning tea and went for a bush-walk to check-out

the native plant life and birds, and finally to Webster’s Lookout. Then off to Evatt Park at Lugarno and Clubs Rivers for lunch. We watched heavy

Events Report

rain fall during lunch; but by the time we left the club the weather had cleared for our trip home .. how lucky were we?

Our first run for the year will be to the Scarborough Hotel for Breakfast; and don’t forget the Pre-Meeting Sausage Sizzle at Bicentennial Park (please RSPV for both).

See you at the sausage sizzle!

Happy Austin 7 touring.

… Maureen Boatwright

Coming Events

Invitations Accepted

4 February 2012 ... Leura’s Automobile Picnic in the Mall

A great display of cars from the 1920’s. This event is part of a month long Festival of 1920’s nostalgia throughout the Blue Mountains. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are interested in attending.

6 May 2012 ... Wings Over Illawarra 2012

Cars will NOT be admitted to this event without an official sticker. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are interested in attending.

Page 5

the Hawkesbury River Marina, Dangar Road (Lot 501 McKell Park), Brooklyn. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are interested in attend-ing.

19 February 2012 … Twilight Run - Mystery Destination

Departing NRMA car-park North Strathfield at 3:00pm. BYO meal or buy at a shop near our destination.

4 March 2012 … Breakfast Run - South - New Venue

Departing NRMA car-park North Strathfield at 7:30am or Heathcote Railway car-park at 8:15am. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are interested in attending and advise your starting place.

23-25 March 2012 ... Sydney Vintage Car Restoration - Crookwell

This will be a long-weekend based in Goulburn. Ten rooms have been secured at our motel. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are inter-ested in attending. Numbers are required NOW.

15 April 2012 … April Run - Destination TBA

29 April 2012 … Breakfast Run - North

23-24 June 2012 ... Weekend away at Mt.Victoria

Our Club will be staying at a very nice Guesthouse at Mt Victoria. So far elev-en en-suite rooms have been booked - the remaining rooms do not have en-

suites. On Sunday we will be joining the Vauxhall Club and other clubs for lunch at the Guesthouse and also enjoying Kitty & the Bagman at the Mt.Victoria picture show. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you are interested in attending.

1 - 5 October 2012 90th Anniversary National Austin 7 Hub Rally - Tanunda, S.A.

Make sure you have booked your Barossa Valley accommodation as there is immense interest in this Rally. Remember, there’s only 10 months to go and more than 140 Austin 7’s will be attending. The renowned Bay to Birdwood Run is for vehicles manufactured before 1956 and will be held the day before the Rally starts (Sunday 30 September 2012). Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 if you require an Expression of Interest form or further infor-mation. Those staying at the Barossa Motor Lodge will need to leave for the Bay to Birdwood at about 5:30am on the Sunday.

Page 6

might meet when wandering through a park!

Some members relaxed on the grass and one was caught having a nap in the sunshine … it looked very much like Ken Rolley!

Then we all set off for Webster’s Lookout to take in the wonderful views over the river and surrounding areas.

Our next stop was Evatt Park at Lugarno. We parked the little Austin’s and strolled through the Park and down to the water’s edge where chil-

dren were feeding the ducks and swans; and giant-carp were swimming around. We later departed for our lunch destination.

After all this walking and sightseeing, and generally working up a good appetite, arriving at Club Rivers at River-wood was a welcome surprise. Lunch was at Helen’s Restaurant and the meals were very good. From surf & turf, to crapes or steaks and everything in between, there

was something for everyone; and nobody went hungry. Having so many members present and the chance to enjoy a tasty meal together proved to be the perfect recipe for a happy and memorable Ladies Day and final Club Run for 2011.

A big thank you goes to Maureen Boat-wright for organising this Event and to everyone who attended. See you all next

year!

Ladies Day Continued from front Page

… and some little ones too.

Some of our beautiful ladies …

Page 7

Round the World in a “Baby” Car by Gladys de Haviland Regular readers of this magazine will recall my request for information

about Miss Gladys de Haviland, a young English-woman who in the late

1920’s set off on a world tour in her Austin 7. My call was heard around

the world, mainly due to the wide readership of Baby Torque via our web-

site. Through the research and assis-

tance of various people including

Keith Robertson (New Zealand), Ian

Mann (Austin Motor Vehicle Club) and

Brian Haywood (Austin 7 Club NSW), I

am now able to include in future mag-

azines a brilliant narrative written by

Miss de Haviland about her adven-

ture. When reading this I suggest you

be mindful that this young woman

undertook her adventure in the very

early days of motoring, and in a world

very different from today. I cannot de-

termine when or where this article

was originally published, and therefore I cannot acknowledge its publish-

er. However, I am very happy to present her narrative to Baby Torque

readers in this 90th Anniversary Year of our beloved Austin Seven. I rec-

ommend you read Miss de Haviland’s story, as it is not only a testament

to her personal courage and endurance but also a fine example of the

ruggedness and reliability of her “Baby” Austin 7.

… the Editor

Miss Gladys de Haviland

Page 8

Les Lewis was born in the Sydney suburb of Auburn. During his early years, he lived with his family at Baulkham Hills, and then at Parramatta, and finally moved to a property at Luddenham where he still lives today. As a young fif-teen year old, and unknown to his mum and dad, he bought himself a Royal Enfield motor cycle. He didn’t keep it long and sold it to buy a new 1945 BSA. Les had a passion for bikes and cars, and in 1947 he sold the BSA and bought his first car … a 1936 Chevrolet Roadster. A few years later the Chevy was sold and along came an Austin truck; and didn’t he have fun in it as a younger bloke. In 1951 Les set his eyes on a charming young woman named Edna and five weeks later they were engaged to be married.

Les and Edna married on St. Valentine’s Day in 1953; and three years later they started their family.

After a few more years Les bought a 1936 Austin Seven Ruby from a butcher in

Guildford. Well, he really bought a body shell with two chassis and a heap of parts. He then heard about a shed full of old Austin parts for sale at Black-town. So he set off quickly and managed to secure two ute loads of parts before heading home as proud as punch. The restoration project began and Les joined the Austin 7 Club of NSW ... and has been a member ever since.

Les had to do a few things to transform his pile of bits and pieces into the

Car of the Month ... Les & Edna Lewis’ 1936 Austin 7

Edna and Les

Page 9

Information Sheet

If you would like to see your Austin 7 featured in this magazine please

complete and return the “Car of the Month - Information Sheet” availa-

ble from the Editor.

beautiful car we see today. He made a new wooden frame, a new firewall, new window frames and new chrome bumper bars. He also fixed the radiator, re-bored the motor and added new pistons; replaced the clutch-plate and finally cut-back and repainted the whole car. Apart from all this, Les still says, “it was a simple job.” The rebuilding of his little baby Austin only took about 20 years to finish.

Les and Edna also established a successful horse spelling yard and had up to forty-five horses grazing on their property; and in Parramatta they ran a pet and saddlery business until they retired in 1982. As well as his Austin Seven restoration, Les has just completed a total restoration of an Abbot four-wheel horse buggy.

So, you might ask … what is his next project? Well, Les says he wants to fully

restore his 1951 Mercedes Benz 170S.

Well, best of luck Les and Edna ... and we hope to see both of you during 2012 touring in your newly restored Austin Seven.

It only took about twenty years to restore … but what a great result!

Page 10

Austin 7 Club NSW IncAustin 7 Club NSW Inc

Membership Fees were due on 1 Jan 2012Membership Fees were due on 1 Jan 2012

Single Membership Fee for 2012 ………… $50Single Membership Fee for 2012 ………… $50

Family Membership Fee for 2012 ………… $55Family Membership Fee for 2012 ………… $55

Joining Fee ………………………………………………… $30Joining Fee ………………………………………………… $30

The Joining Fee applies to all new members and those whoThe Joining Fee applies to all new members and those who

have have NOTNOT renewed their Membership by 31 January each year.renewed their Membership by 31 January each year.

NEW ARROWS MAKE IT EASIER THAN EVER It’s always a good idea to regularly check-out what’s new on our Club website. There is now three new coloured arrows on our Home page. Simp-ly double-click on the GREEN ARROW and you’ll go straight to our Events Gallery, the RED ARROW will take you to our Sponsors Links and use the BLUE ARROW to Contact Us via email. Our Club Sponsors have recently updated their websites. So why don’t you use the RED ARROW to check them out today? It’s well worth the look!

is your

membership

over due?

RENEW NOW RENEW NOW

Page 11

Recent Happy Snaps

Page 12

These minutes of the Austin 7 Club NSW Inc are to be confirmed at the next General Meeting

Minutes of the December 2011 General Meeting

Held on 14 December 2011 at NRMA Training Centre, George Street, North Strathfield. The meeting was opened at 8:10pm by Warren Gracie who welcomed all members to the meeting.

Minutes taker: Maureen Boatwright

Attendees: 29

Apologies: Deirdre Hayward, Denis & Helen Quartly

Visitors: Nil

Moved: Mark Wellington Seconded: Robert Yarroll

Minutes of previous meeting read and accepted:

Moved: Faye Yarroll Seconded: Robert Yarroll

Business arising from minutes: Nil

Correspondence: Inwards: 16 member-

ship renewals, The Overland Telegraph (Willeys Whippet), The Depender, Baby Torque Western Australia, Bent Wire, Drive Chatter, The Lightshaft—Vic, Ulti-mo College Tafe, a letter from Kevin Harte (reply to letter sent by Committee). Out-wards: 2 x letters to Kevin Harte.

Moved: Mervyn Boatwright Seconded: Helen Lewis

Treasurer Report: Helen Lewis read the Financial Report.

Moved: Maureen Boatwright Seconded: Cliff Edwards

Spare Parts: Mervyn Boatwright read the Spare Parts Report.

Moved: Bob Riches Seconded: Mark Wellington

Editor: Robert Yarroll thanked everyone who provided photographs and stories for Car of the Month and those yet to come. Christmas party was a fun day - thanks to Ross Bell as our auctioneer. New mem-ber Eric Steinhaus was welcomed to the meeting, and two new sponsors websites.

Graph shows 2,500 visitors and 10,000 page visits on our website during the year. Everyone loves our website.

Membership Officer: 80 financial mem-bers. Reminder to pay by 31/1/2012 or extra to pay.

Welfare: Ron Selig is now feeling better after a day visit to hospital for tests.

Public Officer: Maureen Boatwright re-ported our External Audit is due by the end of 2012. Eric Bourn has a book to be handed to Library for inclusion with other books to be made available to members for reading/technical advice.

Events Team: Goulburn/Crookwell bookings are about to close. Remaining

rooms available at Mt.Victoria Guest-house do not have en-suite facilities. Good runs coming up next year involving the Vauxhall Owners Club & AMVC, our club has reciprocal runs with these clubs and 2012 Rally in S.A. Australia Day festivities - please notify Committee prior to 26/1/2012 of where your vehicle will be during the day.

Moved: Paul Pui Seconded: Ken Rolley

General Business: Kevin Harte asked questions regarding Insurance Policies. Thanks given to Robert and Faye Yarroll for all they have done for the Club.

The meeting closed at 8:45pm. Door Prize - Won by Kevin Harte Raffle 1st Prize - Won by Ken Rolley Raffle 2nd Prize - Won by Barbara Fahey

Page 13

Remember the cute baby Austin 7 hanging in a tree in a car yard on Ashfield’s Parramatta Road? Well, af-ter more than 50 years of hanging around, it moved on to a new owner.

Not long after the second world war, this car was used extensively as gen-

eral transport in a market garden in North Lincolnshire, England. It was severely modified aft of the front seats, and was a familiar sight as it went about its daily rou-tine in the village

until its owner de-cided to forsake the life of a market gar-dener and settle on a farm in South Yorkshire. He took not only his family with him but also the little car that gave further service as a general farm runabout.

I’ve lived in Sydney for most of my fifty plus years and it would have been only a couple of years after I be-gan work that a now yellow and black 1937 Austin 7 Doctor’s Coupe was placed in a fig tree above a Parramat-ta Road car yard. Like many people, I’ve driven past it many times each

year, becoming a little more endeared to it with each passing. I thought it was cute. The thought of going in and asking the yard operator if he would like to part with it never seemed to be a proposition with even the remotest possibility of success. I just kept driv-ing by and admiring it. One day I no-ticed, as did many passers-by, that

the yard was bereft of all but the Aus-tin 7. It was now a different ball

Where did that little yellow baby Austin go?

game. I decided to chase up the yard operator and during the following weeks I found myself buying petrol at Great North Fuels opposite. I paid for my petrol and wandered over to the other side of Parramatta Road and took my first ever (in thirty one years)

close up look at the little yellow car. It appeared comfortable and I suppose

somewhat resigned to just hanging around. Very une-ventful.

An enquiry at the nearby motorcycle

shop shed no light. So, I wandered back passing by the ever-present little yellow car and noticed next door some demoli-

tion work and a builder’s pole provid-ing a temporary meter box. On the pole was the hire Company’s name

Smalls and their phone number. Mo-ments later I had discovered the hir-er’s name was Meriton, and I had a phone number and contact name.

He was out to lunch. Some people seem to spend their whole life having lunch. After some patience on my be-half and another phone call, I discov-

ered the car yard portion had been sold off but again a name and phone number was provided. Then another phone call and this time I was speak-ing to the new owner of the property with a car in a tree. Now began the well-known dealing and manoeuvring that only a vintage car freak can and will stoop to.

This article is based on a story written by John Bates (date unknown).

Page 14

All Spare Parts correspondence should be addressed to:

Mr Mervyn Boatwright, P.O. Box 366, Casula Mall. NSW 2170

Telephone: (02) 9822 8609 Email: m.boaty@bigpond.com

Spare Parts will NOT be brought to meetings unless requested before-hand due to the vast number of parts in stock nowadays. Please contact

Merv by the Thursday evening prior to the meeting with details of the parts you need. All Members choosing to pay by cheque for parts should read the instructions at the bottom of their invoice. Please make all

cheques for Spare Parts payable to Austin 7 Club NSW Inc Spare Parts.

Condenser 1935-1939 $22.50 each

Brake Cams 1923-1936 $38.50 pair

Brake Spring 1927-1936 $3.00 each

Austin Seven

Page 15

If bad weather conditions are looming, please contact Maureen Boat-wright on Saturday evenings or from 6:30am on the Sunday of the run (H) 02 9822 8609 (M) 0413 017 263 or Warren Gracie (H) 02 9569 2108

(M) 0417 417 826.

And please remember to always carry the

following documents in your Austin 7:

Comprehensive Insurance Policy

Clubs’ Certificate of Currency

Baby Torque Magazine

Bad Weather

11 January 2012 Your Committee

8 February 2012 Faye & Robert Yarroll

14 March 2012 Maureen & Merv Boatwright

11 April 2012 Helen Lewis & Carolyn Thompson

9 May 2012 Amy & Paul Pui

13 June 2012 Ken Rolley

Don’t forget the Austin 7 Club NSW “Point Score” program. Our aim is to see as many people as possi-ble attending events and meetings (including month-ly general meetings). Participation in an event or out-ing from the starting point to the finish will score you 2 points, while attending a general meeting will score you 1 point. These points are awarded whether

you attend in your Austin 7 or modern car. The per-son with the highest points tally will receive a trophy at our Christmas Luncheon / Presentation Day. So

come along and get involved.

Point Score Trophy

Supper Roster

The Austin 7 Club NSW Inc has

been active for 28 years and

aims to bring together people

with the common interest of re-

storing, preserving and driving

Austin Sevens. We are an infor-

mal family club that regularly

takes our "Babies" to the road

for some fun social touring.

Spare parts are available to

Club Members through the Club

Spares Division and our tech-

nical people will give advice,

where possible, in regard to the

restoration of these cars.

Postal Address:

P.O. Box 6009 North Ryde NSW 2113

Email:

info@austin7clubnsw.org.au

Website:

www.austin7clubnsw.org.au

Austin 7 Club NSW Inc

ments of your vehicle. If you

wish to attend invitational

events outside Club runs, you

MUST contact a

Committee Member

to log the trip, oth-

erwise your regis-

tration and insur-

ance is NOT valid.

You should carry a

copy of the Clubs’

Certificate of Insur-

ance (Public Liabil-

ity) in your Austin

7 at all times together with

the most recent copy of this

Baby Torque magazine.

Any Member using a vehicle on

RTA Historic Conditional Regis-

tration Scheme (HCRS) and at-

tending a Secondary

Club Run or any event

listed under Invita-

tions Accepted or Oth-

er Events of Interest

MUST contact a Com-

mittee Member to ad-

vise your vehicles

movements PRIOR to

attending the event.

The committee of the

nominated primary club on your

conditional registration must be

aware, and approve of, all move-

"Dedicated to the preservation and

enjoyment of all types of

Austin Sevens"

RTA Conditional Registration

Member of The Council of Motor Clubs, Inc