Official Newsletter of the Austin-Healey Club of Southern Ontario
"Prez Sez" TECHNICALLY, IT’S SPRING! Apart from the regular pub nights in Milton, we have had two successful, well attended, fun, Tech Sessions. The first at Riteway Restorations and the second at Autofarm Ltd. Both are written up in this issue. If you were unable to make either of these events make a note of the next one at Jule Enterprises on May 08. Even if you don't want to get too deeply into the workings of your Healey, these events are wonderful social occasions. Coming up quickly on April 18th is our main fundraising event of the year, The British Car Flea Market at the new Merrit hall in Ancaster. I'm sure that most of you will have volunteered in some capacity by now, but if not, please do so as soon as possible. We need this event to continue to be the great success that it has become and to justify the hard work put in by Martyn Ridley and others throughout the year. The weather recently has been most unusual for this point in the calendar and many of us will be getting itchy to get the Healey out and take that first drive of the year. I can't stress enough that you should ensure that all systems are working, that the car is safe and oh yes, you have current license and insurance. GET INTO YOUR HEALEY AND SEE WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT!! Bob Yule
View From the Navigator's Seat Although the Spring sunshine has arrived in Southern Ontario, in our neck of the woods - in Winona we have run into a few 'storm clouds' with our ailing BJ8, 'Misty Blue'! What started out to be and 'oil leak' has turned into 'stripped dog nut and crank threads'! Yikes! Needless to say Sir Ed is spending many hours in the Healey Barn attacking the problem and as our East Coast trip is coming up this summer 'Misty Blue' needs to be in tip top shape! That's the thing about these LBCs, when you fix something there is no saying ' well I don't have to worry about that anymore' - those words have a way of coming back to haunt you! Well onwards and upwards, at least we have a few months to get our car back to good health but I still think we will keep our fingers crossed. Happy Healeying!
APRIL 2010
Inside Prez Sez . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 1 View From The Navigator's Seat . . . . . . .Pg 1 Nash Healey . . . . . . . . . . Pg 2-3 Rich Chrysler Tech . . . . . . . Pg 4 Bob Yule Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 5 Advertisers . . . . . . . . .Pg 6-7 Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 8-9 News & Information . . . . . .Pg 10 Martin Jansen Tech ... Pg 11 2010 Events Calendar . Pg 12
Visit our web site
www.ahcso.com
THE RESONATOR / Page 1
NASH HEALEY We got our car about 4 years ago. It came out of Colorado (Greeley) and I heard about it from a friend whom I'd met in 2000 at the 100th Anniversary of the Rambler automobile, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where we'd taken our 1902 1-cylinder Ramber (they figure it's the oldest one left...serial # 16). We led their parade and they made quite a fuss over it. Anyhow, there were about 5 Nash Healeys at the show that was part of the celebrations there and while wandering around with this chap, I mentioned I'd sure like to have one of those...but their price tag is pretty high. A couple years later I got a call from this fellow who lives in Greeley with the comment that he "had my car". A friend of his had a 1954 Nash Healey that she'd had for a number of years (I'm the 3rd owner) and she was thinking of parting with it as her husband was in the last throes of a terminal illness etc., etc. The car had never been restored and this lady had got it from Connecticut in 1965 from the original owner. Drove it in a few rallies and for a drive on weekends when it was nice. They had 4 NAPA franchises in the Denver area and had done very well. In 1982, July this lady and her husband were on a Saturday morning drive on the back roads in the Denver area and got caught in a freak hailstorm. She said the deluge lasted about 10 seconds or so (Frankie Lane's "Little Black Cloud) and left about 6 inches of hail on the ground which melted in about 15 minutes. The storm left a swath of devastation about 300 yards wide and looked, she said, like a bulldozer had been levelling an area to build a road across the desert. She told me she had grown up in the Denver area (hail country) and had seen golf ball size hail, but nothing like this...said they were the size of hardballs. The car, when we got it, looked like someone had taken a ball peen hammer to it...dents all over it. The hood and deck are aluminum, so you can imagine what it looked like. Didn't break any glass, but dented chrome as well as anything that face upward. She said the sound was deafening and that if it had been a roadster she's sure they'd have been killed. Fortunately there were no other vehicles there, although she said a pickup arrived shortly, stopped and couldn't believe it either, especially the damage to the car. They drove the car home, put it in the garage and never drove it again...full tank of gas! We spoke on the phone, she sent me photos and, with the collection we had (Nash-related cars) felt we should have the car. Two had recently been sold by Barrett Jackson, so there certainly was a precedent. I was reluctant to make her an offer, as we'd recently purchased a 1920 Lafayette 7-passenger touring and the cupboard was pretty bare. Also, we kind of figured it was out of our range anyway. She pressured me to "make me an offer" and I assured her I didn't want to insult her. Called her back a few days later and made an offer, which she hesitated at, and said she needed to think about it. I volunteered to advertise it for her in the Nash Car Club magazine,but she said she really would like to see us get it....I didn't hear from her for another year and basically wrote it off. I got another phone call about a year later saying to "come and get your car". When I answered the phone, she didn't identify herself and I didn't even know who it was.... To end a long, hairy dog story...I hooked up the trailer and was gone the next morning after emailing copies of registration etc. to the Customs folk at the US border here. After draining the fuel tank (ugh), cleaning it, blowing out lines and replacing wheel cylinders, etc., and a few other minor items, we put gas in the carburetors and it fired right up. No engine noise or vibration (7 main bearing crank), so I haven't done anything to the engine except clean it up. We restored the body (all hand-built, fenders etc. with English wheel), did the interior, polished or re-plated bright work and took it on an 1100 mile tour around the province. It's 3-speed with overdrive and cruises along at about 70 mph at about 2400 revs. There were 504 of them built between 1951 and 1954. 1951 and '52 they were mainly roadsters, '53 about half and half and 1954 all coupes like ours. There were 90 built in 1954. The car was a collaboration between Nash, Pinin Farina and Donald Healey. Healey and George Mason, President of Nash Motors in 1949, were on a trip on the Quenn Mary from New York to Southampton together when they met and made the deal. The first cars were all aluminum bodied, but steel crept in as the years progressed. The main components (engine block, head etc., frame, brakes, rear end, trans etc. are all Nash and the engine was sent to Healey and he built the engine, suspension and other components. Pinin Farina, from Italy, designed the car. It's a neat car to drive, the earlier ones were raced at LeMans. So, that's the story! If you folk, with your Healeys, decide to tour "Out West" we'd be glad to show you our cars...we have 3 clubs in Campbell River (Vintage, Hot Rod and British Car Clubs) and many more on the Island. Safe touring Lynn Nash
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FEBRUARY TECH SESSION FOLLOW UP An Austin Healey restoration overview was held at the garage of Rich and Lyn Chrysler on Saturday February 13th, 2010. It was well received with a total of 22 enthusiasts gathering for good conversation, instruction and an over view of many aspects of the restoration process. Discussions ranged from metal cleaning to proper metal preparation and painting. A good question and answer portion took place with the discussion focused on how to obtain correct and accurate original colours with today's paint products. Professional painter and paint trouble shooter Ron Allman was present to help field these questions accurately. While there a complete 6 cylinder 3000 engine was viewed fresh back from the machine shop and ready for assembly. An almost finished '65 BJ8 and many other items were laid out for viewing and photographing. The group broke for lunch and regrouped at a local restaurant where lively conversation continued. After lunch we reconvened at Rich's nearby Book Rd. facility for further viewing of 3 more Healey projects in the early stages of metal restoration. The session wrapped up about 2:45 PM. Many thanks to all who came out and participated, making the day well worth while.
SERIES OF AH PRINTS AVAILABLE "Future 50" founder, Ben Moore has made arrangements with Bic Healey to distribute a series of prints that were first produced over twenty years ago. Please look on our website: www.ahcso.com for the flyers which include pictures and information. This is a great opportunity to own these vintage prints. For information on acquiring these unique prints please contact Ben Moore at the address on the flyers.
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TECH SESSION / OPEN HOUSE Saturday March 27 and approx 35 hardy, hungry souls set forth for the wilds of Monkton and a tech session/open house at the headquarters of Autofarm Ltd. Around 11:00am after most had arrived, had a coffee and met with friends, the event got under way. Autofarm Ltd had just taken delivery of a new frame from Europe for an early six cylinder car, and the finer points of this frame were discussed and compared to a unit from a different manufacturer which had already been installed in a car. The European frame had some obvious advantages over the competition and was well received. After this a demonstration of the test bed, which Autofarm has constructed to test run transmissions and overdrives, was performed. The subject transmission was selected at random from a number of used transmissions of unknown condition and was found to be in good working order. All the gears were operable and quiet and the overdrive performed flawlessly. A testament either to the toughness of the Healey generally, or the lack of use in a previous life. Following the demonstration, various gearbox and overdrive components were shown that were exhibiting all the popular failings and an explanation of the conditions experienced to cause this damage and the steps needed to correct it. The new and remanufactured parts that are available were also on show.An interesting comparison was done on three new first gear clusters from different sources, showing the problems that are encountered by parts suppliers and restorers and explaining why only one of these expensive items was useable. By now it was time to eat and a large supply of chili and fresh buns appeared, and maintaining the reputation of Healey people disappeared almost as quickly. The weather cooperated wonderfully for the time of year and although there were no Healey's in the yard, many of the participants let it be known that they were eager to get Healey's on the road as soon as possible. All in all a very pleasant sociable way to spend a Saturday, and possibly learn something.
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Business Card $45
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To advertise please call Anna Orr at 905-930-8899 or E-mail:healeygal@cogeco.ca
Autofarm Ltd Serving Austin Healey enthusiasts around the world for over 20 years. Specializing in parts, service and full restorations. Gov’t licensed and insurance approved appraisals. Proud sponsors of Conclave 2009 – Year of the Healey Loyalist Email: bob@autofarm.net www.autofarm.net RR#1, 6521 Line 66, Monkton, Ontario, N0K 1P0, Canada Telephone: 519-356-2427
Austin Healey Parts, Service & Restorations Page 6 / THE RESONATOR
Visit our Web Site at:
www.ahcso.com
THE RESONATOR / Page 7
FLEA MARKET ROSTER Flea Market - Shift Volunteers
Front Gate: (Gate one) [outside] [outside] [outside] [outside] [outside] [outside] [outside]
06:30-09:30
09:30-11:30
11:30-13:30
13:30-15:30
Direct Traffic Cashier Cashier Assistant Assistant Assistant Assistant
RegLoraine Wayne McGill Jim Boles Al Froggett Ron Lix Don Thomson Rolf Langer
Noel Folkard Brian Clark Francis Mackan
1 Ann Rees
1
1
1
Set-up East Set-up East Set-up East Set-up East Set-up East Set-up East Set-up West Set-up West Set-up West Set-up West Set-up West Set-up West Teardown Teardown Teardown Teardown Teardown Teardown Teardown Teardown
David Horncastle Graham Secord Brian Tregunno Corrie Giles Ron Kielbiski Debbie Murphy Russ Bansey David Underhill Marilyn Underhill Peter Garrett Ross Campbell Bob Gergely
Direct Traffic Direct Traffic
Mirek Sharp Larry Murphy
Set-up Set-up
John O'Meara Jim Anes
15:30
Marritt Hall
British Car Parking [outside] [outside] Outside Vendors [outside] [outside]
Bob Yule Rich Chrysler Scott Morris Greg Newton Ian Burkholder Gord Davidson 1 1
Laurie Wilford Bob Caterson
Chris Taylor Ian Allison
1 1
Gord Johns Dianne Johns
Glen Nichols
Ken Vardon John Almeida
Bert Raposo Ron Redshaw
Public Gate
[outside] [outside]
Cashier Cashier Cashier Cashier GateKeeper GateKeeper
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Aimee Mackan Diane Wilford Mike East Clarence Hurtubise Pete Lindsay Brent Walker
Volunteers Required
8
0
0
2
4
Anna Orr Ed Orr 9:00-10:00 Ted Charters Walter Copland 10:00-11:00 Julie Blaskivich Danny Blaskivich
Joy Holmes Wally Holmes 11:00-12:00 Herman Schelfhorst Norb Meyer 12:00-13:00 Debbie Maraldo Dan Maraldo
Anna Orr Ian Allison 13:00:-14:00 1 1 14:00 - 15:00 1 1
2
Other: Club Booth AHCSO Club Booth AHCSO Club Booth: BSCC Club Booth: BSCC Club Booth: BSCC Club Booth: BSCC
Full Day: [outside] [outside] [outside]
[outside] [outside]
Cash Runner: Cash Runner: Cash Runner: Cash Counter: Cash Counter: Vendor Sign-in Chairman
John Roden Mal Bruce Bill Wallace Lyn Chrysler Lucille Secord Greg Newton Martyn Ridley
ANCASTER FLEA MARKET 2010
DATE: APRIL 18, 2010 TIME: 9:30 UNTIL 2:30 LOCATION: NEW MARRITT HALL, ANCASTER, ON Volunteers still needed - please sign up now on-line or by email or call Martin Ridley at (519)448-3668. Your club needs your support! FLEA MARKET 2009 Dave Simpson
AH Club Booth
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NEWS & INFORMATION BOOT ’N BONNET AUTOJUMBLE "SPRING THING" - KENTUCKY
May 13-16: For those not planning on going to Southeastern Classic, this event is a great option. Ed and I have attended this a few times and it is a great week end in beautiful Kentucky.
SOUTHEASTERN CLASSIC
This year the annual SE Classic is being held in Ocala, Florida, (on1-75 just north of Orlando) on May 13, 14, 15 leaving on 16th. I intend to have 2 nights on the road arriving on the 13th., no events that day. I will have some registration forms at next pub night - please give me a call if you are interested. Ian Allison (905) 727-8115.
NOTE FROM CHARLIE MOSHELL
Charlie Moshell - 'Healey Chatter' editor sent me this note so if anyone from AHCSO is interested in sending this information to Charlie here is note from him: "I am always looking for photos to submit to Reid Trummel each month which need to include a caption describing who-what-when. These should have high resolution - 100 min. 200 works very well. Always send separately, your favourite photos from each issue in jpeg format". Anna
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MARTIN JANSEN TECH SESSION DATE: MAY 8, 2010 PHONE: 905-854-3555 EMAIL: jule_enterpriseah@yahoo.com WEBSITE: www.jule-enterprises.com
We will be looking at our latest restoration on our BN6. It is equipped with our new JULE rack & pinion steering and new JULE fuel injection set up. We will discuss restoration costs as well as any general repair and maintenance questions asked. All questions welcomed!
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2010
APRIL 14
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
APRIL 18
ANCASTER FLEA MARKET - MARTYN RIDLEY
APRIL 25
BOOT'N BONNET AUTOJUMBLE - KINGSTON
MAY 8
MARTIN JANSEN TECH SESSION
MAY 12
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
MAY 13-16
"SPRING THING" - KENTUCKY - BEN MOORE
MAY 13-16
SOUTHEASTERN CLASSIC - OCALA, FLORIDA
JUNE 9
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
JULY 10
WINE TOUR & POT LUCK SUPPER - ED & ANNA ORR
JULY 11/16
CONCLAVE 2010 - GALENA, ILLINOIS. U.S.A.
JULY 14
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
JULY 18
'BRITS IN THE PARK' - LINDSAY, ONT.
AUGUST 8
'BRITS ON THE LAKE' - PORT PERRY
AUGUST 11
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
AUGUST 28
TOUR & SALMON BBQ - LAURIE & DIANE WILFORD
SEPTEMBER 8
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
SEPTEMBER 16-19
FALL WINDUP (ENDING AT BCD - BRONTE)
SEPTEMBER 19
BRONTE BRITISH CAR DAY
OCTOBER 13
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
NOVEMBER 10
PUB NIGHT - MILTON
DECEMBER 8
CHRISTMAS PUB NIGHT- MILTON
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