Page 1 Volume 38 Issue 6 November - rroc
Transcription
Page 1 Volume 38 Issue 6 November - rroc
November - December 2010 Page 1 Volume 38 Issue 6 CHAIR’S RUMINATION GREETINGS Valerie & Lou Suter As the calendar year 2010 draws to a close, the RROC San Diego Region closes out a very successful year of activities and interpersonal communication. We had 80% of our members attend at least one meet this year. This reflects well on our activities planning effort, the marketing of monthly events and you, the members, for choosing to participate as you have. Since we all have the ability to “vote with our attendance,” you have given the current leadership of the Region a positive vote of confidence relative to our activities program. For that, we thank you. In November, we visited Deer Creek Winery in Escondido. In addition to the winery, there was a very interesting and varied display of old automobiles, as well as other memorabilia (radios, appliances, Barbie dolls-for the gals-, signage, etc.). We were able to taste the wines produced at the winery and ended the day with a delightful picnic. There was a wonderful picnic area under a grove of lovely shade trees. I for one was reluctant to leave the ambience and conversation. We had a wonderful Christmas party in December returning to the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. We gathered in the lovely living room with it’s warm hearth and huge Christmas tree for cocktails and conversation. The weather was so balmy that we were able to keep the doors open to the outside. We were treated to fine food and the music of the “Bob Tutleman Band”. Many couples took advantage of the dance floor. Tom Scheil did his usual great job of presenting trophies to the meet hosts and winners of the perpetual trophies. A festive time was had by all. Our annual election of officers was conducted in October/November according to our by-laws. The nominating committee led by past Chairlady Ivonne Webb presented the following slate who were elected unanimously by the ballots returned: Chairlady – Valerie Suter,Vice-Chairman – Robb Webb, Secretary – Al Whitley, and Treasurer – Terry Luallin. In January, we will be visiting “The Steam Museum” and hope that many members will join us at this interesting venue. In February, we will be attending “the Concours de Elegance” at the La Quinta Resort in the Palm Desert area. Please note the calendar published in the newsletter. Our events will be on different weeks during the months ahead, and we don’t want anyone to miss them. Here’s looking forward to 2011. November - December 2010 Happy New Year Page 2 Valerie Suter Volume 38 Issue 6 BOARD The Silver Coast News Newsletter of the San Diego Region of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club Chair - Valerie Suter 619.224.0523 [email protected] Chair’s Rumination Page 2 Vice Chair - Rob Webb 619.435.8738 [email protected] Calendar of Events Page 3 November 13, 2010 Meet Page 4 Deer Park Winery and Pot Luck Picnic Treasurer - Terry Luallin 619.222.6558 [email protected] Secretary - Al Whitley 619.758.9888 [email protected] November Meet - Page 4 Page 7 Napa Valley with Pierre Lemieux Page 8 December 12, 2010 Meet Page 10 Annual Awards Banquet Activities - Klaus Reichardt 760.644.7443 [email protected] Awards - Tom Scheil 949.380.8568 [email protected] Judging - Bill Habeger 858-586-0779 [email protected] Membership - Larry Davis 619.303.3350 [email protected] Region Business Matters The 59th Annual RROC Meet (Part 2) Page 12 Technical Topix - Details, Details, Details (Part 4) Page 16 Travelling with my Grey Poupon Page 17 Technical Topix - Shadow Spirit Spur Checklist Page 18 Share Your Story Page 19 CALENDAR December Meet - Page 10 Pre War - Rob Webb 619.435.8738 [email protected] January 22, 2011 Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum. Vista Public Relations - Tom Wright 858.488.4462 [email protected] February 27, 2011 The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance, La Quinta Technical - Shane Kimsey 949.235.5476 [email protected] March 20, 2011 Salk Institute SCN Editor - Ted Struck 619.275.6440 [email protected] April 17, 2011 Rolling British Car Day Past Chair - Dennis Eickhoff 317.422.8320 [email protected] May 15, 2011 Mascot Competition and Picnic Our monthly meets are often scheduled for days other than the second Sunday of the month. Cover Photo: George Howard’s 1963 RR Silver Cloud III, SCX681 Photographer: Ted Struck Peter Croft El Cajon, CA 92021 Tyrone Flower Carlsbad, CA 92008 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS For the Record: All trademarks are suject to the trademark rights of Rolls Royce PLC, Rolls Royce Motor Cards Ltd., an affiliate of BMW AG or Bentley Motors, Ltd., an affiliate of Volkswagen AG, including mark, model, names logos and emblems. All are used by the RROC and the Silver Coast News under license. Legal: The Silver Coast News is published by and for the San Diego Region of the Rolls Royce Owners’ Club, Inc., a non-profit corporationn. All information furnished is provided by the membership of the Club for use by the members only. Articles reflect the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the Region policies, not do the editors or publishers, who assume no liability for any information contained, imply authentication or approval. The San Diego Region and its editors seek to publish accurate materials, but neither assumes responsiblity in the event of a claim of loss or damage resulting from publication. Other regions may reproduce material, provided that credit is given. The editor reserver the right to dit for length or quality. Private Party Advertising Policy: Advertisements for Rolls-Royce/Bentley vehicles, want ads, parts, lost and found, or information will be published for members at no charge, typically in a business card-sized format. For car sales include chassis number and asking price. Photos will be published free if supplied in digital JPG, TIFF or Print Quality PDF formats. Film photos will be scanned and published at a nominal charge. Non-member advertising will be accepted at published rates. Display advertising is accepted, at the discretion of the Editor, for business card, quarter-page, half-page, and full-page insertions in increments of one, three or six insertions. Please contact the SCN Editor for additional information. Submitting Infomation to the Editor: The Silver Coast News (SCN) is published bi-monthly during the last half of the even-numbered months. Meet write-ups and meet photos should be submitted nomore than one week after an event. Other articles and information should be submitted no later than the tenth of every month. Please check with the Editor for specific publication dates. Please submit photos (JPG, TIF at 300 dpi or higher). Please identify any people shown in the photograph. and also the year, make and model of any car(s) shown. November - December 2010 Page 3 Volume 38 Issue 6 NOVEMBER 13, 2010 MEET OUR MEET WAS HELD at the recently reopened Deer Park Winery and Automotive Museum, located on 15 acres (including three acres of vines) near Escondido. Escondido means “hidden” in Spanish, and it is a bit hidden in northeast San Diego County. San Diego weather was perfect, which was fortunate, as we enjoyed a picnic lunch. Possibly the world’s largest collection of American convertibles (120 or more) is housed in three separate buildings. Nearly every important model made between 1946 and 1983 was represented, and many made before 1946 as well. Deer Park also includes collections of antique radios, televisions, household appliances, bikes (even three Indians, a Harley and a Whizzer motorbike) and Barbies. There is a plethora of nostalgia from neon signs to Nipper, the RCA mascot “listening to his Master’s voice”. A 1936 Helms Bakery Truck by Twincoach, greeting guests at the museum entrance, stirred memories for those raised in Southern California in the ‘30’s through ‘60’s, when Helms served up to 350,000 homes. That was when bakery trucks earned their bread! Most of us remember ice cream trucks and milk delivery, some with stand-drive design; those remembering Helms said, “A double stack of flat wood drawers pulled out of the back. They were filled with donuts and goodies, and oh, that wonderful aroma”, “Mom would hang a blue H card out front if she wanted them to stop”, and “The driver gave us change from his coin changer”. Bill Biely said the cagey driver would come by when the boys were picking up their papers for their paper routes. It was hard to part with 10 cents but the huge Bear Claw was worth it. Guest Ken Ahacic said the driver would come around when school let out and a chocolate-covered donut was five cents. Bill also remembers the loaves of bread were up high (this was BEFORE sliced bread) and the pastries were at kid level. A very rare 1928 Franklin Airman Runabout with a “Spirit of St. Louis” ornament was in the first exhibit. It was the only car Lindy would accept gratuitously after his historic flight. A 1954 Kaiser Darrin had sliding doors like an minivan, but they retracted into the front fenders. “Why didn’t that catch on and save us all those door dings?” wondered guest Anita Bird. A tiny 1959 German Messerschmitt was a surprise. Messerschmitt was forced to cease making airplanes after WW II, so they made cars to compete directly with Volkswagen. Also in that room was a red pushcart with a hose out the top. You literally “pumped” your own gas. Bill Biely recalls hunting in the Mojave Desert as teenager and seeing them at mining enclaves which had no electricity or underground tanks. This was when Lancaster, Palmdale and Victorville were only crossroads. Now the old hunting grounds has become Edwards Air Force Base. NAX-66547, PBV-59612, NAK-25960 November - December 2010 Klaus and Manu Reichardt Page 4 Volume 38 Issue 6 Members reminisced, “Remember the push buttons in the steering wheel?”, “We had a radio like that and I listened to The Shadow”, “My grandparents, my Mom, my Dad…had one of those”, “The Crofton was the first car made in San Diego”, “Remember those split windshields?” and, “They don’t make them like that anymore,” which can be taken a number of ways. After our tour down Memory Lane we transitioned from vintage automobile to vintage wines. Deer Park is unusual because it is detached 600 miles from its Napa Valley winery. San Diego County was the birthplace of wine making in California. Father Junipero Serra and the Franciscan missionaries brought wine with them when they began to settle Alta California. They not only brought the wine, they also brought the grape vines and the methods from which to extract the juice from the grape. In fact, a number of the missions and asistencias grew grape vines and made wine at California’s missions. Someone had to make the sacramental wine! On to the Tasting Room! We sampled Deer Park’s 2002 Sangiovese, a Merlot, 1996 Napa Valley Zinfandel, 1991 Howell Mountain Napa Valley, and a 1991 Sauvignon Blanc dessert wine. On to the picnic! The picnic area was nicely kept and equipped. Our PMC’s were parked in our own grassy area adjacent. Host Ted Struck had a huge array of food to share. Instead of potluck, it was Everyone Got Lucky! Cars were not judged, as our designated judge was absent. Ted awarded 10 prizes anyway based on PMC mileage, with Tom Wright the winner of Most Miles at 136,000 plus. Of course, his car is a 1959 Silver Cloud I, so it’s not surprising. A bonus was a beautiful grassy area on which to photograph our cars. A number of members took advantage of that. Photos by: Klaus Reichardt, Ted Struck, Lou Suter and Al Whitley Meet Host Thank you, Ted, for a very nice meeting and for arranging the perfect weather. Members and guests attending the event included: Klaus Reichardt & Manu Götz with guests John & Bonnie Pedersen, 1981 RR Corniche DHC; Frank & Sana Hamad, 1989 RR Silver Spur; Sir Orville Bingley, 1999 RR Silver Spur; Lana Zabolotnaya, 2005 Bentley Continental GT; Howard & Jodie Arnold, 1992 RR Silver Spur; Sig & Pat Hofland with guests Kevin & Marianne Hofland and Ed & Margaret Vincent, 1989 RR Silver Spur; Max Altman, 1983 RR Silver Spur; Terry Luallin, 1979 RR Silver Shadow II; Tom Wright, 1959 RR Silver Cloud I; Kevin & Hana Beatty; George Howard & Regene Braun, 1965 RR Silver Cloud III; Ted Struck & Al Whitley, 1997 Bentley Turbo RL; Rob & Ivonne Webb, 1988 Bentley Mulsanne S; John Ellison, 1991 Bentley Continental DHC; Bill & Vivian Biely with guests Alan & Anita Bird and Ken Ahacic, 1988 RR Silver Spirit; Harry Clark & Karen Farina; and guests Larry & Lori Miller, and Matthew & Lisa Brown. Ted Struck Written by Vivian Biely November - December 2010 Page 5 Volume 38 Issue 6 DEER PARK WINERY AND POT LUCK PICNIC Just Likes were the 1953 Nash Healy convertible like Tippi Hedron drove as her getaway car in “The Birds” and a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado convertible like President Eisenhower rode in at his inaugural parade. November - December 2010 Page 6 Volume 38 Issue 6 If you have a little extra time and interest, the Meet sponsors and organizers are looking for volunteers to help produce the event. A whole variety of talents and skills will be needed and you are encouraged to nominate yourself if you have even the slightest interest in becoming involved and meeting some new and interesting folks. It’ll be an experience to remember. Please contact our Region’s Secretary, Al Whitley, if you have an interest in volunteering. CLUB GOVERNANCE The RROC San Diego Region Board of Directors meets approximately four times each year to discuss Club business and to plan future Club activities. All Club members in good standing are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. If you wish to be noticed of the meeting times and locations, please provide your email address to the Club Secretary, whose contact information can be found on page 3. INTERESTED IN CARAVANING TO THE NATIONAL MEET - Plans for the “Tahoe Trek” (see enclosed flyer) make promise of a truly unforgettable six days of touring, driving from Oakhurst (north of Fresno) to Lake Tahoe, just in time to participate in the National Meet in August.. If, on the other hand, the Tahoe Trek appears to be a bit beyond the reaches of your available time and budget, have no fear: other options are in the works. We will undoubtedly see the formulation of one or more groups who would like to travel from San Diego and Palm Springs together at a less leisurely pace, and we’ll be sure to bring you news of those plans as they become available. (Some of the Bentley drivers are discussing an “under the radar” 10-hour drive). Sound interesting? Published Advertising Rates Display Ad Dimensions Display Ad Size One Year (6 Issues) Single Issue Width Height 30 Word Ad Interior N/A $50.00 - - Business Card Interior $150.00 $60.00 3.5 Inches 2.0 Inches Quarter Page Interior $250.00 $100.00 3.5 Inches 4.5 Inches Half Page Interior $350.00 $150.00 7.5 Inches 4.5 Inches Full Page Interior $450.00 $200.00 7.5 Inches 9.5 Inches Half Page Back Cover $500.00 * N/A 7.5 Inches 4.5 Inches Full Page Back Cover $750.00 * N/A 7.0 Inches 9.5 Inches * Limited Availability - First Come, First Served November - December 2010 REGION BUSINESS MATTERS MEET COOL PEOPLE AT THE NATIONAL MEET -- From August 13-18, 2011 the Resort at Squaw Creek will host our RROC National Meet. Since this Meet is to be held practically in our back yard, it offers a terrific opportunity for all of our Region members to attend, and will be a perfect “excuse” to spend a week in one of our country’s most desirable and refreshing places – beautiful Lake Tahoe. Page 7 Volume 38 Issue 6 The weekend was organized by the Southern California Region’s Pierre Lemieux, who lives in Rancho Mirage and is a Southern California wine wholesaler for the vineyards we visited. I can’t say enough about all the hard work that Pierre accomplished to make this such an outstanding event. Because of Pierre’s long-term relationships with the owners of the vineyards we visited, we were provided personalized, behind-thescenes tours, many of which were conducted by the vineyard owners themselves. After flying into Oakland and renting a Cadillac (we didn’t want to drive the GT from San Diego), Marilyn and I arrived Thursday afternoon at the El Bonita Motel in St. Helena, which was the event headquarters. That evening we went to dinner at Bouchon (owned by Thomas Keller who also owns the French Laundry down the street) in Yountville and ran into Tony Maquet and Tom Panno of the RROC. After a great meal, we headed back to the El Bonita Motel. On Friday morning, about 30 participants and seven PMCs (not everyone brought their marques) met in the parking lot to head off to the Spottswoode Winery for a tour and lunch hosted by Lindy Novak, daughter of the owner Mary Novak, and manager of National Marketing. The Novaks have been farming their vineyard organically since 1985, and have been certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) since 1992. Spottswoode is a relatively small vineyard, but its wines are some of the best on the market. Their 2007 Estate Cabernet was rated 99 points by Robert Parker in the 2009 Wine Advocate. After a tour of the winery, we were treated to a wonderful lunch prepared by Kelly Novak another daughter of the owner. At five AM, she had prepared a special chocolate cake for us in the shape of a Rolls Royce radiator grille. From Spottswoode we all headed about five miles across the valley to Rombauer Vineyards which was launched in 1982 by former Braniff airline pilot Koerner Rombauer. If the name Rombauer sounds familiar it’s because Koerner’s grand-aunt, Irma Rombauer was the renowned author of the ‘The Joy of Cooking’, one of the most published cookbooks, having been in print continuously since 1936. After sampling their Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet, we went to the parking lot to see Koerner’s 1932 Rolls Royce that he had rolled out of the barn for our visit. The car was not running and looked very original, not restored at all. Ronnie Shaver was able to start it a couple of times, but the fuel system had some problems so it would stall. He thinks it was a 1932 20/25 Hooper Saloon. Leaving Rombauer, we headed up the Napa Valley 20 miles to the Patz and Hall wine tasting salon for what else, wine and hors d’oeuvres. We were personally hosted by one of the owners, Heather Patz who told us how the company was started, their vision, and their wines. We were then treated to a tasting of their wines and some gourmet hors d’oeuvres to include a lentil relish with a duck confit and demi roast beef sandwiches. It was so delicious and filling we didn’t need dinner that night. Bright and early (9:15 am) on Saturday morning, we headed across the valley again to the town of Rutherford and Frog’s Leap Vineyard and November - December 2010 Page 8 Photos by: Marilyn Mulloy, Dan Pattee, Ivonne Webb, Rob Webb NAPA VALLEY WITH PIERRE LEMIEUX AN EXCEPTIONAL NAPA VALLEY WINE TOUR, hosted by the Southern California RROC, was an extraordinary event that all the participants will remember for a long time. Volume 38 Issue 6 Leaving Frog’s Leap we drove a leisurely 10 miles of mountain roads to the Cade Winery. Cade is a unique, state-of-the-art winery, awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. They produce four wines, primarily focused on Cabernet Sauvignons and a Sauvignon Blanc. The views from the winery were beautiful and the facility itself was new and very modern. Their 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon received a 95+ from Robert Parker and retails for a mere $130 a bottle. We were on our own for lunch, and a group of us ended up at the Martini House one block off the main drag in St Helena. It is an old mansion from the 1920s, converted into a restaurant. The restaurant has been in operation for nine years and has won a Michelin star. On October 5th, it was announced that the restaurant was going to be sold to the owners of the Flemings Steakhouse and PF Chang chain of restaurants. Back to the hotel to freshen up and then off 10 miles to the Continuum Estate Winery owned by the brother and sister team of Tim and Marcia Mondavi, children of Robert Mondavi. This was a unique experience to be hosted by Tim in his Estate Home perched atop Pritchard Hill above Lake Hennessey. The Estate produces only one wine, named “Continuum.” The Cabernet was served with companion cheeses selected specifically to compliment the wine. Sitting in Tim’s home 1600 feet above Lake Hennessey, sipping one of the finest wines in the world, and listening to one of the great winemakers describing his vision for producing a unique wine was an experience to be cherished for a lifetime. SEPTEMBER 24 - 26, 2010 Winery. We were met in the parking lot by founder and vintner John Williams whose motto is, “Times fun when you are having flies.” For a real web experience, visit their website at FrogsLeap.com. A light breakfast of cinnamon rolls and red coffee (a coffee cup of Frogs Leap Zinfandel) was served while John gave us an introduction to Frogs Leap and his passion for organic farming. We then embarked on an hour-long tour of the vineyard and winemaking facilities. Not only is the vineyard organic but the entire facility is solar powered. John’s presentation was very informative and totally humorous. I haven’t laughed so much that early in the morning in a long time, or maybe it was the red coffee. Next we drove seven miles to the Miner Family Vineyards for a tour, a tasting, and dinner. The Miner Vineyard is the largest solar powered vineyard in the world. After a tour of the facilities and ageing caves, we were treated to a tasty dinner of barbequed chicken, pulled pork, and summer salads. What a wonderful evening shared with friends. Written by At 9:45 Sunday morning we departed the El Bonita Motel for a tour and tasting at Vineyard 29 Winery located at 2929 Hwy 29, St Helena. Originally established in 1989, the vineyard was acquired by its present owners, Chuck and Anne McMinn in 2000, along with the neighboring Aida vineyard as a perfect complement to the Vineyard 29 site for expansion of the winery’s portfolio. All of the weekend’s participants owe a very special thanks to our terrific host, Pierre Lemieux, for all his hard work and his incredible wine country contacts. Thanks Pierre. November - December 2010 Page 9 Volume 38 Issue 6 Dan Pattee and Marilyn Mulloy DECEMBER 12, 2010 MEET IT WAS A SCENE straight out of “Same Time Next Year,” only Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda were missing. Well, never mind that our boys and girls didn’t look very different. We arrived at the quintessentially English/Californian Rancho Santa Fe Inn, in that story book village that could have had Its birth in the depths of the Cotswolds. Judging by the array of our magnificent cars of British heritage, a Martian could be forgiven for thinking that he was at the “other side of the pond”. Only the incredible summerlike evening could prove that wasn’t so. The short but intensively winding drive from the freeways would have quickly shown up any front end steering play. It was on my mind, as we had just had ours “done”. Klaus Reichardt, as always, was there to greet us, not far from his much admired two-tone Corniche. Soft top well and truly up: Wimp! The interior of the Inn was equally that beautiful eclectic mix of understated British/Californian comfort. Cocktail Hour at the generous hosted bar produced conversation among old and new friends that gave promise of a fine dinner and company for the remainder of the evening. The almost unending supply of martinis explained eloquently why cocktail shakers were standard equipment in great cars long gone but not forgotten. Some open container! Times have indeed changed. We were not disappointed. Our table for six was a collection of old and new friends, bringing to mind a well remembered comment I overheard at dinner during the annual meet in Toronto. “You know what”, he remarked, “all of these people have November - December 2010 Page 10 Volume 38 Issue 6 Dinner was both ample and excellent, interspersed with the annual presentations of Club awards. Each of the sponsors of one of our monthly meets during 2010 was presented with a small plaque in honor of their service to the club. The Tourist Trophy, given to the member most often attending our regional meets with their Proper Motor Car, was awarded to Terry Luallin. The Derrick Sinfield Trophy recognizes the member who participates in meets with his or her car, as well as hosting a meet, contributing a newsletter story, sponsoring new members, and acquiring and/or restoring a car. The Sinfield Trophy was presented to Ted Struck and Al Whitley. The Bob Barrymore Memorial Trophy recognizes a member’s dedication, leadership, service, and contribution to the Region and to the marque, as well as the member’s restoration, preservation, and use of a Proper Motor Car. The Bob Barrymore Trophy was presented to Klaus Reichardt, whose enthusiasm for the Club is expected to be contagious in the coming years. Come 9:30 pm or so, dancing was in full swing in all senses of the word. Many of the seventy- year-old ladies could have been, and looked as though they were in their teens! Upon leaving around 9.30pm or so after a truly grand night out, we could not help but notice John Ellison’s most exquisite Bentley Continental parked in the drive. I wasn’t quite sure of the year, but it was in the style of a landaulette, and was fairly new. I just couldn’t, figure out how the forward part of the roof was hidden and stored. Thanks to meet hosts Valerie and Lou Suter for a thoroughly delightful and memorable evening. Members attending the event included Lou & Valerie Suter, 1988 RR Silver Spur; Harry Clark & Karen Farina; Klaus Reichardt, 1981 RR Corniche DHC; Will & Joyce Bartfield, 2000 Bentley Arnage; Bob Nost & Mark Christiansen, 2005 Bentley Arnage R; George Howard & Regene Braun, 1965 RR Silver Cloud III; Larry Davis & Joan Bowes, Bentley Continental GT; Lana Zabolotnaya, 2005 Bentley Continental GT; Frank Hamad, 1989 RR Silver Spur; Sig & Pat Hoffland, 1989 RR Silver Spur; Robert & Lori Risberg, 1996 Bentley Azure; Arthur Hammons & Virginia Foster, 2006 RR Phantom; Rob & Ivonne Webb, 1988 Bentley Mulsanne S; Tom & Renee Scheil, 1968 RR Silver Shadow; Bill & Vivian Biely, 1997 RR Silver Spur; John Ellison, Jr, 2000 Bentley Continental SC; Terry & Meryl Luallin, 1979 RR Silver Shadow II; Dan Pattee & Marilyn Mulloy, 2004 Bentley Continental GTC; David & Sally Monahan, 1986 RR Silver Spirit; Tyrone & Liz Flower; and Chuck & Gloria Eller, 1975 RR Corniche DHC. Guests included Jerry Hall & Lydia Written by Raynoha, Gerard & Marlene Lelievre, Wayne & Lorna Pannell, Victor & Cristull Hasson and Michael Lynch & Cheri Will Bartsfield Briccio. November - December 2010 Page 11 Volume 38 Issue 6 ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET almost nothing at all in common, from all walks of life, just except that they share a passion for these particular machines. That makes no sense at all.” He was right, --- and wrong. THE 59TH ANNUAL RROC MEET SWEET AS MAPLE SYRUP PART 2 OF 2 DAWN PATROL -- THURSDAY, July 22, 6:30.- 8:45 am. For Dawn Patrol to the Dunlap Observatory, I was invited to ride in Martin Weatherall and Sharon MacDonald’s comfortable, onyx 1997 Brooklands saloon EBV-59428, driving by picturesque farms in lush country roads that led us to the University of Toronto Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, located on a mountain in a native forest and colorful grounds. The David Dunlap Observatory has the largest telescope in Canada, with a 74-inch reflector. Paul Mortfield, a space scientist who has lectured at the NASA Kennedy Space Centre among other places, gave a talk about the sun and projected awesome telescopic photo-views of the sun and the galaxies and made us feel good about the distance between the earth and the sun, especially at times when the sun has its eruptions and parts of it could fry the earth in an instant. 9:15 am to 5:00 pm. Tour to the Art Gallery of Ontario (“AGO”) in Toronto. The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America. I was looking forward to getting acquainted with early Canadian Art. Our visit to AGO was a very rewarding experience both for the art collection as well as the harmonious architecture, including the additions designed by Frank Gehry. First our tour guide conducted us to the original part of the museum, to a neo-classic style square court with a glass roof, surrounded by stone arches where a serpentine sculptural, maple stairwell is the focal point. It was interesting to hear that when Frank Gehry was a little boy his mother used to bring him into this Museum. Apparently those arches made an impression on him, resulting in the ribbon like cantilevered stair well that rhymes with the curves of the arches. Besides this, he designed another staircase in the rear addition. In both cases, the proportions of the risers to the treads are perfect, and all this crafted of maple with a satin like finish without varnish. Walking up and down these stairs is a pleasure because they are easy on your feet and legs, and one feels like the wood “springs” slightly with each step one takes. In the building façade upper level is the long glass fronted gallery in the shape of the ribs of an upside down hull of a gigantic wooden ship. The impression of walking in this gallery’s gentle, almost imperceptible ramp is like one is gliding in the air. The views from here towards Dundas Street, as well as the sight from the rear addition towards Queen Street show charming old Victorian neighborhoods. Visiting AGO is a double treat: functional, pleasant architecture, and the joy of viewing a few samples of the 79,000 works of art in its fabulous collections dating from 100 A.D. to the present. We walked thru galleries of European masters as well as Contemporary art. Then we slowed down to glance at works by the Inuit and First Nations, visited the Canadian collection that documents November - December 2010 Page 12 Dunlap Observatory Art Gallery of Ontario William Kennedy’s 1911 Silver Ghost, 1521 Volume 38 Issue 6 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple I asked Peter Neilson, our RROC host, if the Toronto Eaton Shopping Center Gallery, our next destination, was within walking distance because I wanted to stay at the AGO to take another look at the Canadian art of the early 20th century. He said it was a bit more than a mile and drew a map. Sandy Matsen decided to stay with me, as she wanted to visit the World’s largest collection of works of British sculptor Henry Moore. How nice it was to glance again at the galleries. Among these, there was one with small paintings attached to four large panels about eight feet high by four feet wide, each one showing eleven pictures of the most powerful and endearing scenes of Canadian lakes and wilderness, some of them depicting storms and wind. These are oil sketches of the members of “The Group of Seven.” By 1920 most of these young men who had been working as art illustrators in publishing houses in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the booming city of Toronto, banded together in a desire to develop a new style of Canadian art that did not reflect the European traditions. This brings to mind a parallel development in California where the trends of the Plein Air movement and the desire to depict the ruggedness of the coast, mountains and desert created a distinctive style. The Group of Seven’s paintings made a profound impression on me. We looked at the imposing Victorian brownstone, Toronto City Hall as Sandy and I walked on Queen Street to the Eaton Centre galleria, where we joined our group to return to our hotel in Markham. 6:30 to 10:30 pm - CN Tower 360, Derby Bentley Society Dinner Atop the 1,151 foot tower, savoring superb food and wine, while observing the wide and extensive 100 mile panorama over Toronto and Lake Ontario, turning 360 degrees in 72 minutes was an unusual occasion which became very special because we were sitting in a booth November - December 2010 Page 13 Volume 38 Issue 6 JULY 19 - 24, 2010 the development of the nation’s art heritage since preConfederation. Walked by the Thomson Collection of Ship Models, then returned downstairs to view the Thomson enviable medieval and renaissance European collection consisting of miniatures of many Christian religious objects made of silver and gold, encrusted with precious stones, rock crystal and quartz hand cut objects, cloisonné, etc. Of all these, the ones that captivated us the most were the ivory triptychs, to the point that when I was admiring one, and I looked up, I noticed John Campi’s eyes fixed in the exquisitely carved crucifix. He remarked about the artistry of such delicate sculpture. He said that he really appreciated such work because he learned to carve ivory when he went to dental school! Dentists’ great dexterity and ability to form castings makes them great restorers of vintage cars! After this tour we remained in the museum and went to Frank‘s for lunch. This restaurant exhibits Frank Stella’s work. The food was delicious nouvelle Canadian Cuisine and the service was superb. The AGO’s synergy was evident. THE 59TH ANNUAL RROC MEET SWEET AS MAPLE SYRUP PART 2 OF 2 for four, enjoying the company of another famous member of RROC, Mermie Karger, our dear long time friend and her husband Colin Hughes. Greg Millard outgoing chairman of the Derby Bentley Society arranged this dinner. He welcomed us and introduced the incoming chairman, Michael Coup. Greg makes us proud because he is a Toronto native who lives in San Diego. He is past editor of “On The Road” Newsletter, winner of the McFarlane Trophy two years ago. Greg and his lovely wife Marge are valuable active members of San Diego Region. FRIDAY July 23rd. 6:30 to 9 am – Dawn Patrol breakfast run to the “Old Country Inn” It was an honor and a pleasure to be invited by no less than the Co-Chairman of the Meet, Henry Popp, in his quiet and lovely 1952 Mark VI saloon B296PV. We rode with another famous RROC man Simon White, co-chair of the Inter Regional Kissamee, Florida 2010 Winter Meet. The Old Country Inn is in the historic German town of Unionville. We rode on peaceful roads thru rolling hills and cornfields in the rain. B296PV’s roof drains are in perfect condition, there were no leaks even when we drove in a torrential rain and a fierce cloudburst. We know from experience: our first Bentley was a Mark VI, and when we first acquired it we discovered its sun roof had clogged drains! Unionville has a real German character. The breakfast was delicious and abundant, and it was nice to travel in the company of distinguished, generous leaders of RROC. 9:15 am to 4:30 pm - Hindu Temple Tour, and the McMichael Gallery. The visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple gave us new insights. The architecture is fascinating! Using premium Italian Carrara marble, the finest Turkish limestone and Indian pink stone, the Mandir was handcarved into 24,000 pieces by skilled craftsmen in India and assembled in place like a carefully fitted puzzle without mortar, on concrete footings and foundations prepared in advance. The interior is replete with luminescent white pinnacles and glittering marble pillars. Vedic heritage and traditions have been encompassed in this place of worship that introduces India’s heritage to Canada. Deities and motifs spring from the walls, ceilings and windows, representing the faith and beliefs of a culture that dates back over 10,000 years. From here we went to Villaggio Ristorante for lunch, then to the village of Kleinburg to visit the McMichael Art Collection. Surrounded by 100 acres of forest is a pioneer style log cabin built in 1951 by Michael and Signe McMichael. They named it Tapawingo, “place of joy” as a retreat to keep their Canadian Art Collection with a specific focus on Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, and their contemporaries. As their collection grew, interest from the public grew and they kept adding galleries to their November - December 2010 Page 14 Ivonne Webb (center) with Marilyn and George Morita Gil Fuquay and Rob Webb Volume 38 Issue 6 In 1965 the McMichaels transferred ownership of their home, property and their collection of 194 paintings to the province of Ontario. Since then the gallery has been enlarged to house other generous donations of Canadian art, and has grown to more than 5,000 art works. This gallery enjoys perfect synergy, and it is no wonder this is recognized as the spiritual home of the Group of Seven. After being introduced to the work of these artists at the AGO, coming to the McMichaels was a treat. It was interesting to find out that talented women artists like Emily Carr were not allowed to participate in the shows organized by the men, so they organized their own shows. Their depictions of nature as well as portraiture are amazing. SATURDAY July 24 – Concours and Judging Day. After enjoying such delightful aesthetical encounters the days before, the crescendo could not stop there. Thank goodness, the day we all have been looking forward is here. The stage is the lovely Milne Park, resembling a gentle amphitheatre. Trees are the backdrop, the actors are all poised, being admired. All the tender loving care given by their directors is palpable, but people have to restrain from leaving finger prints on such master pieces of the automotive world! Judges are absorbed in their jobs, some inspect the parts they have been assigned again and again. Some crawl under the car two and three times to make sure of what they see. The proud owners are giddy, wondering what the judges will find. The actors are splendid, the people are beautiful. Pictures are being taken, taken everywhere. Our prayers being answered: no precipitation! People are happy, there is joy in our hearts, feast for our eyes and good food to sustain us. Waiting, waiting… the waiting is over, results of the judging are being announced. Some caregivers have been preparing for this for months, some for years. If we could not obtain the coveted prize now, there will be another chance next year. We watch the parade of prize winners: what elegance, what sights, how fortunate we are to be here! The Concours is over, big raindrops fall all over, and we rush to take cover. Gratitude arises for blessings received, for the generous Canadian hosts who organized this wonderful Meet, a week of non stop delightful activities is coming to an end. This evening, at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sponsored reception and the Gala Awards Banquet, we will close one more page of the history of RROC so dear to us all! Hoping to see you at the next Meet or Tour, stay well, and drive safely. Written by Ivonne Ortiz Webb Ivonne & Rob Webb and Sue & Phil Brooks November - December 2010 Page 15 Volume 38 Issue 6 JULY 19 - 24, 2010 home. But as larger crowds appeared on their doorstep each weekend they began to investigate ways to make the collection permanently accessible to the public. DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS PART 4 OF 4 TECHNICAL TOPIX AND NOW TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT The engine compartment, well, it’s a dirty, sometimes messy job. I would leave this job for an afternoon when you really have nothing else to do! (Yeah, right!) But it is oh-so-cool when you or someone else opens the bonnet and the engine and its parts look almost new. This is not everyone’s cup of tea, but worth it if you choose to tackle it. It gets you familiar with your engine layout and parts. Again, survey to see where you want to start. Get a bucket with hot soapy water and some old rags that can get dirty and then be discarded. I usually wipe down all surfaces that I can reach with the moistened rag, cleaning the rag often in the bucket. Don’t forget the rain gutter of the bonnet, and if you like, the engine side of the bonnet itself, as well. As you go along, note any areas with a lot of oil/grime. Once I have wiped down pretty much everything, I take another old rag and use a degreaser in a spray bottle to get to the real oily areas and wipe those off. Some painted parts in the engine compartment can now also be waxed to shine. Metal parts can be cleaned better with metal cleaners, if you so choose. Although cleaning the engine compartment may seem to many folks to be “crazy”, I have found that mechanics who work on the car really notice and appreciate that the owner takes good care of his/her car. It might even inspire the mechanic to doing an even better job for you themselves! That’s about it! Remember, any and all the work you do comes back to you in your own enjoyment and appreciation, if not adulation of your car by others. In addition, it may help increase your car’s resale value, should you someday choose to part with it. Here the short list of what was discussed: (your “Cliff notes” version) Exterior: 1. Survey the whole car 2. Wash car with lukewarm water. Have 2 or 3 sponges for different applications. 3. Dry car off well. 4. Clay-clean painted outer surfaces, then apply wax. Interior: 1. Survey all 2.Vacuum 3. Wipe all surfaces with moist microfiber rag. 4. Dry off surfaces with dry rag. 5. Treat leather surfaces with a recommended leather conditioner Hood (convertible top): 1. Wash down top well 2. Dry 3. Where needed, use a wet (not moist) Magic sponge in light circular motion. Clean sponge often. 4. Dry with clean rag. Engine Compartment: 1. Wipe all surfaces with moist old rag. 2. Use a degreaser on an old rag for oily areas. 3. Wax (if you like) painted surfaces in engine compartment Avoid: . Working on the car in direct sunlight. . Getting wax on plastic parts. If it happens, wipe off right away with a wet rag. . Mixing cleaning rags . Hurrying your job Written by [Editor’s Note: This article is Part 4 of a 4-part article covering the topic of cleaning, preserving and making your PMC presentable.] Klaus Reichardt November - December 2010 Page 16 Volume 38 Issue 6 RROC + GREY POUPON November - December 2010 Page 17 Volume 38 Issue 6 SHADOW SPIRIT SPUR CHECKLIST THE OTHER DAY I WAS ATTENDING A TECH MEET and they handed out some great information for Silver Shadow and Spirit/Spur owners, explaining some of the common problem areas of both models. As you will see, much of the information is the same, but each car has some trouble spots that are unique. This information is great for someone that owns either of these two models so you know what maintenance issues are most common. This is also good for the non-technical owner, as you will have a bit of advance knowledge for when the mechanic starts rattling off stuff. Lastly, this is great for anyone who wants to purchase one of these cars. Listed issues apply to both cars unless otherwise noted. Brake Problems 1. Brake Pressure Warning Lights – Common problems are low sphere pressure or low fluid level. Most spheres can be rebuilt if they are bad at a lower cost than replacement. It is normal for the warning lights to come on after the car has not been driven for awhile. If the lights go out immediately, the diaphragm in the sphere has most likely burst. If the lights take a long time to go out, the gas pressure in the spheres is very low. A good test is to let the car run for 2 min., then turn the car off and immediately turn the ignition back on and pump the brakes. At least 20 pumps are normal before the light comes back on, fewer pumps indicates that you probably have a problem somewhere. 2. Leaks – Common are the brake pump housing, caliper seals, hoses and fittings, accumulators, height control valves and rams. 3. Shadow - Brakes “hanging on” – Old brake hoses, seized calipers and g-valves are usually the issue. Reminder: Shadows have ten critical brake hoses, and ALL should be replaced simultaneously. Average life span is usually ten years. Suspension Problems 1. Shadow - Excessive bouncing or “porpoise” ride – weak shocks are usually the cause. 2. Shadow - Leaning Tires – Bad camber bearings make the front tires slant/tilt inward at the top leading to excessive tire wear. 3. Spirit/Spur - Harsh ride in rear – Gas spring failure. The rear struts have spheres on top that fail causing the Spirit/Spur to bounce severely, especially when exiting a driveway onto the street. 4. Spirit/Spur - Leaks – Most common is in the rear suspension at the struts. Early struts can be rebuilt; later ones have to be replaced. There is also a small plastic bleed line connecting the strut to the body that will seep. 5. Clunking noise – Clunk from the front suspension is worn bushings, shock grommets, and shock ball joints. Clunks when applying the brakes are the compliance mount. TECHNICAL TOPIX Steering Problems 1. Leaks – Steering rack box, cooler hoses and high-pressure hose. Racks, if leaking, can be rebuilt. Engine Problems 1. Leaks – Front engine cover and valve cover gaskets. 2. Poor performance – Faulty spark plug wires, condensers, carburetor problems, weak fuel pumps and plugged fuel filters. A very common problem on injected cars is when the car is cold it starts easily and runs great, but when the car is warm after sitting for a short while, it will only start after a long time cranking. Once running it will run rough for a little while and then clear up, 90% of the time the fuel accumulator is at fault. 3. Noises – Most common are lifters and pistons. Lifters will normally make a slight tapping sound at start-up, but if they keep tapping after the engine is warm, they need to be replaced. Brake pumps can also make the same tapping sound. Also, if the car has been overheated badly, the pistons crack and make a very loud tapping noise. Transmission 1. Leaks – Pan gaskets and side seals. Side seals are usually the issue if the car has not been driven for very long periods of time. Cooling problems 1. Leaks – Water pumps and hoses 2. Overheating – Thermostats and radiators. Early brass radiators can be cleaned and re-cored. Later aluminum ones have to be replaced Electrical 1. Wipers and accessories – Sometimes the wipers will stay on even when switched off, or not work at all. This is 99% caused by the failure of one of three relays under the dash. 2. Windows – Usually the micro-switches are bad. Be sure to replace both to ensure proper window operation. Could also be the drive coupling and or window gears. When these fail you can hear the motor running but the window will not move. A slow running window is usually caused by low voltage at the window. This can be fixed with a wiring modification adding additional relays at the window. November - December 2010 Page 18 Volume 38 Issue 6 Written by Shane Kimsey Frank Hamad and SED101 - 1957 RR Silver Cloud I shop; where I, like my father could spend my days working on cars. My fondest childhood memories revolve around spending time with my father working on his 1937 Phantom II, building parts, and hearing stories about my grandfather and his love for cars. My dream of having my own shop started becoming a reality when I discovered how I could use my engineering skills, knowledge, and experience with cars to help other car lovers like myself. In early 2000, I noticed a 1957 Silver Cloud parked at my work. Owning a 1963 Bentley S3 and 78 Silver Shadow myself, I was curious to find out who the owner was. Subsequently I met Mr. Michael Faircloth and found not only the owner of the Silver Cloud but a great friend. One night while driving his car to work Mike experienced a problem with his car. He had his car towed home and he discovered a transmission problem. We then planned on pulling the transmission and rebuilding it ourselves. We then later did a complete engine overhaul, at which time Mike discovered he needed to replace the timing gear. Mike mentioned how a new one would cost him about $1,300.00. I offered to have one made for him for around $50.00. While Mike was apprehensive about giving me the gear, he did so and I had it sent overseas to a foundry owned by my brothers to have the part made. The gear was identical to the original and has been on Mike’s car for about six years now and has performed very well for a long time without any problems. I have made several other parts for Mike and other members since then, including new exhaust manifolds from cast iron and stainless steel with beefier flanges. There was a big uproar on the RR forum as to whether these were correct for the car and the right formula of stainless steel. In the end the manifolds fit perfectly. I made spin-on oil filter “adaptors”, bushings for the antenna, various bushings for the suspension system and linkage, springs for the ashtrays and numerous other parts. Being a owner and member myself and getting to know other Rolls Royce members I discovered that whenever members have a problem with their cars they hesitate to take it to a mechanic due to the great expense involved. The experience can be difficult and very costly. I started thinking that I had always dreamt of having my own work space where I can work on cars. So why not make my dream advantageous for other Rolls Royce members? Provide members with a place where they can bring their cars, have parts made, or just get advice on how to fix the car themselves in a cost effective manner. With this in mind, I became eager to make this life long dream finally come true. While I never had the opportunity to have my own shop in the past, I had collected the required tools, equipment and machinery throughout the years, in hopes of one day achieving this dream. My lifelong dream of having my own shop has finally become a reality. The Post 55 Written by Hobby Shop will be open to all Rolls Royce Members. I invite you to live my dream with me. Whether you need work done on your car, a new part made, or just advice on how to fix small problems on your own, I invite you to visit my shop. I welcome you all to an open house on January 15, 2011 to come see the shop. Frank Hamad November - December 2010 Page 19 Volume 38 Issue 6 AND SHARE YOUR STORY TALES ABOUT YOU YOUR PMC MY CHILDHOOD SPARKED MY PASSION for building cars and lead to my dream of one day having my own November - December 2010 Page 20 Volume 38 Issue 6
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