Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club Inc. Newsletter — December 2017

In this issue:

President’s Report

Golden Dog Run

National Velocette Bike Rally

A Champ Discovered

GVMVC Facebook

Jaca Rally

Idle Inn

Christmas Party Details

Grille Market

MGB Growler

Chris Sparks Odyssey

Coming Events

www.graftonvintagecars.com

P.O.Box 523, Grafton. NSW 2460

New Meeting dates

Last Sunday of the

Month.

See Coming Events

Office Bearers

President

Doug Clark 0427 665 200

Email: dr.jm.clark@bigpond.com

Vice President

Kim Dahl 0418 660 347

Secretary

Peter Arnull (02) 6643 4683

Treasurer

Laurie Fitzpatrick (02) 6645 4657

Committee

Ken Norton 0403 521 468

Doug Davis 0428 663 414

Graham Benn (02) 6642 1868

Tom Raven 0419 888 902

Peter Nixon (02) 6643 1959

Robyn Nixon 0419 431 959

Dick Parmenter (02) 6644 9037

Welfare Officer

Margaret Fitzpatrick (02) 6645 4657

Newsletter Editor

Wendy Gibbs 0458 427 332

Deadline for Contributions 15th

Email: wagibbs@bigpond.com

Events Committee

Ian & Wendy Gibbs 0458 427 332

Ken Norton 0403 521 468

Kim Dahl 0418 660 347

Peter & Robyn Nixon 0419 431 959

Brian Brooks 0418 476 752

Vehicle Examiners

John Snape (Cars) (02) 6645 2377

Ken Norton (Cars) 0403 521 468

Tom Hay (Cars) 0407 785 724

Webmasters

Peter Arnull (02) 6643 4683

Peter Nixon (02) 6643 1959

Public Officer

Ray Hopwood (02) 6642 6190

Club Custodian

Doug Davis 0428 663 414

Monthly Meetings

Held at Jabour Park Club Rooms South Grafton on the first Sunday of each month. See Coming Events for times.

All meetings are designated Club au-thorised runs. You may drive your histor-ic plated vehicles to and from the meet-ing.

President’s Report

Another year is coming to an end, featuring a programme of events that

members should be proud of with their achievements.

Chris Sparks, Dam Inland Tour, followed by Cheryl & Graham Benn’s Murray

Tour, our first Retro Motorfest, Maclean Swap Meet and the traditional 2

Day Jacaranda Rally.

Many improvements to our Club House & Grounds, at Jabour Park. Includes

Extending the Kitchen & Bricking an enclosed room to accommodate fridges

& freezers along with more storage. A Shower and Tiling added to the disa-

bled Toilet.

The membership numbers continue to grow with at least a new member

joining each week.

Again we had the Healey Club (Q’land) join us at the Jacaranda Rally which

provided us with a fun night at the Club House, with members catering Din-

ner followed by a Kim Dahl Trivia Event.

The next meeting will be on Sunday December 3rd, starting at 4pm at Jabour

Park followed by a Sausage Sizzle.

Numbers are required for the Clubs Christmas Party being held on Sunday

October 10th at the South Grafton Bowling Club the club is subsidising the

Adult meal by $7.50 per head making a round number of $20 per person.

Contact Kim Dahl with numbers late booking will miss out!

The Committee has decided to change the Monthly Meeting time and day

TO THE LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH due to earlier date clashing with

long week end Easter Etc.

Daylight Saving time will be as usual 4pm & Eastern Standard Time 3pm. Be

sure to note the Club Calendar.

The Events Committee have put together for the early months an attractive

& interesting outings

Our Coffee runs have proved popular and we are going to try a Breaky run.

(Check the calendar)

See you at the December meeting & Christmas Party.

Doug.

The trip to the golden dog at Glenreagh on 15/10/17 was attended by seven cars with 19 members coming along to enjoy the day. Alt-hough it was overcast, no rain was experi-enced and the weather was kind as it was a pleasant temperature.

We had morning tea at the clubhouse before leaving. Shortly after we reached our destina-tion, we were pleasantly surprised to find some Coffs Harbour Club cars arriving. All had a nice time talking shop and a lovely meal was organised from the premises.

All in all a great day for those who came along. After lunch and a bull session, some headed home while Mal Larkin and family went on to Red Rock to enjoy the rest of the day.

Run to the Golden Dog

By Dick Parmenter

The national Velocette bike rally was held at Cher-rabah Resort, located between Warwick and Killar-ney. 136 people attended from all states except Tasmania. There were also people from New Zea-land, USA and Germany. One rider drove from Mel-bourne and while at the rally celebrated his 88th birthday. We rode about 200km/day starting on Monday 9th and finishing Friday13th. October. While at the rally we visited The Kompound Centre in Warwick where I took the shots below. Ladies don’t feel left out, you can always decorate the old car.

Peter Arnull

National Velocette Bike Rally

Unfortunately I missed the last issue of the Grille for this arti-cle, but having just returned from my annual trip to Bathurst, this year was one that was special in many ways. The story begins about 10 years ago when myself and Paul O’Connor got the inclination to go to the races at Bathurst and we were lucky enough to get a room at a Motel but it had to be for four people, and now for the past 10 years that same tradi-tion has continued.

There has always been myself and Paul, but over the years the others two guests have changed from the original four, for various reasons, and this year was no exception. The four for this year was set and all looking forward to another fun filled Bathurst, that is, until 2 weeks before the event. Our friend from Brisbane working at home finishing off some reno’s to his house, fell off a 4ft. ladder, managing to get 30 stitches in his left leg from a rather nasty cut and as well breaking his ankle on his right leg. So he was suddenly a non starter.

With one week before departure we managed to fill the va-cant spot with Tony Beadman, a person many of our mem-bers would know very well. So all was good and excitement was building. Then on the Sunday before our Thursday de-parture date, our other regular managed to sever a fair pro-portion of his thumb with a circular saw and was taken to Brisbane for operation and re-grafting. I suggested that he should get together with our ladder mate, but he could not see the funny side of the story.

So here we were down to three now and only days to go. On our regular Wednesday at the Car club grounds, I was re-lating the adventures to President Doug. ‘I should not be even thinking of doing this’, but I could see by the glint in his eye and reliving of the past of previous Bathurst’s, and with permission from “She who must be obeyed”, we had made our regular 4 person homage to the GREAT RACE.

Thursday morning dawned, bags packed all ready, and what was to make the trip even more exciting was the chance to drive down in the current model Mercedes C68 coupe. I was keen to stretch it’s legs and see how it would rate against the

mite of my mighty German Porsche 911, but unfortunately when we looked at the room in the boot but more particular-ly in the rear of two door Merc we hastily had to opt for my 4 door Landcruiser dual cab. What a let down, but as it proved the Landy was more than capable for the task.

From leaving Grafton it was all smooth sailing finally arriving in Bathurst later that afternoon and then straight to our fa-vourite watering hole to enjoy the activities that Bathurst turns on for the race patrons. On Friday morning after a hearty breakfast we arrived at the track and made our way to various parts of the track, pits and to the top of the moun-tain.

We were quickly reminded during the day that Doug formed a special part of the Bathurst history and racing in general, after talking to another of the drivers of Doug’s racing days a Peter Dane, who was the driver of the Pace Car (Porsche 4S). He told Doug that he was on the Hall of Legends at the en-trance to the track for winning his class at Bathurst, which got Doug thinking. “If he was on the Legends Boards then so should I be there as well” And he was. (See photo)

For those members who not familiar about Doug, he has been racing cars for the best part of his life, and he has driv-en in the Great Race twice and in 1980 he and co-driver Gra-ham Bailey won Class C in a Toyota Celica, the year that Peter

A Champ is Discovered

By Kim Dahl

Many would agree that was when the race was the ‘GREAT RACE’, but I guess as time moves on, so does development of cars, engines etc. to what they now race…. ‘car of the future’. By 2019 the V8 will be gone, replaced by Twin Turbo V6’s. Will it be the same, can the sound be like that of the roaring V8….I don’t think so. Time will tell I suppose.

By race day, and after probably the best top 10 shoot out seen at Bathurst, Craig McLauglin was pole sitter just nudging out Dave Reynolds team Aerubus by a bee’s…….All was ready for a day of great racing, that is until Delta started to sing, or was it the FA18, but the rain started and let me tell you folks it was also pretty dam cold. Lucky for us we were in covered seating so for those not, it must have been very miserable.

As all Bathurst races go, there is always some drama involved, and hats off to the drivers who were first to race. How there were no more stoppages was incredible. History now, and a great win to Dave Reynolds and Team Aerubus, but if I were the owner of Team Red Bull, driver Van Gizbergen would have the imprint of my size 10, you know where. Two years in a row now, he has blown in it.

Another year over, long drive back on Monday morning, but as usual plenty to reflect upon. As far as our two new travel-ling buddies were concerned, their company was first class. Tony Beadman has more knowledge of motors, engineering and anything mechanical, than most people and to get some of that inside knowledge when touring through the pits, espe-cially in the touring car Masters division, even made the me-chanics working on their cars impressed.

So far as Doug was concerned, to catch up on some of his past glories in the motor racing game, certainly provided plenty of night time entertainment after long days at the cir-cuit. Thankyou.

Gentlemen your invites stand again for next year, that is of course if there are severed fingers and broken ankles.

A Champ is Discovered

By Kim Dahl

Spotted Mr Geoff Kearns and his Rover at the Yamba Rod Run. Phil Eckersley

From GVMVC Facebook Page

WOW Great special thanks to Grafton Vintage club for your exceptional friendly hospitality . I cant workout if it was because I had a Big Austin seven or it was the chicky babe driving the Pink T bucket .. They did not want our cars to get wet so they tucked them in the clubhouse over night. Country people rock.....and so did

the festival...... Didn’t care if I got wet.. Funtastic w/end. Peter Armytage

Well another Jacaranda is over and each year as we try to entertain our many guests to the Jacaran-da City, we hope that we did provide that little something different.

Once again we had a visit from old friends and some new faces of the Austin Healey Club Queensland. Neil Tregea, President of the Club conveyed his thanks on behalf of the Club and members that attended and indicated that they would like to return next year. You are most wel-come to return.

Our first function was a meet and greet on the Fri-day night at the Grafton District Golf Club. A pleas-ant night with those that attended and many thanks to Trevor Townsend one of our members for providing transport to and from the venue.

Saturday’s show and shine was as good as we have had, with approximately 78 cars and bikes on display, and I believe our best attendance since moving to Duke Street.. Many thanks to our mem-bers and the other entrants on the day for making the display great and to our Holden owners, a spe-cial thankyou. To Bob and Jim thanks for a great display again.

I would just remind all members however, that when we have events such as Jacaranda, the Club rely on entrants to enter and pay the nomination fee as specified on the entry forms. This is done for a reason, so our Club can continue to grow, so please keep this in mind.

A trip to the Shannon Creek Dam and an afternoon tea provided for by the entry form was well attend-ed and enjoyed, before moving on to the annual Float Procession, which again our guests took part in and had a great time.

Saturday evening back to the Club House and a cooked meal and sweets and then onto the Trivia night. Lots of fun was had and with the teams com-prising of locals and visitors. Winners of the night

was Neil Tregea team, with of course plenty of NSW helpers. Can’t have the Queenslanders tak-ing all of the credit.

Sunday morning another function at the Club, with a cooked bacon and egg on fresh bread roll. No complaints anywhere, the brekky hit the spot.

Off then to Iluka with a brief stop into Woody Head to show the visitors some pristine NSW beaches before a well attended lunch at Sedgers Reef Ho-tel.

After farewells the visitors headed back to Queens-land, declaring their return next year.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the members and partners that got in and lend a hand over the weekend, without your help events such as this cannot be successful.

It is however somewhat disappointing in some ways that with the ever increasing number of new members that the Club is attracting, you don’t be-come more involved in the activities. Get your vehi-cles out and enjoy, and members from the lower river, Grafton is only a short drive away, so why not do it.

Any ideas of what can be done to make events such as Jacaranda successful, your suggestions would be most welcome.

Jacaranda Rally 2017

By Kim Dahl

MEMBERS help required….A club member has decided that our entrance to our Club facility is not meeting the standards that we have set with the rest of the facility and he would like to donate to the improvement of same. Therefore we are asking for your help to come up with a design that you think would suit the Jabour Park Complex. Designs should be sent to the Committee GVMVC P.O. Box 523, Grafton NSW 2460

Design a Gate

Some

Ideas

The Idle Inn

By Ken Norton

On Thursday 12th November we had a pleasant run

to the Idle Inn Coffee Shop at Nana Glen, though the

weather was a bit ominous when we departed from

Jabour Park at 9.30am. Five cars arrived—Graham

& Cheryl Benn in their Chrysler Charger, Mal & Tash

Larkin Datsun 120Y, myself with Robert Warwick as

passenger (he had a morning free from his busy ac-

tivities) and Paul and Vicki Fletcher in their MGB.

A little bit of moisture didn’t deter us. I think the hood

stayed up for most of the trip out in the Fletcher

MGB. Chris Hale MGB met us on site at Nana Glen

after departing his home at Moonee.

Chris being from the Mother Country informed us

that we wat our scones the wrong way. The tradi-

tional way is cream first then the jam on top (that’s

the English aristocratic way). I, myself, really don’t

think it makes any difference in taste.

Chris is a very interesting person and has many sto-

ries, some already shared with members in the No-

vember issue of The Grille.

After enjoying a great morning tea and good compa-

ny we departed for home.

Until next time—Ken

Chris Hale’s Scones

Ken Norton’s Scones

GRAFTON VINTAGE MOTOR VEHICLE CLUB Inc Christmas Party

South grafton bowling club River end of Wharf Street on the river

Sunday 10th December 2017 Start at 6pm bring your own nibbles.

Seating will commence between 6.30pm - -7pm – bar available

Main: Chicken or pork. alternate drop Baked vegs & bread roll

Sweets: Plum pudding & custard Or apple slice & ice cream. alternate drop

$20 per head per adult $5.00 per child—nuggets & chips or fish & chips.

The adult meal is $27.50 * subsidised $7.50 by club.

Childs meal $8.00 * subsidised $3.00 by club.

Numbers must be in by the 26th November 2017 Tom: 0419888902 or Ken: 0403521468

1958 MARK 1 JAGUAR SALOON FOR SALE

2 engines 3.4 and 2.4 litre (not in car)

Car is complete but no radiator or exhaust system

Car was imported new into Australia 1958.

Jaguar Heritage Certificate comes with car, together with workshop manuals.

No rust at all in car has been in dry storage since last driven in 1974.

The car needs total restoration and re-wiring.

Car situated in Northern NSW. Townsend (Near Maclean).

PHONE NUMBER 02 66455609

Grille Market

Not Actual Car

FOR SALE

FOUR NEW 14’ X 6’ ALLOY MAG WHEELS

(CSA STYLE) BATHURST GLOBES

COMPLETE WITH NUTS & CENTRE CAPS

SUIT EARLY FALCON or VALIANT

$650.00

0427785465

Do you know of any body that does hood lining on a classic car. Call Ross 0429054976 Thanks

(With apologies to A.D. Clausager’s “”Original MGB”).

This is the story of my rubber bumper MGB GT Mk 2

built by British Leyland Cars Limited at Abingdon, UK in

August 1979. This MG has given me many hours of de-

lightful, if throaty, motoring over the years since I bought

it from my father in 1989 confirming A.D. Clausager’s

quote from “Original MGB”:-

“The whole point of the MGB – it has given more pleas-

ure than any other sports car”, and the slogan of the MG

Car Club “Safety Fast!”

The MGB Mk 1 was launched onto the market in 1962

as a follow on to the very successful MGA, and MGB

production continued unabated till 1980, an uninterrupt-

ed run of 18 years. A total of over half a million MGBs

(512,243 cars to be precise) were produced – including

386,961 Roadsters (coupes) and 125,282 GTs.

Apart from the UK Home Market, exports went to the

USA (Federal and California), Canada, Australia, Eire,

Germany, France, Belgium and Italy, together with some

more obscure destinations such as Libya, Iceland, Oki-

nawa, Greenland and Yugoslavia.

Most exports were fully finished cars, however from

1962 to 1972 10,498 kits, (CKDs, Completely Knocked

Down kits) all roadster cars) were exported and assem-

bled locally in Australia, Belgium and Eire.

BMC Australia’s first batch of CKDs was shipped from

the UK in Nov 1962 coming on stream in Australia 4

April 1963. Till closure in 1972, BMC Australia took de-

livery of 5,064 Mk 1s and 4,026 Mk 2s – all roadsters

(coupes). Very few GTs were exported by Abingdon to

Australia so most GTs in Australia have been privately

imported including mine.

The number of rubber bumper Mk 2 GT cars produced

from 1974-1980 was 27,045, whilst in the final year of

manufacture for all 1980 GT models ( – the year my car

was made) the figure was 1,434 for the 2nd

half 1979,

plus 3,424 to the end of October 1980 when production

ceased, a total of 4,858.

My father bought this particular car second hand in 1983

from Woolaston Garage, Bridgnorth Road, Stourbridge,

Worcestershire, UK to replace a previous BRG chrome

bumpered MGB GT. Sadly his health was starting to

deteriorate having had a major heart attack back in Do-

ha, Qatar where he was State Engineer in the early

1960s. Following a triple by-pass and later a right leg

amputation, the car was converted to hand controls on

3/3/1988. When this all became too difficult for him I

bought him an electric car in 1989 in exchange for the

MG. So we were only the 2nd

family and I am only the 3rd

individual owner of this particular vehicle.

Friends of ours, the Peddies, were stationed in the UK

at the time and garaged and cared for the car until I was

ready to import it to Victoria in 1995.

On arrival in Melbourne July 1995 aboard the container

ship “Sydney” the car had to be stripped of its hand con-

trols and made ready for Victorian rego. Luckily due to a

pretty thorough refurb in the IOW (Isle of Wight) prior to

exporting, the car sailed through its inspection, was duly

registered, and I entered the car in the 2004 Melbourne

to Mornington RACV Centenary Run, later joining the

Vic branch of the MG Car Club in 2005.

Following a world circumnavigation in our yacht

“Checkmate” from 1997 to 2002 Judy & I settled in Coffs

Harbour under doctor’s orders. Sadly my wife, best

friend and wonderful crew, died of invasive breast can-

cer in 2007, so to refocus my mind, I now concentrated

my thoughts once more on the MG. A respray was

called for to convert the garish BLMC Triumph TR Se-

ries Vermillion colour (118/CML developed for the Amer-

ican market) to a more conservative Metallic Pewter

(Storm Silver), more in keeping with the traditional MG

range and in sympathy with it’s silver/grey upholstery.

The company doing the respray job promptly went out of

business and the car was off the road for the next 9

years pending complete restoration.

MGB Growler

By Chris Hale

History:-

1979 – 1995 UK Plates JUE 303V MG Owners Club.

Jul 1995 – Aug 1995 Vic. Plates NLC 018 H --------- “ -------------

Aug 1995 – 2017 Vic. Private Plates MGB 13 MG Car Club (Vic.)

18/Jan/2004 Entry 551 RACV Great Australian Rally (Melbourne/ Mornington). Commemorated 100 years of

RACV Service.

2017 – on NSW Historic Car Register : Rego Plate 70311 H issued.

4/6/2017 Joined Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club, Inc.

MGB Growler

By Chris Hale

December 2017

Sunday 3rd Monthly Meeting 4pm Jabour Park Doug Clark 0427 665 200

Thursday 7th Coffee Run to Pillar Valley 9.30am Jabour Pk Bill Cowper

Sunday 10th Club Christmas Party 6.30pm Sth Grafton

Bowling Club Tom Raven 0419888902

Jan-18

Saturday 6th Mac Markets Maclean Laurie Fitzpat-

rick 0418431567

Sunday 7th Great Eastern Fly In

Evans Head 8.00AM Jabour Park Ken Norton '0403521468

Saturday 27th Potato Festival - Guyra 7.30am Jabour Park Kim Dahl '0418660347

Sunday 28th Monthly Meeting 4pm Jabour Park Note: New Day for Meeting

Feb-18

Thursday 8th Coffee Run to Emerald Beach 9.00am Jabour Park Ken Norton '0403521468

Sunday 18th Club Run to Red Rock Bring your own Picnic

9.00am Jabour Park Morning Tea En Route

Ken Norton Kim Dahl

'0403521468 '0418660347

Sunday 25th Monthly Meeting 4pm Jabour Park Note: New Day for Meeting

Mar-18

Thursday 8th Breakfast Run Ulmarra Pub

8.00am Jabour Park Ken Norton '0403521468

Sunday 18th

Club Run Morning Tea Yarrwarra Aboriginal Cultural

Centre. BYO BBQ meats/salad for lunch at Corindi Beach

Caravan Park

9.30am Jabour Park Brian Brooks 0418476752

Sunday 29th Monthly Meeting 4pm Jabour Park Note: New Day for Meeting

Coming Events

Members’ vehicles can be displayed on the Club

website. To have your pride and joy displayed,

please send photos to:

parnull1@bigpond.com or Phone Peter Arnull 0428

415 805 for more details

Calling All Bike Owners

I would like to put together a list of bike owners

within the Club with the purpose of getting the old

likes out and putting on “bike friendly” runs for bikes

and other vehicles within the Club.

Those interested should contact Peter Arnull.

parnull1@bigpond.com or Phone Peter Arnull 0428

415 805for more details

Inspection Fee

All Club inspections of vehicles carried out by the

Club Vehicle Examiners will be at a cost of $20 per

vehicle

Other Club Events

We have official visitors rights with the Summerland

Sports & Classic Car Club, meaning our members

are eligible to attend their events, and also theirs to

ours. To aid with this, our magazine is distributed

electronically to their members and their magazine

will be sent to us.

Husband Minding

Every Wednesday, Jabour Park. Peer based train-

ing—not limited to lawn mowing and domestic du-

ties.

The things you hear!...

.

Members’ Page

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on 6th November 2017

At Jabour Park South Grafton

The Meeting Opened: 6.30pm

Chairman: Doug Clark

Apologies: David and Judy Andrews, Ian Gibbs, Dick and Ena Parmenter m/s T. Raven, K. Dahl they be received.

Attendance: 23

New Members: Phil Beckman, Robert Davis, Christian Gilespy, Mark Goldie

Kim McDonald, Robert Richards, Tina Richards

m/s K. Norton, R. Purnell they be accepted.

Guest and Visitors: Nil

Minutes: Minutes as per the magazine.

m/s R. Purnell, T. Raven, they be accepted.

Business Arising: Nil.

Correspondence: In

Magazines from:

Summerland S.C.C.C.,New England Wheels Coffs Harbour Veteran & Vintage, Tweed Val-ley Vehicle restorers Club, Ballina District Vehicle Restorers Club, Port Macquarie Heritage Car Club, Port Macquarie Antique and Classic Car Club. Classic & Specialist Car Club of Northern NSW, Austin Motor Vehicle Club of NSW.

m/s ,J. Leslie, K. Dahl that correspondence be received.

Treasurer’s Report: Bank balance at 30/10/2017 - $25,072.22

m/s L. Fitzpatrick, G. Gallagher the report be received

Accounts for payment

Number of accounts presented.

m/s L. Fitzpatrick, G. Gallagher they be paid.

Editors Report: Closing date for magazine 16th of each month. More articles are required.

Events: See Magazine and website

Past Events

Coffee Run - Idle Inn

Jacaranda Rally – 78 cars in Duke Street

Future Events

Coffee Run 9/11

Christmas Party – See last Magazine

General Business:

Designs requested for new club gates.

New chip cooker and warmer bought at auction.

Vehicle log book trial to be extended one year.

Purchase of defibrillator progressing.

Meeting closed 9.37 pm

Next meeting Mon 3th December – 4.00 pm D.S.T

Club Shop @ Jabour Park

Sew on Patches $8

Dress Shirts $45

Polo Shirts $40

Peak Bucket Hats $15

Number Plate Frames $25

Grille Badges $25

DISCLAIMER

The information in this magazine is supplied as a service to the Club members. Articles and other topics

of interest are always welcome and encouraged. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of

the authors alone, neither the Club nor any of it’s officers accepts any responsibilities for the accuracy of

the statements expressed.

If undelivered return to:

G.V.M.V.C.

P.O. Box 523,

Grafton. NSW 2460