The lisburn

oily rag The Newsletter of Lisburn City Old Vehicle Club

In this issue: Tony Bags a Beemer The Final Outing with LCC

Easter Monday, Full Steam Ahead Shakedown Run Thunders On

LCOVC Visit to Stormont and Much, Much More

June 2015

Committee Chairman: Samuel Spence Tel 07785510376 E-mail lcovc.chairman@gmail.com Vice-chairman: David Bready Tel 07591087464 E-mail lcovc.vicechairman@gmail.com Secretary: Syd McCoy Tel 07746572446 E-mail lcovc.secretary@gmail.com Treasurer: Ivan Adair Tel 07703192008 E-mail lcovc.treasurer@gmail.com Newsletter Editor: Tommy Moore Tel 07527059799 E-mail tommy.lcovc@gmail.com Paul Hunter Tel 02892663888 E-mail phunter955@hotmail.co.uk

The Editor’s Letter Welcome members once again to our second issue of 2015, we have been very active since our Easter run and its good to see them well supported. I’m very pleased to see more members sending in their stories and articles and I thank each and everyone of you for your contributions. Looking forward to the rest of the years events and its nice to see new members appearing with their vehicles. If anymore members would like to send in any articles, stories, photos, sales or wants, please do, just contact me or Syd, we are always pleased to hear from you. Regards to all, Tommy.

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The Chairman’s Letter

Sammy

Hi Everyone, Well here we are again, seemingly racing through another ‘Classic’ season and already approaching the half-way point of another year. In March we participated in the final Mayor’s Parade under the Lisburn City Council banner and one of the last major events marking the end of Councillor Andrew Ewing’s term of office. We were pleased to be able to work with Councillor Ewing during the year and he always showed great enthusiasm in his dealings with LCOVC. We wish him well in the future. The new Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is now in place and I am pleased to report that a preliminary meeting has already taken place with a view to LCOVC continuing to be part of the organising team for the Ulster Grand Prix run and reception in August. It is hoped that our working relationship with the Council will continue and develop. We have already enjoyed good trips out on Easter Monday to D&CD Railway and on our Shakedown Run during April. The trip to Stormont was well attended and we had a very informative and enjoyable guided tour of Parliament Buildings. Tech Day was moved to a Saturday this year and for various reasons, was not as popular as the previous evening events. We will of course review the situation and do all we can to make the event more successful in the future. Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to The Oily Rag and the ‘boys’ in production are eagerly awaiting your input for the next issue. In the meantime may I wish you all happy and safe classic motoring, Kind regards

Tony McLaughlin

Tony to the Rescue Tony McLaughlin tells us how a quick response

and a little help from his friends secured this 1602 Beemer for restoration

O ne Sunday evening at the end of summer last year we had come home in from seeing the in-laws. I lifted the iPad and had a quick look on the car and classic website. There was 1975 BMW 1602 advertised and looked

if it had been just added. I noticed it had a NI number and in the photos the car looked untidy but not overly rusty. I gave a quick call and asked if I could see the car around lunch time the next day as I was close by with work. This we agreed and I gave a call to confirm from the car and the lady on the phone said she had several calls since and had arranged two others to call to see the car at the same time; I put the boot down and got there first.

The lady selling the car told we the car was bought new from Agnews on the Lisburn Road Belfast (now M&S) by her father who as a Doctor in the Royal Hospital. He used the car to travel from Newcastle to Belfast and on house calls around the area for the first 5 years of the cars life and then the head gasket went and the car was parked in the garage with the intention of repairing it. As the years passed the repair job was delayed and a restoration in retirement was discussed. However, the project was never done and the Doctor had a health issue and now lives part of the time in Florida so the daughter was instructed to sell. It had sat in the one spot for 34 years. We haggled and I bought and it was agreed I would collect on Tuesday evening. I enlisted Conn Williamson along with his new trailer complete with a winch and jeep, my brother in law Peter who was back in Belfast to visit his parents.. Conn was keen to come and see a BMW that had been sitting in the same place for 34 years and wasn’t hard to convince, Peter on the other hand, had no clue what he had agreed to. The BMW had been parked with the handbrake on and at some point the key had been broke in the lock. We were able to back the trailer to the garage door and which meant we could winch the car straight onto the trailer. I just happened to have another set of wheels for a BMW in the shed and we changed them with the old wheels the been flat so long there was rust on the inside of the rim. It took some time and a little sweat to get the brakes free and we slowly winched the car on to the trailer and off to a new life. The lady selling the car for her father said when we got the car out of the garage she didn’t remember being in the garage without the BMW being there and was delighted to have the extra space. The car is currently being prepared for a repaint— the story continues.

Is that Mike Brewer in the background supervising? That must be Edd China wrestling to get the beemer’s

wheels freed up.

The good doctor prepared the patient for surgery but 34 years later the operation still hadn’t been carried out. Bit like nowadays really.

O n Tuesday 17th March our club meeting at the Maze Community Hall was well attended and our guest speaker for the night was Ryan O'Neill from the Lisburn City Watch. Ryan gave us a very informa-

tive talk on the role of Lisburn City Watch that is based in Lisburn Police Station. I'm sure we have all seen the cameras that are looking over the streets of Lisburn and surrounding area and wonder to ourselves do they really work or are they just there to caution us? I can assure you they do work and they are watching not just us but the regular law breakers who think they can commit a crime and get away with it. The camera system is also linked to local shops and business, with their own cctv and City Watch they are able to track criminals and lead the police to their location to make an arrest. Up until the 17th of March a total of 43 arrests were made because of cctv surveillance. City Watch have also a facebook page that you can like and it also gives out warnings to motorists if roads are blocked or flooded and help them avoid the area. The evening was rounded off with some film clips of amusing and not so amusing incidents that happen around Lisburn when it becomes nightfall, this usually occurs when the pubs are getting out. Some of the incidents were funny and others were downright dangerous, but, it is all recorded on camera, so behave yourselves!

By Tommy Moore

F or the very last time, under the ‘branding’ of Lisburn City Council, The Mayor, Councillor Andrew Ewing hosted the 2015 Mayor’s Parade on Saturday 21st March. On 1st April, the new council areas came

into being and LCC became Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. LCOVC were honoured to have again been asked to participate in the parade and there was an excellent turnout of members’ and guests’ cars and spectators, who enjoyed the festivities in glorious sunshine; the best day of the year thus far

Easter Monday at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway

E aster Monday morning proved sunny, warm and ideal for the Lisburn City Old Vehicle Club run to Downpatrick. As I had been forced to wash the Daimler for the Mayor’s Show, it received a light dusting

and, at the instruction of Fiona who does not like fresh air until the tempera-ture reaches 30c, kept the top firmly in place. Owing to our expanding waistlines (well mainly mine!), we chose to join the club members at Dobbies, post Ulster Fry. It was good to note that slimmer members such as the Chair-man had been able to fully exploit the culinary delights on offer prior to our arrival! There was a good turnout with a sizeable sample of Mercedes (the collective noun for this escapes me, but I think it might be a ‘blitzkrieg’?) and of course many faster, more powerful cars such as Ford Populars, Morris Minors, etc. Around 11 a.m. we set out at a gentle pace to allow the Mercedes SLs to keep up, heading towards Lisburn, onto the Ballynahinch Road where we lined up under the motorway bridge while Tommy Moore took photographs and members were able to join the convoy. As a result of a very clever route planned by the Secretary we were able to completely avoid the solid streams of traffic experienced by others on main roads, taking a wonderfully scenic route through the back roads around Ballynahinch, through the village of Drumaness and on to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway Museum.

David Williamson

I should at this point however register my displeasure at having to twice drive through small puddles by the roadside, getting the underside of my vehicle slightly wet and potentially forcing me to clean it twice in 2015! I raised this issue with the Chairman when we stopped at Downpatrick but sadly got little redress. While waiting for the train we took the opportunity to have lunch sitting in the sun in the car park. Retrospective consideration of the photographic record led me to conclude that I had finally reached middle age! We were also treated to Easter Eggs at the club’s expense. Mine seemed to have mysteriously disappeared by the time I got home. The Daimler must have chocolate loving gremlins! After an excellent lunch (could it have been otherwise when prepared by my talented and beautiful wife, who may read this article at some stage in the future?). The little steam train took us down the restored railway track to the wonderfully scenic Inch Abbey on the banks of the Quoile. This brought back memories of occasional railway journeys to school, usually when the modern diesel engine had broken down – older vehicles do have their positive qualities. The short walk from the little station to the Abbey gave the impeccably well behaved Finn (Paul and Cathy’s Springer Spaniel) a little lesson in serious dog training, care of a local black Labrador Retriever! The ruins of Inch Abbey in this wonderfully scenic setting were at their best in the sunlight although Wilbert was seen measuring up to provide a quotation for full refurbishment – they never built these old building as well as the Patton’s! Refreshments were available at the railway carriage at Inch Abbey and many members benefited from the unusually cost effective tea and coffee on offer while waiting for the next train. On return to Downpatrick, a number of members took the opportunity to look at the museum displays. Somehow we got separated from the convoy on the return to Lisburn however the cross country run behind Paul and Cathy’s Riley proved enjoyable and showed that once up to speed this “sports saloon” was deserving of its title. The day rounded off with an excellent meal at Lisburn Golf Club and a bit of craic with members. All in all it proved an excellent day enjoyed by all and with the best weather that could have been expected. It also answered one of those nagging questions that I have had for many years. I have now discovered that Morris Minors can accelerate faster than Wolseley Hornets. I understand Syd is now looking into tuning his Traveller to the same spec.! 

More pictures from Easter Monday

Ea

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Mon

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20

15

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C D

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John, Jennifer and Tommy

Cathy, Gladys and Fiona

Carol and David

Gloria

Max

The Shakedown Run

T uesday 21st April saw a great turnout of cars for this year’s Shakedown Run, organised by Paul Hunter. Unfortunately Paul, who had devised another challenging route (for me anyway) was delayed by gremlins in the form of a faulty new spark plug in his otherwise trusty Norton

and the subsequent giving up of the ghost by an indespension unit. A Good Samaritan, in the person of Tony McLaughlin, came upon the scene and all the wheels were soon going round and round again. Meanwhile, I attempted to navigate the Traveller alone, without co-driver Gladys, but the stress just got too much and the inquest would surely have revealed that the notes were on my knee! I could see Walter and Max salivating and chomping at the bit behind me and I waved them past and tucked in behind them at speeds approaching 40mph at times. I then became detached from the black Mini and I arrived at the same crossroads several times to see a LCOVC convoy go past from right to left on some occasions and from left to right on others. Then finally on the approach to Drumaness, I inter-cepted Tommy and Wilbert and immediately I was relieved in the knowledge that an ice cream was only a dash away. Wow; suddenly at a fork in the road, the Landie went left and the Volvo goes straight ahead. The Minor just seemed to follow Wilbert automatically and sure enough we were soon pulling into Brennan’s for a nerve-calming ice cream. Paris-Dakar is nothing to this. Syd

Dusk at Brennan’s

Children’s Hospice Show

On Sunday 26th April, the annual BOVC Charity Car Show took place again at Warren Park Car Park, Lisburn and attracted the usual high volume of entrants and spectators. The weather was mainly fair with only a few light showers and the proceeds of the event were for the benefit of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

Below: William (The Don) Cromwell and two of his minders, who made sure the boss had an enjoyable show.

Below left: Little Myles McMullan joined other LCOVC members at the Show. Myles reckons there’s nothing like the purr of a V12 AMG to put you to sleep.

Bits and PIECES

GEOFF DUKE, OBE 29.3.1923—1.5.2015

Geoff Duke was born in St. Helens, Lancashire and served as a despatch rider during the second world war. Post war, he secured a works ride with Norton and subsequently rode a works Gilera. He was a six-times world champion, winning three with Norton and three with Gilera. After his racing career, he settled in the Isle of Man where he was involved in the motor and hotel trade and later shipping.

Saturday 30th May saw a good turnout of LCOVC cars and members for the Sixth Annual Magheragall Parish Country Vintage Fair. Ivan Hamilton and Wilbert Patton enjoy the craic. Photos S Spence

This is me at the very first

Cars ‘n’ Coffee At

Down Royal Racecourse The next one is on

Sunday 19th July from 10am—1.00pm Some really cool dudes meet there and there are some grumpy

old farts as well and my Grandpa knows some of them

Bits and PIECES

Tommy Moore collected the silverware in the shape of the Reg Ludgate Memorial Trophy at the annual Classic Bus Show at Cultra on Saturday 25th April. The award is for the Best Preserved Bus. Tommy was driving the 1942 Bedford OB Utility Bus, owned and maintained by Translink/Ulsterbus.

The certificate pictured on the right came into the possession of a club member, who wondered from where and why it originated? TODAY was a magazine, published in London during the sixties and sub-titled The New John Bull, in recognition of its predecessor, the John Bull, which was a fiercely patriotic magazine published from 1892 until it was renamed TODAY, in 1960. The President of the Steering Wheel League was Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and apart from its obvious goal of upholding good driving standards, not much else can be found about it. Car badges in the shape of a steering wheel must have been issued and these appear for sale on the memorabilia sites from time to time.

LONDON TO BRIGHTON IN A 1942 GMC

O ver that last thirty years I have been friendly with a lot of vintage boys who live down in Surrey. Between them they have a range of vintage bikes, cars, trucks and military vehicles that are

rallied on a regular basis at various events. One vehicle that is a favourite of mine to drive is a 1942 GMC fire tender belonging to my good friend Francois. This truck originally was a troop carrier that came across with the American army during the war. When the war ended in 1945 the Americans took nothing back home and a lot of their vehicles then fell into civilian hands and were put to different uses.

TOMMY MOORE

A lot of the GMC vehicles being six wheel drive were purchased by the French fire brigade and turned into water tankers and tenders for transporting pumps and hoses. The GMC that my friend owns was based at the fire station of a little village in Normandy that he grew up in. He always had fond memories of this truck as a young lad so when a lot of the vehicles were being sold off he managed to purchase this one and brought it back home to Surrey. I flew over to see him a few years ago for a long weekend break and to take part in the HCVS London to Brighton road run. We got the truck all ready and prepared the night before and next morning we departed nice and early for the run down to the assembly point at Crystal Palace. Driving along at a nice steady pace and getting tucked in behind a lovely old Austin bus on its way to the same venue, I started to hear what sounded like a little blow-out coming from the exhaust in around the engine. We arrived safely at Crystal Palace, parked up and went to get our rally pack, instruc-tions and a nice cup of tea. About an hour later we were ready for the road, climbed into the cab, pushed the starter button, engine fired up and what a racket, we pulled the bonnet and the blow-out was coming from the manifold. After a bit of a discussion we decided to go on and to give Tony our mechanic a call to meet us along the road and have a look at it. We made it as far as Redhill but the noise was totally unbearable so I pulled into the side of the road and switched the engine off. Tony appeared a short time later in his little Sunbeam Sprite and out came the toolbox. He managed to loosen off the manifold put a lot of heat resistant paste around it, tight-ened everything all up again and we waited for about twenty minutes to let it harden. Fingers crossed I pushed the starter button in, engine fired up, still blowing out but a lot quieter than what it was. We finally made it down to Brighton, parked up and treated ourselves to a very delicious lunch. Made it back to Woking later that evening and the next day we were able to fit a whole new exhaust system to the truck. It has a big straight six petrol engine fitted and now when you start the truck up it just sits and burbles, you could listen to that sound all day. I've had plenty more adventures with this big truck including a few trips into France, but that's another story.

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Coming Events

KILBRONEY Saturday 20th June. All entries have been submitted and you should have received your entry number and token for the commemo-rative badge. Details of Club Stand location etc will be circulated later.

Halliday’s Bridge Cancer Research Run and Supper Thursday 25th June Final details and timings will be circulated when confirmed.

Picnic Outing to CAFRE Campus, Greenmount. Saturday 4th July. Meet at Vic-Ryn and be ready to leave at 11.00am sharp. £5 per adult. Entry forms are available from the organiser, Sammy Spence. DFYP

Terrenure Show, Dublin Sunday 5th July.

Cars ‘n’ Coffee at Down Royal Racecourse Sunday 19th July 10am-1 pm

Gosford Show Saturday 1st August. Meet and travel details will follow.

Ulster Grand Prix Run and Reception Monday 3rd August from Lisburn Leisureplex to Dundrod Circuit. Details will be circulated. Classic cars and bikes will participate in this popular event.

The Challenge Cup Outing Saturday 22nd August. Meet at Vic-Ryn, leaving 10.30am. Entry forms available from Sammy Spence and cost is £15 per adult which includes an evening meal at the prize-giving at Lisburn Golf Club. There will be a picnic en route, so DFYP.

Rathfriland Show Saturday 12th September. Meet at Dobbies, leaving at 10.45am. Drive via Dromara to join the main parade of vehicles en route to the Show. Entry forms are available from the organiser, David Bready and the cost is £5 per adult.

Rear View Mirror—A Look Back at Lisburn

T he above photo is from the Ulster Star dated July 11th 1968 and McCall’s Minor van appears to be that year’s model. Elsewhere in The Star, the local motor traders were advertising cars to suit every pocket. Stevenson Brothers (Lisburn)

Ltd offered their premium car, a 1966 Wolseley 1100, sold and serviced by them, for £585. Lindsay Ford had a Standard 10 for £20 or a ‘56 Ford Popular for £45. John Hanna at Barrack Street was selling a 1958 Jaguar 2.4 for £60. In other news in the ‘Star’, a £199 quotation from NIEB for the provision and erection of five street lights at Largymore Drive had been accepted by Lisburn Borough Council. At the Picture House you could see Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters in ‘The Scalp Hunters’ or if that sounded a bit gruesome, you may have preferred Elvis Presley in ‘Clambake’ (never heard of that one). If the ‘flicks’ didn’t flick your switch, you could groove to Rolly, Kelley and The Nevada as well as Derek, Billy and the Freshmen at the Top Hat in Lisburn. Meanwhile, if you wanted to stay home, RR Television Rentals at 24 Bow Street would rent you ‘the latest 1968 19” Luxury TV for only 8/11 a week’.

Photo courtesy Ulster Star