spit & polish - old english car club · asked him about treating a new paint job. glen advi-sed...

VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1 Jan-Feb 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Britain’s First Motor Car 3 New Member Profile 7 The Way We Were / Minter Replacement 8 Loosening Up / Rear View Mirror 9 Welcome To OECC / The Boot /

At The Wheel 10

UPCOMING EVENTS March 4, 2014—7:00pm Tech talk and demo by Canadian Carburettor owner Darcy Brown to be held in a classroom # 1711 Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave., New Westminster April 1, 2014—7:00pm Tech talk, garage tour at Octagon Motors, 1538 Venables St., Vancouver, B.C. There will be a discussion on fluids and oils etc. suitable for use in older cars

May 6, 2014—7:00pm Shop tour at Vancity Plating, 105-2544 Douglas Road, Burnaby May 17, 2014 Vancouver ABFM at Van Dusen Gardens June 3, 2014—7:00pm Visit to Jim’s Garage Collectibles, 137 E. Colum-bia St., New Westminster June 29th—July 11th Brits ’Round B.C. 2014—Details and registration

forms at www.oecc.ca

Spit & Polish Text and photos by Les Foster

The OECC Vancouver Coast Branch has started a shiny new year- literally! The Branch’s January 2014 meet-

ing took place at Jellybean Autocrafters in Surrey. Jellybean, Kurt and Ewald Penner’s highly-skilled restora-

tion firm which we have visited on previous occasions, was not the focus of our evening this time, however. The

twenty-seven members and guests were at their Surrey shop to learn the art and the science behind cleaning,

protecting, preserving and restoring a vehicle’s finish from Glen and Susan Yates, owners of S&S Distributors,

agents for Adam’s Premium Car Care Products.

Glen, who has degrees in printing technology and spent many years in that industry and Susan, who is a former

nurse, might seem an unlikely couple to be in the car detailing business. Glen actually got bitten by the car care

bug when he was on a business trip to California and saw a friend’s vehicle being transformed from a sorry mass

of swirl marks to a show-class finish by a detailer using the Adams products. The results were so impressive

and the transformation so complete that Glen decided to enter the field himself. The rest, as they say, is history

and Glen and Susan now have their own thriving business detailing vehicles and selling the complete line of

Adams Products.

Our guinea pig for the night was supposed to be Bill Grant’s Morris Minor which, given it’s more than half cen-

tury old paintwork, would have been a great candidate but in his absence, John and Lorna Hoare offered their

T H E R O U N D A B O UT V O L U M E 1 9 , N U M BE R 1

dark blue TR8. Except for the set of handprints on the

boot lid left when it had to be pushed into the shop

(welcome to the world of British cars, Glen) it sported

a seemingly shiny finish. This fact actually made the

demo even more interesting. Glen proved to us that

there is shiny and then there is SHINY!

There is, it seems, a lot more to getting a beautiful

show finish on your vehicle than just grabbing the bot-

tle of polish, an old rag and elbow grease. In fact, a

good finish begins with proper washing apparatus,

products and techniques. Some clever little gadgets

like a grit-guard that allows abrasive particles to fall

to the bottom of your bucket while keeping the wash

water clear of them and high quality cloths and wash

mitts go a long way to preventing damage in the first

place. Glen started on the bonnet of the TR8 using a

clay bar to remove oxidization. This stick is applied to

a buffing wheel and then to the car using a random

orbital machine with a safety clutch. The clay mate-

rial has an abrasive rating of about 8000. Glen explai-

ned that you could safely sand the finish with a 3000

grit paper so the bar is definitely safe to use. After

that he progressed through several stages of the polis-

hing process using different products. Lorna (it’s her

car, John told us) even took a hand at the polisher.

The result was very impressive, showing that even an

already nice looking car could benefit greatly from a

detailing with correct products and technique. He

pointed out that deep scratches and such on older fi-

nishes can actually stand out more against a super

glossy polishing- something to consider when contem-

plating improving your car’s look! Glen treated the

soft top as well and the result was wonderful.

It was a very interesting evening. Our members had

lots of questions which Glen was happy to address. I

asked him about treating a new paint job. Glen advi-

sed against doing anything for several months to allow

the paint to fully cure but after that, proper polishing

would enhance and preserve the finish. Of course, pro-

per washing of a new car or a new paint job is para-

mount to prevent swirl marks right from the begin-

ning.

Susan was busy all evening fielding questions, too, and

selling Adams products to our members. She had

brought an extensive array of items with her and our

members bought quite a few a few of them. Glen and

Susan not only sell the products and tools but also will

detail your vehicle for you if you desire. The prices are

quite reasonable when you consider the range of pro-

ducts, tools and knowledge involved. Don’t delay,

though- they are very busy!

Adams provide a product for every stage and aspect of

auto care from washing the undercarriage to caring for

the soft top and everything (like paint,glass, rubber,

plastic, leather, metal, wheels etc.) in between. We all

received price and product lists and very informative

DVD’s on how the pro’s handle car care but a click on

www.adamspolishes.ca/ will give you access to product

descriptions, how-to videos, user forums and much mo-

re. I suggest you call Glen or Susan at S&S for perso-

nal help. You can reach them at 604-931-2481 or 604-

649-7295 (Glen’s cell) or email sandsdistributor-

[email protected].

A great start to what looks like a great year ahead. I

just hope that Lorna’s finished polishing her car by

now!

Glen and Susan Yates pose with some of the fine

detailing products they sell

Richard makes a purchase


Britain’s First Motor Car and Its

Journey

By Walter Reynolds

Britain’s first ever internal-combustion-engined car

journey took place on Friday, July 5th, 1895. This was

performed by the first internal-combustion-engined car

in Britain. The record holder is the Hon. Evelyn Ellis

(1843 – 1913).

The start point was the Micheldever train station in

Hampshire (between Winchester and Basinstoke), with

the destination being the Ellis home in Datchet, Berk-

shire; a Point A to Point B journey of 56 miles.

The Hon. Evelyn Ellis in his Panhard-Levassour at

his home, “Rosenau”, in 1895.

Picture courtesy of National Motor Museum,

Beaulieu.

The Hon. Evelyn Ellis was the fifth son of the sixth

Baron Henry de Waldon and was an inveterate trav-

eler whose background had been at the British Em-

bassy in Brussels. He was interested in the developing

motor industry in France and Germany in the 1890s

and became a pioneer in promoting a British motor

industry.

Significant barriers to a British motor industry were

the Locomotives and Highways Acts of 1865 and 1878.

The Act’s conditions included the requirement for a

man with a red flag to walk in front of any self-

propelled vehicle on any public road at no more than 4

miles per hour in the country (2 mph in towns). The

Act was designed to slow down steam traction engines

(called ‘light locomotives’ by the Act) as they and the

machines they powered were moved between farms.

Ellis deliberately intended to flout this law to expose

its absurdity and hasten its repeal. This way, English

motor manufacturers, and those (like himself) who

were ready to invest in a British motor industry would

be able to compete with firms such as Daimler and

Peugeot across the English Channel.

In June, 1895, he ordered a left-hand drive motor car

to be made to his own specifications from the Paris

firm of Panhard-Levassour, and powered by a 4hp

Daimler engine.

He picked up the car from the Paris factory at the end

of June, 1895, and drove it to LeHavre (it was legal to

drive in France). From LeHavre the car was shipped by

boat to Southampton in England and from there trans-

ported by train to Micheldever train station in Hamp-

shire. [See Note 1.] From here Ellis, accompanied by

engineer and friend Mr. Frederick Simms, drove the

car 56 miles to his home, ‘Rosenau’, in Datchet.

Route followed by Ellis and Simms. [See Note 7.)

Although the law restricted his speed to 4mph, and

required him to employ a man with a red flag to walk

in front of his car and warn people of what was coming

plus to help control any horses not accustomed to mo-

torized vehicles, Ellis had no one walking in front of

him, nor did he carry a red flag. What he did though

was to enjoy an average speed of 9.8 mph on the public

highway. There were no police interventions during the

journey and no prosecutions were commenced.


However, there were letters to the press and plenty of

good publicity!

According to reports on the journey, a total of 133

horses were encountered with only “two little ponies”

not appreciating the experience, plus whole villages

turned out to behold, open-mouthed, the new marvel of

automobile locomotion.

Frederick Simms described the journey for London’s

Saturday Review on July 11, 1895 (abridged version

taken from the Datchet Village History website):

We set forth at exactly 9:26 am and made good pro-

gress on the well-made old London coaching road [See

Note 2]; it was delightful traveling on that fine summer

morning. We were not without anxiety as to how the

horses we might meet would behave towards their new

rivals, but they took it very well and out of 133 horses

we passed only two little ponies did not seem to appreci-

ate the innovation. On our way we passed a great many

vehicles of all kinds (i.e. horse-drawn), as well as cy-

clists. It was a very pleasing sensation to go along the

delightful roads towards Virginia Water at speeds vary-

ing from three to twenty miles per hour, and our iron

horse behaved splendidly. There (Virginia Water) we

took our luncheon and fed our engine with a little oil.

Going down the steep hill leading to Windsor we passed

through Datchet and arrived right in front of the en-

trance hall of Mr. Ellis’s house at Datchet at 5:40 pm,

thus completing our most enjoyable journey of 56 miles,

the first ever made by a petroleum motor carriage in

this country in 5 hours 32 minutes, exclusive of stop-

pages and at an average speed of 9.84 mph.

In every place we passed through we were not unnatu-

rally the objects of a great deal of curiosity. Whole vil-

lages turned out to behold, open-mouthed, the new mar-

vel of locomotion. The departure of coaches was delayed

to enable their passengers to have a look at our horse-

less vehicle, while cyclists would stop to gaze enviously

at us as we surmounted with ease some long hill. Mr.

Ellis’s motor carriage is a neat and compact four-

wheeled dog-cart with accommodation for four persons

and two portmanteaus. The consumption of petroleum

is little over a halfpenny per mile and there is no smoke,

heat or smell, the carriage running smoothly and with-

out any vibration.

One of those who was excited about the new arrival

was a local newspaper reporter. On July 27, 1895, the

Windsor & Eton Express published an article titled

“Datchet: A Horseless Carriage”. The writer gave a

great deal of technical description, enthusing about all

the ingenious arrangements he was shown. The follow-

ing extract from the article is again sourced from the

above website (and I apologize beforehand for some of

the sexist observations made by the reporter):

If anyone cares to run over to Datchet they will see the

Hon. Evelyn Ellis of ‘Rosenau’ careering around the

roads, up hill and down dale, and without danger to

life and limb, in his new motor carriage which he

brought over a short time ago from Paris where they are

in pretty frequent use. Can it be easily driven? We can-

not say that such a vehicle would be suitable for a lady,

unless rubber-tyred wheels and other improvements are

made to the carriage, for a firm grip of the steering-

handle and a keen eye are necessary for its safe guid-

ance. But for gentlemen they would be invaluable, espe-

cially if they were used, as they are on the Continent, by

doctors and commercial travelers. Is there a fear of acci-

dent? It need not be apprehended that this new vehicle,

if it becomes popular, will cause any dangerous alarm

to horses. Already accustomed to the incidents and sur-

prises of everyday street traffic they would soon become

as indifferent to horseless carriages, (which are silent

and unobtrusive) as they already are to bicycles. What

is its cost? Such a one as that owned by the Hon. Evelyn

Ellis would cost around $200, and for long journeys its

maintenance would be from ten pence to a shilling an

hour. It is a splendid hill climber and climbs at a faster

pace than a pedestrian can walk. A trip from ‘Rosenau’

to Old Windsor, up Priest Hill and descending the

steep, rough and dangerous hill on the opposite side,

past the workhouse and through Old Windsor back to

‘Rosenau’ within an hour demonstrates how perfectly

under control this carriage is, while the sensation of

being whirled rapidly along is decidedly pleasing.

Ellis’s riverside home, ‘Rosenau’ is where he had been

experimenting with novel ways of powering his

launches on the river from the late 1880s, using steam

generated by naptha and also using Daimler petrol en-

gines. The original Panhard motor continued its life as

a station car (ie for local trips) and its engine was also

used to power a pump for watering the lawns and in

case of fire, said to have been used for demonstrations

by the village fire brigade. The stables at ‘Rosenau’

were converted to the first set of ‘garages’ in the coun-

try (and probably the first use of the word), complete

with a sunken inspection pit. There were at least six

motor tricycles alongside the other motor vehicles. One

of Ellis’s great feats of motoring was his 1897 climb, in

a specially built Daimler, of the Malvern Beacon which

included gradients of 1 in 41/2 over rough tracks.

The following photo, taken at the top of the Beacon

shows his nine year old daughter Mary beside him. She

grew up at ‘Rosenau’ with an adventurous taste for

motorbike racing, joining forces with her cousin Chris-

tobel who owned a GWK cycle car (GWKs were made

at Datchet [See Note 3.]) and designing leather biking

gear to wear. After her father’s death in 1913, Mary

bought a Spyker racing car (made in Holland) which

she used in time trials at Brooklands. [See Note 4.] She

gave up competition driving after she married: She met


her husband after his horse had shied at the sight of

her car!

Evelyn Ellis deliberately encouraged other people to

take an interest in his activities, and was certainly

very influential. In February 1896 he gave H.R.H. the

Prince of Wales (afterwards Edward VII) his first drive

in a car and it is likely that John Douglas Scott-

Montagu, the founder of the Beaulieu Motor Museum,

would have been aware of Ellis’s activities at ‘Rosenau’

since his family owned Ditton Park in Datchet.

The Locomotives and Highway Acts of 1865 and 1878

were repealed in 1896 and were celebrated by the first

Motor Car Tour to Brighton, or the ‘Brighton Run’,

when the speed limit was raised to twelve miles per

hour. Ellis became one of the first directors of the origi-

nal Daimler Motor Company in Coventry. He was also

one of the founders and vice-chairman of the Royal

Automobile Club (RAC). He died on September 13,

1913.

Notes:

1. From my research, I’ve not found any information

regarding why he didn’t drive to Datchet from South-

ampton, or why he chose to de-train the car at

Micheldever.

2. The ‘old coaching road’ referred to by Frederick

Simms runs on what was a Roman-built road.

3. GWK cycle cars were built in Datchet starting in

1911. The company name is based on the first initial of

the last name of each of the three company owners,

Grice, Wood, Keiller.

1914 GWK Type B cycle car (Wikipedia photo)

Ellis and daughter Mary at the top of Malvern

Beacon, 1897 in one of the first Coventry-built

Daimlers. (Datchet Village History photo)

Above photo: Evelyn Ellis’s 1895 Panhard-

Levassour in 1996 at the start of the Centenary

Celebration of the Brighton Run where it made a

guest appearance as a static display only. Ellis’s

granddaughter Miss Denise Critchley-Salmonson

(daughter of Mary Ellis) is seen with Neil Cossons,

the then Director of the Science Museum where the

car is now housed and can be seen.

An Elizabeth Bennett (of the VCC of GB) photo.


4. Spyker racing car similar to that which Mary Ellis

bought in 1913:

(Wikipedia photo)

5. The Centenary of the first internal-combustion-

engined car and journey in Britain was held on Sun-

day, July 9, 1995. Forty-one vehicles were entered,

from an 1884 De Dion Tripardoux to more than twelve

cars at the “modern limit” of 1900. There were cars en-

tered from Belgium (1897 Panhard), Holland (1898

Panhard; 1900 De Dion Quadricycle), Germany (1899

Dedietrich; 1896 Peugeot), USA (1898 Fisson) and Jer-

sey Island (1896 Lutzman).

6. An observation from Bryan Goodman, author of The

Automobile magazine’s November 1995 report on the

Centenary event: The whole event was so relaxed and

friendly with road conditions uncongested. And at the

same time we celebrated an event of historical impor-

tance, perhaps greater than the London to Brighton

Run. For less than 10 pound sterling per head we had

all the rally organization, programs, rally numbers,

coffee and lunch. Had the R.A.C. deigned (dared?) to be

present (the A.A. generously provided our back-up ve-

hicles) they would (should?) have hung their heads in

shame for requesting the 1995 Brighton Run’s 75

pound entry fee plus 28 pounds for parking overnight

plus 25 pounds for the privilege of driving a modern

car on the public highway on the day of the Run.

7. If Ellis did the journey today, going via the M3, the

journey would be 46.5 miles long and take 52 minutes.

An alternative would be to take the M4, in which case

50.6 miles would be travelled in 64 minutes. All this

assumes that there are none of Britain’s famous Motor-

way tie-ups!

8. 2014 is the 119th anniversary of the Ellis journey.

Look for a Reynolds-organized Vancouver Coast

Branch celebratory event to be held late May, early

June 2014 – details to follow!

Sources:

~ R o y a l A u t o m o b i l e C l u b ’ s w e b s i t e ,

www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk.

~ The Automobile magazine, November 1995 issue.

~ D a t c h e t V i l l a g e H i s t o r y w e b s i t e ,

www.datchethistory.org.uk.

Wikipedia on the Internet.

Don’t forget to register for the 2014 ABFM

at Van Dusen (Saturday, May 17, 2014).

Featured marques this year are Jensen,

Sunbeam Tiger and Velocette Motorcycles.

Registration forms online at

www.westerndriver.com


New Member Profile: Don and Velma MacAlister

The 3 British cars in my collection are 1-

1959 Nash Metropolitan 2- 1960 Morris Minor

convertible. 3 - 1961 Rover P4 Model 80 and

2012 ABFM 1st. place and best in class win-

ner.

Balance of my collection are North Ameri-

can vehicles.

I own and operate a private auto Museum

in a custom built building on our property

here in Tsawwassen. I am also the Chair of

the 1st annual Tsawwassen Sunfest Clas-

sic/Custom Car Show. Check out my web site

sunfestival.ca for poster and registration

forms for the show

I have been involved in the car hobby for

over 50 years and along with my wife of 50

years still are very involved in several car

clubs. I conduct winter tours in my building

and to date have over 700 visitors through it.

Hope to have a super turn out of British Car

Club members at the show August 4th 2014.

Cheers

Don and Velma Mac


The Way We Were

By Les Foster

I saw this circa 1950 Austin A40 Devon saloon

at Coast Import Auto Wreckers on Mitchell Island

in Richmond in early January.

The car was quite solid although the motor

was sitting in the tattered front seat. Forlorn as

it was, it brought back memories. A similar A40

was the car I learned to drive on. What really

evoked the long-passed days of my youth, though,

was the "modernized" turn signal mounted on the

roof's rain gutter between the side doors. Such

attempts to replace the original (and perhaps de-

ceased) semaphore signals (trafficators) with

something more recognizable in Canadian traffic

were common by the 1960's.

This rather neat installation employs a double-sided truck clearance lamp unit and was cleverly

mounted where it could tie in easily with the trafficator's wiring while involving minimal alteration

to the vehicle and minimal cost.

Minter Gardens Show Replacement

With the closure of the gardens last fall, many people encouraged us to find another location to

carry on the tradition of the show. We are pleased to announce the show will continue which is now

called the Fraser Valley Classic Car Show. The new location will be at the Atchelitz Threshermen's

Association site, [Atchelitz.ca] located next to Heritage Park in Chilliwack BC. This new site has

convenient access from the freeway and grassy areas to park your vehicle [s] on. This year the show

will be held on July 20th, 2014.

We are continuing the same high standard that was established many years ago. Because of the sole

sponsorship of Great Canadian Oil Change Ltd, there will be no entrance fee for car owners and no

admission fee for the general viewing public.

We now have a website for this show and it is loaded with all the information you will require. Also

new for this year, you can register your vehicle [s] on line.

Please check out this exciting new venue at … www.fvccs.ca

We are looking forward to seeing you at this show and please feel free to pass this information along

to all your friends.

Thank you.

Cheers Jerry Parkhill.


Rear View Mirror

Loosening Up…

-Les Foster

I spotted the following article in the November, 2012, newsletter of the B.C. Pioneer

Truck Society (of which I am a member). I thought it might prove interesting and useful

to our members. Be advised, though, that the “home-brew” described in the article must

be used with great caution as it will damage rubber and plastic and is potentially toxic

and flammable as well as irritating to the skin and eyes!

Penetrating Oils

Machinist’s Worksop Magazine recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found inter-

esting.

Some of you might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested penetrates for break-out torque on rusted

nuts. They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and machinist. They arranged a subjective test of all popular

penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a “scientifically rusted” environment.

*Penetrating Oils…………..Average Torque Load to Loosen

No oil used…………………516 pounds

WD-40………………………238 pounds

PB Blaster…………….……214 pounds

Liquid Wrench……………..127 pounds

Kano Kroil………………….106 pounds

ATF-Acetone Mix……………53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix is a “home-brew” mix of 50-50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note this “home-

brew” released bolts better than any commercial product in this one particular test. Our local machinist group

mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results. Note, also, that “Liquid Wrench” is almost as

good as “Kroil” for about 20% of the price. Steve from Godwin-Singer says that ATF-Acetone mix is best, but you

can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50-50 mix.

Rootes Motors ,Vancouver at 1736 E. Hastings St. in the early 1950’s (left) and at 3135 W. Broadway (next

to the now defunct Hollywood Theatre) in the late 1950’s or early 60’s (right). Both buildings are still

standing today. (If you have any historic photos or other images (advertisements, family photos etc.) depict-

ing the British car industry in the Lower Mainland or B.C. and would like to see them in The Roundabout

please send them in and I will gladly publish them. Thanks, Alan)

AT THE WHEEL Chairperson: Gerry Parkinson

[email protected] 604-943-3824

Vice-Chairperson: John McDonald


Treasurer: Colin Crabbe

[email protected] - 604-590-621

Membership renewals: 56-9088 Holt Road,

Surrey, B.C. V3V 4H3

Membership Secretary: John Chapman


New memberships and correspondence:

7923 144A St., Surrey, B.C. V3S 8C1

Immediate Past Chairperson:

Steve Diggins 604-294-6031

Event and Meeting Coordinator:

Lorna Hoare


Communications Coordinator: Alan Miles

[email protected]—604-272-2145

Roundabout Editor : Alan Miles

[email protected] - 604-272 -2145

Good & Welfare: David Ballantine


Website Editor: Alan Miles


PAGE 10 T H E R O U N D A B O UT V O L U M E 1 9 , N U M BE R 1

TTTHEHEHE BBBOOTOOTOOT

WELCOME TO THE OECC !WELCOME TO THE OECC !WELCOME TO THE OECC !

Don and Velma MacAlisterDon and Velma MacAlisterDon and Velma MacAlister———Delta, BCDelta, BCDelta, BC———1961 Rover 80 P4, 1960 Morris Minor Con-1961 Rover 80 P4, 1960 Morris Minor Con-1961 Rover 80 P4, 1960 Morris Minor Con-

vertible, 1959 Nash Metropolitan vertible, 1959 Nash Metropolitan vertible, 1959 Nash Metropolitan

Vernon Bastable and Tammy SablicVernon Bastable and Tammy SablicVernon Bastable and Tammy Sablic———Burnaby, BCBurnaby, BCBurnaby, BC———1962 Daimler SP250 Dart1962 Daimler SP250 Dart1962 Daimler SP250 Dart

Dave WarlimontDave WarlimontDave Warlimont———Langley, BCLangley, BCLangley, BC———1951 Daimler DB18 Barker Special Sports, 1959 1951 Daimler DB18 Barker Special Sports, 1959 1951 Daimler DB18 Barker Special Sports, 1959

Jaguar XK 150, 1970 Jaguar EJaguar XK 150, 1970 Jaguar EJaguar XK 150, 1970 Jaguar E---Type, 1971 Lotus Europa Type, 1971 Lotus Europa Type, 1971 Lotus Europa

Robbie and Wendie GlougieRobbie and Wendie GlougieRobbie and Wendie Glougie———Surrey, BCSurrey, BCSurrey, BC———1974 Triumph TR61974 Triumph TR61974 Triumph TR6

Last year’s Christmas dinner, held on Dec. 3rd. saw over thirty VCB members convening

at the Eaglequest Golf Course in Surrey for a fabulous roast beef dinner. Many thanks to

Lorna for organizing another great party!

spit & polish - old english car club · asked him about treating a new paint job. glen advi-sed...

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