March 1978
DORSET AUSTIN SEVEN CLUB
EDITORIAL This seems to be the month when Austin owners are thinking
about getting their cars ready for the coming season and perhaps making some
plans as to which events they will support. To help you decide we publish this
month firstly, a list of major events and then a separate list which we discussed
at the last committee meeting. This separate list is on the basis of one event
per month which the club can give its full support by meeting at suitable
points and forming a club run to the event. The list commences with the
Daffodil Run on April 30th.
We all enjoyed the films of Solent A7 Club runs which Keith Roach
kindly brought along to our last meeting. It will be nice when we can show our
own events on film.
Many thanks to Reg Stones for his letter to me and I hope that
some more of you will put pen to paper to help stimulate the contents of the
newsletter. Tell us about your Austin, tell us about your problems, tell us how
to help other owners, tell us your wants and needs.
Next month sees the quarterly meeting of the A7CA at Oxford and
the following weekend sees the National Quiz in Essex. We are struggling to
get a team together so please let Bernard know if you fancy a weekend away
(Sat. night 22nd April).
On the car scene it was nice to see Pete Treliving and family
returning from a day out in the Ruby the other Sunday. I had a job to push past
at 50+ along the Magna Road and Pete showed he still had some in reserve to
overtake a slower modern. Bernard has just had the box M.O.T. and is eager to
complete the trim on the Chummy when funds allow.
We still need some more contributions to our local services list
and our level of advertising in the Sales and Wanted is very low does
everybody have everything?
Reg Stones tells me that nobody has taken up his offer of a Ruby
body which he has in his garden and it may now be scrapped which is a great
pity because even a body is a start for somebody.
Interesting to see the number of old cars still in use in New
Zealand on a recent "Tomorrows World". It seems we destroy all our
vehicles with rock salt (probably financed by the motor industry!) One view of
a row of parked cars was like visiting Trents' scrap
yard ten years ago.
Lastly, I see that the Bridgewater Building Society are pushing
the individualist theme by using a peculiar Chummy in their advertising.
THIS MONTHS MEETING Nags Head,
Ringwood) Thursday l6th March. We are
holding a short friendly quiz about our favourite subject - hope to see you all
there.
NEXT MONTHS COMMITTEE MEETING Somerford Hotel, Thursday 6th April.
New Austin 7 Book The 750 MC Austin 7 Handbook should soon be available at £3 from
,Dave Bradley, l6 Woodstock Road, Witney,
Oxon.
2.
BIG SEVEN RESCUE - by Reg
Stones
Way back in 1969 I made a call at my local garage and wondered why
a very rough and rusty Austin Big Seven had not received any attention for
several weeks. The answer was that it has failed the dreaded M.O.T. due to loss
of metal on the underside to the rear of the front mudguard. A very old
schoolmistress had owned and driven the car until this time and not understanding
the mysteries of the M.O.T. was in fact proposing to commit the remains to the
breakers yard.
Fortunately, I was able to make contact with the lady who readily accepted
my £10 (a sum she was advised was the maximum worth of the car). She was a very
frail old lady of about 80 years and was becoming a difficult client when
driving in the filling station for petrol as she tended to collide with the
petrol pump with monotonous regularity! (this did not do much for the front of
the car either).
To say the Big Seven looked forlorn was an understatement, there
were patches of rust everywhere joining with the remains of the black painted
bodywork. The lady had devised an ingenious way of camouflaging the rust -
using Cherry Blossom Boot Polish!
The garage kindly delivered the car home whereupon I was promptly
in trouble for bringing home a 'heap of rusting scrap' and 'what will the neigbours
say?'. However, after my efforts at restoration I am happy to say we are now a resplendent
Royal Blue and our pride and joy to behold!
SPARES AND REPAIRS
KINGPINS Had a letter back from John
Barlow about the B.H.E. king pin set which I
returned. It seems that a lot of the pins that were replaced as faulty were
still faulty and have had to be returned again. It seems a pity that John has
had so much trouble with this item as it obviously has involved him in a lot of
extra work on top of the excellent service he provides in respect of other
spares.
TYRES I contacted Motorway Tyre
Services at Poole (owned by Avon) and enquired about 350 x 19 Avon sidecar
tyres and was quoted £12 each + VAT which I do not think can be beaten locally
as they retail at £16.40 each.
SPRINGS ETC BY REG STONES I have now fixed myself up with an old set of rear springs which
were very rough and patched up. Hawkins of Poole have been extremely helpful and have remade and recambered them to
my pattern for only £5. At Electrostatic for my windscreen rechroming was
quoted at £15 and for the radiator cowl £40, both being in fair condition. But
I haggled and grumbled and they finally did the above plus another cowl for £70
- still a big number!
For my Triplex glass I have contacted a Mr. Brock of Priory Glass
Works, Stoney Lane, Christchurch who has done them before and had the rubber
strip needed.
SALES & WANTS
WANTED Reg Stones on Highcliffe 4355 requires some retaining
screws for the top edge of the windscreen hinge on his '33 box.
WANTED David Delaney of 93 Croft Road? Portland, would like to
borrow buy or swap for 1932 saloon, oil gauge, dipstick, gear knob, radiator
mounting brackets - to make patterns.
3.
List of Club Runs combined with Events
30th April - Daffodil
Run (entry forms from B. Cowley)
7th May - Dorset
A7 Club Weymouth Run
27/28th May - East
Hants Vintage Veteran Display, Blackmore.
4th June - HMS
Sultan, Gosport.
2nd July - Beaulieu
We are also organising an evening run across the Studland ferry to
the Bankes Arms, date to be announced.
All details from Gary Munn at 36 Avon Avenue, Avon Castle,
Ringwood tel. Ringwood 78795 after 7pm.
Letters to the Editor
"With regard to adverts in the Wanted column it would seem to
me to be too narrowly based to be of satisfaction and I think these items ought
to be spread into other compound sections. It would be interesting to know if
any of the 'wants' are being met? (Not many - Ed.) From what I gather our club
would appear to have about ten cars on our outings and forty-seven in the clubs
(Less than half on road - Ed.)
As far as Beaulieu and Longleat are concerned would anyone care to
consider two sites on the clifftop at Christchurch and Highcliffe managed by
the Council which have all the required extras - loos, cafe, shoos, sea and
sand plus the New Forest. A man called Major Sandy Franks is looking for the
development of Highcliffe Carnival and is very influential at Highcliffe 6307.
Hayling Island has a venue of this type on the beach!"
Reg Stones
AUSTIN SEVEN CALENDAR 1978.
March 4th /5th Brecon Run, Bristol
A7C,
24th-27th Easter North. Shropshire & Welsh
Rarebit Run, Bristol.
26th Easter Rally, 750 MC.
April 1st Dinner
Dance, Bristol MC',
May 6th Andorra Run, 750MC
7th Driving Tests, Essex A7C
7th A Run to Please Harry, South Wales A7C.
14th Spring Spree, 750MC N Herts.
21st Biggin Hill Air Fair,
750 MC Tunbridge Wells.
27th-29th Scrumpy Run, Bristol A7C.
June 4th A7 Race (Mallory), 750 MC,
4th June Jaunt, 750MC Norfolk Centre.
3rd/4th North Devon
Run, Bristol A7C,
3rd/4th Woollaton PWA7C,
3rd/4th Big Seven weekend,
Big Seven,
10th/l1th Caldicot Castle Rally, South Wales A7C.
11th. Sussex Run,
750MC Tunbridge Wells.
17th/18th Welsh
Weekend, 750MC Western Centre.
18th Essex Motoring Extravaganza, Essex A7C.
July lst Pre-Beaulieu Barbecue, Solent A7C.
2nd. Beaulieu Rally, 750MC,
4th Sunset Concours, 750 MC Milton Keynes.
16th North Herts Rally, 750MC N Herts.
22nd/23rd Berkeley
Castle Rally, Bristol A7C,
23rd Packenham Hill Run, 750MC Norfolk
Centre,
30th Doddington
750MC western Centre
30th Lyden Hill A7
Race, 750MC
August 5th-7th George F Simpson/Ben Nevis Jubilee Rally,Scottish A7C.
5th-19th Scottish Holiday, Bristol A7C, (prow. dates),
6th Treasure Hunt/Barbecue, South Wales A7C,
13th Longbridge
Rally, Midlands A7C.
20th Riverside Jaunts 750MC Brooklands Centre,
20th Walsingham
Run, 750MC.