Central Tablelands Autumn Tour - Orange - 2011 The Orange District Antique Motor Club’s 4th Autumn Tour was designed specifically for the older marques of the historic vehicle movement. Twenty-one motor clubs participated and our Club was well represented by Merv & Maureen Boatwright, George & Sue McGill, Cliff Stockley and Paul & Amy Pui. Friday 6 May 2011 started with Registrations and morning tea at the Club house followed later by lunch. At 1pm we headed off on the afternoon run with clear instructions that a marshal would be at each turn. However, instead of going through the orchard area, Towac and Mt. Canobolos, which is the tallest peak west of South Africa, all the A7’s, except Cliff Stockley, decided to make the same wrong turn and started ascending Mt. Canobolas without realising the others were doing the same. After about 15 min-
utes and half way up the mountain we caught up with each other and realised that we weren’t supposed to come up the mountain that way. A decision was made to continue and we found ourselves four-wheel driving through unsealed roads, complete with potholes and dust. Finally, after another 15 minutes arduously climbing in first gear, we reached the top, and even though the view was good, Paul was more concerned about the descent because of his lack of four-wheel driving experience in our Austin 7. It was almost all first gear the entire way down. Luckily we made it to the next stop in time, which was the olive grove, and after that to some wine tasting. When telling of our adventure to other club members, they were all surprised by the A7’s speed when overtaking their vehicles, and the ability to climb up to Mt. Canobolas. Continued on Page 4
Committee Name
Home Phone
Mobile Phone
President
Warren Gracie
(02) 9569 2108
0417 417 826
Vice President
Paul Pui
(02) 9958 1791
0413 621 078
Secretary / Public Officer
Maureen Boatwright
(02) 9822 8609
0413 017 263
Treasurer
Helen Lewis
(02) 9709 2344
0407 108 196
Spare Parts
Mervyn Boatwright
(02) 9822 8609
0412 940 001
Club Examiners
Warren Gracie Mervyn Boatwright
(02) 9569 2108 (02) 9822 8609
0417 417 826 0412 940 001
Membership / Registration
Faye Yarroll
(02) 9706 8007
0412 830 041
Editor / Webmaster
Robert Yarroll
(02) 9706 8007
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As a courtesy, please do not contact Committee Members after 9:00pm.
Club Meetings The Austin 7 Club NSW Inc meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8:00pm in the NRMA Training Rooms, NRMA Building, George Street, North Strathfield. Parking is available in the NRMA car park opposite the building.
Magazine Deadline The deadline for all contributions to Baby Torque is ALWAYS the 2nd last Friday of each month. Contributions should be sent to The Editor, Baby Torque, 10 Lorraine Street, North Strathfield NSW 2137.
Banking Details Austin 7 Club NSW Inc
Austin 7 Club NSW Inc Spare Parts
Bank
Laboratories Credit Union
Bendigo Bank
BSB
802-841
633-000
0000009132
128875804
Account Page 2
Presidents Report Our recent National Motoring Heritage Day was a pleasant sunny day that started with a late breakfast followed by a southbound tour visiting a working orchard and a walking tour of a nearby waterfall. As well as the orchard there was a vehicle restoration garage and workshop with a large variety of vehicles to look at ... very interesting. I have been nominated to organise June’s Don Avery Memorial Shield Run. We will be travelling about 120 kilometres on some roads that are not in general use nowadays, but were popular in the days before freeways and motorways. I hope you can join us. See Coming Events for full details. It was good to see Merv and Paul Boatwright competing at Historic Winton again this year. Faye and Robert Yarroll also made the pilgrimage to help as pit crew. On 16 June 2011 the Council of Motor Clubs (CMC) will be holding a forum on the RTA’s Historic Conditional Registration Scheme (HCRS). The Council requires each delegate to canvas information from their Club Members as to whether they prefer the current HCRS system or favour a Log Book Scheme as adopted in Victoria and South Australia. These schemes allow owners 90 days of unrestricted vehicle use. This will be discussed at our next General Meeting on Wednesday 8 June 2011 at 8pm. If you are unable to attend but want your input heard on this subject then please phone me any evening on (02) 9569 2108 or 0417 417 826. Happy Sevening ... Warren Gracie
Please note the deadline for all contributions to Baby Torque magazine is now the 2nd last Friday of each month.
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Events Report Our May National Heritage Motoring Day Run was well attended and a great day. We started with breakfast at an Italian Restaurant at Menai and followed this with a leisurely drive to Darkes Forest. Here we visited an orchard and took a bush walk to see a beautiful waterfall, then continued to Stanwell Tops to take in the ocean views and enjoy an ice cream. The Events Team thank Mark Wellington for organizing this wonderful run. Bookings for the Riverboat Postman ferry run on Monday 11 July 2011 have now closed. Please post your cheque to the Club made payable to the Austin 7 Club NSW Inc. The cost is $45.00 per person and this includes a smorgasbord lunch. Twenty-five people will be attending this run. The weather was perfect and the company great for the Central Tablelands Autumn Tour at Orange. The food was fantastic and our members enjoyed a really great rally. We’re looking forward to returning again next year. The Club has sold all our tickets for the Shannons Eastern Creek Display Day on 21 August 2011. Our next outing is the Don Avery Memorial Shield Run and it’s a mystery destination, so come along and join your fellow members and enjoy the day. This run will be organised by Warren Gracie. Happy Austin 7 touring … Maureen Boatwright
Central Tablelands Autumn Tour - continued Dinner was a sumptuous meal at the Robin Hood Hotel.
works of animals on bicycles. At lunchtime we met a lady who was rewarded by former Premier Christina Kennelly by On Saturday we headed off to the Cudal coming to live in the country for $1. She Public School, and although the road made a pink elephant sculpture from a was slightly bumpy the views were fan- water tank. After a very nice lunch we tastic. Unfortunately for the McGill’s, headed back to Orange through Molong their A7 broke its crank shaft. But they where most people tucked into a gelato. were lucky enough to have a tailgate All the Austin 7 members were delighted Angel right behind them; so they were to load their cars with casks of red and saved and resumed the run at the next white wine at give-away-prices. Presenstop in their modern. The morning tea, tation dinner was at Orange Ex-Services which was more like a luxurious lunch, Club and we all had great fun. was provided by the local P&C. Paul said, “it was the best morning tea I’ve On Sunday, after a tasty breakfast proever had” in terms of variety, quality and vided by the club, our trip to Millthorpe volume. From Cudal, the next stop was proved to be very interesting with an old the Manildra Amusu Theatre for a few museum and speciality stores. In fact, laughs as the old movies were played. the town itself is a living museum and is Lunch was at Cumnock after a leisurely recognised by the National Trust. drive through Garra, which was very Article written by Amy Pui scenic with roadside displays of artPage 4
Coming Events 19 June 2011 ... Don Avery Memorial Shield Run Departing from NRMA Car-park North Strathfield at 9:30am for a Run on roads not often used nowadays. We will be stopping for lunch at a scenic location. Bring your own food or buy it along the way. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 or me on 0417 417 826 if you will be attending. Organised by Warren Gracie 17 July 2011 ... Sydney Landmark Run Visiting Lady Macquarie’s Chair, Milsons Point, Luna Park, Blues Point Reserve, Cammeray (suspension bridge) and much more. Finish at Paul & Amy’s place for a BBQ lunch. Please contact Paul or Amy if your are interested in attending. Phone 0413 621 078 or 9958 1791. Organised by Paul & Amy Pui 24 - 25 September 2011 … President’s Weekend in the Kiama Area Our President is considering joining the Kiama Vintage & Classic Car Rally for Charity on Sunday 25 September. Please contact Warren Gracie or Maureen Boatwright if you are thinking of attending this event. Bookings must be made ASAP. 1 - 5 October 2012 90th Anniversary National Austin 7 Hub Rally - Tanunda, S.A. The Headquarters for the National Rally will be at the Tanunda Show Grounds Hall which is in a very nice setting and has plenty of parking available. Prior to preparing and issuing entry forms the Austin 7 Club SA need to get an indication on how many people are likely to enter the 2012 National A7 Rally. Consequently they need your help by completing and returning an Expression of Interest Form as soon as possible. Also, please give a form to anyone else you know who may be interested in attending this rally. Forms may be obtained by:
logging onto the 2012 Rally page on the Austin 7 Club SA website at www.austin7clubsa.com.au, asking your Events Director for a hard copy, asking Ralph Drage (2012 Rally Secretary) to send a hard copy.
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Invitations Accepted 21 August 2011 ... 2011 Shannons Eastern Creek Classic Special displays for 100 years of the Chevrolet, 60 years of the Renault Car Club in Australia and 50 years of the E-Type Jaguar and Volvo P1800. If you like cars, motor bikes, trucks, buses or military vehicles, then this is the show for you and your family. Admission by Pre-Paid Entry Sticker ONLY. 31 August 2011 ... 31st British Car Display Day - North Parramatta In conjunction with The King’s School Art Show. Bring the family and have a great day at the Kings School, Pennant Hills Road, North Parramatta (entry via Masons Drive). Breakfast available from 7am, lunch and wine tastings. Please contact the Events Team on 9822 8609 to purchase your entry ticket.
... keep warm this winter ...
Remembering the 70th Anniversary of the passing of
The Lord Austin
(affectionately known to all who worked for him as) "The Old Man"
8 November 1866 ~ 23 May 1941
Herbert Austin's funeral procession passes the Longbridge factory on its way via Bristol Road South in Birmingham from his funeral service to his final resting place at Lickey Parish Church in May 1941 Page 6
It was cool but sunny at North Strathfield on Sunday morning 15 May 2011. This was the starting place for our National Motoring Heritage Day Run organised by Past President Mark Wellington. Four A7’s and a modern left at 7:30am for an enjoyable drive to Menai Metro for breakfast at Crissini Ristorante. Upon arrival we met another A7 and two moderns, 20 people in total. After a hearty breakfast and a lot of chatter we warmed-up and set off via Loftus, Helensburg, and Waterfall to our destination at Glenbernie Orchard at Darkes Forest. Here the ladies bought some of the local produce of fresh crisp apples, honey and jams, and much to the delight of the men, this property also had several garages full of cars under resto-
ration or waiting to be restored. These ranged from barn finds to cars nearing completion. All the (big) boys were in their element looking over the restoration workshops. They could have spent hours there ... but we needed to move on. It was about time to walk off breakfast, so we ventured across the road on a 1 kilometre walk to see a pretty water fall in the Dharawal State Conservation area. After a quick pit stop back at the Orchard, we set off for Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Tops and an ice cream. We took in some of the beautiful views over the Illawarra area. After a relaxing and enjoyable time, some good food, good company and beautiful scenery, it was time to call it a day until our next Club Run.
a glorious view over Wollongong and beyond from Bald Hill lookout Page 7
These minutes are to be confirmed at the next General Meeting
Minutes of the May 2011 General Meeting Held on 11 May 2011 at NRMA Training Centre, George Street, North Strathfield. The meeting was opened at 8:15pm by Warren Gracie who welcomed all members to the meeting. Minutes taker: Maureen Boatwright Apologies: Mark & Joanne Wellington, Brian & Deirdre Hayward, Paul Boatwright, George & Sue McGill, Dennis & Helen Quartley and Eric & Ann Bourn. Moved: Bob Riches
Seconded: Robert Yarroll
Minutes of previous meeting read and accepted: Moved: Bob Riches
Seconded: Robert Yarroll
Business arising from minutes: Nil Correspondence: Inwards … Baby Torque (WA), Drive Chatter, Veteran & Vintage Car Club of Goulburn, The Depender, The Overland Telegraph, The Light Shaft (Vic), Austin 7 Journals (SA), Historic Winton, B.E.E., Printmail for our editor, LCU Letter for password, letter from Bendigo Bank, parcel from Austin 7 Club Vic, request for permission to move letter for Wagga. Outwards … Permission to move letters for Wagga, letter to Bendigo Bank for change of P.O. box, letter to LCU for password. Moved: Barbara Fahey
Seconded: Amy Pui
Treasurer Report: Warren Gracie read the Financial Report Moved: Maureen Boatwright
Seconded: Paul Pui
Spare Parts: Mervyn Boatwright read the Spare Parts Report. Some spare parts displayed on a board. Current Price List from Vic. Change in style of way parts listed. A few price books available for members to use, see MauPage 8
reen if you are interested & sign in the book. Moved: Bob Riches
Seconded: Paul Pui
Editor: Thanks to Amy & Maureen for photos of Orange. AOA write up, camel rider Paul (DVD). Thanks to Paul for being a good sport. Club car of month to appear on front page of our website. 348 photos taken at AOA. Jim Milburn’s A7 Meteor for sale. Robert spoke about 1928/29 Austin Bantam for sale at $16,000. Membership: 3 membership applications sent out including Peter Mathews & Yvonne Young. 73 financial members. Welfare: Nil Public Officer: Nil Events Team: Lists are on table for those interested in attending the following runs & numbers are required tonight. Shannons Eastern Creek, All British Day and Presidents Weekend away. Breakfast on Sunday numbers please, & “Brooklyn Postmans Run”, $40 concession if over 20 people cost $30. $12 for fish & chips or bring your own. Fabulous time had by all who attended Forbes – see magazine. Orange was great see next Baby Torque. Reports moved: Bob Riches
Seconded: Barbara Fahey
General Business: There are still 2 tickets for Historic Winton with compliments from A7 Vic. A talk to be given in a few months by Neill Wilson about roof bowes etc. 23 May 2011 is 70th Anniversary of the death of Herbert Austin. The meeting closed at 8.55pm. Door Prize - won by Judith Riches Raffle - won by Kevin Harte
Recent Happy Snaps
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Car of the Month .. Kevin & Helen Harte’s A7 Roadster Kevin and Helen Harte are Foundation Members of our Club. Kevin has been interested in Austin 7’s for many years and bought his first car before he and Helen were married. He has fully restored an Austin 7 Meteor with his son Anthony that had sat idle in the Harte garage for a long time. Kevin has many years of Austin 7 touring and restoration experience. He regularly attends our Club meetings and has served on our committee. Kevin’s latest addition to his garage is a 1929 Austin 7 Roadster which came from Taree about 15 years ago fully restored. However, after the car joined the Harte family, Kevin undertook a complete engine rebuild and then gave it some new brakes. Having new brakes on an Austin Seven is a real treat! And what a lovely little Roadster it is now. Kevin and Helen have enjoyed many rallies over the years and have met some wonderful people along the way. Some have become lasting friendships. In 1999 they toured Adelaide with the Austins Over Australia Rally and then travelled north to Wilpena Pound before returning home. A good couple of thousand kilometres were clocked up on this trip but Kevin says “they had a wonderful time”.
... a sparkling 1929 Austin 7 Roadster ... Page 10
... Kevin and Helen enjoying an overseas holiday ...
In 2001 Kevin and Helen joined the Tasmanian Wanders Run and took in the many sights of scenic Tasmania. They set off again in 2002 to join the National Austin Seven Rally in Ballarat and they found themselves back in Adelaide again in 2003 on the Flinders Ranges Run. After a couple of years break they went with an extended Harte clan to Mudgee for the Austin Seven National Rally. So Kevin and Helen are no strangers to Austin 7 touring and are regular exhibitors at the Australia Day NRMA Motorfest. As part of the celebrations of 90 Years of NRMA Motoring in 2010, Kevin’s 1929 Austin Seven Roadster was featured in the Veteran & Classic Cars through to modern cars display. It was great to see such a beautifully restored Austin 7 being showcased to the many thousands of visitors who regularly attend the Australia Day celebrations. We wish Kevin and Helen and their family many more happy years of Austin Seven touring.
Information Sheet If you would like to see your Austin 7 featured in this magazine please complete and return the “Car of the Month - Information Sheet” available from the Editor. Page 11
The Austin History - Part 3 The next few years saw the factory expand so that by 1918, mainly due to the war effort, there were 20,000 plus employees; mostly women. North Works (Longbridge Lane) had been built along with the West Works (Bristol Road). South Works now stretched back as far as the Birmingham-Gloucester railway line. It even had its own flying ground on a flattopped hill south of the main works. Products leaving the factory during this period included 2,000 trucks, armoured cars, ambulances, generators, searchlights, 2,000 fighter aircraft and 6,500,000 shells. He was knighted in 1917 for his services to the war effort, becoming Herbert Austin KBE, and was also awarded the Commander of the Order of Leopold of Belgium. In recognition of his engineering skills he became a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers M.I.Mech.E. Herbert Austin had become interested in politics and was elected MP for the King’s Norton division of Birmingham as a Unionist (Conservative) in 1918, an office he held for six years. At the end of the First World War all Government contracts were cancelled, leaving Austin with 20,000 employees and little work. The factory returned mainly back to producing cars, with the Austin 20 been the first vehicle to be put into production. Production of the Whippet and Kestrel light aircraft ceased in 1920. It was necessary to reduce the workforce accordingly. Sales of the 20hp were disappointing, so in 1921 a smaller version was rushed into production and called the Austin 12. This proved to be a very popular model and could be seen in London as taxicabs. Cost of the four seater touring verAustin 20HP Vitesse sion was priced at £550. These two models did not raise sufficient cash flow tory, administrators were called in to help turn the the situation got worse the day came when Austin factory gates should be closed for the last time, or alternative plan to the workforce.
to maintain the facCompany round. As had to decide if the if he should put an
... this story will be continued in a future Baby Torque magazine ...
Copyright on the article / pictures belongs to John Baker www.austinmemories.com or the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
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Colonel Arthur Waite Perpetual Trophy comes to NSW Club members Mervyn and Paul Boatwright competed at the 35th Historic Winton recently eager to show those Victorians how things are done. Paul struck gold winning the prestigious Colonel Arthur Waite Perpetual Trophy for Austin Sevens. He accepted his award at the Drivers Presentation in front of many other competitors, Winton Officials and fellow Club members Graeme & Bev Logan and Robert & Faye Yarroll. New member Jim Johnston, and his mate Mike (the Bike) Aldred, travelled over 1,100 kilometres from Hanging Rock near Nundle to support our boys. The weather was kind to both competitors and spectators alike being cold in the morning then warming up nicely during the day. But be careful Paul, those southerners desperately want that Trophy back.
Merv and Paul Boatwright Page 13
Spare Parts All Spare Parts correspondence should be addressed to: Mr Mervyn Boatwright, P.O. Box 366, Casula Mall. NSW 2170 Telephone: (02) 9822 8609
Email: m.boaty@bigpond.com
Spare Parts will NOT be brought to meetings unless requested beforehand due to the vast number of parts in stock nowadays. Please contact Merv by the Thursday evening prior to the meeting with details of the parts you need. All Members choosing to pay by cheque for parts should read the instructions at the bottom of their invoice. Please make all cheques for Spare Parts payable to Austin 7 Club NSW Inc Spare Parts.
Drag Link Kit only $68 CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS TO SUIT BIG/SMALL SHAFTS (not the late 3 bearing crankshaft)
FRONT ROLLER BEARING MRJ 1⅛” - $109 FRONT THRUST BEARING RMS 9 - $25 Contact Cliff Stockley on (02) 6555 9807
This little Austin 7 definitely has the WOW factor! Page 14
Bad Weather If bad weather conditions are looming, please contact Maureen Boatwright on Saturday evenings or from 6:30am on the Sunday of the run (H) 02 9822 8609 (M) 0413 017 263 or Warren Gracie (H) 02 9569 2108 (M) 0417 417 826. And please remember to always carry the following documents in your Austin 7:
Comprehensive Insurance Policy Clubs’ Certificate of Currency Baby Torque Magazine
Point Score Trophy Don’t forget the Austin 7 Club NSW “Point Score” program. Our aim is to see as many people as possible attending events and meetings (including monthly general meetings). Participation in an event or outing from the starting point to the finish will score you 2 points, while attending a general meeting will score you 1 point. These points are awarded whether you attend in your Austin 7 or modern car. The person with the highest points tally will receive a trophy at our Christmas Luncheon / Presentation Day. So come along and get involved.
2011 Supper Roster 8 June 2011
Maureen & Merv Boatwright
13 July 2011
Helen & Denis Quartly
10 August 2011 14 September 2011 12 October 2011 9 November 2011
Faye & Robert Yarroll Sandra & Paul Boatwright Amy & Paul Pui Judith & Bob Riches
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Member of The Council of Motor Clubs, Inc
Austin 7 Club NSW Inc "Dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of all types of Austin Sevens" Postal Address: P.O. Box 6009 North Ryde NSW 2113 Email: info@austin7clubnsw.org.au Website: www.austin7clubnsw.org.au
The Austin 7 Club NSW Inc has been active for over 25 years and aims to bring together people with the common interest of restoring, preserving and driving Austin Sevens. We are an informal family club that regularly takes our "Babies" to the road for some fun social touring. Spare parts are available to Club Members through the Club Spares Division and our technical people will give advice, where possible, in regard to the restoration of these cars.
RTA Conditional Registration Any Member using a vehicle on RTA Historic Conditional Registration Scheme (HCRS) and attending a Secondary Club Run or any event listed under Invitations Accepted or Other Events of Interest MUST contact a Committee Member to advise your vehicles movements PRIOR to attending the event. The committee of the nominated primary club on your conditional registration must be aware, and approve of, all
movements of your vehicle. If you wish to attend invitational events outside Club runs, you MUST contact a Committee Member to log the trip, otherwise your registration and insurance is NOT valid. You should carry a copy of the Clubs’ Certificate of Insurance (Public Liability) in your Austin 7 at all times together with the most recent copy of this Baby Torque magazine.