Paulerspury People
Spring 2016
The Newsletter of The RREC Paulerspury Section Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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Paulerspury People
Spring 2016
The Newsletter of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club - Paulerspury Section
Contents Not a Lot of People Know That
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The Chairman’s Bit
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Future Events
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Past Events
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A Slippery Slope The Restoration of a Bentley SI Continental - Part 3
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I Have a Little Sat Nav
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New Members
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Future Events Diary
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Committee Contacts
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Front Cover Photo: Trevor and Patsy Baldwin’s 1926 20 h.p. Limousine (Henry) by Hooper
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Not a Lot of People Know That The camshaft gears of the Phantom were first machined, then hardened, then stoned by hand to make sure they mated perfectly. This hand work took over eighty hours for each set of gears.
A standard 40/50 h.p. Phantom would accelerate quite comfortably from 3 m.p.h. to 60 m.p.h. in top gear.
The 1924 Silver Ghost had anti-lock, servo-assisted braking, a system similar to that featured in a 1983 car advertising campaign as a major technological advance.
In 1968 Rolls-Royce took a Swiss businessman to court to stop him selling £245 ‘conversion kits’ designed to give any car the Rolls-Royce look.
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The Chairman’s Bit I am writing this piece on May Day, and what a stunning day it has been having just returned from the Bedfordshire Classic Car Show at Turvey House, to which 21 Club cars attended. We wandered around the eclectic mix of cars, sat in the sun, had the odd glass of wine and whiled away the day. Not bad for a Bank Holiday! The section has been busy; the New Member’s Lunch at the Hunt House was attended by 46 people, The Sunday Lunch Derek Freeman - Chairman at Moore place by 62 members and friends, the JCB visit by 32 and the St Georges Day Run and Lunch at Knebworth Golf Club by 62. All excellent turnouts and of course there is more to come. Look inside the PP for the rest of the year’s activities. Barry, David and I attended the Club’s AGM and Annual Conference at the beginning of April. We have a new Club Chairman, Johan Vanden Bergh, the first European based chairman and probably one of the youngest which should be invigorating for the Club. Duncan Feetham, the outgoing chairman has resigned from the board, he has been a great ambassador for the club and has been tireless in meeting as many sections and members as possible during his tenure as Chairman. His resignation created an additional Board vacancy enabling both Richard Fenner and Anthony Channing to be co-opted on to the Board given the irregularities in the voting slips made the voting procedure null and void. Post AGM points included: · Lack of transparency regarding payment to Julian Spencer resulting from his redundancy · The Club attending Silverstone Classics · Non-disclosure of a related party transaction by a board member · Validity of the financial statements given the irregularities in the voting. The Conference itself covered a number of topics and it is heartening that the minutes of the conference have been circulated to sections making for greater visibility of the topics discussed. The main points were: · Should the Club rent increase for the Hunt House to the Foundation? The consensus was yes. · Clive Green gave an overview of the Archive and went on to talk through the thefts that had taken place from the Hunt House. Some 60 items, some of Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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them irreplaceable. Pages removed from valuable manuals but the items also included bronze busts. It is an ongoing police investigation though the view is that it is someone with intimate knowledge of the Hunt House is responsible. The staff have however all been exonerated. · Should Registers have the same autonomy as Sections? They already receive a small sum, up to £800pa unlike sections. The consensus was NO but consideration would be given to financial assistance to sections. · Should the £30 Club joining fee be dispensed with to increase membership? The consensus was Yes. · Should the Annual Rally be outsourced to an Events company? Consensus NO and that Ailsa should become more involved. · How can the Club’s Car database be kept up to date? The new website would have a facility, sections can help feeding back information to the Hunt House. · Presentation of the new club website. The consensus was of concern from what was seen. · Presentation from Hiscox (RH Insurance) · The Hunt House Expansion Project. Planning permission had been granted but that the planners would be very receptive to extending to the rear of the property. Discussions have taken place with the land owners though an option had been granted to a housing developer. Financing the project is also an issue. · Membership, falling number, retention of new members, attracting younger people, targeting modern car owners were all discussed. A first class website was deemed to be essential together with better use of social media. Sections also play an important part in promoting the club. · Great presentation by Andrew Ball, Global Corporate Communications Manager, Rolls- Royce Motor Cars Ltd. Sales were the second highest ever last year selling into 50 countries with 130 dealerships worldwide. They are opening a new technology and logistics centre at Bognor Regis employing an additional 200 people. The current Phantom production is coming to an end. Rolls-Royce launched the Black Badge concept at Geneva targeting a younger audience. The launch of the Dawn was a great success, pre orders have broken all records. Some interesting statistics regarding the 1600 strong workforce, a very successful apprentice programme, an average age of 34 and 75% British. · Communications from Head office, good or bad? Consensus was the Hunt House were always helpful but the Club needed to be more transparent. Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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· Should the Club consider a European branch office particularly given the success of the Epoqu’ Auto event? The general view was that more should be done to promote and help with events in Europe. An additional office would however add to the Clubs overheads. It was left to the board to consider. · Are the annual subscriptions good value for money? The discussions centred on the website and the development of the new site with considerable cause for concern that the new site would still be lacking. · SHRMF, an update. Jane Pedler gave an update on the various functions held at the Hunt House. The challenge of updating the displays in the Hunt House. The halting of the Hunt House development whilst there were so many negative views from the Club. · Allan Fogg Club Valuation Officer. Allan gave an interesting presentation of his work with a number of well-made pointers on how best to approach valuing your car. The above were all points of discussion, decisions surrounding those discussions would be made by the Board. It will interesting to monitor which are taken forward.
Gérard LeClerc lends an ear to Rolf Kuhnke
I will make my normal plea for articles for the PP, please contact Barry and if any of you have ideas for events or are willing to organise events please contact me or any committee member. Don’t forget to sign up for the rest of the season’s outings, lets hope we have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you at some of the events.
Derek Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Conference Chairman Ted Meachem Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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Find out here about upcoming Paulerspury Section events, when they are, where they are and who is organising them. A summary of all future events can be found at the back of this edition and booking forms for all events are enclosed. Event information and booking forms can also be found on our website www.rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
RREC Annual Rally and Concours Sunday 26th June 2016 This year the Paulerspury Section Tailgate Party will be hosted by Caroline and Andrew Sykes at the rear of their Phantom II in Class 3. Everyone is welcome, just look out for our flag and come along and join us for drinks and nibbles from 11:30 a.m. 1.30 p.m. Burghley House, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 3JY Organisers: RREC - The Hunt House
Kimbolton Country Fayre - Sunday 10th July 2016 Now in it’s 25th glorious year, this is a spectacular charity event for the whole family, organised by volunteers from The Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle and The Sporting Bears Motor Club. It is held in the beautiful grounds of Kimbolton Castle in Cambridgeshire, the home of Kimbolton School which has generously supported this event for many years. The 2016 Fayre will again have a fantastic line up of showring events, stalls and entertainment as well as the usual tea tent, real ale bar, classic cars on display, plus many more attractions and activities for the whole family. Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE28 0ER Organiser: Val Yates Tel: 01480 810395 3 Lymage Road, Perry, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE28 0OD Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Classics on Harpenden Common - Wednesday 27th July This fantastic gathering of Classic vehicles of all kinds takes place annually on Harpenden Common and is organised by the local Rotary Club there. If you would like to attend, it is necessary to book direct with the show organisers to obtain a vehicle pass (I will let you know when applications are open). This is a strictly no ticket, no entry event as numbers have to be restricted. *Booking Now Open* See www.classicsonthecommon.com. We plan to have lunch at a pub in Harpenden before travelling on to the Common. Please complete and return the attached form and i will keep you informed. Harpenden Common Organisers: Caroline and Andrew Sykes Email: cmsykes17@gmail.com Home: 01582 713839
Imperial War Museum Duxford - Airshow - Sunday 31 July The Paulerspury Section have been invited to join the East Anglian Section and others at the Imperial War Museum. Here you can get close to planes such as Lancaster, Spitfire, Concorde, and Vulcan. The American Air Museum has now reopened after extensive redevelopment, and includes B17 Flying Fortress, B52 Stratofortress, Lockheed Blackbird, F15A Eagle. The Land Warfare Hall houses tanks and military trucks; outside are several commercial airliners. We’ll be the only car Club at Duxford, and parked in prime position. It’s a bonus day for the airfield, with more flights than usual, and a flying day for Classic Wings. Dragon Rapides and Tiger Moths take off and land throughout the day, as well as several Spitfire arrivals and departures. Bring a picnic, or buy lunch from one of the on-site cafes. Surrounding Sections will also join us, and we have reserved space for 45 Rolls-Royce/ Bentley cars. Others are welcome to park in the general car park. Imperial War Museum, CB22 4QR (J 10 of the M11 10 miles South of Cambridge) Organisers: Derek and Sylvia Freeman Email: derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Home: 01234 823255 Mobile: 07836 715351
Classics on Croxley Green - Wednesday 3rd August 2016 Free Entry ….just contribute to the charity fund as you drive on to the green. The WDCVC aims to raise funds and awareness of local and national charities and deserving Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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causes by exhibiting classic, veteran and vintage vehicles. Although the event organisers do not request pre-booking, we plan meet at a nearby pub beforehand and arrive ‘en convoi’ to show what a superb show the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club can put on. This way, we should get to park together. A picnic is the norm but you can always rely on the myriad of food vendors, the local pubs or the chippy, they are all within easy reach. See: www.watfordclassics.co.uk. If you’d like to participate please let us know before Wednesday 20th JULY and we’ll get back to you with the meeting point and time details. Sat Nav Postcode for The Green is WD3 3HN Organisers: Steve and Janet Dolan Email: secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Tel: 01327 351460
Bentley Drivers Club Race Day at Silverstone – Saturday 6th August 2016 This year marks the 80th anniversary of the BDC so a perfect opportunity to join them for their annual race day at Silverstone on Saturday 6th August 2016. We have an allocated parking area for up to 50 vehicles and for those of you who are also BDC members and driving a Bentley on the day, you will have the opportunity to join the parade lap around the track. This will be an informal day watching the various races with the normal trade and food stands. No provision will be made for lunch so we suggest you bring a picnic. Tickets may be purchased on the day and you can park alongside other RREC cars in our allocated space. Please complete the enclosed form and return to Karen Hillier karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk by 1st July to secure your place. Price is £10 per person, payable on the gate. You must mention that you are with the RREC and ask to be directed to our reserved parking. Organiser: Karen Hillier Email: karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Telephone: 07881 802904 Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Paulerspury Section Annual Picnic - Sunday 21st August Champneys Henlow Grange Coach Road, Henlow, Beds. SG16 6BT This beautiful Georgian mansion nestling in 150 acres of parkland is the backdrop for our annual picnic this year. Recommended by section members Roger & Pat Smith, we’re pleased to say that Champneys at Henlow have offered their lawns in front of the house for us to enjoy our picnics and you will be able to wander around the grounds at your leisure. Please arrive between 11 - 11.30am and drive in through the main gates to the house for a group photograph on the drive after which you will be directed to our parking area. Charge for this event is £15 per car and for the privilege of using their grounds we will donate £10 of this payment to their Charitable Foundation which supports numerous good causes, details of which can be found on their website www.champneys.com What a treat! Organisers: Steve & Jan Dolan Email: secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Home: 01327351460 Jan mobile: 078410989608 Steve mobile: 07739 848368
SIr Henry Royce Memorial FoundationOpen Weekend Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September On Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September, the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation will be holding open days at The Hunt House, the Club Headquarters. The weekend is designed to introduce anyone and everyone to the activities of the SHRMF in the interest of furthering the work the foundation does. This will be a truly ‘open’ event and we are currently spreading the word far and wide. We hope to have as many Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars as possible in the courtyard of the Hunt House on both days, not only for people to look at but to ride in if they wish, on a short circular route around the area. Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Trevor and Patsy Baldwin’s 20 h.p.
Philip Sage’s Silver Shadow
A New Dawn kindly loaned by RRMC Limited
6.6 Litre V12 - 563 bhp
The SHRMF is requesting your help! It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider bringing your car along on one or other of the days and participate in the experience we are making available to those who may never before have been up close to our cars, let alone ridden in one. It is hoped that the day will enlighten members of the general public as to the importance of the Foundation’s work and of the engineering quality that has gone in to these wonderful motor cars for over one hundred years, ensuring through interest, training and qualification that these skills may continue for many more years to come. The Hunt House will open throughout the entire weekend and guided tours of the facilities will be provide for groups at regular intervals. Please get in touch if you are willing to attend.
Organisers: Chris and Linda Ball Tel: 01525 860880 Email: lindarball@btinternet.com Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Past Events
Take a few moments to read through members’ write ups. You may find you have missed out on something you wished you had attended. You may even see someone you know!
January Lunch at Whittlebury Park - 24th January Forty members attended the first lunch of the year at Whittlebury Park Golf Club where a carvery lunch was enjoyed by all.
All set for lunch at Whittlebury Park
A superb line up of Club cars
Janet Dolan Time for a coffee first
New Members Lunch - 28th February Every two years the section invites all new members to a lunch at the Hunt House. It gives them the opportunity to meet other section members and to see the facilities that the Hunt House has to offer. Some 47 section members attended the lunch in February which included 10 new members. Philip Hall kindly gave an introduction to the Club and the SHRMF and then took a number of members on a tour of the Hunt House, a first time for some. It is important that members see and understand what the Club can offer and this is one small way of aiding that process. Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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A look along the Pit Straight Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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The Chairman’s Silver Cloud III starts the line up
Glistening in the sunshine Steven Murray entertains Judith Frowde
All eyes are on the Chairman
The newly laid out conservatory makes a great venue for a gathering of this kind and an excellent lunch was served. A good selection of Club cars filled the courtyard which was good to see so early in the season.
Derek Freeman
Bedfordshire Sunday Lunch at Moore Place, Aspley Guise - 20th March Spring had sprung and we had just returned from our annual skiing trip the day before so it was an excellent day to start the “season”. In lovely weather, we set off for the beautiful village of Aspley Guise to attend the Bedfordshire Sunday Lunch and, as we were admiring the daffodils, we missed the turning into Moore Place. That meant that we entertained the village (and a group of cyclists - all eager in their LYCRA®!) by manoeuvring all 18’3" of the Lily Beament around in the centre of Aspley Guise. The Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Moore Place car park filling up nicely
The Majesty of a Silver Wraith Douglas Newton loves the ‘pop-up’ gramophone
Lily B is a heavy car to manoeuvre and what we didn’t realise at the time was that Steven had a broken collar bone as a result of a skiing accident a few days before. He found that out the next day, in hospital, as it was still hurting badly after driving the Rolls-Royce. Anyway, by the time we got the car around and into the car park it was filling up with a fine selection of RollsDavid Cooper shows a Routemaster Bus ‘Dipstick’ Royce and Bentley motor cars all polished and gleaming. Inside Moore Place we were greeted by a throng of fellow section members and the atmosphere was buzzing with the excitement of seeing friends again. We quickly realised that we had forgotten about the piece of memorabilia we had been asked to bring along. Fortunately, quick thinking Steven thought of an item that we had with us in the car and dashed out to get it. Drinks and memorabilia in hand, we checked the seating plan and made our way into the conservatory dining room for lunch. As ever, we met old friends and made new friends at our table as we discussed the items of memorabilia we had all brought along. After the lunch, we were greatly entertained by the Showing and Telling of different peoples’ items of personal history. The pop-up gramophone was amazing, and getting to know about Dennis and Susan Sewell’s pipe habits was also enlightening. The items Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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on our table were also very interesting even though most of us weren’t in the market for presenting them to the group. It certainly sparked a lot of conversation – really fun! The weather had gone completely downhill by the time we left after coffee and tea, but we made it back without getting wet. More’s the pity. We wanted to revel in the joy of not having to travel with a kitchen roll to mop up a flood of water from leaky windscreens after, this winter, when Hillier Hill removed both windscreens, resealed and refitted them. And so, of course, it hasn’t rained on the Lily Beament ever since! It was a great start to the year for us as it had been a long time since we made it to any events. Many thanks to Karen Hillier for organising a great Section lunch.
Steven and Mia Murray
JCB VISIT - 20th April To most of us, a vacuum cleaner is also a “Hoover”, and to people all over the world, an excavator is a “JCB”. Just how one man managed to turn his initials into the generic term for earthmoving equipment is what 32 of us found out about at JCB World Headquarters in April. Joseph Cyril Bamford was “let go” by his uncle at the family firm of Bamfords in 1945, and promptly set up on his own making agricultural trailers from a small rented lock up garage in Uttoxeter. By 1950 he had expanded into an old cheese factory in Rocester and by 1953 had designed the first backhoe loader painted in the now universally recognised yellow of the Company. Jo Bamford’s extraordinary abilities in engineering and marketing continually propelled the Company to ever bigger and greater things, and the result today is an organisation that employs some 12000 people in 18 factories and sells products to 150 countries across the world. Jo died in 2001 but the Company, still privately owned, is run by his son Lord Anthony Bamford, well known in RREC circles as an avid collector of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, as well as a generous patron to the car restoration industry.
16 Entrance to the Multi-Million Pound visitor centre Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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Paulerspury People - Spring Mike, Ruth and Kathy wondering when2016 the ice-creams will be coming round 26/05/2016, 06:01
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Replica of the very first JCB premises
An early Back Hoe Loader
We were treated to an excellent lunch prior to our tour of the factory, coincidentally supplied by Daylesford Organic (a business run by Lord Bamford’s wife – well keep it in the family eh!) which set us up well for the lengthy tour to follow. A promotional video gave us a feeling for the size of the organisation, as well as providing us with the usual Health & Safety advice. Thereafter, we entered the exhibition (not a museum, we were advised) where the whole story of JCB unfolded in a very professional and interesting manner, taking us from the first agricultural trailer right through to the JCB Dieselmax, which still holds the land speed record for a diesel powered vehicle at 350 mph (have a look at it in action on Youtube). Thereafter, we got a chance to spend our money in the JCB shop, with JCB branding on just about everything you can imagine. When it comes to making money, they didn’t miss a single trick here!
A State of the Art 3CX Back Hoe Loader
Our knowledgeable guides then took us on a gentle 2 mile stroll around the factory which makes most of the components, the hydraulic cylinders and assembles the classic backhoe excavator. We obviously saw only a small part of the JCB empire, but more Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
18 Truly Worldwide Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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Simply the fastest JCB in the world! There was some very nice merchandise in the JCB shop
than enough to give us the impression that this is a very serious business with an enormous investment in tooling and machinery. After a gratefully received tea break, it was time to say farewell and face the lengthy trip back home. Everyone I spoke to had enjoyed the day and felt that the distance travelled was well worth the effort. More respect to Lord Anthony when we see his cars at Burghley House this year, perhaps ?
Keith Davies Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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A Slippery Slope Part 3 Two hundred and forty-one pieces of trim sent away for re-chroming, with about the same number for cadmium plating! With a few bits still to send there will be about six hundred items in all for re-plating – far more than I’d anticipated. The well-known quality platers are extremely busy, and Derby Plating, my original choice, quoted five months – far too long to keep to my original one-year project plan. Eventually, through the help of a Club member I placed the chrome plating with Colonnade in Wembley. The only hiccup so far is that the centre vertical trim from the radiator shutters has been lost (probably by the plater, but difficult to prove), I was advised by a leading restorer not to have the body removed from the chassis, because of the difficulty in aligning it properly on re-assembly. Such caution is probably necessary because of the potential for disasters caused by incompetent body shops failing to brace the body before removal, and neglecting to take critical measurements. As the work proceeded it became obvious that some parts were too corroded and/or too inaccessible to be able to repair properly. The body had been properly braced with square section steel tube, so in the end it was decided to remove it. The original chassis and body assembly had been mounted on a specially constructed mobile frame, and a second mobile frame was made to support the body. It was the right decision: several obscured chassis sections were in a very advanced state of corrosion and would not have been revealed without removing the body. Front outriggers, jacking points and rear chassis legs suffer badly on these cars, and replicas were obtained from a well-known after-market parts supplier. Although the replicas were dimensionally correct, the welding and finish was poor so they were re-welded and fettled to look as the original. This is often the problem with after-market parts: small production quantities rule out the expensive tools necessary to make good replicas, and an ad hoc fabrication is the only option. Some of the body mounts were badly corroded too; new ones are not available, and second-hand mounts are hundreds of pounds each. A local engineering firm has made some excellent copies for £75 each.
Typical chassis corrosion
The chassis is now painted with epoxy primer and two coats of eggshell black twopack epoxy paint. Similarly the body is now in epoxy primer and the underside is painted with “Raptor” two-pack polyurethane, a very elastic protective coating – much better than traditional underseal which can trap water and hide corrosion. Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
20 New jacking points Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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James Young was probably the last coach builder to use wooden framing (by 1958, Mulliner was using aluminium structural members) Typically, framing around the rear window had rotted, either because of leaks or condensation, and several other parts had deteriorated at the end grain, and rather than splicing in repair sections, all damaged wood has now been replaced by new. The shapes of the parts are quite complex, involving curves in three planes - somewhat beyond simple carpentry - and a local cabinet-maker made excellent replacements from air-dried ash. Most of the framing has been painted with red lead as the original. Great quantities of plastic body filler (25 mm thick in places!) used to repair minor damage were revealed once the paint had been stripped from body panels. Where necessary new sections of aluminium are now welded in and the panels dressed to the correct form. At some time the boot had been rear-ended, but expert repairs had been made, which remain. A new boot floor, wheel arches and numerous structural parts have been made. Door skins have been removed because the edges were showing signs of corrosion where folded around the door “chassis”, so strips of aluminium were welded in to replace the damaged areas. The interior woodwork looked eminently restorable, but the door cappings had been re-veneered in the 1980’s, using impact adhesive (!). This reacted with the two-pack polyester lacquer causing the appearance of white streaks in the grain. The only solution was to re-veneer the cappings, and it took a lot of searching to find suitable burr walnut to match the original. The problems weren’t over though, because the lacquer was faulty too, developing a milky haze after a short while. A new lacquer was obtained from BASF in Germany, which appears suitable after a limited trial. But the best laid plans are easily frustrated: Joe Crabtree, the craftsman restoring the woodwork, is in hospital with a broken hip, which has put him out of work for many weeks, and he won’t be able to continue with my job. A new wood restorer has agreed to finish the work, but it could be difficult in the future if something goes wrong.
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Chassis sand blasted and epoxy painted Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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The engine has been completely stripped, degreased, internal corrosion treated, and deposits removed. The cylinder bores were too far out of tolerance for a re-bore, so the liners were removed by grinding to a very thin shell and then collapsing the shell. New liners and pistons from Flying Spares were fitted. The crankshaft is in excellent condition, well within tolerance, but the oilways were completely blocked and it’s remarkable that the shaft survived. The camshaft too shows hardly any signs of wear, and will be replaced using new bearings. New valves, seats and springs will be fitted. The crankshaft damper was in a bad state, (although there was no untoward vibration noticed when the car was driven prior to restoration). Rather than attempting a repair (difficult without an assembly jig), a new damper assembly was obtained from Ristes. Ancillaries such as shock dampers have been stripped, vapour blasted and thoroughly cleaned before re-assembly with new parts. Whitehouse Autos has reconditioned the gearbox. I was impressed when it was returned accompanied by a dynamometer test report showing the performance of the gearbox under load at various speeds and gear ratios. Norman Geeson undertook the restoration of the differential, but he found that the casing had been cracked and repaired (possibly by the factory) but there was a more serious crack in a bearing housing which had allowed a bearing outer race to rotate. It was beyond repair and he obtained a brand new differential housing, fitting it with new gears and bearings. Norman has assiduously researched the axle design and redesigned some parts that had proved problematical in service. One unusual defect was discovered: two mounting brackets that connect to the shock damper arms are welded onto the axle tubes, and were found to be about 25 mm out of line with the damper arms, so new ones will have to be made and welded to the tubes. The misalignment had twisted the Silent Block bushes badly. Very odd, since the axle is the original one, and there’s no evidence of the brackets being relocated.
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Unexpectedly, door hinges have been a real headache. Despite being constructed from very heavy brass extruded sections, fifty-seven years of operation had worn the pin holes into an oval shape, and the plates were distorted through incompetent assembly after overhauls. Furthermore, most of the countersunk fixing holes had been “pulled” to increase the adjustment range. Poor repairs had been made, and most pins were oversize and lacking lubrication channels. On two of the hinges the pins had rusted, seized, and then snapped, and it’s a wonder the doors didn’t fall off. The brass extrusions are unavailable, and repairs entailed making bushes to re-claim the most extremely oval holes, and reaming others a minimum amount to achieve a good cylindrical hole. This meant that the diameter of each hinge pin was different to any other. With hindsight, it would have been much easier to have made all the holes and pins the same oversize. Doh! Most of the hinge wear was the result of poor maintenance – few owners or service centres bother to lubricate hinges. In any case, the hinge pin design didn’t provide good distribution of oil, so I’ve made the new ones hollow to hold a reserve of lubricant. Henry would have been impressed. The radiator has been thoroughly reconditioned, pressure and flow tested. The SU carburettors are with Burlen Fuel Systems for complete overhaul and re-painting to concours standard, and they have supplied a new electronic version of the fuel pump. All instruments have been sent to specialists for refurbishment, a new wiring loom is on order, and a new exhaust system has been made by The Service Centre. I was amazed when I visited them – they have all the jigs for these cars and had probably made the one already on mine. This was demonstrated when my old system was dropped into the jig, and it fitted perfectly. The exhaust systems are supplied with loose connection flanges, since the optimum alignment can only be determined during assembly to the car. Once aligned and clear of obstructions, the flanges will be tackwelded, and fully welded after the system is removed. Bit different to Kwik-Fit! I have spent much time and money searching for new or restorable parts, only to be misled by inaccurate descriptions. Some, costing several hundreds of pounds, are bought “as seen” and non-returnable. Typically, chrome plated parts are the worst, with non-repairable dents and corrosion. I could be generous and say that condition is subjective, but items described “as new” should be just that. Instead, I’ve concluded (and now presume) that most sellers are rogues! I have only just the one car to restore, and am amazed at the overall difficulty managing the project – what with sub-contractors letting me down, the difficulty in finding new or restorable parts, the unbelievable bodges revealed during dismantling, the unexpected complications. So, the good specialist restorers have my respect for their ability to handle many restorations concurrently. Fortunately, Norfolk Premier Coachworks, the main firm restoring the body, chassis and mechanicals, are proving to be first class in every respect. And the restoration cost to date? About £150,000 …
Terry Weston Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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A Letter to the Editor I thought you might like to know that I had the wheels on the Jaguar repaired by your new advertiser Rimtec after they had been kerbed. Really impressed with the quality of the work as the wheels look as new. If anyone is thinking of getting their wheels re-finished I can thoroughly recommend Rimtec not only for the quality of the finished look but for the price charged which was surprisingly good. Adam, who runs the place is a nice guy to do business with. Best wishes Mike Martin
I Have A Little Sat-Nav I have a little Sat-Nav it sits there in my car A Sat-Nav is a driver’s friend it tells you where you are I have a little Sat-Nav I’ve had it all my life It’s better than the normal ones, my Sat-Nav is my wife It gives me full instructions especially how to drive “It’s thirty miles an hour”, it says “You’re doing thirty five” It tells me when to stop and start and when to use the brake And tells me that it’s never ever safe to overtake It tells me when a light is red and when it goes to green It seems to know instinctively Just when to intervene It lists the vehicles just in front and all those to the rear And taking this into account it specifies my gear I’m sure no other driver has so helpful a device For when we leave and lock the car it still gives its advice It fills me up with counselling each journey’s pretty fraught So why don’t I exchange it and get a quieter sort? Ah well you see, it cleans the house, makes sure I’m properly fed, It washes all my shirts and things and - keeps me warm in bed! Despite all these advantages and my tendency to scoff I do wish that once in a while I could turn the damned thing off. Anon – Courtesy of the Cambridge and District Classic Car Club Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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M
New Section Members The Paulerspury Section are delighted to welcome the following new members and look forward to meeting them at an event soon. Name
Car
Chassis
Year
Reg. No.
George Nason Northampton
Bentley Continental
-
1961
828 UYJ
Tom Wyman Hitchin
20/25 Cabriolet
GED67
1954
MG 3777
Articles Required If you would like to write an article for the Paulerspury People or perhaps have a feature included on your car, it doesn’t have to be Rolls-Royce or Bentley, email it to editor@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk or contact any committee member. If your Rolls-Royce or Bentley has a famous or colourful past, tell us about that too. Many will have been seen in films and on TV. If yours was, maybe we can help find out some more information for you. Who knows what we might turn up?
RIMTEC 01908 614482 Alloy wheel refurbishment specialists • Repair
• Resealing • Refurbishment
If the alloy wheels on your pride and joy have been damaged, are cracked or buckled or just tired and lack lustre, we can restore them to as new condition for far less than the cost of replacements. We offer a fixed price for straightforward refurbishment and competitive prices on all repairs. We quote you before we start work and that is the price you will pay. Visit our website to find out more www.rimtec.co.uk
Rimtec Limited 112 Tanners Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes,People - Spring 2016 Paulerspury MK14 5BP Paulerspury People Spring 2016.pmd
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Future Events Diary Friday 24th June to Sunday 26th June 2016 RREC Annual Rally and Concours Venue: Burghley House, Stamford Organiser: Main Club Event
Sunday 10th July 2106 Kimbolton Country Fayre Venue: Kimbolton Castle, Kimbolton, PE28 0ER Organiser: Val Yates Tel: 01480 810395 Booking Form Enclosed Wednesday 27th July 2016 Classics on Harpenden Common Venue: Harpenden Common Organiser: Caroline and Andrew Sykes Tel: 01582 713839 Email: cmsykes17@gmail.com **Booking Direct with the Show Organisers is Required** Please email Caroline for information
Sunday 31st July 2016 Imperial War Museum Air Show Venue: IWM, Cambridge, CB22 4QR Organisers: Derek and Sylvia Freeman Tel: 01234 823255 Email: derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed
Saturday 6th August 2016 Bentley Drivers Club Race Day Venue: Silverstone Circuit, Northants, NN12 8TN Organiser: Karen Hillier Tel: 07881 802904 Email: karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed
Sunday 21st August 2016 Section Summer Picnic Venue: Champneys, Henlow Grange, Beds. Organiser: Janet and Steve Dolan Tel: 01327 351460 Email: secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Saturday and Sunday 17th - 18th September 2016 Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation Open Day Venue: The Hunt House, Paulerspury, Northants. Organiser: Chris and Linda Ball Tel: 01327 351460 Email: lindarball@btinternet.com
Wednesday 3rd August 2016 Classics on Croxley Green Venue: Croxley Green, Herts Organiser: Steve and Janet Dolan Tel: 01327 351460 Email: secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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Paulerspury Section Committee Chairman Derek Freeman (Sylvia) The Plantation, Village Road Bromham, MK43 8LL Tel: 01234 823255 (Home) Mobile: 07836 715351 derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk chairman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Karen Hillier (Ray) Mob: 07881 802904 karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk David Hennessy (Catherine) Tel: 01234 342473 david.hennessy@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Kathryn Martin (Mike) Tel: 01234 714092 kathryn.martin@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Secretary Steve Dolan (Janet) The Old Stables Heathencote, Northants, NN12 7LE Tel: 01327 351460 Mob: 07739 848368 steve.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Treasurer Keith Davies (Pippa) Mob: 07771 704835 keith.davies@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk treasurer@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Editor Barry Gallafent (Ruth) 222b Wolverton Road Blakelands Milton Keynes, MK14 5AB Tel: 01908 216804 Mobile: 07785 398271 barry.gallafent@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk editor@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Attention Smart Phone Users Scan either of these QR codes to find out more about what the section is up to.
Section Website
Standard Terms & Conditions of Entry I declare that during the whole period of this event, my entries will be covered by the full third party risks. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the organisers of this event from any claim for any damage and personal injury caused by my vehicle(s) or driver(s) thereof whilst taking part in this event or journeying to and from this event. I also agree to produce the insurance documents and MOT certificate if so required. There will be a working fire extinguisher in my car. The Small Print Please be aware that any payments made should not be viewed as refundable as there is often a need to make payments in advance to secure bookings. Event organisers will do their best to facilitate cancellations but this is not always possible. Paulerspury People - Spring 2016
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