Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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To join email us at lawrencebritishcarclub@yahoo.com

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Inside this month’s issue:• Hobbs Mechamatic Trans.• David Hobbs/Lotus Elite• Eric’s MGB Transplant, Cont.

• Old Rolls-Royce• ’48 V-8 MG TC• Susan’s Minutes

Membership Dues are due, contact;Chuck Fisher

1555 Alvamar CourtLawrence, Ks 66044

So many cars, so many auctions.... so much money. What’s your car worth?

On the Auction Block..................

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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Dan Hines convinces Eric MG never made one of these!

Mechamatic Transmission: Fred Hobbs; From Australian Dictionary of Biography

Hobbs, Howard Frederick (1902–1982) (Son is David Hobbs) by G. H. Brooks

Howard Frederick Hobbs (1902-1982), inventor, was born on 21 September 1902 at East Marden, Adelaide, fifth of six surviving children of South Australian-born parents James Harris Hobbs, fruit-grower, and his wife Mary Eliza, née Pitt. Educated at Prince Alfred College, as a boy Howard showed an aptitude for things mechanical. At 14 he built a full-size aeroplane (without wings) that was taxied around the family’s garden, powered by a motorcycle engine. On leaving school he worked at his father’s orchard and market garden at Paradise. He married Phyllis Dorothy Reid, a schoolteacher, at Payneham Methodist Church on 12 May 1925. Next year he applied for his first patent, an improved appliance for the grading of fruit.

Driving motorcars and lorries from an early age, Hobbs cherished an ambition to eliminate the need for gear changing. After many experiments he had a light car fitted with the `Hobbs gearless drive’ ready for testing; Professors (Sir) Robert Chapman and (Sir) Kerr Grant of the University of Adelaide found it satisfactory and simple to operate. Hobbs Gearless Drive Ltd was formed in 1931 to market the device and to administer the patent rights. In June 1931 Hobbs, with his wife and daughter, sailed for Britain, where he also took out patents. For the next thirty-five years the family were to live at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire; two sons were born. Hobbs was unable to persuade car manufacturers to use the `gearless drive’: based on rotating weights, it incorporated a free-wheel clutch, or ratchet, which was probably the weakness in the device. Other inventors with similar ideas also failed to attract interest in their mechanisms.

After engaging in war work, in 1946 Hobbs was helped by a wealthy industrialist to form Hobbs Transmission Ltd. He discarded the gearless drive and developed the `Mechamatic’ transmission. The new automatic gearbox was more complicated, with epicyclic gears and hydraulically operated friction clutches. Mechamatic, with four forward gears, unusual at that time, was lightweight and suitable for small cars. Many well-known makers built prototypes but the only one to reach production was the Lanchester Sprite, produced in 1955 by the Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd. For financial reasons BSA soon abandoned the project.

Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd bought BSA’s shares in Hobbs Transmission and, anticipating its use in the Ford Cortina, built a factory at Manchester to manufacture the Mechamatic. When Ford decided not to proceed, Hobbs Transmission went into liquidation. In the 1960s Hobbs’s son David successfully drove a Lotus Elite fitted with the Mechamatic gearbox in international motor races. The family moved to Napton, near Rugby, about 1965 and Hobbs and his son John set up a workshop. They went back to the original concept of the infinitely variable drive, but this time hydraulic, not mechanical. Hobbs took out an Australian patent in the name of Variable Kinetic Drives Ltd, but like its predecessors this also failed commercially. In 1977 Hobbs was invited to participate in the British Genius Exhibition at Battersea.

Hobbs was a keen golfer, playing to a handicap close to scratch. His son David remembered him as friendly and likeable, with a sense of humour, but not forceful enough in business. Although regarded as a genius where automatic transmissions were concerned, he was not accepted into engineering societies because of his lack of qualifications. Survived by his wife, sons and daughter, he died on 15 December 1982 at Bulcote, Nottinghamshire, and was buried in England.

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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Historical Figure Pt. 2: David Hobbs; From wikipedia w/alterations by editor.

David Hobbs was born just months before the outbreak of World War II, and has a vast, 30-year history of international driving experience at all levels of motor sports, including sports cars, touring cars, Indy cars, IMSA, Can-Am and Formula One. He has participated in the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona. He made twenty starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, finishing in 8th place at the first attempt in 1962, following with a pole position and a best finish of third (in 1969 and 1984) to his credit.

Hobbs was due to make his F1 Grand Prix debut for Tim Parnell Racing at the 1965 French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand, but a serious road accident put him in hospital for three weeks.[5]

In 1971 Hobbs won the U.S. Formula 5000 L&M Continental Series championship driving for Carl Hogan out of St. Louis, Missouri, in a McLaren M10B-Chevrolet. He won five of the eight rounds that year at Laguna Seca, Seattle, Road America (Elkhart Lake), Edmonton and Lime Rock.[6] Twelve years later, he would claim the 1983 Trans-Am Series championship as well. He also made two NASCAR Winston Cup starts in 1976, including leading two laps at the 1976 Daytona 500 [7] and drove a race in the 1979 International Race of Champions.

David Hobbs used his father’s “Hobbs-A-Matic” in the early 60’s in a Lotus Elite, similar to this one.

This excellent example on the right belongs to member Alan Miller....with manual transmission.

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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Pres. Eric’s MGB Transplant Part 4. By Eric Frana

November brought you a shinny Rover 3.5L aluminum V8 that caught your interest. December talked more about what decisions were made to go that route. Last month discussed gathering and showing them. This month is the divorce proceedings and preparation for a date.

December 1 opened my shop for a tech session to see parts first hand and help provide brute force necessary to yank the 1800 cc engine and transmission.

Figured experienced British car owners could help provide some guidance to quickly extract that cast iron trolling motor. HA! Was I right! James McKenzie, Brian Kelley, Rich Hutte, Allan Miller and Dave Holzmeister provided the necessary horsepower to remove the not so much horsepower engine.

James came about 8:20 with tools in hand. Hood was the first to go. Just in time for Brian to arrive for moral support. He was just beginning to feel better from being ‘near death’ sickness as it was explained and didn’t want to stress his body by doing physical work…

Dave brought over James’ high wheel bike axle hub. Crowd gathered at the table saw. James’ challenge stretched Dave’s mind, but pulled it off with a factory appearance.

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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Eric’s MGB Transplant Part 4. By Eric Frana (Continued)

Bent axle was replaced with a shinny new one that had all appearances as it was original. Well done Dave! Now back to work.

Brian got his hands dirty removing the transmission cross member. DAMN! Busted doing something. It reminded him of driving in the Oskaloosa parade. “Never again!” He said.

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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Eric’s MGB Transplant Part 4. By Eric Frana (Continued)

Even though it was a court ordered divorce (I’m the judge), the 36 year marriage wasn’t parted that easily. Drive shaft has a spline slip joint, so I decided they would just pull apart and didn’t need to unbolt the drive shaft and transmission. A little wrenching, lifting, shaking, and groaning….

After lunch, I closely inspected the engine bay. Master break cylinder and master clutch cylinder were leaking fluid, oil all over, dealer installed undercoating, scratched up paint, rust, and so forth. Wasn’t hard to determine I just couldn’t slap a shinny engine in that mess. Good thing. Sitting for fifteen years housed several mice nests, causing acid induced rust areas. They were caught in time for just a good wire brushing and rust treatment. If not, extensive repairs were around the corner.

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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Mr. Allen Swift of Springfield MA received this 1928 Rolls-Royce Piccadilly-P1 Roadster from his father brand new as a graduation gift in 1928. He drove it up to his death last year... at the age of 102 !!! He was the oldest living owner of a car that was purchased new. It was donated to a Springfield museum after his death.

Forgot to add that he had driven the car 1,070,000 miles, that averaged out to 13,048 a year. It is in perfect running order.– James

Next month, dating begins for a new marriage.

Eric’s MGB Transplant Part 4. By Eric Frana (Continued)

Lawrence All British Car Club Lawrence, Kansas Feb. 5, 2013

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V-8 MG TC. Flathead Ford with Ardun heads.

The plaque reads:1948 MGTCOwned by Pat Hart, Redmond WAConstructed in 1948 by SO-CAL SPEED SHOP*******ENGINE: 1940 FORD V8/60, stroked 1/16”164 ci displacement, Ardun ohv conversion [1 of 21 sets built]4 – 40 mm Weber IDF’s, Mallory custom ignition, approximately 150 hpBorg-Warner T-50 5-speedMBG rear end, coil-oversTube front axleAC-Alfin front drumsMGB rear brakesBorrani wheels

Lawrence All British Car Club Feb. 5, 2013

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LABCC Minutes: By Susan McKenzie

Meeting of January 8, 2013 at Bambino’s Italian Restaurant

Welcome to new member Joe Kochanski, who resides in Ozawkie and owns a 1974 Midget mark III.

President Eric welcomed everyone else as well – Happy New Year! He commended Bill, once again, on a very fine newsletter. Others were in agreement on their enjoyment of the contents. As always, please remember to e-mail stories, photos, etc. to Bill to be included in the monthly newsletter. He is grateful to receive them. Eric also thanked Dave and Debbie for hosting the wonderful holiday open house. Those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Since our last meeting, besides the party at Dave and Debbie’s, several club members got together and attended the Mecum car auction in Kansas City. Although none of them went intending to come home with a purchase, and were successful with these intentions (so I’m told), they did enjoy looking at the cars and having a nice lunch together.

The dues for 2013 are now due. Please see Treasurer, Chuck Fisher, with this regard at your earliest convenience.

The club should decide on a date and scope for the fall rallye/ride at its February meeting. A committee of club volunteers can then work on the details. Alan indicated that save the date flyers and invitations should be sent to all participants of either of the last two rallyes. He also suggested that everyone should bring their cars, even if they don’t plan to drive in the rallye/drive, so that other members and guests can see them.

Alan suggested another event idea for our members: to take a drive and meet up with another club for a combined event. He and James will work on this together to try to come up with some possibilities of other clubs who might be interested and events for the drive. It was suggested that the club also have a car show in June again this year and a Boot Sale at Brian’s place in April.

Other events:

James announced that the annual swap meet held at the fairgrounds by the Lawrence division of the Antique Automobile Club of America will be held on May 3-5 this year. It will be the 50th anniversary of this event.

April 6-7, St. Louis, MO – endurance rallye.

May 29-June 2, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas – British Car Week National Meet

Eric asked if the members were interested in hearing a presentation on insurance – not a sales pitch. Yes, the members were interested. Eric told of a source for the purchase of British car wiring at britishwiring.com. He will soon place an order and if others are interested, a combined order would likely save on shipping costs.

Our next regularly scheduled meeting is February 5th. See you there!

Respectfully submitted, Susan McKenzie

Lawrence All British Car Club Feb. 5, 2013

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LABCC Officers:President - Eric FranaVice President - Alan MillerSecretary/Membership - Susan McKenzieTreasurer - Chuck Fisher Newsletter Editor - Bill FisherEvents Team - Dave & Debbie Holzmeister

Calendar of Events 2013 Feb. 5th LABCC Bambinoʼs 6:30Feb. 24th Leake car auction OKC.www.leakecar.comFeb. 24th British Swap Meet

www.chicagolandmgclub.comMar. 5th LABCC Bambinoʼs 6:30April 2nd LABCC Bambinoʼs 6:30April 6-7 Endurance Rallye, St. LouisMay 3-5 Swap Meet, Dg. Co. Fairgrounds

Thanks to those contributing to this newsletter. Other members need to share in the future........– Bill Fisher, Newsletter Editor. bfisher1951@gmail.com

Stop of interest : The tool Barn, Big Springs, Ks. (Between Lawrence & Topeka)

Membership Dues are due, contact;Chuck Fisher

1555 Alvamar CourtLawrence, Ks 66044

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It’s bigger inside than outside!Please stop by the Tool Barn on Hwy. 40. Jeanette & Rod Spencer have more stuff than you’ll ever need... and know where everything is.

PLUS... Free coffee for club members only!