AUGUST 2005
“Leics Group TR6s in the ring at this Year’s International”
AUGUST 2005
“Leics Group TR6s in the ring at this Year’s International”
MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Bowler Jag
Reg & Irene Bowler
Derek Bramford TR6
Al Copperthwaite TR6
Martin & Sue Faulkner TR6
Mick & Linda Forey TR6
Alan Fuller
Phil & Rachael Gunn Stag
Roger & Jill Guy TR6
David Guzzetta
Tim Jeffery& Paulette TR250
John Martin
Ray Mills & Heather TR6
Terry & Sue Pruce TR6 (mended!)
Tim Sharp & Kathryn Morris
Ben & Lisa Ward TR6
Martin & Jenny Ward TR6
GUESTS: Scott Blakey & Sam TR7
Mike & Fiona Wilce TR6
John & Helen Kirk TR6
MEETING NOTES
The evening started fine with the usual tyre kicking in the car park, where a good selection of TRs was on display (mainly 6s, so thanks to Tim and Scott for some variety). It was good to see Mike & Fiona Wilce, and John & Helen Kirk again after so many years, so a warm welcome to them, and don’t leave it so long before dropping in on us again!
A bit of business conducted on the night was broadly along the following lines:
· First a Big thank you to Alan & Sue Fuller for organising the Wine tasting on Saturday August 13, and for holding the BBQ at their house afterwards. Report later in this issue.
· The Graham Ransome Suffolk weekend on August bank holiday was also discussed. We unfortunately had to miss it but to those that went I hope you all had a great time.
· Lakes 4th & 5th of September, Phil & Rachael are going.
· Group Raid on Staffs & Warws, Tues 6th September. Let Phil know if you are going so you can all meet up and convoy down.
· The TRreasure Hunt on the 18th September has been re-scheduled for 2nd October; the original date clashes with Goodwood.
· Final Group Run Out will be on the 30 October. Venue required, although I did hear Andy & Claire’s names mentioned. No doubt this will be debated at the next meeting.
· Northern meeting, 15th October, Sunday lunch at Papplewick followed by a visit to the pumping engine. Terry has sent me the following details:
The Griffin(s) Head at Papplewick have said the Sunday lunches tend to get booked up, and to be sure of a table it is best to book by Saturday latest.
They would hold a table for us but would need to know final numbers by Saturday as well.
They operate a carvery on Sunday between 12 - 3pm, three meats on offer plus vegetarian options and starters etc. The carvery main meal is £7.25.
Their bookings number is 0115 963 3672. Terry suggests people make their own bookings for the "TR Table". But perhaps we need to set a time at the next meeting?
Note, the Pumping Station is a short drive away from the pub, but a little too far to walk? There is ample car parking at the pumping station with woodland walks off the car park and areas to picnic inside the grounds. So people could just come for the drive, and a walk, and/or a pub meal and/or the Pumping Station tour.
Wine Tasting 13th August
A good number of us, with several visitors, braved the terrible weather to go to the north of the county for this. In view of the torrential rain, there were few TRs, but we all enjoyed a very informative talk about wine growing in general, and wine growing in the UK in particular. The critical ingredient for success is the type of vine chosen to be not only suitable for the climate, but also disease resistant. Some of us, who had never heard of ice wine, were intrigued to discover that it is made from grapes that have been frozen, then pressed before the bulk of the liquid inside them, ie water, has a chance to defrost. The resulting syrup makes a very rich wine, which we had the chance to sample afterwards, along with several others, including a cherry flavoured one that proved very popular. We didn’t view the vines growing as the rain didn’t let up at all, but lots of purchases were made before we set off for East Leake.
When we got there, the rain eased off long enough for us to enjoy Alan and Sue’s splendid barbecue in the garden, before we were rained off, and had to retreat indoors for puddings. Not put off by the weather, we still had a good time eating and socialising, with a bit of talk about cars thrown in for good measure. Many thanks to Alan and Sue for organising the wine tasting, and for putting on such a great spread afterwards, especially the puddings, which can only be described as delicious works of art!
Tales of a GT6
Last week, James with three friends, a GT6 and an MGBGT set off for a short camping break in Newquay, Cornwall. As ever with a great British classic, the journeys, both going and coming, were not without incident. Sadly it was the Triumph letting the side down, as the old MG kept chugging along happily.
Tuesday, going on a summer holiday
0500 - Set off for Cornwall with newly rebuilt engine
0830 - Leave service station on M5 just before J22. 100 yards later freewheel into hard shoulder. Symptoms, engine intermittently cutting out, running very rough between 500-800rpm
0845 - After checking fuel and ignition, leave hard shoulder as engine seemed to have cured itself
1030 - Stop in hard shoulder for the 6th, 7th (?) time at J29! Every time there was a problem, the engine would really struggle to tick over smoothly if at all, however we couldn’t pinpoint the fault – there was fuel at the carbs, and we were getting sparks. Then each time after a few minutes of sitting, it could be started and driven on further. However by now it was getting silly, and I decided to phone for breakdown company.
1120 - Breakdown man arrives, fiddles with what we had already checked, and decided for us to travel to his local garage for further tinkering. Obviously when he arrived, it was running “fine” and in fact I managed to drive to the garage myself.
1300 – After an initial diagnosis of a dead coil, a new coil made no difference. Looking in the newly refurbed dizzy, the points had got remarkably hot and were pitted – must be the condenser we all concurred. However the engine had been running “fine” for the last 2 hours since the breakdown man met us at the hard shoulder, and that combined with the fact that new parts would take nearly 3 hours to arrive, we decided to chance it and keep going (we had a tow-rope!) It turned out to be a silly mistake…
1315 – Engine cuts out again, the towrope is commissioned, and the MG is now well tested!
1330 – On what seemed like the busiest roundabout in Exeter the towrope broke, so some frantic pushing was required.
1340 – After driving the car to a nearby car park (yup it had fixed itself again!) we generally thought “oh bugger” and a few other things. However Will, the MG owner, had a spare condenser, which we had previously turned down for being half the size of the GT6 one. A working but wrong condenser must be better than a broken one, surely? A few laps of the car park to check it was working, and we were on our way again, after getting lost in the car park mind…
1600 – Arrive at Newquay! The campsite is in view, and the car breaks down again. A few minutes later it’ll start again, and I get it to the reception to book in. Driving up the hill of the campsite, someone (who shall not be named, Katie) directs us down the wrong turning at which point the car stops, again. Three of us end up pushing the car up a steep bit of grass to where it needed to be parked.
Over the course of the next few days, many phone calls were made to Dad, and he ended up sending us a new ignition – coil, 2 sets of points, 3 condensers – and none of which made the blind bit of difference. The trouble now was that although the car was running, I knew it didn’t sound right, and wasn’t as free revving as it should’ve been, I didn’t feel inclined to call the breakdown again, as it was running, they’d have been lost for things to do.
Saturday, it’s a long way home
0730 – Get up and start tearing down the tents and loading the cars, in the rain! What is it with camping with old cars!
0845 – Leave campsite, seems to be going ok
0910 – Ring breakdown company again after engine cuts out
1015 – Garage man turns up, and agrees it’s broken but there’s no obvious faults he can find, wonderful
1020 – Will leaves to make his own way home instead of waiting around
1120 – The recovery truck arrives to take us to Bugle, near St Austell where they’re based at a Citroen dealer
1330 – Leaving Garage in a Citroen Saxo, as they’ll bring my car up on a multi-car transporter in the next day or two. It’s about now I should probably mention we needed to be in Barrow by 6 at the latest, as Katie needed to be home to go for a meal with her family as her brother was leaving home and going to live in London.
1340 – Looking desperately for a petrol station as Saxo was empty, no surprise really
1350 – Finally on our way home!
1425 – Someone runs into the back of me on the M5 in a traffic jam, really not what we needed, but I suppose it’s lucky I wasn’t in the GT6, I’m sure the back end wouldn’t have been quite so forgiving as the big plastic bumper of the Saxo which ended up with only a few scratches
1825 – Arrive at Barrow, not too late!
1840 – Finally get home, and sleep!
Sunday
1700 – GT6 arrives home on breakdown truck via Manchester, driven by Cornishman who called everyone ‘My handsome’.
All in all, we had a good time, except the first and last days, which really were annoying, but I suppose it’s the chance you take with using a Classic motor!
Bank Holiday Monday
1700 – Dad starts to fiddle with engine and decides to remove rocker cover. Upon doing so, it is apparent that one or two of the rockers are dry, some have nasty black bits around, and one or two move up and down on the shaft! On the end rocker pedestal, there was meant to be a screw, to act as a blanking piece and allow the oil to travel along the rocker shaft – however this rather vital screw was not there. As I write still waiting for new rocker shaft to arrive, watch this space for updates.
James
Ford Fairlane
500 Galaxie Skyliner, So why buy an American car?
That’s is a
question many people asked as they have known for many years my love of Triumph
cars and British cars in general.
We have owned
many Triumphs, Rovers and latterly Jaguar in various models and condition. They
are great “ little” cars and often cause interest at the many shows and places
you go, with the comments from previous owners about their cars or their
relations, or how they learnt to drive in them.
However we have
been fortunate to have travelled several times to the USA and there is a very
strong patriotism of their history and culture, and this especially can be
found when you look around outside the tourist areas.
In 2002 we stayed
at one hotel Dezerland in Miami where they actually had real cars cut up and
used for diner tables.
In 2003 at Old
Town just outside Orlando we were talking to the owner of a ’59 Cadillac (who
told us she had another Cadillac and an even bigger Lincoln!) who invited us to
their cruise night where we had a trip around their lead vehicle.
This was the ’59
Cadillac and better than any Disney ride and the warmth of the crowd and cheers
made the short 10 minute ride seemed to last all night.
So by now the bug
had got us and despite the many trips and fun that the TR6 gave us something was
just missing.
Every time we
come back from holidays we usually bring some souvenir to remind us of a happy
time/place. When we have come back from America we have often gone with an
empty case and come back laden with things for the house or garage.
During 2004 I had
decided that after 7 years of the TR6 that it was getting a little tired and
pondered on spending money on it or selling as is and finding a better
condition car with the money from the sale and the extra I was thinking of
spending.
So it was in
September 2004 that we set of to California with my hidden agenda of looking
for a “new” car. During our holiday (surprisingly!) we found ourselves at car
museums and car dealers looking at American cars. At one dealer he had a ’57
Ford Fairlane retractable which we had to wait to look at since it had been
loaned to an exhibition for the day. When it arrived we were impressed!
It was during
looking at the car outside that a down and out was walking up the street with
the usual “spare any change” cry. When he reached the car he stood amazed, and
commented that he had not seen one for years. With this he proceeded up the
street and then we realised he had not asked us.
Driving the car
was a great experience and lots of drivers flashed their lights, honked their
horns and generally appreciated this American classic. The dealer offered a
deal of $500 to ship to the UK with a blank invoice and I was tempted.
The holiday
proceeded and we found several other cars at the roadside and another dealer
with a ’57 Thunderbird (Hard top) undergoing restoration and a very cheap ’57 2
door Chevy Bel-air (another hardtop!) and by now the mind was calculating the
prices and the good exchange rate.
However I decided
that none of these cars were quite right and more importantly the bosses
approval (Corrine) had not quite swung in my favour.
So we continued
with the holiday and one morning saw this ’63 Ford Galaxie ranch wagon at Dana
point just outside Capistrano Point L.A.
We saw the car
again later, this time being loaded with surfboards and stopped to chat to the
owners. Upon hearing our interest (yes our Corrine was thinking about it as
well) he gave us the name and number of a local body shop owner.
After explaining
to him that we looking for a “fins and chrome” car but were not really bothered
about the manufacturer he suggested we try a few and visit the local event at
Cystal Cove (just north of Laguna beach) where they would be cars for sale at
7am-9am. When double checking the time we found it was a shopping mall and
hence the cars were to be cleared by 9am.
We were advised
to be early as anything good would sell so we duly set alarm and had breakfast
and set off up the road. At about 7.30 I feared something was wrong, as I had
not seen any old cars and 3 miles up the road we arrived at an industrial park.
Yes the driver error had taken me about 10 miles away and the only thing was to
turn round and hit the peddle to the metal.
Going up the
right road were Ferraris, Lamborghini’s at assorted American classics, but they
were coming away!!
We arrived at the
mall at 8am to be greeted by a car park full of cars, old cars. We meet the guy
with the body shop selling his Chevy Malibu but could not afford his $100K
price tag. We looked around at the cars, many were Austin’s, TR’s and E-types
and with some very tempting prices.
One car caught
Corrine’s eye and then I saw what I thought was the first Convertible we had
seen. Only closer examination I realised this was in fact a ’59 Ford Retractable
the “Skyliner”.
It seemed no one
else had paid this car much attention and I asked him to put the top up. “Why
do you want to do that?” the seller asked. “Were from England” we replied “and
it rains”.
When he lifted
the roof the car park swarmed around his car and then he duly reversed the
switch and the roof folded again. “Awesome”.
He offered a test
drive so we both leapt in and I could see that Corrine definitely approved this
vehicle.
With the widows
down we speed up the road on the bench seats and our breath was taken away by
the cool LA morning and the ride.
We got the
sellers name and number and by the time we arrived back at the Mall nearly all
the other cars had left, but the Skyliner captivated us.
We talked of
little else that night and I was working out could we afford this car, not
knowing what was involved in exporting a car and the costs involved in getting
a UK legal car.
So it was just
after our return that I started talking to people and finding out the laws and
rules about importing a car.
This process was
started and the main decision to advertise the TR6 was then done. Time
progressed and we had been in touch with the seller and kept him informed of
the progress and the hoops we had to go through.
The TR6 was then
sold In October and deal worked out with the seller of the Galaxie.
I started the
paperwork in anticipation of importing the car and found out about the MOT and
License procedure. We were informed that Customs and Excise refused our
application for low tax (BTI Binding Tariff Import) and we took a step back to
see if the extra taxes made the car out of reach.
I contacted an
American car club and found a similar car for sale in Gatwick.
I looked at that
and the price and decided we still would be better importing the car we saw and
the quality was much better.
So we proceeding
in leaving a deposit and getting a snag list actioned on the car. This delayed
the shipping but also gave us a little time to get the extra funds needed. Time
went on Christmas came and New Year went and the weather in California took a
turn for the worst so could not take it out sort out the remaining items.
Finally the weather changed and the small
defects where sorted and so we could inform the shipper that the car was ready.
A date was arranged and the car driven to Long Beach Feb 10th 2005.
The container ship could not get in to the dock, then got delayed going out.
Things got worst
and it got delayed again en route, then due to bad weather in the Atlantic
landing in the UK got put back.
Finally the ship
arrived in the UK at Felixstowe and all that remained was to transport to
Chatham for Customs clearance and unpacking (what could go wrong!). The
container arrived at Chatham and we were told it would be cleared on Saturday.
By 5pm no phone call was received and I took things into my own hands and
phoned the freight agent.
I was told that
it would be cleared first thing on Monday 11th May so plans were
made to pick it up Tuesday. We duly hired a car for the one-way trip and armed
with fuel, brake fluid, jump leads and toolbox we set off to Chatham.
Of course just to
add pressure you have 7 days from customs clearance before storage charges
apply and I had to fly out of Birmingham at 5pm (no pressure then!). We set out
early then I remembered I had forgot to get Insurance cover.
A quick phone
call and that was done so onwards to Chatham. The car had been cleared and
started to get it out the container.
We duly arrived
and saw the car driving towards us, the last time we had seen it was September
2004. It looked good, but very dirty and the fact that the top had been down in
California during the bad weather had taken its toll. The seats and inside were
dirty and the chrome had verdegris so closer inspection made me quite sad.
We made a quick
clean up and put the roof up the best we could (it seemed to have stuck. We
then drove off and took it to the local car wash to remove the muck and the
crayon on the windscreen, only just making the turn across the road. That done,
the car shone and are spirits were lifted.
We set off and
soon realised we needed to “gas it up” but forgot which side the fuel filler
was. So refuelled we set off around the M25 at a steady 50 mph to get use to
the car. During this time even though all the other cars were flashing by us it
was us that everybody seemed to be interested in and of course we were still on
California plates.
We continued homewards and the traffic was
quite good getting to the Dartford Crossing and then realising that the pay
booths were on the wrong side (well from my point of view!). Corrine paid and
we wondered if we would classify as a large vehicle with special escort through
the tunnel, but we were short by a long way.
So with the car
set in drive we off Cruisin’ the M25 and getting use to the car handling and
being on the left didn’t seem that funny really having driven in the US many
times.
We of course had
no owners book and the workshop manual was somewhere packed under the rear seat
with the set of spare wheels so we fiddled as we went and tried the radio which
did work but very crackly.
We made good
progress and then joined the M1 and still coped with the extra lanes and the
rear fact that we only had 1 external mirror was OK since Corrine could look
around for me!
So we proceeded
into Bedfordshire when we noticed that the sun had gone and it looked rather
black. Yes of course it started raining. Slowly at first then increasing
heavily at this point the wipers were called for. We found the switch, but
there was nothing and repeated twists, pulls, pushes could make them work. We
could stop but the fact that that I needed to be at the airport made that
decision for us.
So we continued
and hope that it did not get worse.
I always hate
rain on my classics but at least if it does not go all up the wheel arches and
you don’t put the car away wet then it is OK.
Well of course it
did get worse and by now we were in Northamptonshire driving very slowly with
the lights on (we hoped) and then it stopped.
Gradually it got
better and drier so it soon blew off the body and windscreen so we could
accelerate back to 50-60mph. By now we were close to home and time was running
short. We pulled of the M1 and the last few miles of the journey. We arrived at
the local school just as all the kids were coming out.
Straight the way
we got the stares, pointed fingers and camera phones so this was every bit the
attention grabber we saw in the US.
We got home and I
left Corrine to clean up the car whilst I loaded up the Jaguar to get to the
airport. I left Corrine with all the cleaners, polishes and clothes said my
goodbyes and left.
Upon my return
the first thing I did was go to look at the car and found a transformation into
the same gleaming car we had saw in the US.
We tried all the
electrics and found it seemed to have various problems all due to the 2½ months
spent shipping.
I started to sort
this out and we worked through most of the bulbs in the car replacing them as
we went. The horn, radio and wipers were sorted and having stripped the clock
(stamped July 59) and cigar lighter those also now worked and so we had it
ready to go to the MOT.
The day came and
we checked everything when the lights flickered bulbs popped and it would not
start (Christine came to mind). I replaced the bulbs and it seemed OK but would
not start.
I traced this to
the starter solenoid so using a jump lead cranked the “motor” and she fired.
We went to the
MOT, slightly late, and came away with the certificate and a few advisory items
to sort.
I could now get
the car registered and then get the plates made but could we do this in 8 days
as we had my sisters 50th birthday and we wanted to take her in the
car.
That turned out
easy and I came from Nottingham with the new number but then found plate
manufactures offering standard plates (der!!).
Fortunately I had
the number of a US style plate maker and so we got those made but could still
use the US plate for 30 days anyway.
We surprised my
sister and duly 6 of us went out in the car and came back very pleased that we
had made the date.
Time went by and
we went to the first show, up to this time only having tried the roof about
once. When the crowd assembled of course the roof did nothing so at a suitable
quite moment I tried again, this time pulling the threaded insert from the
header rail.
Obviously this
needed some work but a quick repair meant at least we could go home without the
roof stuck halfway!
So when we
arrived home the next few hours were spent greasing and adjusting the mechanism
so at least we could get it to work more smoothly.
So would we do it
again? Are we glad we did?
The easiest way
to answer this question is how many times do people film us driving, flash
their lights, take pictures on the camera phones or stand open mouthed when you
retract the roof. NONE in a TR but lots in the Galaxie.
Yes go buy a
big (yes very big!) American car you will not regret it.
Andrew &
Corrine;
Next Meeting:
Some of you may be surprised how quickly this TRipe has appeared. Its simple, we go on holiday soon and if it isn’t out now it won’t be out before the next meeting. All of which leads me neatly onto the next meeting. As I won’t be there for it, does anyone want to offer to scratch down a few notes for me? Many thanks and have a good one!
CALENDAR
FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS:
|
September |
|
|
6 Tues |
Raid: Staffs & Warws |
|
11 Sun |
TR race day, Cadwell Park |
|
13 Tues |
Ashby Folville |
|
15 Thurs |
Group Mtr |
|
24 Sat – 25 Sun |
TR race day, Brands Hatch |
|
October |
|
|
2 Sun |
TReasure Hunt |
|
11 Tues |
Ashby Folville |
|
20 Thurs |
Group Mtr |
|
30 Sun |
Last Run Out |