“Old Brits” Saskatchewan British Car Club Newsletter

“Classic British Motoring “

Winter 2013-2014 Number 64

Editor’s Note

First, I would like to apologize for the lack of newsletters. My last 6 months of work and first 6 months of retirement were much more stressful than I had imagined. I think that I have finally begun to get the hang of this retirement thing, so I should be able to do more newsletter in future…, supposing, that is, that I get material to put in. I would like to sincerely thank all of the members who contributed newsletter material over the years, especially Bill Rafoss, without whose contributions many newsletters would have been woefully short of material. Cheers, John Pharr

Spring Tune-Up Clinic 2013

By John Pharr / Photos by Bill Rafoss

There was a tremendous turn-out for this year’s clinic…, but not to get tune-ups! Most of the members who came to Ens on a warm and sunny May 5th were just out for a look-see and a nice Sunday drive in their (mostly) British cars. Thanks to Bob Forward and Don Lumley and our many talented amateur mechanics the club’s ‘fleet’ is more reliable than ever!

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Only three cars ended up getting Bob’s attention. The first was my Jag XK-150, which had arrived in Saskatoon in mid-winter and needed a more thorough check-out than Bob had been able to give it at the time. It went up on the hoist for a look underneath, and the petrol leak which Tom Beatty had noticed the first time I drove the car on Friday turned out to be from the gasket on the sending unit on the tank…, but every one of the 8 bolts and screws on this unit were loose! Tightening them up slowed the leak to minimal and since then it has stopped completely. Nor were those the only fittings that were loose. The car needed an oil change since this was fairly black, and Bob found that the drain plug on the sump was barely finger-tight. It happens a lot, Bob says…, people reassemble things with the intent of going back and tightening everything up when all of the reassembly is done…, and then they forget to do it. The last thing the Jag needed, after a number of other bolts were tightened up to cut down on the classic British ‘marking territory’, was adjustment of the idle, which was too low at about 800rpm. Next was Brev Chesky’s TR-6, which as Brev had said was running poorly with a misfire and a black plug on #2 cylinder plus low compression of 60psi. After checking and confirming that the plug wire was good and that there was spark despite the blackened plug Bob removed the valve cover… and sadly found that the valve guide was broken, possibly from poor lubrication secondary to a plugged oil gallery, and that the head was going to have to be re-done. Last was David Oei’s MGB, which was brought in, along with son and future driver Willi, for a tune-up for the summer. However, it didn’t need tuning so Bob just changed the oil.

Remember…, most of the cars in these photos were running great and just out for the day with their drivers watching Bob work and providing sympathy where appropriate. We got to the beer and bull---t session quite early this year…, a happy clan indeed!

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Valleys and Ferries – The June 2013 B.C. Trek Story & photos by Bill Rafoss (part 1) and John Pharr (part 2)

This past June, members of the Saskatchewan British Car Club headed west once again. In what has become an almost annual or bi-annual tradition, members of the club packed up their spare parts and hit the road June 8-13, 2013. Usually the club attends a car event, like the Rally in the (Okanagan) Valley or some similar event. Without a specific show in mind this year, club members decided to give their LBC's a stretch on the road in any event. This year's tour was organized by Rob Svoboda, who did an extraordinary job as usual, with assistance from Bob Forward. About ten cars met at the Westgate Plaza on June 8th and another two joined us in Rosetown for a total of 12 cars. At the risk of missing someone, they were: Bob Forward (TR8), Chris Collins (MG Midget), John Pharr (Aston Martin DB7), Alex McGregor (Sunbeam Alpine), Bill Rafoss (Mini Cooper), Morris Sulatyski (MGA), Rick Middleton (TR8), Bart Hall (TVR 280), Tony and Ruth Hill (Mini Cooper), Trevor and Sue (Ruth's sister and brother-in-law) from England (Mini Countryman), Rob Svoboda (TR6), Don Kunaman (TR6). Have I missed anyone? The tour made a pit stop in Rosetown to meet up with the Hill group and to fortify with a great breakfast at the Husky station. From there we drove to the Alberta tourism office at Oyen, before diverting down to Alberta Highway 570. This is a scenic drive through Dorothy before entering Drumheller from the south along the river valley. Along the way the club members took a photo of the group beside a reservoir. Our first stop for the night was at Dead Man Flats near Canmore. Staying at the Big Horn Motel we spent an enjoyable evening telling tall tales and tippling a beverage or two at a British-style pub in Canmore.

Up to this point the rain was on-again, off-again. But Day Two was a different story: the rain gods poured down upon us. Driving through the Rogers Pass can be fun at the best of times, but in pouring rain complete with potholes it can be a challenge. Bob diverted us onto Highway 1-A (um, except for Morris) which is a scenic route to Lake Louise. We hooked up there with Morris, Trevor and Sue, took an obligatory photo op by the lake in +5 degrees and rain, then headed west for Golden, Revelstoke and finally to the Upper Arrow Lake ferry that takes us into Nakusp, our second night refuge. For most of us prairie boys and girls taking a ferry is a bit of an adventure, but when you have twelve British cars it makes it even more fun. The ferry crosses from Shelter Bay to Galena Bay and takes about 20 minutes to cross. The winding road down from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay gave us a great opportunity to open up the 'lil Brits and give them a good stretch.

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That night we stayed at the Rotor Lodge, our usual resting spot in Nakusp. Some of us then drove up to the Nakusp Hot Springs, some to enjoy an hour or two in the mineral springs that have been treating locals and travelers for over a century. Others made their way back down the winding hot springs road to the Leland Hotel to sit on the lakeside deck, cool down with a pint, and enjoy an oversized meal. Breakdowns, you ask? None really, up to this point. A few radiator caps left off and Alex had a flat tire. But considering what happened on earlier trips this crew was lucky. Word has it that Alex might have had some difficulties later. Monday morning I left the group to return to Calgary. The rest of the travelers went on to Lumby, Nelson, and Pincher Creek before returning home. I will leave it to them to describe day 3, 4. 5 and 6. Thanks again to the organizers for a great trip. If you haven't done one of these trips, mark it on your list of things to do for the next one! You won't regret it.

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I will make only one addition to Bill’s comments…, because Rick told me I had to and anyone who can devour ribs that size has to be listened to. The first ‘mechanical’ was mine, flat tires not counting. As we proceeded west on Hwy 1 on Day 2 Rick pulled up beside me and tried to tell me something, but I couldn’t hear him over wind and motor sounds so he pulled on and flagged down our leader of the moment, Bob. They came back to tell me that every time I hit the accelerator a puff of smoke was coming from the right side of the DB7! Turns out that this was coolant vaporizing on the hot engine. When I’d topped up coolant at the Big Horn I’d neglected to put the cap back on. A plastic shroud held it in place, though, so no harm done except losing some Prestone. Except for Bill there were no early risers at Nakusp because we only had about a 100 km to go to Lumby. First order of business after breakfast was assembling the whole outfit by the lakeside for a group photo, shamelessly dragooning local citizens into working the cameras so that everyone could be in the shot. Thereafter we scattered, some to stroll about the town, others to do delayed fill-ups, etc. Alex and I headed south for the Fauquier-Needles ferry. Unlike Day 2’s ferry this crosses a very narrow, toss-a-rock across part of the lake... attached to a cable. On the other side we tooled along in leisurely fashion, looking for a place for morning coffee and finally stopping at a rustic cabin diner where the SBCC gang had lunched driving the other way after RITV a few years ago. Over our coffee Alex and I saw the oblivious Morris zoom past us and presently we resumed our drive, but soon after we saw the MGA parked… at a golf course??? Admittedly, the golf course sign featured a biker on

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Harley on top. Alex and I stopped and found Morris enjoying a beer and great music on the clubhouse patio so naturally we joined him. Eventually the whole gang straggled in and then, reassembled, we proceeded to Lumby, checked into our motel and sat in the sun drinking and idly watching a softball game in the adjacent park. There was talk about going into ‘the big city’ (Vernon) for supper, but eventually we simply ambled afoot to the restaurant next to the motel…, probably wise considering the amount of alcohol already consumed.

We slept in the next day, too, as some repair work was scheduled at the Needles ferry and we were re-tracing our path thereto. We’d been told that the cable work might take an hour if everything went perfectly, 4-6 hours if things weren’t so perfect. We did spend a fair amount of time testing our parking brakes on the steep ferry approach, but eventually we got across and tooled back to Nakusp and then to New Denver for lunch. There the group broke up again to take different routes to Nelson. Rob and Morris hadn’t been with us two years ago and wanted to take the route through Kaslo and along Kootenay Lake and Rick elected to join them. I joined Bob and Bart to go straight south through Slocan along a previously untraveled road, and check out a couple of overpriced Minis along the way. Our eyes kept drifting away from the road as this was a fairly populated valley and a lot of properties had car collections…, although graveyards might have been a better description for most of them. I’m not sure which routes those not named took, but we all met up again at the very nice motel Rob had found between Nelson and the Balfour-Kootenay Bay ferry. Most of us went into Nelson to have supper at the historic old hotel, but a few stayed to picnic at the hotel and went the city-goers returned we joined them around a campfire to top off the evening. The next morning was another long ferry trip, across Kootenay Lake. This ferry has a snack bar, handy for those late breakfasts, and then it was on to Cranbrook where Rob had

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arranged for us to have lunch with the members of a new British car club there. It was sad to drive past the pub at Sirdar, one of our favorite biker bars, and see that it had closed, but we had a good time meeting other LBC enthusiasts at Cranbrook. Then we were off to Pincher Creek through the Crowsnest Pass and the impressively devastating Frank Slide. It was on this leg of the trip that Alex’s wheel bearings gave up and he had to leave the Alpine behind.

The final morning the group fragmented again. First and early Alex rode back with Don, wanting to get back to Saskatoon as soon as possible to prepare to return to retrieve the Alpine, which he managed without incident on Saturday. Tony, Ruth, Trevor and Sue had plans to visit a wagon/coach museum near Cardston, while the ‘Three Musketeers’ (Rob, Rick and Morris) and Chris said that they also wanted to ‘get back home early’. Therefore it was Bob, Bart and me again heading south to drop in at Waterton Park. The weather was dull but we didn’t actually get rained on as we had a peek at the old Prince of Wales hotel and strolled around the lakeside town before starting back. Oddly enough, we caught up with some of the ‘want to get back early’ crowd at Rosetown…, because they’d stopped at so many pubs along the way! And so another great trip to the winding roads of the BC interior is ‘in the books’. Not as sunny as two years ago, but not nearly as rainy as four years ago… and the roads still wind and the company is first-class! I heartily second Bill’s invitation to come along next time.

‘

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Brits at the Bus 2013

By John Pharr

Once again the SBCC’s premier event, Brits at the Bus, was an outstanding success. Despite intermittent rain there was a great turnout of members and cars and a lot of spectators. The opening of Hudson’s Tap House was a definite plus, so handy for lunch and drinks… and escaping the midday shower.

Cruise and Broadway Street Fair 2013

I was away during Cruise and although I did attend the Street Fair I either forgot my camera or didn’t take any photos (I arrived late). If anyone has photos and/or would care to do a write-up of these events please contact Ed Driver as per his recent e-mail. – Editor

*****

VICE-GRIPS: A tool generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

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President’s Message / Summer 2013 By Bob Forward

Hi all, as another year comes to an end I find myself feeling lucky that I am part of a great car club made up of many special people. We as a group have enjoyed another great year of British car motoring activities, the club has again moved forward and we welcome our new members. There were too many good events this summer to list them all so instead I would like to thank everyone who planned, participated or just showed up to our events. Let’s keep the club growing and plan for SBCC 2014 year. Season’s greetings to all! - Bob

Bob and some other guys at Lake Louise this ‘summer’ / photo by Bill Rafoss

Waskesiu “Fall Colours” Tour 2013 By John Pharr

This fall, being now retired, was my first opportunity to go on this tour to Prince Albert National Park that Terry Yuzik has been organizing for several years. I have been wanting to do this event for a long time, and it was also my chance to try out the new XK-150 on a longish trip. In fact I was bugging Terry in February…, four days after the car arrived…, to make sure that a tour was ‘on’ for this fall. On Saturday we met at Lawson Heights to start the trip to PA…, watched Morris potter by on his way to put the MGA into storage for the winter. Then we were off to PA, where we paused at a Tim Horton’s to wait for Cam to catch up, as he had to go back home to pick up forgotten meds. Then it was on up the highway, now mercifully no longer under water north of PA, to turn off for Emma Lake to have a really nice lunch with Brev and Dianna at their cabin. After that we continued up the old highway to Waskesiu and the Hillcrest Inn-Armstrong Cabins. After check-in we proceeded to line up on a pleasant, sunny patch of lawn to have an impromptu car show, to the amazement and interest of the locals. Eventually, with our coolers considerably emptier, we pried ourselves out of our lawn chairs, shifted the cars to park near our rooms, and walked down to a pizza supper… and even more

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beer. After supper I was done (driving the old Jag is work!) so I passed on going on to Lori and Mark’s cabin to party and turned in early. On Sunday the party-goers rose fairly late and followed the plan to meet for brunch at the Hawood Inn about ten. My stomach woke me up earlier so I’d already breakfasted alone and I lounged on my room’s porch and counted wildlife (two squirrels, one chipmunk) until the others were ready to go. Terry led us to the Boundary Bog near the main park entrance, where we parked and strolled around the circular bog trail observing flora and fauna…, very scenic. From there we drove back through Waskesiu township and back down the old highway, past Emma and Christopher Lakes to the main highway. North of PA we broke into two groups, most going to the Honeywood Nursery near Canwood for fruit pie, a few of us heading home early. Despite a prediction for rain that weekend we had lovely weather for the trip. Thanks, Terry…, and thanks to our hosts at Emma Lake and Waskesiu.

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Road T rip 2013 !"#$%"#&$'%"(#$("(#&"$))*$+",'-(-.#"/$'"01$(#&'-)23"-)"456.5)7"85'(#"9$'5+-)$":$."$";&'<"

:5'(#:#-+&"&;&)("(5"$((&)%7".5"=5'"><"?@AB"C'5$%"('-DE"!"%&/-%&%"(#$("456.5)":5*+%"6&"-(F"

A quick check of the events calendar showed that the VTR South Central Regional meet

would be in Waco Texas on the following week of April 25th thru 27

th, so I added that

show to the route. I plotted the route on Google Maps, and filled it out with stops for both

:5'G"$)%"D+&$.*'&7"$.":&++"$."$"'*)"5)"(#&"0H$-+"5="(#&"4'$25)3"$+5)2"(#&":$<F"!("+55G&%"

like I could break 10,000km (6100 miles) on one trip!

Spring refused to come before my planned departure date of April 14, so I had no

opportunity to take the car out for a decent test run after sitting most all winter I I even

had to wash it in near freezing temperatures the day before leaving.

Sunday morning started

out fine. There was snow

(and deer) in the fields,

but the roads were clear

and dry.

Then, around Minot ND,

the road conditions

deteriorated a little.

Then they deteriorated a

little more! (The whiteout

got significantly worse

after this photo was

taken)

A view out the front

windscreen you should

NOT have while driving

<5*'"HJKL

12

!"#$%&'#()*+'(%,,(*--(

likely to lead to this:

In spite of trying to be

very careful, the TR8 slid

into the ditch .

fortunately it was at a

pretty slow speed, so no

damage (at least not due

*-(*/#(0)*$/!12

Good thing there was cell

coverage and CAA!

The nearest tow truck that AAA could find was over 60 miles away, and it took him more

than 3 ! hours to get to me! By then there was so much snow that even if we had pulled

the car out, we would not have been able to either drive or tow it, so we agreed to try

again the next morning after the snow ploughs had done their job. It was after 3:00AM by

the time the tow truck driver dropped me off at a motel in Jamestown, ND. By late

morning, we were back at the TR8. The ploughs had done their thing clearing the roads,

as well as further burying the car, AND putting a $-&3,#(-4('*-5#($/)3'()5(*/#(06)7#6'+(

door. Grrr! I was keeping a fellow Wedge enthusiast in Los Alamos, NM up to date via

texting, and he put the word out . there were several offers of assistance from Wedge

owners in Minnesota and Wisconsin. By this time, though, I was OK and back on the

6-%02(8(0)05+*($-93,#*#,:(,#%7#('5-;("#/)50(&5*),(<&#'0%:(;/#5(8(;%'(;#,,()5*-(

Wisconsin. Overall, it could have been a lot worse, and the experience becomes one more

chapter in the history of the TR!

Tuesday evening I stopped in Pandora OH to visit Ted and Doris Schumacher and see the

TSI shop. Quite a history there! Wednesday I stopped at The Roadster Factory in Armagh

PA and chatted with Albert Runyan (the owners son) about Wedge stuff. Then off to visit

a work customer in Harmans, MD and try some famous crab cakes at G&M Restaurant.

On Thursday I visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at Dulles airport. This was

my second visit to this museum (I was here in 2006 when I arrived at The Roadster

Factory Summer Party a day early -)*+'(-5,:(%(4#;(/-&6'(#=*6%(06)7#21(</#6#()'(%,;%:'(

something new to see here!

Friday morning I arrived at The Gathering and got myself registered. Time at last to look

at cars and chat with like-minded enthusiasts! In addition to hooking up with some old

friends as well as meeting a host of new people, I finally got the chance to put faces to

many of the names that I had previously known only by email.

</#6#(;#6#(>?@(A6)*)'/($%6'(%*(*/#(B%6*)$)3%5*+'(C/-)$#($%6('/-;(-5(D%*&60%:E(</#6#(;%'

everything from an absolutely gorgeous 1934 Rolls Royce to brand new Jaguars; not to

9#5*)-5(>F(G#0H#'(I>>(<JK+'(%50(>(<JL+'E12(M'(8(36#**:(9&$/(#=3#$*#0N(8(;-5(*/#(

13

!"#$%&'()*+$,-.&/0+12-3&42*&*5-&6-+0&)26/6()-&+$7&5#$#26&8+)&4-($%&/6-)-$*-7&8(*5&*5-&

!9/(6(*&#:&;7<-$*26-.&+8+67=&9#>-*5($%&+4#2*&/-6)-<-6($%&*56#2%5&40(??+67)&+$7&)2,5=

1934 Rolls Royce A whole lotta W edges

A really cute little M G A few Morgans

The auto cross was held on Sunday morning, where I managed to place second in the

Wedg-&,0+))3&4-5($7&+&<-6@&)>##*5&A+,B&C,D+5-@&($&5()&8(:-&E+6#0($-F)&GHIJ&;:*-6&

helping pack up the autocross equipment, I followed Jack and Caroline to their home in

Charlotte, NC. (Dining and staying with friends beats motels any day!)

Monday was Dyno Day!! Imagine my good luck that I happened to be in Concord, NC

while '42 Dyno Serivces' was having

a special for TR8s driven from

Canada! Thanks Jack and Steven! I

have wanted to get the car dyno-

tuned for a long time, and I jumped

at the chance when offered. They did

a fine job of tweaking the

Megasquirt EFI which improved the

driveability significantly. This

session also showed that there is a

significant restriction in the air

intake system. Might be good for a few more horses if I can reduce the restrictions in the

+(6&,0-+$-6J&G5()&()&*5-&B($7&#:&($:#&@#2&K2)*&,+$F*&%-*&:6#>&76(<($%&#$&*5-&6#+7J

L53&4@&*5-&8+@M&NIN&5/&O&PQR&:*S04)&+*&*5-&85--0)J&TF>&5+//@&8(*5&*5+*J

U+,B&#$&*5-&6#+7&4@&+:*-6$##$&+$7&#$&*5-&8+@&*#&*5-&!G+(0&#:&*5-&'6+%#$.&V an interesting

)-,*(#$&#:&6#+7&+*&*5-&8-)*-6$&*(/&#:&W#6*5&E+6#0($+J&T*&()&+7<-6*()-7&+)&!318 curves in 11

>(0-)3&;>-6(,+X)&$2>4-6&#$-&>#*#6,@,0-&+$7&)/#6*)&,+6&6#+7J. Need I say more? Then

on to Atlanta to visit with a friend and his family. He was one of the many friends I made

on my first long trip in 2006 when I drove to The Roadster Factory Summer Party. The

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!"#$%&'(%)%*$+,,"&%-+.%'%/0123%41*1$%51$6%'!+$6".%78%&.14".9%'!+$6".%:;0<<".%='.$(>%

friend living in Atlanta.

The remainder of the drive to Texas was uneventful. Almost. Somewhere in Alabama, I

passed a Highway Patrol car. Sure enough, he pulled out after me and turned on the

?1@6$*A%)%6+,"&%1$%5'*!B$%-+.%*,""&1!@C%'*%)%5'*%2'."-0?%$+%3"",%$6"%2.01*"%*"$%,."$$(%2?+*"%$+%

the speed limit. After asking me to step out of the car, he pointed to the rear licence plate

'!&%*'1&%$6'$%6"%:2+0?&!B$%.0!%$6+*"%$'@*>A%D"%?"$%<"%E"%2+!-0*"&%-+.%F0*$%'%2+0,?"%+-%

*"2+!&*%E"-+."%*?',,1!@%<"%+!%$6"%*6+0?&".%'!&%*'(1!@%:)B<%F0*$%<"**1!@%51$6%('A%G-%

2+0.*"%5"%2'!%.0!%$6+*"H>%D"%claimed that he had clocked me at 72mph (in a 70 zone). I

really think he only wanted to see TR8 and what kind of lunatic would drive a 30 year old

sports car that far from home! It was one of those rare interactions with the police that

&1&!B$%60.$%$6"%5'llet, and was actually enjoyable!

The next visit was with Joe and Ruth Mahoney in Athens, Texas I a couple whom I had

not previously met. They have a collection of British cars including 3 Jaguars, a super-

charged MGB, two

TR8s, and a couple of

others that were out

having work done on

them. Each car is

absolutely immaculate!

One of the TR8s is a

very nice coupe (in

black) that could be a

twin to my car!

76"%?'*$%?"@%$+%J'2+%+!?(%$++3%'!%6+0.%+.%*+A%K*%*++!%'*%)%26"23"&%1!%'!&%@+$%<(%L"4"!$%

,'23'@"BC%1t was time to go look at some more Triumphs, and make some new friends. I

was warmly welcomed by everyone I met, and I even felt like a bit of celebrity! But then,

I doubt there are very many who drive their Triumphs several thousand miles to this

regional "4"!$H%761*%$1<"C%)%&1&%<'!'@"%$+%@"$%$6"%L-'*$"*$%$1<"%+-%&'(B%&0.1!@%$6"%

Autocross event!

A lovely 1935 G loria Tech Inspection at the Autocross

15

On the way home, I wanted to drive a bit of the old Route 66, so I went up to Elk City

OK, and drove the old Route as far as Amarillo, TX. I stopped at a museum in Elk City,

where I met a couple from California who happened to own a couple of Austin Minis, so

!"#$%&#'#%()*+,+)'%&+!"%-./01%)23%4(%546'1#%!"#%789:%;'4*%!"#'#%+!%&)1%)2%62#<#2!(6,%

trip up through Denver and then home.

It seems that every trip that is NOT during

August has an obligatory covering of snow

on the car on the last morning!

By the time I got home, I had driven

10,100km (6275 miles); pumped 1093

litres (289 US Gal) of gas into the car; and

only had to add 2 litres of oil. Except for

the afore-mentioned excursion during the

blizzard, the car performed flawlessly and

gave me zero mechanical or electrical troubles. In addition to meeting up with a several

old friends, I made a bunch more, and overall had a great time.

Bill Derksen

Saskatoon, SK

1979 TR8 Coupe