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Dear Fellow Motoring Enthusiasts, elcome to the Winter edition of the IVVCC Journal. I had hoped to have it out in December but we’ve had a few problems with our home. However we are blessed with the wonderful friends we have and 2010 is firmly behind us. I was saddened to learn of the passing of Tony Fitzgerald in January. Like his late father Jim, he was a great supporter of the old car movement and a long-time member of the IVVCC. I remember in the early ‘70s Tony zooming past my parent’s house on the Deansgrange Road in his Ford Prefect with its whitewall tyres, his overcoat collar turned up and hair blowing in the wind. He still had that same car and it was a poignant sight parked outside the church on its own. To Tony’s wife and children and to his family may I extend my sincere condolences and also to the wife and family of Liam Flanagan who died recently. Our dear friend Finbarr Corry is quite ill at the moment in St Vincent’s Private hospital, I would like to send him good wishes on behalf of the IVVCC. Call in and see him if you can. Charlie Byrne is now at home and making slow progress and I know you’ll join me in wishing him well and also pass on our good wishes to Suzette and their children. I was leafing through a book written by Michael Sedgwick in 1962 and I came across a car for sale in the Beaulieu Veteran & Vintage Car auction held in 1961. The car featured in the photo was a 1914 Swift 7hp cyclecar. It bore the reg no IK 1076. No doubt part of the exodus Finbarr Corry referred to in his book, the Automobile Treasury of Ireland. The chances are that this car still exists with its Irish number plate just like countless other Irish cars gracing the roads of the UK. Over the last few years while visiting the NEC I have spotted many Irish cars including a Vauxhall Prince Henry owned by the Vauxhall Museum and the Bugatti Brescia with the Dublin number plate that the owner didn’t know was Irish (The IVVCC supplied him with a lot of the history of this car). Then there was one of Denis Lucey’s cars, IT 1. This car was sold by Bonhams for £150,000. Barely a fortnight later, the registration was sold for £175,000. Result, a London to Brighton car and £25,000 in the back pocket for the lucky owner! This is not a recent activity. The Metropolitan Police bought Michael O’Hehir’s Ford Zodiac for its number plate, CID 1, which for a time adorned the head of CID’s car until it was deemed not to be a good idea in view of paramilitary activities. And we all know that VIP 1 and 1 VIP are still used in the UK as is RRI 1 which was, and still is, on the first Bentley S1 into Ireland, now alive and well and registered in the UK. The point I’m trying to make is that we seem to have a problem with historic UK registered cars on the roads in Ireland. It’s against the law not to re-register an imported car into Ireland within 24 hours and failure to do so is to risk criminal proceedings. I feel that this is unfair. We have a number of cars in this country bearing their original registrations and that is part of their history. I don’t know about you but I felt bad when I heard that IT 1 was separated from the vehicle it was attached to for 105 years and the same should apply to historic vehicles from another EU Country, after all are we not all part of the same union? Congratulations to Des Cullen and Jim Boland who have both reached 80 years young! Until next time, happy motoring! TOM
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WINTER 2010
FRONT COVER: The ‘Master’ at work. Jim & John Boland and company leaving London on the London to Brighton Rally 2010 Photo by SussexSportPhotography.com
IVVCC JOURNAL WINTER 2010 President: PEADAR WARD Tel: 087-2222716 Honorary Secretary: BERNADETTE WYER 80 Pinewood Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Tel: 087-2220770. Editor: TOM FARRELL Knockrose, The Scalp, Kilternan, Co. Dublin. Tel: 087-2982369. E: editor@z1.ie Membership Secretary: JEAN MORTON Rockwood Cottage Mount Venus Road Woodtown, Dublin 16 Tel: 01-4931794/087 2565211 E: rockwoodcottage@hotmail.com Club Meetings: Every first Monday of the month (second Monday if first falls on a Public Holiday) Venue: Kiely’s Pub, Deerpark Road, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin. Time: 8.00pm Website: www.ivvcc.ie Photos: All photos unless otherwise stated by Tom Farrell
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President’s Report Secretary’s Report Book Review From Billancourt to Thirty Brightons! By John Boland
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Happy Memories of My Friend John Kane Happy Birthday Jim! By John Boland Meet the Member - Des Cullen By Tom Farrell
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Crossword Gordon Bennett Rally 2010 Autumn Rally 2010 For Sale A.R.M. Reports by Jim O’Sullivan Memory Lane by Colm O’Neill Letters to the Editor Noticeboard IVVCC WINTER 2010 3
his will be my last report in the IVVCC Journal as Club President, however I will, please God, continue to report on other matters from time to time, including FIVA matters. The last three years have flown and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as President. Mind you I had to try to live up to the exemplary service of my numerous excellent predecessors. For me it was a great honour to serve the club and I hope that during my term as President I have made some small contribution to this great institution and that the Club will continue to grow and prosper in the future. In some respects I saw myself as having the responsibility of accepting charge of the Club for a short period, helping to develop it and passing it on to my successor. During my period as President I have been very fortunate to have had a strong team of dedicated directors to work with me. In particular I refer to Ray McElroy as Treasurer; Bernadette Wyer as Secretary and more recently Tom Farrell as Vice President. I must also pay tribute to Tom Farrell for the work he has done in developing the Journal and to John Larkin for his development of the website. Both our website and journal are very fine productions and the Club can be proud of them. Our Membership Secretary Kevin Griffin has just stepped down after dedicating eight years to this onerous task. I must also pay tribute to the Events Committee, Gordon Bennett Committee and the numerous other committees and individuals who continue to dedicate time and effort to the club. Over the last number of years we have seen the old car movement and the number of old cars in Ireland grow beyond expectations. This is in no small way directly related to the prosperity we have seen during the Celtic Tiger years. Many people who had for years a longing for a historic vehicle could now afford to make that purchase; perhaps acquiring a vehicle once driven by their father or one they first learned to drive in or that exclusive sports car they could not afford in their youth. The challenge now will be to retain this level of interest in these difficult times. One of the clubs initiatives for 2011 is the promotion of a “Historic Vehicle Day”. This was discussed at a meeting with the Affiliated Clubs in June 2010 and it found favour among those attending. The date selected is the Bank Holiday in May. This falls on Monday 2nd May in 2011. Affiliated Clubs will be asked to make arrangements with their own members to organise a suitable event on the day. All old car enthusiasts, irrespective of whether or not an event is arranged in their area are encouraged to take their historic cars out on the day. An issue which is always to the forefront of my mind is the concern that new regulations may be made which could restrict the use and enjoyment of our historic vehicles. I am happy to say that based on FIVA surveys we have one of the most benevolent legislative regimes in the European Union in respect of historic cars and their use. We must continue to be vigilant in this regard but it is imperative that we conduct our activities in a responsible manner. It is also important that we do not campaign in such a manner that will bring us unwarranted attention. Looking forward to the 50th anniversary of the club in 2013 it is important that we mark the occasion in a suitable fashion. I have applied to An Post to have a postal stamp issued to mark the occasion. It would be great if this comes to pass but we will have to wait and see what transpires. Other plans for 2013 are underway. These include an International FIVA rally and it is proposed to attract many visitors throughout Europe and beyond to this event. We are also planning a special publication to mark the occasion and significant background work has been undertaken already. Finally I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM of the Club in Kiely’s of Mount Merrion on Sunday April 10th. PEADAR WARD, PRESIDENT
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NEW IVVCC MEMBERS We extend a warm welcome to the following new members and hope they derive much enjoyment from being part of the IVVCC: Emily and Tony Foyle, Kaeper Duzewski, Patrick Markey, Rodney Hendy, Francis Ridge, Tom Peters, Mervyn O’Brien, Sean Browne, Simon Moore, Anne Marie & David Niland, Tommy Giblin, Bob Montgomery, Patrick Crosbie, Patrick Collins, Paddy Kelly, Kenneth McAllister, Paul Barrett and Barry Pender. 4 IVVCC WINTER 2010
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very happy 2011 to all our members and despite the dismal weather which necessitated the cancellation of our Christmas Party, the New Year’s Day Mince Pie outing proved a popular choice and was very well attended. It was a relief to get out on the roads again and leave the snow behind. If anyone bought tickets for the Christmas Party please contact me so that I can refund your money in exchange for your tickets!! Membership renewal time is upon us again and our thanks to all who have already renewed their 2011 membership, either online, or by post/hand. We are particularly grateful to Kevin Griffin who, for the past eight years, has undertaken the Membership Secretary role, but he now feels it is time to pass on the baton. We are very appreciative of his commitment and dedication through the years. In the interim, until a new person is appointed, we would like to give a gentle reminder to anyone who has not yet had the opportunity to renew, to do so, as soon as possible. Membership cards and calendars will be despatched at an early date. Although the weather forecasters say that Spring is in the air, it is certainly emerging slowly this year. However, we are looking forward to the St Valentine’s Run on Sunday 13th February, which will be a gentle affair. There are a number of new events planned this year and you should consult your 2011 calendar and the IVVCC.ie website (Events page) to check on what is happening throughout the year. Our AGM will be held on Sunday 10th April in Kiely’s, Mount Merrion at 3pm and nomination papers and documentation will be issued to all paid up members prior to the event. Sunday 1st May has been designated “Historic Car Day” and we would encourage our members and the members of the affiliate clubs to arrange local runs on that day so that the general public will have the opportunity to see our cars being driven throughout the towns and countryside. The coming months will be a busy time with quite a number of varied events being held and we look forward to seeing you out in your cars and sharing your experiences with your fellow members.
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BERNADETTE WYER
IVVCC DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 13th February 17th March 11th April 17th April 1st May 29th May 10th-12th June 15th June 19th June 26th June 21st August 2nd October 31st October 5th December 6 IVVCC WINTER 2010
St Valentine’s event St Patrick’s Day – Maynooth Run AGM Spring Rally Historic Vehicle Day Mount Merrion 300th Anniversary Gordon Bennett Rally Picnic in the Park Mondello Classic Car Live Mid Summer Picnic 34th Powerscourt Picnic Autumn Rally Autojumble Christmas Party
We also support and encourage our members to attend numerous affiliate club events throughout the country and we would ask our members to continue to visit our website: www.ivvcc.ie and check the Events Calendar for up-to-date information. Please note - all IVVCC events requires participants to preregister for each event. This greatly facilitates our volunteer organisers of the various events and reduces stress on the day!! In special circumstances late entries may be accepted by making prior contact with the event organisers. Details of each event and the Organiser will be in the IVVCC Calendar for 2011 and will also be available on our website. Application forms for each event will be available approximately 4 to 6 weeks prior to each event on the website or by contacting the event organiser. Application forms will also be available at First Monday meetings or by contacting the Secretary on 087-2220770. We now have an online payment system for membership and for events. See www.ivvcc.ie
A Lifetime’s Collecting The Legendary Car Collection of Jim Boland By Bob Montgomery ormer IVVCC President Jim Boland is a great man to tell a story, especially when it involves a motor car. At the launch of this book, in the RIAC, he had the audience’s undivided attention as he told the story of the priest who came to him on a Sunday with the door of his car hanging off. Jim had been doing a bit of work on his own car at the time. It seems the priest, a well-known headache to insurance companies, was always crashing his car into something. This day he reversed his car out of the driveway of the parochial house with the drivers door open and left it on the gatepost! Jim fixed it and off went the happy priest only to be back moments later advising Jim that he shouldn’t be working on a Sunday and a visit to the church occasionally would be time better spent!
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I am fortunate enough to have visited Jim’s collection on a few occasions. Each time there would be something new to see and each car has a story which Jim is happy to share with you. His collection is the largest in Ireland and contains some pretty significant cars too, such as the first Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, the Rolls Royce Phantom 11 the Aga Khan ordered as a wedding present for his bride, Rita Hayworth or W.O.Bentley’s own Lagonda LG 45 which he used to test out factory modifications, not to mention Prince Rainier’s Bentley Mk V1 convertible to name but a few. Each car is on the button and Jim does his best to use them all. Jim Boland was, is and will always be a great friend to old car preservation. His recall of cars and people is legendary, just like his car
collection. He is a generous but busy man and hats off to Bob Montgomery for getting him to sit down and tell his story. This book is a must for any enthusiast who appreciates old cars and the man rightly considered the father figure of the old car preservation movement in Ireland… …Jim Boland. Available from Dreoilin Publications for just €20 or go to www.dreoilin.ie TOM FARRELL for more details.
TONY ELLIS 085-735 26 42 085-766 38 58 Email:
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PHONE TERRY Work: 01-6600805 Mobile: 087-9749312 www.terrymullallygarage.weebly.com Email: terrymullally@eircom.net REAR CAMBRIDGE HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE ROAD, RINGSEND, DUBLIN 4. IVVCC WINTER 2010 7
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By JOHN BOLAND Photos by:
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And a lot of historic miles in between!
3 PHOTO CAPTIONS
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1. Three generations of the Boland family - Jim, Kevin and John. 2. James Boland in his 1904 CGV at Hyde Park. 3. Spyker and Darracq (Genevieve) movie stars from the 50’s. 4. Andrew Boland in his 1904 Mercedes.
illancourt, Paris in 1898 and at the dawn of the motor car a 21year old Louis Renault was working from a shed in the garden of his parents house. Louis had an interest in all things mechanical from an early age and had decided to convert his De Dion Bouton tricycle into a small four wheel vehicle using his invention that was about to propel the motor car into a new era – the ‘direct drive’ which consisted of a universal jointed propeller shaft that included a threespeed gearbox with reverse and having the third gear in direct drive. He patented his idea that would instantly
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render obsolete the chains, cogs and belts which were being used until then. He entered into a bet with his friends that he could drive his little car up the steep slope of Lenic Street in Montmartre, a feat which he completed with ease and which led him on to securing twelve orders for his car – this was the inspiration for Louis to start on the road to becoming France’s biggest automobile manufacturer. In those early days, Louis like a large number of his contemporaries, including, Speedwell, Gamage Aster and Hurtu amongst others used the then ‘iPod’ of the motor industry – the single cylinder De Dion Bouton engine
– this allowed a lot of small inventors to concentrate on developing the car whilst having a reliable power plant readily available off the shelf. In 1900 alone De Dion produced 400 cars and 3,200 engines from its Puteaux factory. However, in 1902, Louis who was working with his brothers Marcel and Fernand and having demand for its products enhanced by the performance of Renault cars in the great inter-city races so popular in France at the turn of the century, decided to develop his own twin cylinder engine. According to factory records he first fitted this new engine into the car that in later life would be contd... registered IK 597. IVVCC WINTER 2010 9
PHOTO CAPTIONS 1. Jonathan Gladiator.
Bewley’s
1900
2. Room for all the family at the finish in Brighton. 3. Jimmy Bohan and Paddy Whitty in the 1903 De Dion Bouton.
Little is known of the history of this car through two World Wars and up until 1969 when it turned up in Claires, France, being used as a tractor to ferry beehives around a farm! The car, then sporting a two-seater body with a flat back and faded cream paintwork, was imported into the UK where it was brought to my fathers attention by longtime friend Louis Holland. The car came into Ireland in 1971 at a time when it was very difficult to import cars from abroad and in order to assist in its ‘repatriation’ it received the registration number of a car once driven by a Father Traynor during Jim’s school days in Clondalkin! Then began a total restoration. The following year it completed the London to Brighton having the distinction of being the first car to cross the finish line – an honour that was rewarded by a letter from the RAC reprimanding Jim for exceeding the 30 MPH speed limit and disqualifying him from the following years rally! A few years later Jim imported a Darracq which had an original four-seater body and swopped the rear part onto the Renault to turn it into a very attractive four-seater. Since then the car had completed 29 Brighton runs under the guidance of Jim and 25 Gordon Bennetts and several Pioneer Runs amongst other events piloted by myself. However, in all those years we hadn’t travelled in the car together and as Jim had competed in the last two Brighton’s in Jim Boland from Wexford’s Locomobile, I felt it was time for the Renault to return to Brighton. The run which takes place annually on the first Sunday of November and commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14th November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act – which became widely known as the ‘Red Flag Act’ which raised the speed limit from 4mph to 14mph and abolished the need for vehicles to be preceded by a man on foot carrying a red flag. At the start of the 1896 Emancipation Run which was attended by over 30 cars, Lord Winchilsea symbolically destroyed a red flag to start these pioneer motorists as they set off to endure the rough roads to the Sussex seaside resort of Brighton. Fourteen of these cars completed the journey, however some evidence exists that one car was taken by rail and covered with mud before crossing the finishing line! The first re-enactment of the run took place 10 IVVCC WINTER 2010
in 1927 and has taken place every November thereafter, with the exception of the war years and 1947 when petrol rationing was in force and so making this the 77th commemoration event. I have never driven on the Brighton and in fact have only once been on the event as a passenger which was two years ago when I was lucky enough to travel with my Mille Miglia partner Shane Houlihan on his 1902 Panhard. So I sent in the entry form and hoped that I would be lucky enough to get an entry, which thankfully came through a few weeks later. During preparations for the event Andrew Boland kindly offered to take the car over to London on the transporter that would be taking their three very fine 1904 cars – The Simplex Mercedes, Renault and CGV and so on the Wednesday prior to the event Jim trailered the car down to Wexford for the first leg of the trip. The first official event of the Brighton is the auction, held on Friday, by Bonhams at their head office in Bond Street – an event that always has a great attendance due to the fact that only Brighton eligible cars i.e. cars built prior to 1905 are sold – although in reality some later cars can attend the run – this comes about in two cases – the first being if a car had previously been dated by the VCC over the years as a 1904 which had taken part in previous runs and then recently been redated as a 1905, it qualifies to travel under grandfather status – the second exception being to specially invited cars – these being the film stars of the Edwardian motoring world – The Darracq – ‘Genevieve’ and the 1905 Spyker which took part in that super story of love and rivalry at the event. I only recall going to the cinema once as a
family and it was this film that stirred my dad’s interest and I don’t believe the models he fancied were either Kay Kendall or Dinah Sheridan! The auction itself offered an array of early cars including a 1904 Peugeot 9hp twin cylinder model which at the selling price of £78,500 inc buyers premium did not appear to reach its potential. However the star of the auction was the wonderful 1903 Sunbeam 10/12hp four cylinder rear entrance tonneau which was actively campaigned by the late John Carter and bidding on the car was frenzied until it ended at an auction record for this model of £321,600 inc premium! Other cars sold included a 1901 Renault Type D which had also appeared in ‘Genevieve’ and the little 1902 Rochet from an Irish collection. Friday evening was finished off by a reception hosted by Bonham’s. Saturday afternoon is when the real stars of the show start to appear – The wonderfully regal Regent Street is partially blocked off and a number of cars appear for the international concours event – this truly is a wonderful display of early motoring which this year was complimented by the arrival of the inaugural future car event – the cars of tomorrow meeting the cars of yesteryear – something for everybody. Here we saw Jonathan Bewley’s little 1900 Gladiator looking resplendent and Don Larkin’s Mighty Winton on display. Later that evening all the entrants are invited to the Palatial RAC club in Pall Mall for a champagne reception which gives a great chance to meet up with friends old and new. It was great to meet such stalwarts of the IVVCC as Reg Plunkett, Martin Leech and Gerry Larkin amongst others. Sitting proudly in the foyer of the club was a magnificent 1903 Spyker 60hp four wheel drive racing car from The Louwman Museum in the home of this years celebrated country – The Netherlands. For a number of years now, the LBVCR has been celebrating a different European country and its vehicle manufacturing history each year – 2011 will be celebrating Germany. Six am on Sunday morning and a spell has been cast over a dry but bitterly cold London where we have travelled back through time by over a century – it really is strange driving through the dark streets with only Edwardian cars to be seen appearing out of every lane, alley and car park, all heading towards a magical Hyde Park to assemble by the Serpentine shimmering in the light of the breaking day and carbide lamps. We have had an easy ride to Hyde Park as Pat who is driving the NVD transporter has done all the hard work in getting the cars over and is sitting waiting for us – after unloading the Renault we experience something totally alien to myself and Jim – the car wouldn’t fire! At first we feared that the magneto had become soaked from all the heavy rain that had fallen in the few days previously but thankfully this was not the case although the problem was magneto related. A flat spot had appeared on the timing advance / Retard and so after some adjustment by Jim, I swung her over and off she went. I then took her around Marble Arch in the dark and into the park where we were allocated a parking space in sector 8 – due to the large number of entrants cars are allocated into parking pens where they will be allowed to leave in lots of 10, approximately every two minutes from 7.04am or official sunrise. After having a look at such wonderful cars as Simplex Mercedes, Napiers, Gladiators, Mors and Panhards to name a few, we layer up with clothes and prepare for departure. At 7.40 am car number 223, a 1902 Renault Type N with
three generations of Bolands on board, participating for the first time together on this historic event - Myself, Jim and my son Kevin along with Eric Kavanagh who I had been speaking to earlier in the year and agreed to join us. It’s strange how history repeats itself and here it was doing it again – I was telling Jim how the first rally I had ever driven – the 1980 Gordon Bennett, Eric was my co-driver and now here we were reunited on my first Brighton. As usual Jim had an even more wonderful memory from his past – he first competed on the Brighton in 1965 and did so as codriver to Eric’s father, Johnny (SCAT) Kavanagh in his Siddley! And in true Jim tradition it was a huge logistic manoeuvre – in those days there was no direct ferry from Dublin to the UK in the winter and so the only route was to drive to Larne and cross over to Scotland and drive down to London – a 500 hundred mile journey in snow and ice and to complete this early partnership, they used Roland Frayne’s trailer.
In the days leading up to the event I had a realisation – I have been on a lot of Rallies since that first Gordon Bennett but have not travelled in the same car as Jim on an event in 30 years! It also felt very wrong for me to be driving on what I have always known as his event so I hatched a plan – I was going to pretend that I was going to drive all the way but at the last moment give the honour rightfully back to Jim. So there we were in Hyde park and Jim looking like a child on Christmas morning who got the dreaded piece of coal – he was delighted to be there but looked sad not to be driving and so the time came – the start your engines call and I told him to slide into the driving seat while I swung her into life and she wasn’t the only thing to fire up – when I told Jim to take her out of London he looked 20 years younger – I have never seen such a transformation in anybody as a smile wider than the Thames crossed his face! I felt so proud to be sitting next to him as we rolled over the start line with Kevin in the rear – it’s a memory that will stay contd... with me for ever. IVVCC WINTER 2010 11
Houlihan ❝Red Rag passed on the outside...Jim swung out and the challenge was on!
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Shane Houlihan in his attempt to create a new record!
As usual Jim manoeuvred us through the streets with expert ease, around Buckingham Palace, past The Houses of Commons and over Westminster Bridge – we were on our way! At this stage he asked when did I want to take over and was taken aback to be told that this was his rally and that I was happy to have driven through the dark streets of an awakening London – it’s rare to see him stuck for words but this was one of those moments. We were just entering heavy traffic when the Napier which was driven by S F Edge in the 1903 Gordon Bennett and restored with such attention to detail by club friend Johnny Thomas sped past at speeds that could only make you presume that its Argentinean pilot wanted to be first home! The Brighton is a totally different rally to your normal event insofar as with so many early cars ahead of you a lot of careful manoeuvring is required, not only do you have to weave in and out of cars but you also have the problem of not getting runs into hills and so a lot of gear changing is required – a difficult enough task at the best of times. It was at this stage that I noticed Eric, who has a lot of early motoring experience behind him, slipped totally unbeknownst to himself into rear gunner mode! Without any prompting he would call ‘ok to pull out’, ‘car on inside’ and all sorts of warnings which are so helpful when called by a veteran driver such as Eric – a skill so badly performed by a modern motorist. We had a worry in the lead-up to the event in relation to one of our wheels – as so often happens these wooden spoked wheels on cars that are in dry storage, the wood in the wheel can contract and so loosen the spokes – we had been dealing with this on our left rear wheel but had soaked the wheel over a period of time and used resin to close the gap. However we noticed that when moving slowly, the wheel was creaking – regular checks kept us mobile but we came across a Gladiator which had not been so lucky – a wheel had totally disintegrated and the car was 12 IVVCC WINTER 2010
1903 Gordon Bennett Napier
lying down on the axle – a nightmare situation as transporting the car was now virtually impossible. We headed on through Brixton and closer to the outskirts of London where we passed Shane and Zuzana Houlihan in their immaculate 1902 Panhard taking on fuel at a service station. I was happy to see he was in the sector before us in Hyde Park as Jim and Shane always end up racing each other – Jenatzy may have been the ‘Red Devil’ but Shane should be called ‘The Red Rag’ as no sooner does ‘The Bull’ Boland see him than the race starts. As we passed the petrol station Jim joked that Shane would be rushing everybody back on board and taking chase and no sooner did he say this than we spotted him in pursuit. Traffic was heavy and we were badly hindered by a mixture of early cars, trucks and cyclists who were blocking both lanes, when ‘Red Rag Houlihan’ passed on the outside, and so it happened, Jim swung out and the challenge was on – I don’t think Jenson Button’s drive in San Paolo would have been able to manoeuvre through the traffic the way Jim did and after a short distance we were on Shanes tail and stayed there up hill and down dale until Shane, deciding that red lights were for locals, went through and as Jim contemplated doing the same, a policeman appeared just like the elderly man in ‘Genevieve’ so ended the ‘Great Race’. My only fear is that some day the two lads will follow in the footsteps of John Gregson and Kenneth More and bet the cars on the run! Just before Gatwick we came across Osmond Bennett in his father Ossie’s 1901 De Dion Bouton – it’s so wonderful to see him carry on the tradition of going to Brighton, just like his dad did for so many years. We next came across Shane at the coffee stop in Crawley where he informed us that he had just had his lunch and a sleep – please don’t wind Jim up – I don’t want him to risk the Renault in a bet! Mind you the cold must have given him some appetite as he joined us for more bacon rolls! I really appreciated the stop as it gave us all time to heat up – the cold was unbearable
but at least it wasn’t raining like the previous year – rumour had it that last year a lot of cars wouldn’t restart after the coffee stop – or was it because a lot of people just couldn’t face getting back up on their cars in the cold and torrential rain! After checking the levels on the car it was time to load up and head off but Jim refused to take the wheel again and instead insisted that I should ‘take her in’ and so we headed off. It’s amazing how even though I’ve driven that car for the last 30 years and put thousands of miles on it, I was so nervous driving it with ‘The Master’ in the passenger seat! We had a few problems on the way in with the timing which was adjusting by itself and hitting the dead spot which caused the engine to cut out a few times – however we overcame this as we went on. As we travelled south the traffic became worse as a lot of cyclists had now joined in and at one stage we had one using us as a wind break! The rest of the journey was uneventful and we pulled up at the Finish podium in Brighton at noon exactly where like the rest of the route the crowds were out to cheer us along. After receiving our finishers medal and a special award reserved only for Renaults supplied by the maker– a bottle of champagne, we parked up and availed of Bonham’s hospitality of a wonderfully prepared hot chilli con carne and some great conversation in the marquee. It was great to see the Irish entries come in safe and sound, however there were a few casualties. Tommy Sheridan in his recently restored Speedwell and undergoing first run trials had sheared the pulley on his water pump and retired. Also to retire were Don in the Winton and Reg in the Sperry. Finishers included Osmond Bennett, Jonathon Bewley, Jimmy Bohan in his 1903 De Dion Bouton, the three
magnificent Boland cars of Andrew, Jim and Anthony and of course ‘ole Red Rag’ himself who was first of the Irish home! The amount of statistics available on the run are staggering but here are a few that may be of interest – total accepted entries 572 representing 24 Nations; largest overseas entries – Germany 26, USA and France with 19 each, Ireland 13; Started – 508; Finished – 433; Retired – 74 and Disqualified – 1! – the Gordon Bennett Napier which I presume was either for speeding or dangerous driving! As I strolled among the cars along Madeira Drive you could not fail to be overwhelmed by the history that surrounded you. A particularly poignant moment was when I was looking at Ossie’s DeDion and remembered the last time that I met the great man was right there in Madeira Drive and the strange thing was that it felt like Ossie and Betty along with the other pioneers of the Irish Veteran scene were right there with us in spirit. At the end of a wonderful day it was time to reload the Renault onto the transporter and let it head off again on its return trip and I would like to thank the Bolands’ for their kindness and assistance in making this dream a reality – they really embrace the spirit of the Veteran car movement. And so the little Renault will be going into hibernation until the summer comes along with those two wonderful events – The Pioneer Run and The Gordon Bennett – I have driven a range of cars over the years but have a special affinity with early veteran cars and it was wonderful to see such a collection of Irish entries in Brighton – I look forward to seeing them all again on our home runs and would dearly love to see the Gordon Bennett in particular have a large turnout of early Class A cars.
Happy memories of my friend By Harry Noctor t was a beautiful summers evening in Enniscorthy, the we met and made wonderful friends with Albert Collier occasion being the closing of the Strawberry Fair and and his family, Tom Cahill, Jim Fitzpatrick, Charlie Byrne we were enjoying the Band of the Garda Siochana, and their families and many more. We were quite a gang strawberries and cream and the usual Wexford craic, when and became known a the club’s ‘A Team’ due to our someone said that there was a vintage car show up the activities at club events and the organising of quite a town in the GAA grounds. number of ARM outings. So we climbed the long hill John loved the annual and went into the show in which Pilgrimage to Beaulieu and all the there were a lot of cars including other autojumbles and shows quite a lot from Wales, by around the country which we invitation of the Enniscorthy attended. Club. As we approached the cars At the September First we saw a lovely grey MG 1100 Monday Meeting, which was saloon and a man standing only three days before we left for beside it. My son Paul said the the Rosslare Ferry, I asked John if man was a member of the he wanted anything brought IVVCC. So over we went and back from Beaulieu? He looked introduced ourselves. The man at me with tears in his eyes and was indeed a member of the said “What I would give to be John Kane, Tom Cahill and Harry Noctor with IVVCC and his name was John going with you and the lads.” John's beloved MG 1100, June 2008. Kane. A few days later John was That simple meeting was the start of a wonderful admitted to hospital where he passed away in the early relationship between John and his family and mine. We morning of October 2nd. shared all the joys and sorrows, laughter and tears and As far as the lads are concerned, Gentleman John has believe me there were many over the years. Through John, just gone home…!
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him working for it – he had managed to save £30 when his mother approached him and suggested that she had another £30 saved and that if they pooled their funds they could buy a small secondhand car – her plan was that Jim would be able to drive the whole family around during the visit. And so Jim found a 1936 Morris 8 but was still short of £20, however, never deterred, he arranged a deal where he paid the £60 up front and the balance by way of £1 per week.
Jim, Breda and Theo Ryan on RIAC Pioneer Run.
he Bentley boys glory days were coming to an end, Al Capone had just received an 11 year sentence in Alcatraz for tax evasion and the United States were in the depths of a recession – some things never change! There were a few notable births – James Dean and Leonard Nimoy to name a few – but on a farm near Lucan, the man who would, in future years, become a friend to so many car enthusiasts – Jim Boland was born. Jim has, over the years, brought so many cars back to life and has travelled the world promoting the Veteran car movement in Ireland and bringing so much history into the country – he has dedicated his
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life to the motor car and has become without a doubt the foremost authority on cars in Ireland and way beyond. Jim has spoken on several occasions about how he came across his first veteran car but the story of how he got his first every day car merits telling – in 1950 his mothers sister Nell, who like so many people in the early part of the twentieth century had emigrated to America was now coming home for a visit – a huge occasion as most people never got to make the return journey. At this stage Jim’s love was for motorbikes and he had his eye on a Dr Clarkes, AJS which was for sale – however, funds were low and it was beyond his reach but that didn’t stop
Jim and John with 1902 Renault on Opel Spring Rally.
All went to plan until Jim discovered that having a car made him very popular with the fairer sex and on one Sunday morning after mass, Jim who had a date organised was horrified to discover that his mother, a very determined person (sounds familiar!) had planned a nice Sunday drive – a stand-off arose with neither party giving in until Jim’s dad who had been reading the paper quietly, slowly lowered it and proclaimed in a calm but extremely serious voice that he had a solution – he stood up from the table, walked out to the shed and took
By JOHN BOLAND Breda and Jim
Jim, Tony and John in Bentley 6.5 Litre circa 1978
out a hatchet and adopting the wisdom of Solomon approached the car, opened the bonnet and lifted the axe! Jim and his mum came to their senses and a compromise was quickly reached – drive and date were agreed! Whether Pat would have beaten the engine, nobody knows but neither were going to take the risk – this was probably the inspiration for Jim to learn how to repair cars – you could never know when a similar situation might occur, but it never did! There are thousands of tales to tell about Jim’s life but they are for another time – the important thing now is that Jim is celebrating a milestone in his life – note that at no stage have I mentioned his age – this is because its irrelevant to Jim as he is still the same enthusiastic person that everybody has known and loved for so long. He has always been a rock in the IVVCC and is always comfortable discussing cars whether it is with
the complete amateur or the most acclaimed expert on any make whether they be President, Baron or Lord, he can keep them enthralled for hours with his witty banter and incredible knowledge. He has a memory that cannot be matched and indeed I find myself making notes and rechecking them time and time again, while he just recalls it all effortlessly! His love of cars was personified in an interview when he was asked the most unthinkable question of all – “Would he sell the cars?” – as quick as lightening and in a horrified voice he replied – “Oh God No!!! I’d rather sell the children!” Jim, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of everyone in the club, to wish you a ‘happy birthday’ and to thank you for everything you have done to promote and keep alive the spirit of the car movement in Ireland. Here’s to the next decade and wishing you and Breda many years of happy motoring!
1952,Jim and Kathleen with Jim’s first car, a Morris 8 in Killarney.
Jim with President Hillary aboard Benz Patent Wagon.
Jim & Kathleen on the Leinster Run
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2 have an ould Ferrari 430 that I took as a trade-in, would you like to take it for a drive?” says Des. “Would I what?” says I! So we drove as directly as any petrol head would, from his home in Foxrock to Sandyford…via Wicklow! It was a great experience with Des more relaxed than a man owning a car worth some €110,000 perhaps should be while been driven by someone new to this car. That’s the kind of guy Des is…chilled!
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Des Cullen 16 IVVCC WINTER 2010
3 Exotic motor cars and motorcycles have been part of Des’s life for decades and it all started with a pedal car… Born on 20 December 1930 at Browns Castle in Taghmon, County Wexford, his family owned a farm of 198 acres, a fair amount of which was hilly and forested. The family also owned a mill where they ground
barley, wheat etc for the local farmers. Des used to amuse himself by dragging his pedal car (which he thinks was based on a Vauxhall) to the top of one of the many tracks and getting to the bottom in the fastest possible time. Touching the pedals wasn’t an option as they were going so fast injury was guaranteed! In time, he and his older brother Jim used to drive the family Vulcan which was used to pull a harrow, hardly the training ground you would expect for one of Ireland’s most successful racing motorcyclists and drivers! While at St Peters School, Wexford, where he was a boarder, he had a great interest in sports and played gaelic, badminton and rugby which he continued by playing for Palmerston later on. When he left school he went to work for Buckley’s Accessories in Erne Street. They sold Lambretta scooters amongst other things. Because of Des’s talent, they loaned him a ‘works’ Aerial 500 on the condition that he
4 1. 1954 Des at the An Tostal Race in Cork, which he won. 2. 1961 winning at Dunboyne in an Austin Healey Sprite. 3. 1960 Des at the Phoenix Park in his MGA 1600. 4. Des with his MG TD wearing his Irish Motor Racing Club blazer when he was part of the team in the Hewison Trophy. 5. 1982 Des has a big bang in his Fiat at Mondello, he walks away and gets £1.20 for the car from a scrap merchant!
win races. They need not have worried and Des kept the bike for more than two years! His first win was the An Tostal, held in Cork in 1954. This was a sign of things to come as he successfully participated in scrambles, grass track and trials and races most weekends. Des raced motorbikes from 1948 until 1961, when he got married to Collette. He stayed away from the bikes for about a year, when the organisers of The Rose of Tralee Festival persuaded him to race in Tralee during the Rose Festival in order to bring in the crowds. He was contd...
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encouraged to bring his fellow racers down also. Needless to say Des came first and then finally retired from motorbike racing. He bought a Dellow in 1958 and simultaneously raced both car and bike until 1961, when he went to cars full-time. In 1955 Reg Armstrong approached him and offered him a job. While showing him around the works Reg showed him a warehouse full of NSU motorcycles and asked Des if he could sell them. Des felt he could and the bikes were all sold within two weeks! He also recognised the untapped market of women motorcyclists. He told Reg that most women wouldn’t be bothered kick starting a motorbike and an electric start would result in more customers. Electric starters were duly fitted and the NSU Prima was a strong seller. In order to understand the mechanics of the bikes Des spent a week in the assembly area under Vivian Steevenson (my wife Patricia’s uncle), who was in charge of assembly. Viv was a forthright man who believed in calling a spade a spade. “You’re no effing mechanic and you’ll make a b…..x of these bikes” he told Des. “I’m here to learn NOT to make a b…..x of the bikes and you’re to teach me” retorted Des! Within the week he learnt all about the NSU Quickly, Prima, Max, Super Max and Maxi and became popular
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with the motorbike shops on his visits when some of the dealers would have a queue of owners with technical questions for him. They were gratified that he could help them because he knew what he was talking about. At the time Des was the only salesman for Armstrong’s and travelled the country every three weeks in his company car, an NSU Prinz, which Armstrong’s were also assembling. Des had great success with this little car in rallies and navigation runs sometimes partnered by his brother Jim. Then when Armstrong’s got the Honda agency, they really cleaned up. Des sold Honda 50s by the dozen and they had to be paid for by the costumer in advance! Because of the
success with Honda, Des no longer had the time to travel the country, as he was bogged down with orders, guarantees, etc. After first racing the NSU Prinz, he then raced the Honda 600 in which he won nine out of the ten races in that series. He left Armstrong’s in 1969 and went out to work for himself. His first garage was in Church Avenue in Rathmines and it was called Wheelspin and a visit there was always interesting as the stock was eclectic - motor cycles, kit cars, old racers, modern cars, jap imports and the like. He then moved across the road in 1979 and became Des Cullen Cars with his wife Collette and son Michael in partnership with him. At one stage he became a Hyundai main dealer. Customers for exotic cars were bemused by the presence of the Hyundai cars alongside Ferraris and other exotica! The decision to let the dealership go was hastened by Hyundai’s demands for three toilets and four cars on display (as opposed to the seven Des had in the showroom) so that the customers could walk around the cars. Des retorted in usual Des fashion, that he had sold a Bentley and a Ferrari the previous week to some customers who didn’t even ask if he had a toilet! He moved from there to the Beacon and continued to sell exotics to eager customers. He retired from racing in 2000. His lap record in Mondello still stands because the Ritmo series finished. In 2003 he and his brother
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THE IVVCC CROSSWORD PUZZLE - NO. 39 Send completed entry (a photocopy is fine) to: ANSELM AHERNE, 63 Granitefield Estate, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. A bottle of wine goes to the first all-correct entry picked out of the bag! Name:....................................................................................... Address:.................................................................................... .................................................................................................
Jim won the Centenary Gordon Bennett Rally in Jim’s 1929 Riley Biarritz. He has had a number of unusual cars in his time such as the first Austin Healey Sprite in Ireland, a couple of Ferrari Dino 246s, a Maserati Bora, Jaguar E Types (one kept for 7 years) various Porsches and SL Mercedes and many others. He has sold some of the most expensive cars ever sold in Ireland, including a Porsche GT for some €1.2 million and two Ferrari Enzos for €1 million each. He used one of these in a demonstration in Goodwood along with well-known musician petrol head, JK (Jamiroquoi). Des is no stranger to celebrity customers and Daniel Day Lewis was a regular, amongst others. None of this success has gone to his head and he is one of the most down-to-earth people you could meet. For me Des is a ray of sunshine, always positive and a pleasure to meet. He has lived the kind of life most motor enthusiasts dream about, owning and driving great machines and having fun too. He has won over 800 (yes 800!) awards in his career and loved it. His favourite racing was the Fiat Ritmo series in Mondello. Des tells me he has had a great life doing what he loved and having an understanding wife in Collette and a loving family. Michael also developed an interest in motor racing and went on to become a successful racing driver both in Ireland and internationally. His two daughters, Pauline and Ann Marie, took to horses instead, “more lethal than cars or bikes” says Des! Sadly Collette died on 31 Dec 2005 and Des lost his partner of 43 years. In recent times Des has all but retired from the selling of exotics. He still has a stable of beautiful motor cars and bikes including the Fiat Gamine (Noddy Car), Lancia Monte Carlo, MG Midget, Austin Healey 100/6 and MGB GT. He also has 5 motorcycles! He would love to have a 30bhp NSU Prinz 2 (does IZO 583 or IZA 499 still survive?) and a good Honda 50. Des Cullen is a worthy subject for a book on his life and exploits. He has an extensive collection of race results and photos dating from the early fifties that any motoring historian would be thrilled to have. When I ask him on reaching the monumental age of 80, was there anything he would like to do or wish for? With a twinkle in his eye, “just to keep alive!” says he. “Amen to that” says I… PHOTOS: 1. Des with a small selection of his trophies. 2. 2003, Jim and Des Cullen with the Gordon Bennett Centenary Trophy which they won alongside Jim’s 1929 Riley Biarritz. 3. Lucky ‘petrolheads’ Des and JK at Goodwood.
Phone:....................................... Mobile: ................................
ACROSS 1. As any car enthusiast is to join IVVCC! (8) 4. Answer as soon as possible, initially (4) 7. Sweet for VW, or horseback team? (4) 8. Invoice again - for a battery top-up? (8) 10. ‘At this moment in time’ (3) 11. Button to press to lose selfcontrol (5) 13. Don’t 11 Across, keep this garment on (5) 15. Change gear – and don this garment? (5) 16. This solution is actually no good at all (7) 20. Four of these will meet at 12 Down (5) 21. Do it yourself, initially anyway here (3) 23. An image, briefly, before a graph (5) 24. This answer is definitely not here (6) 25. Joined up - for a Manchester team? (6)
DOWN: 1. Reimbursements - even without receipts! (8) 2. Relative, in the legal profession? (5) 3. A good buy, in the January sales? (7) 5. Season to be kept in suspension (6) 6. Pastry, often envisioned in the sky (3) 9. Jump - for a single beer ingredient? (3) 12. Tetchy traffic junction (9) 13. Less dangerous solution (5) 14. Jobs, for the boys - or the girls (5) 17. Sell abroad - ex a harbour (6) 18. Regular routine - in clergy garb? (5) 19. Notion - from a reformed aide (4) 22. Answer this in the affirmative (3) 23. Writing instrument - for sheep? (3)
SOLUTION TO CROSSWORD No. 38 – Autumn 2010 issue ACROSS: 1. RESTORED 4. HOUR 7. CELL 8. VEHICLES 10. AIR 11. LINKS 13. MAGIC
15. 16. 20. 21. 23. 24. 25.
EVENT PRESENT RINGO UCD CRUMB ATTACK ARCHER
DOWN: 1. RECHARGE 2. SOLAR 3. REVENGE 5. ONLINE 6. RDS 9. ILL 12. SEPTEMBER
13. 14. 17. 18. 19. 22. 23.
MINER CURIO ENOUGH KNOCK CUBA DOT CAR
Winner Crossword Competition No. 38 is Pat & Shiela Meehan, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
IVVCC WINTER 2010 19
Mercedes Benz International
Gordon Bennett Rally 2010 11th-13th 2010 FIRST OVERALL - Gordon Bennett Trophy: Michael Jackson, car no. 152 - 1929 Lancia Lambda THE NAPIER TROPHY: Bernard Williamson, car no. 2 - 1902 De Dion Bouton. This car is in Class A and there were no other competitors in this class who took part in the event. There were a number of cars who did the route but they were belonging to another class.
1st: 2nd: 3rd: 4th:
THE CASSIDY CUP: CLASS B Stewart Skilbeck, car no. 42 - 1915 Rover 12hp. Clive Millar, car no. 48 - 1918 Stutz Bearcat Leonard Barr, car no. 24 - 1913 Standard Rhyl Patrick Hemphill, car no. 44 - 1916 Overland 83B Tourer
THE DUBLIN GRAND PRIX TROPHY CLASS C1 1st: Shane Houlihan, car no. - 132 Delage 2nd: Michael D'Arcy, car no. 90 - 1926 Dodge 3rd: David Hazeldine, car no. 99 - 1926 Rolls Royce Tourer 4th: David Marsh, car no. 84 - 1925 Vauxhall 30/98 20 IVVCC WINTER 2010
1st: 2nd: 3rd: 4th:
THE PHOENIX TROPHY CLASS C2 John Webber, car no. 184 - 1930 Rolls Royce 20/25 William Dick, car no. 109 - 1927 Willys Knight 70/70A Detlef Heyer, car no. 131 - 1928 Mercedes Dennis Dowdall, car no. 126 - 1928 Rolls Royce 20hp
THE VALERIE MILLINGTON CUP: (Best individual regularity performance) Keith Pearson, car no. 29 - 1913 Krit K Tourer THE PATRICK HEMPHILL AWARD: (Spirit of the Event) Gwynne Thomas, car no. 5 - 1905 Martini Roi de Belge THE PATRICK DEALE TROPHY: (A special prize for the short route) Bernard Williamson, car no. 2 - 1902 De Dion Bouton THE ALAN WILSON TROPHY: (Favourite car in the event of the previous year's winner) Roy Gibson, car no. 151 - 1929 Alfa Romeo 1750
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PHOTOS: 1. Kevin Byrne and company in his 1928 Chevrolet National. 2. Alan Thomas driving his 1927 MG 14/40. 3. Dudley Smith fills up his 1924 Morris Cowley ‘Bullnose’. 4. Neil McKenzie and cousin Ian De La Richie with Ian’s 1926 Bentley 3 litre van Den Plas Tourer. 5. Jennifer and Theo Ryan enjoying the warm weather.
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The IVVCC has appointed Ian McCulloch (right) as Clerk of the Course for the Gordon Bennett Rally. Ian recently retired from the post of Deputy Principal at Sandford Park School. He joined the Kildare Motor Club while at Trinity College, when navigation rallies were popular, and subsequently the Trial Driver's Club, and has competed as a driver and navigator in his MG Midget over the past 30 years in rallies and autotests. With this wealth of experience he has been involved in organising numerous motor sports events, and looks forward to the Gordon Bennett Rally, next June. IVVCC WINTER 2010 21
3rd October Start Point: Roes Driving Range, Kilternan
Eric Byrne with his Porsche 911
Roger Byrne and John Lynch in their 1973 MG Midget
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Noel & Christine Hughes in their ‘new’ car!
The O’Donovans enjoy the Wicklow Gap in their Jaguar XK 120 DHC
Martin & Tom Leech with Martin’s award winning 1923 Vauxhall 14/40.
Alex & Jean Morton with their 1972 Jaguar E Type V12, winners of the Murtagh Pepetual Trophy.
Trish Farrell and Jim Dolan with Jim’s 1964 Mercedes 190C
Patrick Clarke and Kevin Browne with the 1977 Citroen GS Estate.
The Denning’s and their 1936 Mercedes 290A Cabriolet.
Dr Stanley & Ruth Millar and their 1952 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn, winners of the Classic Section Pepetual Trophy.
IVVCC WINTER 2010 23
1971 MERCEDES 1965 MERCEDES 300 SEL 3.5 V8 230 SL
FOR SALE Rarer than the 6.3 model. Burgundy metallic, tan leather interior, good condition, driving well. €6000. PHONE: 01-4554692.
FOR SALE Gold with black MB tex, 87k, hard and soft tops, Low (€1,500) BIK Price: €26,000 PH: 01-2985642 OR 087-8217227
1936 AUSTIN 1953 ROVER P4 60 YORK 16-6
FOR SALE FOR SALE In good condition. PHONE: JIM AT 01-4503794 OR 087-9747903.
1975 BMW 2002
1974 ROLLS-ROYCE
MULLINER PARK WARD CORNICHE FOR SALE
1935 RILEY LYNX 12/4 TOURER
FOR SALE
Tudor red biscuit coloured everflex roof with magnolia leather. New exhaust, low BIK (c.€4,500). Price: €28,000 PH: 01-2985642 / 087-8217227
White with red wheels and interior. CONTACT: 0044-1-242-602340
1924 BUICK TOURER 2.5
1971 TRIUMPH STAG
FOR SALE
Needing a little attention. Original tool kit. €4,000 PHONE: HENRY MAUDE 01-8338452.
Currently being used as a wedding car. Running well, all inspections welcome. €35,000 ono.
1936 HILLMAN MINX 1.0
1964 MERCEDES 220S FINTAIL
FOR SALE
Saloon. Manual, light blue with blue cloth interior. Good body, used and maintained regularly. Ideal starter classic.
PHONE: 0402-37227 or 086-0552660.
OR 0044-788-1598616
FOR SALE Pristine condition. New Burr Elm Dash. New Mohair Hood. Hard Top. No expense spared. Winner of 2008 Powerscourt Picnic Run, Post-War Sports Tourer. €10,500.
PHONE: Joe 086-8755494.
1957 MORRIS AMBULANCE
FOR SALE Automatic, met. blue, 63.5k, 5 onrs, Dublin 8 area. Original Irish car. New alternator, regulator, fan blower, tyres, alarm, battery, rear cylinders, alloys, leatherette interior, sports steering wheel, CD, receipts from specialist mechanic. Requires bodywork to be mint. Great engine. €8,500 ono.
PHONE: 086-2681953
In good condition and has been used as a wedding car. 1 litre engine running well. Viewing welcome. €6,000 ono.
PHONE: 0402-37227 or 086-0552660.
FOR SALE
PHONE: DERMOT 086-8110023 OR 045-874056.
FOR SALE Kitted out as a limousine in the rear but all parts to put it back to original
PARTS FOR SALE 1 engine for 16/6 Austin 1936, 1 gearbox, 1 carb downdraught 36-V-E1, 1 pair stainless steel bumpers made for 1936 Austin 16/6 as new.
1953 FORD PREFECT
1951 ROVER P4 ‘CYCLOPS’
CONTACT: JIM AT: 087 9747903 OR 01 4503794.
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2.5 litre engine. NCT’d, running well, all inspections welcome. €7,500 ono.
PHONE: 0402-37227 or 086-0552660.
Front axle, back axle, front and back springs eye to eye, front 33.5”and back 47.5”, all from a 1934 Austin 18/6, 6 spoked wheels 6 hole 19”, 2 hubs for rebuilding, 1 A frame collapsible, complete pin and eye, 1 half shaft for 1936 Austin 16/6, 1 camshaft.
condition will be included in sale.
WANTED FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Completely original with all tools and manuals. Known to owner for at least 30 years and is in first class condition. €5,000 ono. Phone: Morgan 087-6864973
Very good condition. Always garaged. €6,000. PHONE: 086-8200251
FOR 1932 FORD MODEL B. Steering box and pedal box or complete car for restoration. Call 087-2420688 or email: dboland@wexfordcarcentre.com
1952 DAIMLER BARKER 1969 ALFA ROMEO 1972 CORVETTE 1987 PORSCHE GUILIA 1300 TI STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE 911 3.2 CARRERA SPECIAL SPORTS
FOR SALE Two-tone met. grey, red leather interior, pre-selector gearbox, just reconditioned by UK specialists P&A Leach Engineers Limited, Bath. Bought in UK 1996, c.113,000 miles, believed genuine, rare model, in good condition. €16000 ono. PHONE: JAMES 01-2986194 OR 086-2570542.
FOR SALE
FOR SALE High performance version of the Julia 1300. 5-speed gear box, 100mph. Photographic record of restoration in 2002. 48,560 recorded miles. New minilite alloys and tyres. Original manual and service records from new. Many new parts incl. recent distributor. Kept in dehumidified garage, never intentionally driven in the rain. Not perfect but much admired wherever she goes. €6,500 PHONE: 01-2868026.
5.7 litre V8 with big valve race heads. 4 speed manual close ratio Muncie gearbox. Only 400 made in this spec. Awesome sound and performance. Pearl white paintwork. Chrome everything. Many trophies and show wins. Vintage insurance and €48 road tax. €19,500. Phone: 086-2569411 (Dublin area)
FOR SALE Coupe - Dublin reg, G50 gear box, finished in arena red, just 96,000 miles from new, superb condition throughout, with full black leather interior, factory fitted sunroof, alarm and 17” Porsche cup alloys. Recent complete new clutch great oppurtunity and sound investment, complete with both sets of original keys. Garaged and dry use only, for the past 12 years. Car comes complete with fully breathable all weather custom car cover. Part-exchange considered. This car must be seen to be appreciated. Offers: Region of €25,000.
Ph: 086-2616008.
RESTORATION WORK UNDERTAKEN
SECURE INDOOR CAR STORAGE
1990 MAZDA MX5
GARAGE TO RENT
Especially R.R. specialising in re-wires, as original. Please ask or see you on Gordon Bennett. PHONE: PHIL CORDERY U.K. 01248-717808 EVENINGS
One mile off Exit 5, N7. Phone: 01-4580395 or 087-9804099.
FOR SALE Racing green with tan interior. Excellent condition. €3,500 CONTACT: 087-2550000
Secure and dry. For further details PHONE: OLIVER FORDE 01-2884254 OR 087-2569411
STEPASIDE AREA.
CLUB SHOP Our IVVCC member MICHAEL DUFF (left) looks after the regalia and will take orders at the monthly First Monday Meetings at Kiely’s on Deerpark Road. He will also take orders by phone (01-4502240), or you can write to him at: 58 St. James Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12. BLAZER with IVVCC Badge available direct from Business Items Ltd. of Dun Laoghaire (01-2300501 or 086-2536178). Price incl. the Club badge is €130. Orders take approximately 10 days to make ready.
1 RADIATOR BADGE €34.00
4. LAPEL PIN BADGE €4.00
Plus P+P
Plus P+P
2 GORDON BENNETT BADGE €40.00
5. WINDSCREEN STICKER €2.00
Plus P+P
3. KEY RING €5.00 Plus P+P
WHEN ORDERING A pack containing one each of numbers 1, 3 & 4 may be purchased at a special price of €40.00. Post & Packing charges will apply at the current rate at time of postage.
TRADE AND SKILLS INITIATIVE During 2006/2007 FIVA decided that Trade and Skills should be included in its policy work and form part of its new Directorate. This decision was based on the belief that such issues would, over time, become more critical to the survival of the historic movement worldwide. At the September 2007 General Assembly meeting in Copenhagen a new Director, Tony Davies (UK), was elected to oversee this new work for FIVA. The first attempt at the project proved to be too optimistic - a new more realistic approach was developed in 2010. Since then Tony has been working to achieve the following objectives. ● Where there are endangered skills there is a need to identify how we can reduce the gaps between demand and supply. ● FIVA and ANFs (National representatives e.g. IVVCC) should form partnerships with manufacturers and key professional Associations. ● FIVA and the ANFs need to highlight the “Bigger Picture” with our hopes and aspirations, e.g. we need to be able to repair; maintain; restore and drive our historic vehicles. FIVA propose to hold regular Trade and Skills seminars to progress this project. We will keep members informed of developments. IVVCC WINTER 2010 25
SEPTEMBER OUTING
ARM group at Locke’s
Locke’s Distillery Kilbeggan he weather forecast for the few days before the ARM Sept outing was awful. We were told to expect strong winds and plenty of rain on the Thursday. Thankfully they were wrong as the day of the event turned out to be pleasant with no rain. However to be safe we brought an old car with a roof. We were off to Locke’s Distillery in Kilbeggan. Now we had been there before with the ARM but as there is always a social content to ARM days we decided to go. The original plan for the day was to have two sittings for lunch because the distillery restaurant was not large enough. I did not like that arrangement but on the day we were all able to sit down together. The meeting place was arranged for the Johnstown House Hotel in Enfield where tea/coffee was available. We did not avail of that because due to a road closure we arrived late. Soon we were off on our way to Kilbeggan. On arrival our visit to Locke’s started with lunch in the Pantry Restaurant, after which we were taken on a conducted tour of the distillery.
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Old steam engine
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Our guide at coopers corner
Established in 1757, Locke’s is the last remaining example of a small potstill distillery in Ireland. The distillery made pot-still Irish whiskey for almost 200 years. The engineering content of this plant is of great interest. There is a working water wheel which can be seen turning components within the distillery. There are many large size bevel gears which are understandable considering that the power comes in at True our group was large with 55 one point and must be transmitted to people present. all parts of the building. Some of these Our day out was organised by Denis gear wheels do not work as their teeth, Murphy and Eleanor Brodie and they which are made of wood, are damaged did a good job, thank you. My and broken. There is also a very old comments are not meant to reflect, in horizontal steam engine that can be any way, on their work. used for backup power. Large bevel gears The distillery is a most interesting place and it was a pity that Locke’s could not provide a guide with some engineering knowledge. The presentation was poor and difficult to hear. Likewise the restaurant was not great. We have been to many places over the years and this one would rank with the poorest and yet there is so much of interest in the place. Locke’s would need to do a lot better to attract visitors.
e met in the National Concert Hall restaurant for morning tea/coffee. This of course was after parking our old cars in the car park. We were then to visit the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in the Department of Transport Building in Leeson Lane, just a short walk from the Concert Hall. Then for lunch we had to travel to the Springfield Hotel in Leixlip. When I saw this programme I was not very enthusiastic about it. Going through Dublin in old cars, I could not see any pleasure or enjoyment in that and there wasn’t. To be honest it was a pain in the butt. However Ambrose and Joan Duffy had obviously put a significant amount of work into the preparations and we decided to give it a try. Now I know where the Concert Hall is, I have been in it many times over the years but not since the Luas arrived. Our journey brought us onto Stephen’s Green and then I noticed that the traffic was all going in the wrong direction. We circled Stephen’s Green three times in trying to get to the Hall and then only succeeded in reaching our destination by going the wrong way up a one-way-street. In all our driving about the area we did not see even one sign indicating directions to the Hall. The lovely Stephens Green that we grew up with is a disgrace, particularly on the west side. The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre was something else, a breadth of competence and professionalism in a sea of waste. The Centre coordinates the activities of all state agencies involved in rescue at sea and land. Included would be Gardai, Army, Naval Service, HSE, Lifeboat Service,
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Maps and Charts at the Centre
OCTOBER OUTING The old Control Room
Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre Sub aqua Groups, Mountain Rescue, and the Helicopter Service. Six large helicopters are available, four are stationed at strategic locations around the coast and the other two are held as backup. There is very good working co-operation between the services in this country and those in other countries, particularly our nearest neighbours. Borders don’t figure in the working relationships and we in this country work very closely with the British in many rescue operations.
While we were at the centre they were dealing with two rescue situations. A police helicopter had gone down in the Mourne Mountains at the site of another helicopter crash about a week ago. The other case involved an Air Corp plane that had lost an engine west of Ireland and the pilot was trying to make his way back to Knock Airport. The staff at the Centre was dealing with these situations as part of their daily work, contd... without fuss.
ARM group at the Rescue Centre
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good insight into what is involved in emergency rescue. It is reassuring to know that such people are at hand if serious trouble should arise. Our lunch at the Springfield Hotel was very nice and we all had plenty to eat. We had a great day out and thanks to Ambrose and Joan. Since our last day out in September long-time member John Kane passed away. John was a member of the ARM from the beginning. He was a nice quiet man, always pleasant to talk with and a very staunch supporter of our group. John and his old friend Harry Noctor could be seen together at many rallies particularly the ARM. In recent years John did not enjoy the best of health but it is sad that he is gone. “Ar deis Dea go raibh a anam naofa”
ARM group at the Rescue Centre
Monitoring the movement of shipping around our coasts and beyond is another part of their work. Any ship from 300 tons up can be detected. Helicopters can watch shipping from 80 miles away. Helicopters have a range of about 200 miles off our coastline and they can be in the air in about 15 minutes in
daytime and 45 min at night. These targets and are usually improved upon in practice. The people at the Centre are currently opening a new higher tech service and they will formally operate this new Centre in mid December. We wish them good luck and success with their new facility. We received a very
“Monitoring the movement of shipping around our coasts and beyond is another part of their work.”
NOVEMBER OUTING
National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire s I write this report the snow is falling, outside has worked as an aviation consultant with Ryanair. Part of everything is white and according to the radio his work covers the fields of safety and quality systems. the city of Dublin is in chaos, at a standstill, More recently John has become involved with the due to the weather. It’s not Friday but only consortium trying to build a new airport near Arklow. Wednesday and I am very glad our ARM day was last week The presentation by John was very interesting and and not this week. educational. It started with a short film which was very Our November meeting has been held in the Yacht Club amusing and funny while still having a serious side. His for several years. It is our 2011 date fixing meeting when following talk, presented in a light-hearted manner the program of events for next year are set. This popular emphasised his deep knowledge of aircraft operation and event is organised by Tony and Ann Jobling and this year safety. However it finished too soon and I could have 75 people turned up for the event. For us listened to him for considerably longer. the day starts with a DART journey from The talk was followed by lunch in the Club and that Howth to Dun Laoghaire. Some was to the usual high standard of the staff at the “As I write this people arrive in cars and I noticed a Club. The date-fixing meeting that followed was a report the snow is few old cars in the car park. brief affair and all dates for 2011 have been Tony had arranged a pre-lunch falling, outside everything allocated. Henry Noonan and Noel Kavanagh presentation for us. This was have agreed to continue as coordinators for one is white and according given by Capt John Leahy and the more year. topic was “How safe is flying?”. Our thanks to Tony, Ann and John for a nice to the radio the city of John has had a 34-year career day out and to Henry and Mary Noonan and Noel Dublin is in with British Airways during which Kavanagh for their work in keeping our monthly he was Chief Pilot on their 747 ARM outings live and active. chaos!” Boeing Fleet. Since his retirement John
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he scene is at the opening of the new members’ garaging facility in August 1904 at the Irish Automobile Club premises in Dawson Street, Dublin. The IAC, which had been founded in January 1901, acquired its more familiar initials RIAC in August 1918 when King George V granted it a royal charter, in recognition of the services of club members by adapting their cars as ambulances to ferry wounded soldiers from ships to Dublin hospitals and convalescent homes, or back to their families. Up to twenty cars were in full-time service as ambulances when the First World War ended and a further three ambulances were bought for use at the front in France. By the time of this picture, it was estimated that there were over 200 cars on Irish roads. At the end of 1903, motor registration numbers were introduced for all mechanically propelled road vehicles, so the figure estimated may have been gleaned from adding up the totals of registration numbers issued thus far by the county councils and borough corporations (city councils). These local authorities were given the task of administering the registration system, with a two-letter (usually) index mark unique to that authority. Until 1920, the registration number was linked to the owner, not the
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By COLM O’NEILL
vehicle, but if the owner operated more than one vehicle at the same time, a second number was required. The only exception was in some counties where a number could be used in duplicate if the second vehicle was a motorcycle. Viewing the cars on the right, the first one, registered RI 21, is probably a Humber Humberette judging by the scuttle and bonnet design. Next is RI 99 which is possibly an Ariel, although many cars of that era used a “coal scuttle” bonnet, most notably Renault. The car beyond may be a Wolseley given the bonnet design. The next in line showing the number RI 54 could be an early chain drive Daimler. The height and proportions of the radiator of the next car suggests an Argyle 10hp. As the last cars in the row are difficult to make out, if we move to the line facing the camera, then first is IK 62, possibly a Siddeley 18 hp and next to it is NI 4, which looks like a Clement Talbot. There is too little visible of the cars on the left to attempt identification. The owners’ addresses determined which licensing authority issued their numbers; cars registered in the RI series indicate the Dublin City area, IK was for County Dublin and NI was the County Wicklow index mark. My thanks to Alec Sinclair and Bob Montgomery of the RIAC for their assistance and for allowing me to reproduce this picture.
IVVCC WINTER 2010 29
By JOHN BOLAND
Dear Editor, Re: Minister Dempsey and the road Tax issue. Below is the response from the Officer of the Minister for the Environment on the above matter. “I have been asked by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to refer further to your recent letter in relation to the recommendation of the Local Government Efficiency Review (LGER) concerning vehicles being declared off-the-road for motor tax purposes. The recommendations of the LGER are under consideration in this Department at present and will inform preparation of the Heads of a Bill revising and consolidating motor tax law. The focus of attention in relation to off-the-road declarations in this context centres on the relative ease at which persons may at present fraudulently claim a vehicle to be off-the-road retrospectively and thus evade payment of motor tax. It is not intended to prevent persons maintaining vintage vehicles in storage, as you rightly point out, there is no obligation to hold a vehicle licence for a vehicle not in use on a public road. This position will not change.” We will await developments PEADAR WARD
RIAC ARCHIVE TRIP he RIAC Archive is organising a trip to the Millie Miglia between 11th-13th May 11th, 2011 and has a number of extra places which it is offering to IVVCC members on a first come - first served basis. The trip itinerary is as follows: May 11th Flight from Dublin to Milan Bergamo, coach transfer from airport to Hotel Araba on Lake Iseo. May 12th Breakfast at hotel followed by coach to Millie Miglia Museum. Coach to central Brescia where entries in the Millie Miglia assemble. View start of event on outskirts of Brescia at 7.00 pm. Coach return to hotel. May 13th Breakfast at hotel, followed by coach transfer to Alfa Romeo Museum in Milan and on to Airport. Flight from Bergamo to Dublin. The tour is being organised by GTI Travel (Contact Derek Keogh at 01-8434734) and anyone interested should contact them for full details and a booking form. Bookings need to be made before the end of this month (January). Cost approx €500.
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Dear Editor, Norman Williams was looking for information on his Bentley Mk6 in the Autumn 2010 Journal and has now being contacted by Nick Nolan, from Kilpeddar, who is the current owner of the Bentley. He bought it about 4 years ago from a guy in Dublin (who he thinks was called Seamus O'Reilly and who owns a hardware shop in Churchtown). Nick did some work on it (it's now black and silver) and he takes it out on some of the vintage runs and enjoys driving it. Thanks again for putting the photo in the IVVCC Journal. JUDY WILLIAMS
17TH INTERNATIONAL FOUGERES RALLY - FRANCE he APPF are organising the 17th International Fougeres Rally from 27th to 30th May 2011. This rally is limited to 150 cars in order to maintain a friendly atmosphere and cars manufactured up to Dec 1962 are accepted as entrants. The rally tradition of mixing groups of Veteran, Vintage, PV and Classic cars both exclusive and popular will continue. The aim of the Rally is to provide car enthusiasts from different countries an opportunity to discover places of interest in the Departement de la Manche as well as participating in a public presentation of cars at a chosen site. This year Panhard & Levassor and HRG will be the marques of honour. The total mileage of the rally will be approximately 300 miles avoiding heavy traffic and town centres. As this is a popular event, entries will be on a first come first served basis. Participants who send a copy of the FIVA Identity Cards for their vehicles with their entry forms will given priority. The IVVCC is the FIVA Rep for Ireland. Application deadline: April 25th 2011. Application form, cheque and car photo to be sent to: Patrick Rollet, APPF, 242 Rue de Morainvilliers, 78630 Orgeval, France. Tel/Fax (33) 1 39 75 71 49 (after 7pm) or email appf@club-internet.fr See: www.rallye-fougeres-org for details.
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