vol 34 no 4-july-august - - copy
TRANSCRIPT
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JULY-AUGUST 2020 Volume 34 Nº4
MORRIS MINOR OWNERS CLUB WESTERN CAPE
Clubhouse: The Cape Multi-Motor Club, Jan Burger Sports Ground, De Grendel Road, Parow North.
Web: www.morrisminor.co.za Facebook page: Morris Minor Owners Club: Western Cape
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Chairman Vice-Chairman Secretary Frikkie Muller 082 267 3398
Ron Clark Tel. 021 761 4469 083 261 0675 [email protected]
Gerda Muller 083 619 8708 [email protected]
Treasurer Events Regalia Owen Gush 021 551 1793 083 266 1998 [email protected]
Greg Smit 073 651 3623 [email protected]
Mitford Roberts 083 268 0957 [email protected]
Technical Hospitality / Web Membership Richard Laubscher 021 913 5937 083 677 6617 [email protected]
Sandy Gush 072 720 5789 sandragush@gmail. com
Bertha Laubscher 021 913 5937 073 183 6630 [email protected]
Parts Technical Assistance
Peter Blease 021 559 3097 082 354 4903 [email protected]
Willie Bouwer 021 903 4210 078 183 1785 [email protected]
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EDITORIAL Greetings to all Morris enthusiasts! I hope these months of isolation brought some thoughts and reflections on our “lives before lockdown” which may need some changes. Certainly “life during lockdown” has not been easy but I heard that our Morris men have been remarkably busy fixing their cars (even the plastic ones!) and they’ve gone as far as sorting out tools and cleaning garages!
Some of the lockdown rules have relaxed so that we could finally meet our dear friends (for drinks but no smokes yet) and families. Not so for the ones like myself with children and grandchildren overseas, but we will catch up one day. We are all looking forward to a “back to normal” future in good health. Of course, due to the restrictions we were not able to get together for our famous braais in the Clubhouse nor do any outings and drives, but do not worry, the Committee has some surprises under its sleeve, with “social distancing” and all, as you can see in Future Events.
In the meantime, keep warm and safe. No Cape storm or virus will dampen our Morris spirits.
Cristina Jones
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CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER
During this difficult time of lockdown and constant threat of contracting the dreaded virus, the club was kept going through the communication in the form of WhatApps and every Sunday night’s emails. Thank you for those of you who read the emails and who are on the WhatsApp groups. If that is the only way we can connect now, then that is the way to go. For those of you who are not on the WhatsApps groups (Sales & Advice as well as Social & Chats) please let Gerda know so that you can join in the fun. Also, do not forget the Facebook page.
Through these mediums we were able to enjoy birthdays and Father’s Day and shared jokes, buying and selling of spares, which is what the club is all about. I miss the friendship and camaraderie, the get-togethers at the clubhouse, the joyrides. That is the reason why we decided to go to Snoekies, everybody staying in their cars to keep a safe distance and remember your sanitizer and masks and no hugging and kissing!!!
Keep safe and warm because this winter is not a joke Frikkie Muller
ADVERTISING IN MAGAZINEFull page R 1,200 per year
Two lines plus photos once-off
R 100
Half-page R 600 per year
Two lines once-off R 50
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NEW MEMBERS
We welcome the following members to the Morris family. May you enjoy many long and happy Morris years!!! Pietro Corgatelli and Dennis Koortzen, from Robertson
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GET WELL Wishing Fanie Koekemoer’s granddaughter a speedy recovery.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 19 July Fish & Chips @ Snoekies, Hout Bay
More details on each event will be sent by e-mail closer to the date. Please contact Greg (073 651 3623) should you wish to attend any of the above-mentioned events. _________________________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION RATES for 2020
Notice the new Subscription Rates: Full Member R 300.00 Full Member + Spouse/Partner R 350.00 Senior Citizens (over 65 years) R 250.00 Senior Citizens + Spouse/Partner R 300.00 Students (25 years) R 200.00 Country Members: R 210.00 (Living more than 100km from Cape Town) Overseas Members R 210.00 Subscription Fees include R50.00 National Rally Levies determined by the National Body. New applicants must pay REGISTRATION FEE (Compulsory) of R50.00. Membership badge is included. Bank: Standard Bank Branch Code: 051001 Account name: Morris Minor Owners Club Account no: 27 119 3093 PLEASE, NO CHEQUES. PAY CASH OR BY EFT TO SAVE THE CLUB BANK CHARGES. Kindly notify Bertha Laubscher of change of address or e-mail so you can be sure to get all notices.
FINAL PAYMENT DUE was end of March. A re-joining fee applies after this date.
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BIRTHDAY LIST
JULY AUGUST
Izak Beukes 3 Nick Joubert 1
Llewellyn Buckley 5 Carolina Beukes 8
Su Prins 6 Hannes van der Merwe 12
Patsy Buckley 6 Jill Gerstner 13
Annerine Harris 11 Bronwyn Moore 14
Danie Bothma 19 Laurie Claassen 18
Alida van Eeden 24 Bertha Laubscher 27
Frikkie Muller 25 Mike Bagley 28
Sue Tissington 25 Andre Mostert 30
Sharon Clark 30
_____________________________________ THE OLD MORRIS VAN IS REBORN AS A TRENDY EV The Morris J-Type van is set to have a revival after a Worcestershire-based automotive engineering start-up announced a new electric version of the vehicle. By Jack Loughran Published Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The Morris JE, as it will be known, is the first vehicle from the company, which has purchased the Morris Commercial naming rights.
The original vehicle was produced from 1949 until 1961, during which time over 48,600 were
made. Many were bought by the British Post Office, whose version differed from the
standard design in having rubber front and rear wings.
Other firms that famously used the vans include Cadbury, Carlsberg, Dunlop, John Lewis, OXO, Pickfords, Royal Mail and Wall’s.
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The new version has a carbon-fibre body and an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. Morris said the van has been given a modular design that will allow it to be adapted for different body styles in the future.
It will cost around £60,000 when it goes on sale in late 2021 and has a range of approximately 200 miles, making it a “viable option” for businesses.
It follows electric updates of other classic vehicles such as the ID Buzz, which is VW’s relaunch of the classic VW camper van.
Morris Commercial chief executive Dr Qu Li said: “It is a delight to unveil the new Morris JE to the world and for us to show what we have been working so hard to achieve.
“From the outset, our vision was to bring a new concept to the light commercial vehicle market, not just in terms of the battery electric powertrain, but also to introduce a timeless design that takes the aesthetics and appeal of such a vehicle to a whole new level.
“What we have created is a beautiful, retro design that sits upon a cutting-edge, modular battery electric vehicle platform, delivering practicality and functionality to compete with the best in its segment.”
The original J-Type was marketed as a ‘big little van’ and played an important role in promoting businesses in the post-war period. The model was renowned for its distinctive design and was exported from the UK to more than 20 countries.
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The tool’s cupboard in Lord Nuffield’s bedroom
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Taken from “The Nuffield Story” by Robert Jackson
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Seven years, six continents, one British built car. an article by Ian Owen, November 29, 2014 |classiccarmag
This story is not so much about the personnel involved more so the only party to complete the trip the incredible Morris Minor built at the Cowley factory near Oxford. In 1989 Joss Browning loaned Jay Albas a co-worker at the Major Minor Repairs Shop (workers co-operative) in Leeds a book.
The book ‘Jupiter’s Travels’ was about a journalist who rode around the world on the last Triumph Motorcycle to leave the original factory in the early 1970s. This sparked something in Jay’s brain and with girlfriend Lynda Burke they planned something similar as their own adventure.
The idea was put forward that the Major Minor Repair shop would help with suitable transport and a car was prepared with engine and suspension modifications and the chassis strengthened; the Morris was already 33 years old at this time.
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Joss Browning with the legendary ‘globetrotting’ Minor Border bound directions and conversation exchanged
in Peru In January 1990, the car left Railway St Leeds and headed south across the Channel through Europe finishing at Genoa Italy and a ferry to Tunis North Africa. They crossed the Sahara Desert through Nigeria into Zaire to Mombasa, already a great achievement in any automobile, some of the terrain was extremely harsh and the Minor took some severe punishment; 4500 miles (from Leeds) as the crow flies many more for the old Morris. In Mombasa, the car was loaded onto a cargo vessel and shipped to Bombay India for the next leg of the journey. Once the trio was reunited, they made their way north to Nepal and the climb to Kathmandu where at 4600ft above sea level they phoned the garage back in Leeds on its 10th birthday celebration. Leaving the view of the Himalayas behind the road took them south down the east coast of India to Madras where their finances were used up and the journey should have stalled; in stepped the garage with help again and covered the shipping costs to send the car onto the Australian continent.
A grainy image as the Minor leaves the Nearly home the Northern tip of Newfoundland
Golden Gate Bridge
It had been a year since the Minor had left Leeds, it now sat on the other side of the planet in need of some extensive TLC. Unfortunately, the couple had gone their separate ways and Lynda had flown home. In stepped Joss Browning with a plan to change his life and join Jay to complete the journey, and so with a large loan taken out (for home improvements!) and notice served at the repair shop Spring 1992 saw him board a plane clutching around the world ticket.
After working his way through parts of Africa Joss arrived in Melbourne with enthusiasm and £1000 to spend on much needed parts for the neglected Minor. Repair work carried out the car was tested, broken again then re-fixed on some of the harshest terrains they could find ‘down under’. The car would have to be at its best for the final leg of the journey. Two
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became three as Jay had met local girl Tania and with a third seat fitted in the car, they all met up again in Buenos Aires. It was only now that they found out three would become four and the pregnant Tania was advised not to continue with the proposed journey from the base of South America to the top of the North. Armed with his video camera Joss captured amazing footage from Tierra Del Fuego the Southern American Ice pack at a lower latitude than the Falkland Islands and about as far south as you can go without crossing to the Antarctic. The car headed north through Chile into Bolivia and Lake Titicaca and what else would you expect to find on its shores an English Pub run by a man from Bury! On into Ecuador and a rest and repair time in Bogota the largest city and capital of Colombia. Across to Panama and onto Mexico via Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, by now his leg of the trip having covered thousands of miles, an incredible journey starting 55 degrees below the equator to 20 degrees above; from temperatures below freezing to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Joss gathering meteorites in Mexican desert
Climbing from sea level to 12,000ft the world’s highest capital Le Paz where breathing is an effort. Roads so bad at one point, Joss had to drive for miles on the main railway line. The Morris ploughed on sacrificing wheel bearings, ball joints and steering arms. The target was the border crossing at El Paso into the USA.
Travelling through Death Valley the car made San Francisco then on up the coast to Canada before turning east and across the States to New York in the winter with temperatures of -20 degrees centigrade. After visiting the Twin Towers, they returned north through Canada and onto Newfoundland where a cargo ship carrying paper offered free passage to the amazing Morris Minor and finally it was unloaded with Joss in Liverpool in September 1997.
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TECHNICAL TECHNICAL TIPS by Richard Laubscher
GONE ARE THE DAYS STRUGGLING TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE SPARE
WHEEL`S DUST CAP OR TO REMOVE & FIT THE SPARE WHEEL TO INFLATE IT
OR CHECK THE PRESSURE. USE THIS TOOL INSTEAD NAMELY A ROUND
PIECE OF WOOD AND ATTACHED RUBBER GROMMET THAT GRAB THE TYRE
CAP TO BE UNSCREWED AND FITTED BACK AGAIN.
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MORRIS MINOR RELEASE BEARINGS: 1098cc ON THE L/H SIDE
& 948cc ON THE R/H SIDE
To ensure that the vulnerable part
of the exhaust pipe does not break
at the joint with the exhaust
manifold; weld a bracket on the pipe
and fasten it to the engine’s backing
plate
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WILLIE’S PIECE OF ADVICE by Willie Bouwer
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON A MORRIS:
Check engine oil level and top up if necessary.
Check battery electrolyte level (older type battery) and top if necessary, with distilled water.
Check water level in radiator and top if necessary.
Check tyre pressure and pump if necessary, check the depth of tread on tyres and inspect for tyre damage.
Check tightness of wheel nuts.
Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder and top up, as necessary.
Check the condition of wiper blades and replace if hard
Check working of all lights on car.
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A particularly good example of a very clean authentic Traveller. Photos provided by Gareth McConkey
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REGALIA BUMPER BADGE Club 70th Anniversary R 180.00
CAP BADGE R 50.00
CAPS R 65.00
DUST CAP REMOVER R 30.00
CARDS R 15.00
CLOTH BADGE (rectangular) R 35.00
CLOTH BADGE (round) R 40.00
FLAGS ENGLAND R 30.00
FLAGS UNION JACK R 30.00
FLAT CAPS R 150.00
FRIDGE MAGNETS R 20.00
GOLF SHIRTS R 145.00
HEARING AID BADGE R 50.00
I LOVE MY MORRIS MINOR BADGE R 20.00
KEY RINGS R 50.00
LICENSE DISC HOLDER R 10.00
LRP ADDITIVE R 120.00
MAGNETIC STICKERS R 40.00
METAL CAR BADGE R 180.00
MY OTHER CAR BADGE R 20.00
PENS R 25.00
STALK FLAG R 20.00
STICKERS R 20.00
TIMING COVER METAL GASKET R 100.00
WARNING OPEN CUP SLOWLY TO AVOID SCALDING BADGE
R 20.00
70th ANNIVERSARY T‐SHIRTS R185.00
And for the old bikers…