SINGERGRAMJune-Oct 2009 Vol. 22 No. 2

SINGER CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

THE END OF AN ERA

Alan Day will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Let’s do him proud by making our club stronger than ever.

See you at the next meeting!

“Look - no hands” — Rob Martin with friend Cindy.

Lobethal Grand Carnival 2009Rob Martin makes it look easy in this photograph, but he assures us it wasn’t all beer & skittles when he took part in the 2009 Lobethal Grand Carnival.

Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the 1939 Australian Grand Prix, this year’s re-enactment will be covered in an article to appear in the next Singergram.

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SINGER CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA Inc

(To preserve the marque and unite the owners)

Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at the Caledonean Hotel 219 O’Connell St, North Adelaide (cnr. Barton Tce).

Meet at 7.00pm for a great meal or just attend the meeting which commences at 7.30pm

OFFICERS FOR 2009

President Ivan Margitich (08) 8295 5692 (W) 17 Old Drive (08) 8295 5692 (H) Novar Gardens SA 5040

Vice President Peter Wright 0419 800 917 PO Box 254 (08) 8572 7069 (H) Tailem Bend SA 5260

Acting Secretary & Appointed Treasurer Rob Martin (08) 8252 0727 (H) 16 Blight Court Hillbank SA 5112

Assistant Secretary Pat Oxley (08) 8365 2820 (H)

Parts Officer Alan Martin (08) 8254 9550 (H)

Conditional Registrations Rob Martin (08) 8252 0727 (H) Clive Hill

Committee Sue Margitich, Don Dunstan, Sue Matthews, Drew & Joy Marshman, Denis Moreau, Dianne Wright, Peter Oxley

Auditor Drew Marshman, CPA

Web Master Rob Martin — www.users.senet.com.au/~singersa

Acting Singergram Editor Jeff Vale 0427 152 029 PO Box 572 (08) 7509 0930 (H) Greenock SA 5360 thevales@optusnet.com.au

SCCA Secretary & Andrew Bull (03) 9689 8735 Magazine Editor 7 Bute Street andybull@ozemail.com.au Seddon VIC 3011

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

IT is with great sadness that I report our secretary/editor Alan Day passed away on the 9th October 2009 at the Philip Kennedy Hospice Largs Bay SA. Alan had battled with

outbreaks of cancer over recent years, but unfortunately things took a turn for the worse when he was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer just after Easter this year.

Readers may recall how bitterly disappointed he was when he was unable to attend The National Singer Car Club Rally in Berri SA at Easter because of his health.

In later months he was being cared for by the nursing staff and his brothers Robert and Ian. He was courageous in confronting his illness and was comforted by his faith, family and steady stream of

visitors from all walks of life. He was particularly delighted upon receiving the Certificate of Appreciation from the Singer Car Club of Australia personally presented by Peter Lester and Trevor Leech.

Alan’s loss to our Club and the vintage and classic motoring fraternity in Australia is immeasureable. He was a co-founder of our Club in South Austalia.

On behalf of the committee and all members of our club I extend heartfelt sympathy to Robert and Ian Day and their families.

I apologise to members that we have been unable to produce our magazine on time but Alan’s illness meant the committee had to make alternate arrangements for the editorial and publishing work and we were unable to retrieve and make use of the work Alan had done for the forthcoming magazine. We hope to have our magazine with a new format available shortly. Jeff Vale can receive articles in electronic form at: thevales@optusnet.com.au and if necessary by post, PO Box 572 GREENOCK SA 5360 after taking on the editorial role.

Rob Martin has temporarily accepted the position of secretary and is available by email: singercarclubsa@optusnet.com.au and ordinary mail can be addressed to:16 Blight Court HILLBANK SA 5112.

There have been two significant motoring events since my last report. The Bay to Birdwood Classic and the Lobethal 50th Anniversary of The Australian Grand Prix. (continued)

A recent photo of Alan Day in his beloved 1949 Singer 4A.

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT (continued)

A few of us braved the cold and met on Dequetteville Terrace to watch the Birdwood Classic. I could not see any Singers on the run.

Rob Martin entered and drove his 1934 Singer LeMans in the Lobethal Grand Prix re-enactment. Likewise James Redwood entered and drove his Singer Bantam. It was great to see these cars on the track. Alan Day had entered his 1949 Singer 4A but unfortunately it had to be withdrawn from the event when Alan’s condition became known.

Sue and I happened to catch up with Alistair & Mickey Browne from Sydney (members of the Singer Car Club of Australia) when they drove their Renault TS over and participated in the Birdwood Classic.

It was unfortunate we had to abandon our “spares day” due to the weather. A new date is to be confirmed.

On the home front I have still not completed the head repairs to our Singer LeMans. I had a new camshaft with new valves and guides fitted but the rockers left a lot to be desired and are present being re-profiled. I should have it together before Christmas.

Please remember the upcoming events. You should have received minutes of our committee meetings with updated information. The Rootes group run to Victor Harbor is scheduled for the 1 November and the Christmas party at our home is on Sunday 6 December 2009.

Once again I apologise for the delay in reporting to you but I hope you understand given the circumstances.

Alan Day was a legend in the Singer movement.

We will miss him.

Ivan Margitich PRESIDENT Unfortunately Alan was unable to participate in the recent

Lobethal Grand Prix.

Drew Marshman gave the Eulogy at Alan Day’s funeral and has kindly supplied a copy for publication in this Singergram. Please take a moment to read the following page and reflect on Alan’s tremendous contribution to our club.

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Eulogy given by Drew Marshman at Alan Day’s funeral.~~~::~~~

I am honoured to pay tribute to Alan Day on behalf of the world of Singer Cars.

I use the phrase “the world of Singer Cars” deliberately.

Firstly, I speak on behalf of the Singer Car Club of SA.

Alan was a founding member of the club, the inaugural president, the magazine editor from inception until his health recently failed, and secretary for the last 10 years. He has been the driving force behind the club since its inception about 25 years ago. He had boundless energy in promoting the Singer Marque in SA, so he will be sorely missed.

Next, I pay tribute on behalf of the Singer Car Clubs in Australia. Alan was very active in Singer Clubs on the national scene.

We have received messages of condolence from around Australia. Tributes to Alan include “an icon of the Australian Singer movement”, “we are all fortunate to have known this incredible man”, and so on.

I also pay tribute on behalf of the Overseas Singer car clubs. Alan was instrumental in persuading people from Europe, England and New Zealand to attend the Australian Centenary rally held here in 2004. Tributes from overseas include the following from the English magazine editor “He was a great man & a Singer man through & through, with friends in every corner of the globe.

“I feel honoured to have known him so well & indeed only had a lunch with him here in England just 11 short months ago.

“I shall remember his friendship always.”

On a personal note, my wife Joy and I pay tribute to Alan. By coincidence I also grew up in Lockleys and during my primary school years one of my friends lived in Willingale Ave although I didn’t know Alan then. We built at Grange, not far from Alan at Fulham.

Since we joined the Singer Club about 20 years ago Alan often visited us. Joy would say, “Would you like a cup of coffee Alan” and his answer was always “yes”. We have lost a great friend, and shall miss him popping in.

Alan was very generous with his time. In one example I recall, our Japanese friend’s brother wished to play golf here. We contacted Alan and he not only played a round at Kooyonga with him, but photographed him in his Singer, gave him the photo and corresponded with him. Our Japanese friends later told us that his brother was very impressed with the experience and particularly with Alan as a person.

Each year the Singer Car Club & three sister clubs have a combined run. This year the run is on the 1st November and has been organised by the Singer Club. I have pleasure in announcing that this year’s run will be dedicated to Alan’s memory.

Ian & Robert, we are proud to call Alan our friend.

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JOSEPH LUCAS – PRINCE OF DARKNESS

JOSEPH LUCAS – PRINCE OF DARKNESS is a more common slogan, particularly among owners of old British motorbikes. These and other such scurrilous soubriquets,

some of which are quite unprintable are from time to time heaped upon the shoulders of Joseph Lucas Limited of Birmingham.

This is really quite unfair and displays a basic inability to comprehend the simple principles of a motor vehicle’s electric system.

Forget all that nonsense about magnetic fields and the flow of electrons along a conductor for it is just that – nonsense.

A myth put about by auto electricians to support their lavish lifestyle at your expense. The reality is smoke; when you think about it, it all becomes startlingly obvious – smoke makes all things electrical function.

If the smoke escapes, the component stops working. For example the last time you had to grovel under your car to replace the starter motor, didn’t it start smoking just before it ceased working? Of course!

The wiring loom in your car carries smoke from one devise to another, pumped around the system by the generator, and when a wire springs a leak, it lets out all the smoke and everything stops. The start motor requires lots of smoke to work properly, so it has a very thick wire going to it.

The battery stores up large quantities of smoke dissolved in the battery acid which is why they were once called accumulators, until it became apparent that we unwashed home mechanics would twig to the secret.

Naturally if you try to dissolve too much smoke in your battery it will escape through those little holes in the top – this is why those new fangled batteries with sealed tops explode when they get too much smoke in them:

But with regard to Joseph Lucas and his wrongfully sullied reputation – why is he so maligned?

Why are Lucas components more likely to leak smoke than say Bosch or Marelli?

Because Lucas is British and British things always leak.

British engines leak oil; British sports cars leak rain; British hydrolastic units leak fluid and British Government leak secrets.

So, naturally British electrical components leak smoke.

Lucas is an acronym for

“Loose Unsoldered

Connections And Splices.”

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SOME folk drive through life oblivious to the delights of a

symbiotic relationship with a car. John Bagshaw Olding was not one of these folk.

Pre-war, after owning motorbikes, Dad bought a Singer Roadster. This car was his pride and joy and it traveled locally and to Victoria for his R.A.A.F. Officer Training at Point Cook.

As Dad was quite a “ladies man” this rakish car would have attracted young ladies and been referred to as “a fluff catcher”.

In 1946 Dad married Elaine Smyth and when I was born in 1948 it was obvious that a four door vehicle was required.

Dad always regretted selling the Singer and eventually it was replaced by a “sensible” 1951 Vanguard Sedan which also towed a caravan.

Years later Dad recalled the Singer’s advanced design with it’s, “overhead valve and camshaft” engine. Hopefully this vehicle still exists and has been restored.

The enclosed photos show the people involved with this much loved vehicle.

Regards, Rob Olding CAMPBELLTOWN

P.S. – Later information to hand indicates that a Singer 10 H.P. was also purchased on 9/01/1950 for AUS£500.

THE SINGER OWNED BY THE LATE JOHN BAGSHAW OLDING

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A NOTE FROM THE ACTING EDITOR

WHEN it comes to the ‘Singergram’, there is no way I can fill Alan Day’s shoes. We all acknowledge his contribution in keeping club members abreast of what’s

happening in our club.

I will do my best to continue his great work in keeping members informed of current and coming events – in addition to any interesting or amusing articles that may cross my desk.

However, this continuation will be largely due to members’ participation and I urge you all to forward anything you consider newsworthy for inclusion in your magazine. Perhaps you have an on-going restoration project you would like to share with other members; maybe you’ve visited an interstate or overseas club; or you may have some interesting photos from a motor museum.

I encourage constructive criticism and welcome suggestions to improve our ‘Singergram’. You can reach me by phone on (08) 7509 0930 or mobile 0427 152 029, though an email would be preferable to thevales@optusnet.com.au. When sending emails, please include the word Singer in the subject line.

Any original documents or photos for scanning can be posted to PO Box 572, Greenock, SA 5360. All originals will be returned by post promptly.

I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards and safe motoring, Jeff Vale (Acting Editor)

I’m not usually one to blow my own trumpet, but I needed something to fill this gap in my first Singergram, so thought I’d share some ‘before and after’ photos of my 1951 SM Saloon – affectionately known as Black Betty. After laying in the garage from 1980-2000, she was finally on the road for the Singer Centenary run during the Bay to Birdwood in 2004. But being awarded the “People’s Choice” award at the 2009 Singer National Rally in Berri has made it all worthwhile.

– Jeff Vale