front cover - Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club

No.151
FRONT COVER
Rush Hour in Yorkshire.
Editorial
The kitchen is finally finished. Hurrah!
Which means, according to Nina,
that it must be time to start on the
patio. Damn. However as spring is
apparently in the air, although it’s
difficult to spot with all this rain and
hail around, I turned my attention to
Sid for a day or two to get him on
the road again by way of a break
from the DIY. You can read about
my whimsically space filling story on
Page 17.
Also this month, there’s a great feature from Mike Kirk who’s managed to write
a whole article about a car that almost never goes wrong. If you’re wondering
what that does leave to talk about, turn to page 4.
August seems like a long way away, but the National will be upon us before we
know it. Eddie Z has given us a taster of what’s in store this year on Page 38,
and is also looking for willing/gullible volunteers to help make the weekend a
great time for everyone. Some of you may have already received a version of the
letter he’s written on page 15, but it’s always good to have a reminder of how
we can help him out.
Talking of good causes, I am taking part in something called the “3 Peaks
Challenge” on July 2nd. Apparently the idea is to walk up (and back down) three
mountains (Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike) within 24 hours, which is of
course enormously daft. Especially when you’re as unfit as I am. Anyway, it’s for
the benefit of a children’s hospice, so if you are interested in sponsoring me, find
out more about it at www.justgiving.com/peaksofhazard.
I would like to thank those of you who have sent in odd pictures and cuttings in
the last few months, it’s very reassuring to have some good material in reserve.
Thanks to Andy Hodgson for his fine tribute to Richard, which will appear in a
forthcoming issue. We still need to hear from lots more of you though, as one
single tribute doesn’t begin to do justice to the contribution Richard made to
the Club. I know many of you have fond memories of him because people keep
saying so, so please write in with your recollections and photos. The same still
goes for Series I owners by the way! I can’t believe nobody in the Club has ever
had to restore their Series I, so where are the photos? I’ve got plenty of photos
of my kitchen rebuild and I’m not afraid to use them...
Mowf
No.151
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May 2004
Your Committee
PRESIDENT
CHAIRMAN
Contents
SITUATION VACANT
SITUATION VACANT
Editorial
Recognition at Last!
Letters
A Call to Arms
New Blood...er, members
The Action Never Stops
Little Sunbeams
Spares Day
SAOC Area Meetings
Classifieds
Buy a Brand New Alpine
Events
Buff & Polish
Regalia
Around the Areas
SORN refresher course
National Appetizer
Winters in summer
Contacting the SAOC
VICE CHAIRMAN
CHRISTINA STRUNCKS
Hollyhock Cottage, Hockham Road, Compton,
Newbury, Berkshire RG20 6QN
Tel: 01635 579025
TREASURER
AHMAD GOODARZI
28 Cockburn Crescent, Balerno
Midlothian EH14 7EW
0131 451 5052
SECRETARY
SALLY WINSTANLEY
3 Greenclose Cottages, Pott Shrigley,
Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 5SG
Tel. 07818 481 164
MEMBERSHIP SEC.
SIMON EDWARDS
41 Great Notley Avenue, Great Notley Garden
Village, Braintree, Essex CM7 7UX
Tel. 01376 342 025
EDITOR
JOHN MOWFORTH
4 Mulberry Walk, Shirley,
Southampton SO15 5GA
02380 773336
ACTING REGALIA OFFICER DOUG FOSTER
64 Cuckoo Way, Great Notley, Braintree,
Essex CM7 8YG
07866 984228
EVENTS ADVISOR/PRESS OFFICER
STEVE WOOD
Woodleigh, The Valley, Coxheath
Kent, ME17 4EW
Tel. 01622 746 394
REGISTRAR & WEB SITE EDITOR
DAVID BRADLEY
24, Bratton Road, West Ashton, Trowbridge
Wiltshire BA14 6AZ
Tel. 01225 754 100
ACTING A.R.C.C. REP GRAHAM HOWARD
19 Cottage Lane, Macclesfield
Cheshire, SK10 1QH
email [email protected]
INFORMATION OFFICER
PAUL NORTON
“Shenstone”, Walters Ash, High Wycombe
Bucks. HP14 4UZ.
Tel. 01494 562 235
COMPETITION SECRETARY STEVE SMITH
2 Troy Cottage, Somerton Oxford OX25 6NG
Tel. 01869 345565: Mobile 0777 4468 726
ARCHIVIST
ANDY GOLDSMITH
245 Dover Road, Folkestone
Kent CT19 6NH
Tel. 01303 244917
SPARES OFFICERS
TREVOR ROGERS/MICK SULLIVAN
Luxted Farm, Luxted Road, Downe, Kent
BR6 7JT
Tel. 01959 576 176 (Trevor)
01474 746 340 (Mick)
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4-9
11-14
15
16
17-19
20
22
23
24-27
28
29,30
31
32,33
34
35,36
38-40
41
43
THIS ISSUE
Well if you don’t know by now...
NEXT ISSUE All material should be sent to the Editor by no
later than May 31st 2004
COVER PHOTO
Mike Kirk’s Alpine taking a breather by the
Ribblehead Viaduct, during a tour recce.
BACK PAGE
National 2004
THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE ALPINE
HORN ARE THOSE OF INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS AND
NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE S.A.O.C. UNLESS
OTHERWISE STATED. WHILST EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO
ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF ALL MATERIAL PUBLISHED,
THE S.A.O.C. CANNOT ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR LOSS
RESULTING FROM ANY ERROR, MISSTATEMENT,
INACCURACY OR OMISSION CONTAINED THEREIN.
THE PUBLISHING OF AN ADVERTISMENT IN THE MAGAZINE
DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY S.A.O.C. OF ANY
PERSON COMPANY OR PRODUCT AND NO LIABILITY WILL
BE ACCEPTED IN RESPECT THEREOF.
-3-
RECOGNITION AT LAST!
(THE STORY OF A FAITHFUL FRIEND)
I have been somewhat amazed at the number of articles and references in recent
‘Horns’ about how un-reliable our favourite cars are! My poor tatty old Alpine
looks nothing like the glossy machines featured in last months article about the
‘National’, but it has done an incredible amount of work and rarely let me down.
Therefore I thought it worth putting ‘pen to paper’ in its defence.
It is now over seven years since I forsake the world of ‘serious’ rallying and
ventured into the classic car scene for the first time. In late 1996 I made one
of the best decisions of my life (on a par with accepting early retirement!) and
purchased NLA 774E, a dark green series five Sunbeam Alpine. Since then I have
had some of the best fun and greatest adventures in my motorsport ‘career’.
Right from the word ‘go’ I intended to rally the Alpine as well as do some serious
touring, hopefully on the continent. I can now say that both those ambitions have
been well and truly achieved – although I hope there are a lot more adventures
to come.
Between 1997 and 2000 I competed on and took part in over 30 rallies and
tours in the trusty Alpine, as well as recceing and ‘Course car-ing’ on numerous
events for Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club. Apart from the clutch disintegrating on
“Original” condition (pre-MiniLites & rollbar), by Dent Head Viaduct
No.151
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May 2004
the very first competitive event (it
was probably the original item!),
the Alpine has never seriously
let me down and I have finished
every other event I started, often
coming away with a trophy into the
bargain. The Alpine has certainly
been as successful as any other
rally car I have ever owned – and
there have been a few!
The climax of all this competition
1999 AXA Classic at Millbrook
was the Classic Marathon in 2000,
which ran from Ypres in Belgium to San Remo in Italy. The Alpine very nearly
excelled itself amongst some exhalted company, (drivers and cars) and a top
ten finish was looking possible until a few niggling problems (not all mechanical)
delayed us on the last couple of days. The result was a finish, but in a slightly
disappointing 41st place.
After this I thought the ‘poor old girl’ needed a rest and a ‘makeover’ and she
was put away in the garage for the winter of 2000/2001. Then I was unfaithful!
I was desperately trying to get rid of an un-loved MGB V8 and eventually did a
deal, which involved trading in an MGB Roadster. The MG was quite a pretty car,
black bumper but Primrose Yellow and I flirted with it for the summer of 2001
and again through 2002, although never taking part in anything other than fairly
small touring events, completely neglecting the Alpine. However the MG was
actually just as troublesome as its big brother the V8 and I gradually developed
a distinct dislike for the breed. (There is a whole other article there! I’m thinking
of suggesting a new item of Alpine regalia – a T-shirt with the logo; “Alpines eat
B’s for breakfast!”).
So, early this year I ventured down to the garage to dust of the old Alpine. She
repaid me for my neglect by taking a whole afternoon to start, but once running
I whisked her down to my local garage for an MOT. Although she drove not too
bad I feared the worst after such a long lay-off. The next day I thought my fears
were justified when Bill at the garage rang up and said; “This b---y car of yours!”
“Yes?” I said tentatively, expecting the worst. “Has just sailed through its M.O.T.
no problem!” I think I cheered! Certainly I was grinning from ear to ear when he
returned her.
May 2004
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No.151
With little more ado the Alpine and myself picked up where we had left off two
years previously. In that time I have gone into business organising tours in my
native Lake District, Scotland and in Spain and France, (CLASSIC CAR TOURS
International) and the Alpine’s first duty was as Course Car on our Lakeland
Spring Classic event which took in all the Lake District Passes. Once again,
despite some disdainful looks from ‘customers’ with rather more pampered
machinery, she performed impeccably.
unlike the immaculate Healey 3000 (distributor and petrol pump problems)
and the equally smart V12 E-type (broken shock absorber) and various minor
problems of the other nine cars that accompanied us.
Drying the car out was not a problem though! Within two weeks she was basking
in the sunshine of Spain! This time it was our BEAUX VILLAGE/PAU GRAND
PRIX TOUR, from Santander, through the Pyrenees, to Pau, then the Dordogne,
Loire and back to Caen for the ferry home. Almost a 2000 mile round trip. Again,
fellow travellers were less than complimentary about my poor steed. Once again
Next it was off to Scotland for our Mullenium Classic Tour, seven days around
Scotland and the Isle of Mull. The weather in Scotland in May can vary from
Tropical, (wet), to Arctic, (cold and wet) and sure enough on the way to Loch
Tay we ran into a snow storm. Co-driver, Geoff Crabtree and I could only sit and
laugh as we went ‘topless in the snow’. Actually it was almost a blizzard at one
point but there seemed no point stopping by then and the old Alpine was just
purring on regardless. In contrast the weather on Mull was fantastic and showed
off the Island to its spectacular best. We almost completed the whole trip with
the hood down but our own Lake District rain finally defeated us on the last ‘leg’
over Kirkstone Pass, when there was so much water on the inside of the screen
it was impossible to see where we were going. The Alpine never missed a beat,
“Relegated” to spectating on the 2003 Ilkley Classic Rally
though she came up trumps giving an MGA, Mazda MX5 and Mercedes 500SL
a run for their money up a nine mile climb in the Pyrenees. Admittedly a new set
of brake pads had to be fitted at the hotel the next morning but once that was
done she was raring to go again. At one point I stopped to take some photos
on a particularly spectacular mountain climb and when I reached the top of the
mountain I found the convoy of above cars waiting for me. When I said they
needn’t have waited for me, someone said; “We just wanted to hear you come
up those hairpins, it sounds great!” (Twin weber carburettors do give the car a
very aggressive engine note - especially when you are having fun!!). On the very
brisk run down the mountain the Mazda driver commented; “Every time I looked
in the mirror there was this Alpine drifting round the bends like Mike Hawthorn
in a 50’s Grand Prix”. Well I did say I was having fun!!
Finish Line of the 2000 Classic Marathon, San Remo, Italy.
No.151
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May 2004
May 2004
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No.151
As we progressed northward through France my business partner, Brian, joined
me in the Alpine. He too was less than complimentary about the appearance of
the old girl and was most taken aback when the gear lever came adrift in my
hand whilst negotiating a tricky junction in a town. Having started my rallying
career in standard Mk1 Escorts, this was not a particularly worrying experience
for me. (All the screws on the retaining plate had worked loose). I simply poked
the lever back in the hole and fished around until I found a suitable gear and
carried on. I knew I couldn’t effect better repairs until I found some suitable
screws. Brian was not impressed and uttered a rather sarcastic; “Have you ever
thought of entering this car in a concourse competition?”
at some point had stretched his legs under the dashboard and kicked the wires
out of the multi-point connector. It took all of thirty seconds to repair in the cold
light of day! Still the garage bill was very small.
Some big self-tapping screws temporarily fixed the gear lever that night and
the Alpine carried on regardless while others struggled with an assortment of
problems. None of them terminal, fortunately.
(HISTORIC RALLY CAR)
So at 4-o clock on a Tuesday morning the Alpine arrived home with another epic
trip under her belt. The next couple of weeks were fairly quiet until she was put on
display at the K.L.M.C. Classic Car Show where she represented the company
(CCTi) and the club (Kirkby Lonsdale M.C.). BUT the following week, just for fun I
did enter a concourse event – AND WON AN AWARD! I was absolutely delighted
when my trusty tired looking old Alpine won the award for the MOST FAITHFUL
SERVANT. Very appropriate! Perhaps this winter she will get that ‘make-over’,
after duties on our LAKES ‘N DALES CLASSIC, and AUTUMN LAKES CLASSIC
and perhaps another trip to France on our ANGOULEME CLASSIC. Then she
might need a rest --- although I quite fancy doing something like LE JOG (Lands
End to John ‘O Groats Rally) – What was that noise outside? Do cars sigh?
So I still have faith in the old girl and maybe she will get some attention this
winter. Anyone want to buy an MGB Roadster??
“Most Faithfull Servant”
SUMBEAM ALPINE SV 1967
HISTORY
BOUGHT NOVEMBER 1996 BY CURRENT OWNER, MIKE KIRK, IN FAIRLY
WELL RESTORED CONDITION. GRADUALLY PREPARED FOR CLASSIC/
HISTORIC RALLYING OVER NEXT FEW YEARS.
HAS SINCE COMPETED IN OVER 30 EVENTS RANGING FROM LOCAL CLUB
EVENTS TO INTERNATIONALS AND HAS BEEN ALMOST 100% RELIABLE
ONLY FAILING TO FINISH ONCE – ON IT’S VERY FIRST COMPETITIVE RALLY.
HAS BEEN TO IRELAND THREE TIMES, ISLE OF MULL IN SCOTLAND TWICE
AND LE MANS IN FRANCE ONCE, AND IN 2000 COMPLETED THE “CLASSIC
MARATHON RALLY” FROM YPRES IN BELGIUM TO SAN REMO IN ITALY VIA
THE SWISS ALPS. ‘RESTED’ IN 2001/2002 BUT IN 2003 ALREADY BEEN TO
SCOTLAND, SPAIN AND FRANCE!
MIKE KIRK
P.S. To be honest I have to report a couple of breakdowns since I started writing
this report. The Lakes and Dales Tour was completed un-eventfully but then
disaster struck in France. In the middle of nowhere the brakes went completely. I
eventually traced the problem to a split front flexible hose. Not really the cars fault
as I remembered dropping a front wheel into a pot hole whilst on full lock when
leaving a village petrol station. Suspension and steering were obviously at full
stretch and the pipe got nipped. A local garage managed to effect good enough
repairs for us to complete the trip to Angouleme and back.
The second problem was on the way home from the 9pm ferry into Portsmouth.
Half way up the M6 a lorry driver flagged us down and said we had no back
lights whatsoever. Two hours were then spent in the next service station trying to
find the fault. In the end I completely re-wired the sidelights from a ‘live feed’ just
to get us home. Ironically the old girl redeemed herself when I took her to the
garage to get fixed. It turned out that in the dark, and being somewhat tired from
the journey that had started 12 hours earlier, I hadn’t spotted that my passenger
No.151
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May 2004
SPECIFICATION
SERIES 5 CAR WITH 1725cc ENGINE*, MODIFIED FOR UNLEADED PETROL
AND RUNNING ON TWIN WEBER 40 DCOE CARBS. UP-RATED CLUTCH
BUT STANDARD GEARBOX AND BACK AXLE. NEW SPRINGS AND SPAX
ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBERS ALL ROUND. OTHERWISE STANDARD
If you are interested in finding out more about the tours on
offer from Mike’s company, have a look at his website:
www.classiccartoursinternational.co.uk
You can also email him at [email protected]
or call him on 01539 728832.
He has kindly offered a 10% discount to SAOC club
members on selected tours.
SPEC.
May 2004
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No.151
Letters
Note of encouragement, several
committee posts are vacant now some
others
are up for re-election this year please
think if you can support the club.
As a recent Co-opted committee
member I can safely say that the time
taken
up by the post is not great and that I
am still able to enjoy using my
Alpine, it even gives me excuses to
use it. The benefit is that you do get
to meet and speak to other Alpine
owner’s from across the world.
Depending on the committee post the
minimum commitment is 4 committee
meetings a year the rest is up to you.
The more posts that are filled makes
it easier on the rest of the committee
and we get a wider consensus of the
members views.
I know its hard to commit to a post at
the AGM when you don’t fully
understand what effort and time a post
will take up or in my position space
with the regalia stock. So if you are
interested in supporting the club why
not speak to a committee member.
Doug Foster
SAOC Regalia
Dear Members,
Your Secretary here, writing to let you
know about some committee posts
coming up for election at the AGM
on 8th August, so you’ve got time to
give some thought about whether you
fancy being an official of the SAOC for
three years or thereabouts.
Firstly, you’re probably already aware
that the post of Chairman is still vacant
– this is a great post because you’re
in charge, you can delegate! The idea
is to get yourself a decent secretary,
which leads me nicely on to the next
post up for election… yes, you’ve
guessed, secretary!
I am standing down a year early
because of huge new family
commitments, which no doubt some
of you will hear about at the National,
if you haven’t already.
I’ve really enjoyed my stint as
secretary, it has given me such an
insight as to how the club is run and
what sterling work goes on behind the
scenes on your behalf; not only by the
committee but also by Area Reps and
the people who organise the Nationals.
I feel honoured to have been part of
the ‘team’ and hope that maybe in
several years time, I can come back to
committee duties again.
From Steve Osmond’s archive
No.151
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May 2004
May 2004
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No.151
The main functions of the secretary
are to:
1) Attend committee meetings to
take the minutes – there are only four
meetings a year, including the AGM,
so this is not onerous. The meetings
are held in the beautiful little village of
Swinford, Leicestershire, a couple of
miles from where the M1 and M6 meet
(very easy to find!)
2) Deal with mail, these days received
by email which is more efficient but
don’t worry if you’re not on line, you can
use a post office box number or your
home address if you prefer. Depending
on what it is, a lot of the mail can
be forwarded to another committee
member to deal. Occasionally, there
will be letters to write and answer.
3) Keep certificates of insurance and
ensure the club insurance is renewed
on time (in July)
4) Order stationery for committee
members and National organisers –
Jim at Impress Design is magnificent,
he will send the orders to whatever
address you ask, which saves you
having to distribute!
If any one would like to volunteer but
is unsure of what’s involved, I’m quite
willing to work alongside someone
during the first year. If you have
any questions, please get in touch:
[email protected] or P.O.
Box 425, MACCLESFIELD SK10 5WU
or phone: 07974 822019. Thanks.
Other posts available:
1) Up to four ARCC representatives.
Our one and only Rep, Graham
No.151
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Howard, has recently written about
what that involves.
Lovewell - Hon. Treasurer 23 Milton
View Hitchin Tel.01462 642045
2) Spares Officer – ‘Buff and Polish’
feel it’s time to give someone else a go!
Please convey our condolences
on the death of your president and
founder member Richard Jones to your
members and also his widow Gloria
and family.
3) Competition Secretary – If anyone
would like to volunteer, Steve Smith
would be happy to hand over but is
willing to stay if not.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Sally Winstanley.
Dear John,
I am wondering if you or any helpfull
members have got a early copy of the
Horn which contains information about
my series 3 alpine. My alpine, which I
am about to finish restoring is 1 of only
2 alpines in Iceland and when I bought
it I got the information that its history had
been published in the Horn, probably
in a copy somewhere between 60 and
70. I have got all copys from Horn 74.
I understand that this car has been
driven all the way to Moscow and back
so if someone could photocopy it and
sent it to me I would be most grateful.
Thank you for a superb mag.
Member nr.4035 H.O. Gudmundsson,
Grandavegur
36107
Reykjavik,
ICELAND
Walsworth Festival Association Lindsay
Freeston - Chairperson 34 Redhill Road Hitchin Tel.01462 623185. Jack Swain
- Hon. Secretary 23 Fishponds Road Hitchin Tel.01462 623345. Bernard
May 2004
On Sunday 23rd May 2004 from
11.00am to 5pm situated by the river
in Hitchin, Hertfordshire we have
an annual Festival “The Walsworth
Festival” which hosts a Vintage,veteran
classic a interesting car and motorcycle
show with Gymkhana and hopefully
Auto Jumble and an opportunity for
members to display and or sell their
cars if need be. The event and entry
for cars and pedestrians is free - those
attending will have a food voucher
given to compensate for petrol used in
getting there.
We have had positive responses from
Morris Minor Owners Club, Triumph
Owners Club, American Classic Car
Club, MG Owners Club etc. etc. This event comprises of charity
and voluntary organisations from
a wide background I.e. Cheshire
Homes, Scouts,Guides,ATC, Sea
Cadets, hospital for sick and terminally
ill children, society, Drugsline,
Samaritans, TWG, WI, RSPB, etc.
etc. all of these groups are there to
raise funds for their organisation, raise
awareness or aid recruitment. The
Festival is non-profit making.
30 years and has always had a great
display of vehicles with American
Vehocles present. Please let me know
if this is of interest (Tel.01462 640952
or email). To give you further info the
Walsworth Festival is also advertised
here http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/
index.php?module=PostCalendar&fun
c=view&Date=20040523&tplview=def
ault&viewtype=details&eid=64&print=
Regards and other club websites
Chris Parker - stalls/events organiser
Stuart Saunders - Car event organiser
Have you any suggestions on
how to free the clutch on my
Mk4 Alpine. Its been standing
over winter and i think the plate has stuck to the flywheel. I
dont fancy a major stripdown
so any other ideas would be
greatly appreciated!
Best Regards
Mark Wesley (5655)
The stalls are situated around an arena
where we have activities throughout
the day we also have a parade of cars
and motorcycles on show.
The Festival has been running for over
May 2004
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No.151
Hi John,
We thought we’d send you a photo of
our Alpine taken the other morning after a bit of snow. We use our two Alpines on alternate days throughout the
year, sun, rain or snow and Alpi was
outside that night and got covered in a
couple of inches of the white stuff. She
still started first time the next morning
though!
It is really satisfying to drive past bro-
ken down modern cars in an old Alpine.
At the French Rootes Rally last summer she was in 105̊ temperatures and
the French roads were melting, now it’s
below freezing and the English roads
are falling to pieces!
Best Wishes,
Tim Raymond
Problem with 1966 Zenith Stromberg
150 cd carbs: 
I’m presently trying to rebuild a set
of 150 cd carbs for a 1966 Sunbeam
Alpine Series V and found that both air
piston guide posts had broken loose
due to the inherent weakness of the
cast pot metal used for this version.
I cannot find any usable units as all
have suffered the same failure mode. I
would like to replace them with a set
No.151
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of later model pistons (aluminum) but
because of the weight difference (the
original ones being twice as heavy as
a later version) realize there will be
great difficulty in trying to match spring
compression and metering needle
specifications to effect a correct fuel
curve for this application. Do you know
of a source for good original pistons
or do you know of anyone who has
successfully made the conversion to
the later piston version? I’m hoping not
to ‘re-invent the wheel’ so to speak if
this has already been accomplished.
Any help you can offer would be
appreciated.
Regards,
Don P. Pender
Penspeed Engineering
[email protected]
 
Dear John,
My father-in-law John Mayhew is
currently restoring a 1964 Alpine and
is struggling with the soft top vinyl roof
covering. It is not clear how to fold the
roof in and this is delaying completion
of the restoration. I was wondering if
there is another club member close to
Northampton with a restored Alpine
who would be willing to call and see my
father-in-law, (01604 870765) or vice
versa, to check his roof is on correctly
etc.
Many thanks
Tracy
 
 
S.A.O.C National Rally 2004
As you may be aware the Surrey Area are hosting the National Rally in 2004, a first in the
history of the club. One of the reasons for this is that over the years, in spite of the Surrey
and South London Area being the largest by quite a large margin (nearly 100 members in
fact) the regular monthly meet attendance has been down to a dedicated core of between
5-10 people. Sometimes Brian Simpson has sat in the venue month after month without
a soul turning up…
I am just as guilty as anyone else because although Brian has invited me to the monthly
meet at some of the Nationals up and down the country over the past twenty years,
I never attended it even once. I have always felt ashamed about this when attending
Nationals put on by other areas, and seeing how close knit those areas are, virtually large
families who have grown together over the years. Putting on a National requires a team of
people that are prepared to sacrifice a few hours of their time so that the rest of the club
can enjoy the flagship event of the SAOC Calendar.
When I put my hand up at the Scottish National AGM at Hawick in 2002 offering to host
the Surrey National in 2004, more than a few people thought it was mad, but immediately
an acquaintance of mine from the Concours field, a guy called Peter Pescud came up to
me offering his help. Without him, I would never have stayed the course, he has been a
godsend and together with his patient help and advice we have reached a stage where
we have booked a superb venue with very good facilities for a traditional Alpine National,
with Dinner and Disco, Marquee, and all the other things we have come to expect.
However, this alone won’t make the event a successful one because 2 people cannot run
an event of this size by themselves. On the weekend itself we will need volunteers to
carry out just ONE of the following tasks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
SIGNPOSTING THE LOCAL AREA AROUND THE VENUE.
MARKING OUT THE CAMPING VILLAGE ROAD SYSTEM WITH PEGS AND BUNTING.
MAKING UP THE INFORMATION PACKS FOR THE GUESTS.
BUYING THE TROPHIES AND ATTENDANCE PLAQUES ETC.
ORGANIZING A RAFFLE AND PRIZES (and perhaps sponsorship if possible).
CONCOURS JUDGING AND COMPETITION FORMS ETC.
DRIVING TESTS.
MANNING THE BOOKING IN TENT.
ORGANISING THE FRIDAY NIGHT BARBECUE.
MARSHALLING THE CONCOURS AREA.
If you feel you could handle ONE of these jobs or would like to be in a pool for general
duty on the weekend itself please contact us. You will need to be committed if you do and
ideally we would like you to attend the Surrey Area meet ( 2nd Sunday of each month at
the Out and Out on Tattenham Corner , Epsom Downs 12-30pm to about 2-30pm. ) You
will then meet and be part of the Event Committee.
WE NEED YOU, TO MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN.
EDDIE ZETLEIN 020 8337 7696, PETER PESCUD 01306 888 842.
May 2004
May 2004
-15-
No.151
6146
6147
6148
6149
6150
6151
6152
6153
6154
6155
6156
6157
6158
6159
6160
6161
6162
6163
6164
6165
6166
6167
6168
Marston
6169
6170
6171
6172
6173
6174
6175
6176
6177
6178
6179
6180
6181
6182
6183
6184
6185
6186
6187
6188
6189
6190
6191
6192
6193
6194
6195
6196
6197
6198
6199
6200
6201
6202
6203
6204
No.151
First, a quick recap of my car’s progress over the last few months.
Welcome To The Following New Members:
Paul Taylor, Stourbridge
Colin Elrington Bolton
Katherine Lunt Ashford
Gary Richards, Congleton
Paul Dimbleby, Bourne
Geoff Bradfield, Wirral
Stuart Atling, Hawkwell
Leslie John Ware, Axminster
Thomas Harrington, Paris
Ron Darlington, Burnley
Rupert Bastin, Swindon
Ian Stephen, Romford
Angela & David Collins, Dunchurch
Miss Lauren Atkins, Bedford
Dr Doug & Maimie Harkness, Forfar
Ken Lord, Stocksfield
Mr R Hadfield, Warrington
James O’Toole, Leeds
Stephen Vokes, Aylesbury
Elisabeth Wallwork, Langbank
Alisdair Blair, Cambel Town
Dennis & Caroline Bradbury, Cowes
Andrew Capone & Sue Hubbard
Moreteyne
Kay Lawrence, Ware
James & Isobel Macdonald, Stockport
Michael Brewer, Crawley
Paul Mason, Pewsey
Anthony Grainger, Rainhan
Lee Brogden, Tauton
Peter-John Vettese, Ewell
Richard Braddock, Timperley
David Thayre, Westcliff on Sea
Maurice Gallier, Wolverhampton
Barnaby Papworth, Hackney
John Whitehouse, Dover
Douglas McDonnell, Marlow
Martin John Pester, Storrington
David Iveson, Wakefield
Nigel Case, London
Mark Harrington, Carlisle
Mr I P Tole, Stockport
Christopher Nash, Bicester
G E Ace, Upton Snodsbury
John Gray, Perth
Keith Pennington, Aberdare
Graham Whiting, Orpington
John Brooks, Banbury
Neil Ovenden, Rushden
Martin Parrock, Solihull
Patrick Byrne, Coventry
Rob Rushton, Stoke on Trent
Lee Abbott, Preston
Mr R Bowyer, Faversham
Ian Beckingham, Basingstoke
Mark Cooper, Bourne End
David Pedder, Hampton Hill
Michael & Angela Timlin, Huddersfield
Dennis Proudman, Castletown
Paul Woodward, Lichfield
6205
6206
6207
6208
6209
6210
6211
6212
6213
6214
6215
6216
6217
Steve Davies, Inverurie
William L Riley, Co Durham
Alan Godwin, Towceste,
Ian Baldwin, Farnborough
Mr S Horton, Jersey
Kevin Gallimore, Hertford
John E Manning, Purley
Neville Cook, Melton Mowbray
Nicholas Bunker, Spalding
John Stankevicius, Leicester
Michael Speranza. London
Mr Stevenson, Nr. Mansfield
Wal Coley, Solihull
July: The day before the National, I discover a bulge in the sidewall of one of
the tyres. As I have replaced all the tyres since buying the car four years ago, and
have only done about 9,000 miles since, I am not pleased. We don’t have enough
time to fix it, so Sidney is left in the garage.
6218 Gayleen Lomas, Bramshall
6219 Michael Pulford, Lobthorpe
6220 Ann Jeffrey. Ashford
6221 Neville Ayrton, Thornton Cleveleys
6222 Marilyn Nightingale, Shaftesbury
6223 Brian Simpson, Keighley
6224 Mr C F Hickson, Dorchester
6225 Keith Canning, Doncaster
6226 Daniel R Jefferson, Lee-on-the-Solent
6227 John Mayhew, Northampton
6228 Rebecca Mallinson. Ashbourne
6229 David & Caroline Ezard, Wetherby
6230 Peter P Dod, Salisbury
6231 Mark Dunne & Lisa Copperthwaite
Hornchurch
6232 Frederick & Sandra Butler. Barry
6233 David MacKay, Tilbrook
6234 Richard Lamb, Eastriggs
6235 Gerry Bircham, Brentwood
6236 Jim Moyes & Sharon Taylor
East Butterwick
6237 Nick Atherton & Carolyn Watson
Letchworth
6238 John Sumner, High Wycombe
6239 Julian Pacey, Reading
6240 Richard & Anthea Bradbury
Darley Dale
6241 Mr A Ball, Coventry
6242 Mr F B & Mrs J M Vernon
Sheffield
6243 Graham Cannings, Epsom
6244 Phillip Critchley, Hucclecote
6245 Harvey Siggs, Wells
6246 Alan Rolls, Berkhampstead
6247 Mr E C Wright, Lode
6248 Maurice Beale, Coleford
-16-
May 2004
August. I need to move Sid out of the garage to get some work done on
some doors for the house. The clutch fails to engage and I cannot get the car
into gear, so I roll him into the driveway and push him back inside later on.
September. I get around to bleeding the clutch. Having replaced both master
and slave cylinders the previous year, I am not convinced this will work, and I am
right. Whilst fiddling with the clutch, I discover the engine has decided to start
firing on only three cylinders. When I check it over, one of the (new) HT leads falls
apart. I replace all the leads, but the engine still misfires. I lock the garage and
consider throwing away the key.
January. Inspired by the thought of impending sunny days, and also to make
a change from working on the house, I venture back out to the garage to have
another go. I decide to go back to the start and work my way through the manual
resetting all gaps and timings etc to see if I can flush out the problem. The
workshop manual is extremely helpful, especially the part about the distributor
in the General Data section where it says “direction of drive – Anti-clockwise”. I
reconnect the HT leads in the right order and hey presto…
In my defence, that isn’t the only problem. The needle in one of the carburettors
has come loose and is not moving up and down but just sitting in the hole, so
the back two cylinders are still running rough. That is soon fixed and the carbs
nicely balanced with a bit of good old hosepipe.
With mixed feelings at the ease with which I have revived my engine, I decide to
have another look at the clutch. It has fixed itself. Not wishing to look a gift horse
in the mouth, I go for a spin round the block. Everything’s fine.
I spend the next hour or so washing, waxing and Hoovering. I also have a look at the
driver’s side window, which refuses to wind up as far as the passenger one. After removing
the door card only to find the window now works perfectly, then replacing the card to find
the problem returns, I finally realise it is in fact one of the screws holding on the inside
handle which is slightly too long and is catching on the window frame mechanism. A
couple of minutes with a hacksaw and the problem is solved.
May 2004
-17-
No.151
Time to put Sid back in the garage, only he refuses to start again. With sinking heart I try
to work out what could have gone wrong. I finally realise he’s run out of petrol.
February: Too cold to go out but I finally get the dodgy tyre replaced. I am later to
discover the replacement isn’t very well fitted and needs to be pumped up every
couple of days, until I get around to taking Sid back to the tyre place.
By the time we return to the studio Sid has dried out again and when I drive him
home he feels positively nimble after the Tiger and the journey is superb. The diff’
and back suspension still need a rebuild, there’s still an oil leak from the timing
cover and the clutch will probably go again unless I replace it, but there’s always
next winter.
April: I am playing bass on some tracks for an album a friend of mine is
producing. He happens to own a Tiger, so one day I take Sid up to the studio in
order to take some pics. The weather is fine but every now and again the clouds
roll in, so the roof goes up and down like a yoyo. After our photoshoot, Bob and
I go for a little drive in the Tiger. We go into Farnham and get simultaneously
lost and stuck in traffic. At the same time it finally starts to rain, which I take as
punishment for my disloyalty as I have forgotten to put Sid’s roof up.
We finally get out of Farnham and on the way back to the studio Bob lets me
drive. I couldn’t really let rip as we were on single track country roads and not
entirely sure where our turning was, but it was great fun all the same. What struck
me was that the Tiger felt so much heavier than the Alpine, especially the steering
and clutch. The turning circle is on a par with Queen Mary 2, but in a straight line
it’s fantastic. It sounds great too and Bob is justly very pleased with it, although
he does have a slight problem with the driver’s side window not winding up fully.
“I think I might be able to help you there” I say…
No.151
-18-
May 2004
May 2004
-19-
No.151
LITTLE
SUNBEAMS
The front cover of the March 2004 edition of Model Collector was dominated by an
illustration of an impressive1/24th scale Routemaster double-decker London bus.
Look elsewhere on the cover & amidst the small print alluding to other articles within was
a reference to a feature on Sunbeam models.
Four pages of facts and coloured illustrations told the story of Sunbeam models, mainly
Dinky, from the nineteen-forties through to the fifties Sunbeam Alpines, the Alpines and
Rapiers of 1957 onwards & finally lasts years release by Vanguard.
The article included an excellent potted history of Sunbeam including the hypothesis that
in 1887 Ellen Martson who upon seeing the shiny black enamel of her husband’s first
production bicycle remarked how it reflected the sun, and so coined the name Sunbeam!
insert alpine westmidlands advert
And so in 1901 John Martsons first four-wheeled cycle-car was called a SunbeamMabley. 10 years later the Sunbeam Motor Company was building 650 cars a year.
And the rest as the cliché goes, is history
Bill Barwell
Maybe tie in with newspaper cuttings?
For more information, visit this website:
http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Cars/Sunbeam.htm
No.151
-20-
May 2004
May 2004
-21-
No.151
S.A.O.C. Area Meetings
Please inform the Editor of any changes in venues, or if you would like to set up
a venue, so that it can be published in The Horn.
Surrey & South London
2nd Sunday
No Fixed Venue
Please contact Brian Simpson
Brian Simpson 020 8647 8218
Steve Grant 01737 243 775
Sussex
1st Monday
“The Gribble Inn”, Oving, Approx 1 mile east of
Chichester between A27 and A259
Keith Roberts 01243 862 854
North West
3rd Monday
“Woodside Public House”, Junction of A580
East Lancs Road & Newearth Road, Ellenbrook,
Worsley
Bryn Griffiths 01942 604 682
Insert Spares Day Ad.
Please
Middlesex, Oxon, Bucks & Berks
amend phone number:
Variable venue
Herts & Beds
Variable venue
07768 458002.
Chris Harrison
2nd Friday
Martin Kingshott 0208 868 1742
3rd Monday
John Douglas 01727 851 738
Kent
3rd Tuesday
Vaious venues - see Horn/Website for details
Trevor Rogers 01959 576 176
is still the contact.
Essex (South)
1st Monday
“Barge Public House”, Battlesbridge (Nr A130)
Graham Mullender 01268 569196
Gary White 01268 570 240
Simon Edwards 01376 342 025
Merseyside & Cheshire
1st Monday
“The Netherton Hall”, Frodsham, Cheshire (On
A56 ½ mile from Frodsham centre toward
Helsby)
John Roseby 01928 732 951
Welsh Marches/Shropshire
TBA
I would like to start an area meet somewhere
around the Welsh Marches/Shropshire borders.
Please call Graham Moss on 01743 792 985 or
0403 464 848
No.151
-22-
May 2004
May 2004
-23-
Norfolk
No fixed venue
Last Monday
Steve Longhurst 01692 580 339
Midlands (East)
1st Wednesday
“Sandiacre Conservative Club”, (Half mile
Junction 25, M1)
Chris Harrison 07768 458002
Midlands (West)
3rd Wednesday
“Greswolde Hotel”, Knowle
Jo Winters 0121 779 2981
Somerset
Variable venues
2nd Thursday
Dave Holcolme 01823 490 022
Bristol
2nd Tuesday
“The White Hart”, Littleton-upon-Severn,
Thornbury, Nr Bristol
Ian Merryweather 01275 858 341
East Sussex
Variable venues
1st Sunday
Peter Mockford 01323 646 527
Fax 01323 646 206
Roger Stagnell 01323 722 945
Midlands (Leics.)
2nd Wednesday
“Dog and Gun”, Keyham, Leicestershire
Mike Ball 0116 243 1205
Humberside
1st Tuesday
Alternative venues held either side of the
Humber Bridge
Josie Stansfield 01482 846 572
West Country
“Old Forge”, Cornan Downs, Nr Truro
Andrew Bright 01326 564 967
Scotland
1st Tuesday
Bridge Inn at Ratho after 8pm
Ahmad Goodarzi 0131 451 5052
Mobile: 07904455585
No.151
Classifieds
(Kent area)
For Sale
Sunbeam Alpine Series V 1966
(XLT 417)
Blue. This Alpine was restored some
time ago to a high specification and
is in very good condition. It has both
hard and soft tops, and has tax / MoT
to September ’04. It is in regular use
and can be inspected at any time.
£5,500
Contact Rob 01242 254115 mob
07876 213087 (Cheltenham Area)
[email protected]
Sunbeam Alpine Series V GT 1967
(PJJ 429E)
Blue w/black hardtop. Owned by
me since 1977. 56000 miles. O/D.
Reluctant sale due to advancing years!
Kept in heated garage and has been
MoT’ed every year until last year. Will
need slight attention to clutch but
otherwise in reasonable condition.
£2,500 ONO.
Contact Peter 0208 428 7578
(Watford Area)
No.151
-24-
Sunbeam Alpine Series I 1960
(3094 HX)
Red. Recently completed restoration
(mainly by Sunbeam Supreme). New
black hood, new carpets. Lots of other
new parts and restored chrome. Paint
respray done in 1995 and engine done
in same year. MoT until Dec. 2004. Has
not been driven for at least 10 years.
Stored in heated garage. Personal
reasons force sale.
£4,500
Contact Rebecca 01283 561671
(Derbyshire area)
[email protected]
Sunbeam Alpine Series III GT 1963
(8050 RU)
Gold. Holbay engine. DCOE 40 Webber
Carburettors. Soft top conversion.
Chrome wire wheels, car in excellent
condition. Last 3 years had new
clutch, Girling servo and front and rear
brake cylinders fitted. Garaged all year
round, only used in summer. Reluctant
sale due to expected baby and lack
of time.
£4,600 ONO for quick sale.
Contact matthew 01706 525877
(Rochdale Lancs area)
[email protected]
May 2004
Sunbeam Alpine Series IV 1964
(BFL 154B)
White. Good condition. Hard and soft
tops. MoT until July 2004. Owned
by me since 1998 and used regularly
since then. Reluctantly selling as baby
on the way.
£6,000
Contact Thalia 0208 540 5977 Mobile
07876 632756 (London SW19 area)
[email protected]
Sunbeam Alpine Series V GT 1966
(STU 205D)
Metallic Blue. Removable hard top,
Holbay engine (only 5000 miles old),
unleaded head conversion, twin 40
carbs, new interior, wire wheels. Taxed
and MoT’ed for 12 months.
£5,500
Contact Bruce: [email protected]
May 2004
Sunbeam Alpine Series V 1965 (FHP
493C)
Forest Green. Holbay engine with twin
40DCOE carburettors fitted Aug.1995
(invoices available for inspection).
Minilite wheels (5), good condition.
MoT July 2004. O/drive (not working).
Only 2844 miles between 1995 – 2003.
In same family since November 1987.
£4,500
Contact Robin 01323 765000
(East Sussex area)
Sunbeam Alpine Series III 1963 (ACO
810A)
Blue. Very sound. Needs respray, new
hood and tidying. New S/S exhaust.
Reconditioned dynamo.
£2,500
Contact Nick (Plymouth area)
email nicmarsh @hotmail.com
Sunbeam Alpine Series IV Sports
1964
Midnight blue, 48k miles. Bodywork
good, mechanically sound, history,
MoT, personalised plate.
£2,750
-25-
No.151
Alpine Club magazine Horn No. 70 wanted
for a member in Iceland.
Contact via David 01225 754100
[email protected]
1955 Sunbeam Alpine wanted. 
9041 McCoy av., Sacramento, Ca. 95829
 Contact [email protected]
Parts for Sale
Used parts.
Full roll-cage. Excellent condition. Fits all
Series £50
Series V wiper motor, rack and wheelboxes  
£10
Speedo  £5
Fuel pump 
£3
Windscreen £25
Cylinder head £30
Boot hinges £2
Induction manifold fitted Solex twin-choke
jetted for 1600 engine £20
‘Spoked’ period alloys. 
£125 set of 5
Hood frame Series II £20
Series II doors. No rust but damage to top
(repairable)
£50 each
 
New parts
Series V Clutch bearing £5
Clutch master-cylinder kit
£5
Brake master-cylinder kit £5
 
Contact Nick Johnson 07947 381331
[email protected]
SV Sunbeam Alpine bumpers, bonnets
and boot lids; SI, SII bumpers, rear light
lens units; SV seats, dash boards, inlet
manifold, crash pad; steering wheels and
horn rings; SI, II & III front grille; SV front
grille; SV soft top, frame; SI, II hard top;
SV hardtop; SV wire wheels; SV wire wheel
rear hubs and front; original complete
overdrive gearboxes and prop; overdrive
switches and relay; SV windscreen frame
solid.  More available - too much to list.
Contact Tony on 01634 714 131 (Kent)
No.151
-26-
Set of 4 Series I/II steel wheels in black fitted
with original Dunlop crossply tyres. Wheels
and tyres in very good condition. Would
make excellent spare set for concours or
display.
Reasonable offer please.
 Contact Andy Goldsmith 01303 244917
1725cc Engine ex 1967 Series V Alpine
(Aluminium Rocker cover)
plus all ancilliaries including carb, plus
Gearbox £200 all in
Note car was an American import and
had 62,000 miles on the clock when I
purchased it. It can only be assumed that
the mileage is genuine. Engine was in full
working order prior to conversion to Ford
Zetec power.
Contact John Darlington (Aljon Engineering) 
Tel 07811 843990  (Manchester area)
Genuine Rootes body parts for SI, II & III.
2225185 Rear wing panel n/s, £250.
2218307 Rear lower panel, £230.
2225853 Radiator support panel, £60.
Contact Jim 01892 655756 East Sussex.
[email protected]
Series V front bumper and overriders inc.
irons. Chrome poor but straight £150
Series V Late rear bumper with rare number
plate light on bumper, with overriders and
irons. Chrome poor but straight £150
Series V bumper and overriders and irons
poor chrome and slight twist £offers
Two Series V doors (square cornered)
fully repaired, good rain channels across
bottom. Excellent condition £150 each
Two Series V doors rusty, in need of
restoration but saveable £50 each
Series V bootlid square corner VGC small
hole and patches of rust on inside support
panel near hinges. Outer skin is 100%
solid. Includes average condition boot
hinges  £50
Series IV Boot lid (Round corner) nice, rust
proofed condition. Small surface dents that
May 2004
will fill on painting £50
Various bonnets all good condition. £35
Series V boot floor VGC £40
Leather steering wheel approx 14 inches
black, 3 spokes came off of a Series II
Looks like new.
£40
Series II doors poor condition but includes
window support and glass. £offers
Series II hood frame nice condition includes
overcentre catches £offers
Series II windscreen frame and glass with
all chrome and some rubbers. This is very
nice
£offers
Solid Battery box home made replica £20
Series V spring with 5 leaves (Good
condition rubbers) £35
N/S Main centre sill repair panel fully
smooth hammerited and drilled to plug
weld. Brand new £35
N/S front floor brand new £38
N/S outrigger complete fully smooth
hammerited, ready to fit brand new £55
O/S outrigger cover panel (the piece with
four large holes in it) smooth Hammerited
brand new £15
N/S inside the car sill panel (the bit that sits
under the carpet and chrome under door
trim) brand new smooth hammerited £20
Outer sill nearside (new panel but has a
shallow dent, easily fixed) £30
Headlamp ring (Eyelid) Brand new in Rootes
primer £25
Headlamp rings (eyelids) £15 each
Headlamp repair panel (brand new) £25
Two Front wings, One - driver side  early
series, One - passengers side late series
(shotblasted and primed ready for fitting)
These panels do have some repairs that
have been done to them but are easily
restorable  £100 each
Rear wings (shotblasted and primed) Wheel
arch need repair, lower 6 inches as well
need repair. These could be repaired or
used as patterns, all the complex shapes
are sound £30 each
Two Series V Front scuttles solid condition,
not rusting, no holes or corrosion in usual
places £30 each
May 2004
Series V Radiator good condition £35
Double skinned section where boot hinges
attach. Cut from an old car, not cut as the
original panel but is solid and if yours is
rusty this will be a good repair for a hard to
get panel. £30
Solex carb from Series IV £5
Exhaust manifold £15
Overdrive Prop shaft
£15
Complete steering unit (shaft, box, arms) £offers
Front suspension assembly complete,
needs restoration £offers
Rear axle for overdrive car £offers
Various speedos / rev counters £15 each
Various fuel, water, oil gauges £10 each
Series V petrol pump
£20
Gearbox and overdrive from a Series V (the
whole train including bell housing) £150
Short 1725cc Series V engine little bore
wear apparent turns freely £200
Original four bladed metal fan blade £5
Ignition switches (no keys) £5 each
Early series control box
£10
Two Front badge bars Series V no dents
good badges £50
Chrome top grill surround  slight corrosion
at one point, (not visible when fitted)
includes captive bolts looks good on car
£25
Stainless steel cover sills (the full four piece
set) one small dent that could be worked
out. This is mirror finish stainless £100
Steel wheels £10 each
Two tin ‘triangles’ rear of doors should
polish up nicely £10 the pair
Many trim parts specially for GT cars
including rear back panel and rear cushion
also two poor seats need seat cover and
frame repair. £Offers for all
Inner flitch panel N/S (brand new) £20
Front wing repair panel behind wheel in
front of door, (brand new) £25
Rear wing lower repair panel nearside
(brand new) £25
Various others panels and parts
Contact Tim 01277 824017   starwayband@
aol.com.
-27-
No.151
~Events – 2004~
Buy a Brand New Alpine!
These pictures were sent in recently by Tony Judge from Derbyshire.
“The owner of the white
camper van turned out to
be an Alpine plant enthusiast. He appeared and
took a photograph and
is now a Sunbeam Alpine
enthusiast!”
May
16th
S.A.O.C. Richard Jones Memorial Spares Day, War Memorial
Park, Kenilworth Road, Coventry, Starts 9am.
Chris Harrison Tel 07768 458002 (Note new number!)
16th
Mendip Vintage & Classic Tour, starts from Weston-Super-Mare,
Devon.
Celia Sheppard, Tel 01749 676330
29th
Mencap charity Classic Tour, Warminster, Wiltshire to Yeovil
Somerset, 170 miles.
Tel Dave Bullen 07775 734801
30th-31st
Ragley Hall Classic Car & Transport Show, Alcester, Warwickshire.
Transtar Promotions, Tel 01922 643385
30th-31st
The 11th Cheshire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, Capesthorne
Hall, Nr Macclesfield, Cheshire, Tel 01484 452002
June
13th10th Churchill Vintage & Classic Car Show, Churchill Village Green,
Nr Chipping Norton, Oxon. Tel 01608 658603
19th-20th
Le Veterane Sulle Strade Dei Vini, reliability trail around the
vineyards of Piemonte, Italy. Email: [email protected]
Tel 0039-3356264874 / 0039-0131254509
20th
Sandon Hall Classic Car & Transport Show, Sandon, Staffordshire
Transtar Promotions, Tel 01922 643385
27th3rd Sheffield Festival of Transport, Graves Park Sheffield.
Transtar Tel 01922 643385
27th
July
3rd-4th
No.151
-28-
May 2004
May 2004
Bromley Pageant of Motoring, Norman Park Bromley Kent.
Trevor Rogers Tel 01959 576176 www.bromleypageant.co.uk
KM Motoring Pageant, The Hop Farm, Beltring Paddock Wood,
Kent, www.transtarpromotions.co.uk
-29-
No.151
July
4th2nd Cambridgeshire Classic & Motorcycle Show, Elton Hall Nr
Peterborough.
A. Greenwood Tel 01484 452002
11th
Walsall Classic Car & Transport Show, Walsall Arboretum, Walsall,
West Midlands. Transtar, Tel 01922 643385
18th12th Lancashire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, Hoghton Tower,
Preston. Andrew Greenwood Tel 01484 452002
23rd-25th Le Mans Classic, France.
Tel 0033(0)2 43 40 24 77 www.lemansclassic.com
25th
Beaumanor Classic Car & Transport Show, Beaumanorhall,
Woodhouse, Leicestershire.
Transtar, Tel 01922 643385
31st-14th Aug The Great Chase, Paris to Prague, pre 1970 vehicles, £3500 per
crew of two, 15 nights in hotels, medical & mechanical support.
Tel 01422 825159 www.thegreatchase.co.uk
August
Trentham
1st15 th
Stoke on Trent.
6th-8th
Transport
Festival,
Trentham
Gardens,
Transtar, Tel 01922 643385
S.A.O.C National 2004, Leatherhead Leisure Centre, Surrey.
Dave Jarrett Tel 01278 751781 email: [email protected]
Information on more A.R.C.C. Events are available on www.arcc.demon.co.uk
The up to date spares list follows and don’t forget all information and photographs are available
on the clubs website:
Bonnet Badge (SIII)
Grille Centre Badge (SIV, V)
Clutch Plates 7 ½”
Door Latch (All Series)
Fog/Spot Light Brackets (Bumper-Bolt Mounted)
Hardtop/Body Rubber (SIII, IV, V)
Rev Counter Cables (SI, II, III RHD)
Door Glass Seal (SII)
Specification Plate (SIII, IV)
Chassis No. Plate (SIII, IV, V)
Tank Cover Screw Sets (SIII, IV, V)
Stainless Steel Hose Clip Set (Engine)
Accessory Bar (All series. Original spec as Part No: 1201417
- Mounts on bumper bolts behind bumper. Supports badge bar p/n
1201420 and/or spotlight brackets to be available shortly)
Badge Bar (All series. Original spec as Part No: 1201420 - Mounts on
p/n1201417)
Boot Rack (All series. Original spec as Part No: 2201303
- Fits recessed holes in bootlid strengtheners)
£4
£7
£6
£24
£21
£6
£7.50
£4
£5
£3
£12
£24
£25
£40
£125
All prices include UK postage, Europe add 10%, rest of the world add 25%
Events in bold type: SAOC participation.
Information on all ARCC events is available on their website www.arcc.demon.co.uk
Steve Wood: Tel: 01622 746 394 or e-mail: [email protected]
Orders and enquiries can be addressed to:
Buff & Polish, c/o Luxted Farm, Luxted Road, Downe, Kent, BR6 7JT.
Email: [email protected]
Steve Wood
Please make cheques payable to SAOC.
Buff & Polish
No.151
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May 2004
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No.151
Alpine Regalia
I hope you are all now enjoying the sunny days of
spring in your cars and are planning those outings.
The regalia is hitting the road, I will be attending the
spares day in Coventry (some price reductions on the
day) and the National. The stock available on the day
will be limited so pre-order to avoid disappointment.
Regards
Doug Foster
SAOC Regalia
Sweat Shirt Polo Shirt XXL in navy, French navy, green, black and grey; XL in black, navy,
sky blue, red, burgundy, green & grey; L in royal blue, sky blue,
burgundy, green, grey, black, navy & red; M in royal blue, sky blue,
grey, green, spruce, burgundy & French navy. All with Alpine script
in white or black. £14.50
XXL,XL,L,M, in red, white, bottle green, spruce, burgundy,
French navy, light grey & sky blue with a small inscription reading
SUNBEAM Alpine. £14.50
(telephone for full colour list)
Embroidered Polo Shirt Navy blue polo shirt with embroidered club logo, M, L, XL,
XXL. £17.00.
Cloth Badge An embroidered badge for sewing to jackets etc. £4.00
Alpine Badge Based on the Alpine wingscript (2 pin fixing) Suitable for use as a
tie pin or lapel badge. £3.00
Mousemat 200 x 240 x 5mm hard top mat showing a montage of photographs
from previous nationals overlaid with pictures of each of the five
different Series and the club badge. £2.00
Alpine Guide Latest edition containing invaluable technical information reprinted
from past issues of the Alpine Horn. An excellent supplement to
your Workshop Manual. £8.00
Horn Binder A binder holding up to 14 copies of Alpine Horn and Members
Handbook. In black or blue £5.00
Alpine Key Ring Club key ring with the Sunbeam logo and script reading
‘Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club’. Three colours of enamel with an
acrylic coating mounted on a leatherette fob. £3.50
Windscreen Sticker Cling plastic - club logo. £1.00
Rear Screen Sticker 600mm cling sticker “I’d rather Drive my Sunbeam Alpine” £2.00
Tax Disc Holder
Cling plastic, features club logo. £1.00
Post-it Pad & Pen
Self-adhesive notelets and Scheaffer ballpoint pen both printed
with ‘Sunbeam Alpine’ script with a small Alpine illustration on the
notelets £3.00
Workshop Manual £37.50
T Shirt Navy, featuring club logo in red, white and yellow. In sizes
XXL,XL,L & M. £8.50. Children’s sizes. 116, 128 & 152 cms £7.00
Parts List Baseball Cap Covering all series of Alpines these are facsimile editions
reproduced from the original Rootes publications. £37.00
Available in black, red, navy or white printed with club logo. All
one size but adjustable. £5.00
ARCC Badges
Umbrella A yellow ellipse with blue lettering ‘Association of Rootes Car
Clubs’. Metal £9.00; Plastic £2.00; Lapel £4.50
A large golfing umbrella with alternate panels in gold and navy
with the club logo in silver on four panels. £29.00
‘Works Team’ A reprint of the book by Michael Frostick telling the interesting
story of the Rootes Competition Department from 1946 to 1964.
Hard back. £15.00
Car Badge (Badge Bar Mounting)Designed to match the grille motif and steering
wheel motif with an acrylic centre-piece set in a polished metal
surround. Boxed complete with fitting screws. £20.00
Alpine Model Beautifully crafted high detail 1/43rd scale collector’s model of the
Series III. Available in black. £31.00
Scale Model Kit All Series 1/43rd scale die-cast metal parts for you to paint in
your own colours and assemble yourself. All the necessary parts
to make either an open top, hooded or hard-top. Please specify
which Series you require. £25.00
Lapel Badge
No.151
Tiger, Alpine, Rapier’ Richard Langworth’s interesting history of the three models
available in hardback. £20.00
Souvenir Horn A specially bound facsimile of the first five club magazines £4.00
Mug
Bone china mug with club logo & illustrations of 2 Alpines. £5.00
Chrome and enamel featuring club logo. £2.00
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May 2004
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No.151
35
34
Around The Area(s)
A safe path through the SORN jungle.
It seems all the reps are still recovering from Christmas, so congratulations to Chris!
East Midlands Area
Meeting Place: 1st Wednesday of the month, “Sandiacre Conservative Club”
(Half mile from M1 JCN 25)
With the unfortunate death of Richard Jones on January 6th the East Midlands
Area was not only deprived of a very good friend and colleague but the gentleman
who has been our area representative since as long as any of us can remember.
Acting as the area rep amongst other roles within the club, Richard always
managed to welcome all to the club bringing a wealth of knowledge coupled
with a genuine enthusiasm for the Alpine. Whilst I have agreed to pick up the role
of area representative I can in no way fill Richard’s shoes and do not intend to
try, however I am sure the spirit of Richard will live on through the group as we
endeavour to embrace the warmth and enthusiastic attitude Richard engendered.
Currently we meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Conservative Club,
Sandiacre. This will continue until the National after which we intend to move to
the 1st Thursday of the month (i.e. from August).
Chris Harrison
6 easy steps to a reconditioned brake servo.
1) Remove servo from car.
2) Repaint the bits of the car over which you just dripped brake fluid.
3) Remove end cover.
4) Get glazier in to fix window through which end cover has just been
catapulted.
5) Retrieve end cover from dog, who thinks it’s a new and exciting kind of
Frisbee.
6) Chuck the lot in a box and send to Paul Norton.
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May 2004
The following notes are to advise all owners that the laws of taxing and buying/
selling cars are changing. The notes below outline the new rules / documents as
I understand them, and I hope they are helpful to other members.
As of 1 Jan 2004, failure to tax your car, or decare it SORN, will incur a fine of
£80. This is based on the new “Continuous Registration” scheme which if we
follow the rules should present no problems. The DVLA require all car owners
to keep them advised of the car’s taxable condition. If the car is to be laid up for
a period of time, or taken off the road for restoration, it must be declared SORN
(Statutary Off Road Notification). This needs to be renewed every year when the
tax renewal request is sent to us. When a car is declared SORN you should now
be issued with a receipt from DVLA. This will ensure that you are aware they
have received your declaration. Previously this never happened and you could
always argue that your declaration must have been lost in the post! If you do not
receive a receipt with two months, then please chase DVLA for one, otherwise
your defence against their fine will be hard to fight.
The new “Harmonised Registration Certificate”, which brings our V5 logbook into
line with those in Europe, will be issued for “first registrations” and notifications of
change of keeper”. The DVLA’s original intention was to send out a copy of this
new logbook with each notice of tax renewal, but that plan has been delayed as
they have 26 million to issue. It is also now essential that you advise the DVLA
when you sell a vehicle. DO NOT pass the entire logbook to the new owner, or
dealer, and hope he sends off the document for you. If selling to a dealer you need
to fill in and post the Red section, or if selling to a private individual the buyer
requires the Green section only. You post the completed Blue section to DVLA.
YOU are liable for all parking fines, speeding tickets, etc that the vehicle acquires
until such time as you have advised DVLA that the car
is sold. It also wise to keep a copy of the buyers address for your own records,
and DVLA would ideally like the purchasers driving licence number inserted on
the form. These are all measures aimed at reducing fraud and removing stolen
cars from the roads.
When buying a car please make sure you see the V5 prior to handing over cash.
Check the Chassis Number matches the document, and hopefully the address
on the logbook is the same as the address you are visiting to view the car.
Unfortunately it is now also very wise to undertake an HPI or Experian check
on the car you are buying to make sure there is no outstanding finance on the
car. All too often the purchasers have never seen the log book when it has been
requested, or simply thought the seller was a nice or charming person. Please
May 2004
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No.151
Advert for
Sunbeam
Spares
Company
remember that often very low value cars will have finance outstanding on them
too.
For those who have recently retaxed their cars, they may notice the tax disc
has also reverted to show the last day of the month again. This was stopped
approximately 10 years ago, and they are also now barcoded. The barcode helps
the Post Office to transfer data to the DVLA quicker. This data is used by the
cameras in Police cars to see if a car is taxed by using an Automatic Number
Plate Reader. This is also another method of helping the police to stop cars
which are being used illegally.
The new changes should not present any problems to any of us, and are aimed at
removing illegal and stolen cars from the roads quicker.
So in summary:
Either retax your car immediately, or declare it SORN when the reminder is
received in the post.
Always complete the V5 and send it off yourself when selling a car.
Never buy a car without a V5 logbook present, and also carry out an HPI
check.
Full Colour
This should prevent us all from incurring any unwanted fines, or buying a car with
outstanding finance it.
Happy motoring
Dan Bolton
No.151
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May 2004
May 2004
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No.151
Everything you needed to know about the National
and hadn’t realised you wanted to ask:
drinks and alcoholic beverages such as beer and lager. This may mean you do
not need to carry much in the way of food and drink to this meeting.
For all those poor souls without Internet access, which means you are denied
access to one of the best websites on this planet which is due to the brilliance of
the Webmaster David Bradley ( thanks for all your hard work David in promoting
our National, your website is one of the club’s great treasures and has helped the
organisation of the Rally beyond all our expectations).
Later on in the evening we will be holding the Dinner and Dance in the comfortable
Mariner Suite in the Leisure Centre using their own caterers (Sporting Link
Services). There will be a licensed Bar from 7.00pm. Dinner will be served at
7.30pm and will be as follows:
I suggest that you all try to get a peep at the website at an Internet Café if you can
but for those of you who are firmly stuck in their caves I will try to outline some of
the goodies we’ve got lined up for you this year.
Starters
Main course
Choice of Dessert
Melon, Grapefruit and Orange Cocktail.
Roast Chicken,Roast Potatoes,Cauliflower and Carrots. Vegetarian Option to replace Chicken.
either Apple Crumble and Custard or Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce.
Firstly I have to draw your attention to a mistake on the Booking Form. Dave
Jarrett’s email address should be [email protected] (The one on the booking
form only has one ‘t’ in the surname when there should have been two.) Up until
now this hasn’t been a problem but it will save you some grief if you remember
this and make a note of it.
The National this year, for the first
time ever, is being hosted by The
Surrey and South London Area of
your club and will be held at the
Leatherhead Leisure Centre in
the heart of the beautiful Surrey
countryside. This quaint little village
will throb to the unmistakeable note
of Rootes Group’s finest product
on the weekend of August 6th, 7th
and 8th 2004. The Leisure Centre
is popular with many classic car
clubs such as the MG Owner’s Club and the Triumph Sport Six Owner’s Club
(but we won’t hold that against it !!!) and is set in acres of beautiful parkland. The
camping facilities are superb with a Sports Pavilion on the site containing gents
and ladies toilet and showers (4 showers in each block), standpiped water and
power outside and no sheep droppings anywhere!!! Breakfast will be served on
a pay as you go basis on the Saturday and Sunday morning in the Canteen from
8.00am until about 9.30am. You will be able to stoke yourself up with a full English
breakfast with an orange juice and a tea or coffee refill for just £5 a head.
If you find the fresh air gives you a huge appetite then you will be able to carry
on stuffing yourself at the Sports Pavilion where from 11.00am until 3.00pm you
will be able to purchase refreshments such as pizza and burgers along with soft
No.151
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May 2004
After the meal is served there will be a
top quality professional disco playing
“our” sort of music. Other highlights
include the Traditional Friday night
Barbecue and for the children on
Saturday there will be an assortment
of entertainment (including hopefully
a Bouncy Castle!!!!) while Dad gets
on with the serious task of preparing
the car for the Concours.
Sunday will see the usual AGM only indoors this year in the Mariner Suite ( kindly
provided free of charge by the Leisure Centre) After this there will be a run into the
Surrey Hills organised by John Eglinton who is famous for them.
If anyone wishes to stay overnight on the Sunday and leave on Monday morning
then we have permission but we will have to charge £4-00 per pitch payable in
cash on Sunday evening.
Please note that this year there is no discount for booking the whole weekend.
Each day costs an entrance of £5 per Adult ( over 14 years ) We had to do this in
order to be realistic as costs of putting on an event of this size have ballooned
in recent years and prices haven’t kept up. We felt that those people who enjoy
what’s on offer for the whole weekend would not object to a £5 increase over
previous years, but we didn’t want to penalise people who can only manage to
get there for one day. When you consider that marquee hire alone for a weekend
can cost up to £1800 with tables, chairs and lighting and showers and toilet
mobiles can cost around £2000 and then you have the cost of hiring a field and
public liability insurance. Unless prices keep pace future organisers will find it
May 2004
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No.151
impossible to even consider organising a National. So we have started to do this
gently so we can get used to paying a little more for our Flagship Event.
I must thank all those people who have volunteered their assistance over the
weekend and apologise if anyone hasn’t been contacted by email. We are still
trying to recover our system after being nearly wiped out by re-installing Norton
when Mydoom clobbered our Outlook Express. Please book early so Dave
doesn’t get rushed off his feet in June. No bookings will be accepted after July
16th and although you could still turn up on the Weekend you would have to
pay cash upfront, no information pack and no chance of dinner on the Saturday
evening. We all look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in August.
Eddie Zetlein
Thanks to Jo Winters for these great pics from an outing last summer, unfortunately I have
no details as to where, when or who!
Apparently the next picture Jo took didn’t come out, which was a shame because it showed
all the drivers sprinting for their cars. This wasn’t as a Le Mans tribute, it was just to avoid
being landed with the bill for the pub lunch.
No.151
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May 2004
May 2004
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No.151
Contacting the S.A.O.C.
The Alpine Horn:
John Mowforth (Address on Page 3)
or via E-mail: [email protected]
BERKSHIRE SUNBEAM
ALPINE CENTRE
Chairman:
E-mail: [email protected]
General Enquiries:
By E-mail: [email protected]
Official Web Site: http://www.sunbeamalpine.info
As Horn 144
Membership Secretary:
Simon Edwards:
E-mail : [email protected]
Other Officers E-mail addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
All material for publication in the magazine should be provided to the Editor
by post or email one month before publication. Issues of the magazine will
be released bi-monthly at the end of February, April, June, August, October
and December. Typed material, preferably presented in Word format on CD
or emailed to [email protected] will greatly facilitate publication.
Please write your name and address on the back of photos so they can
be returned.
Any inquiries of a technical nature should be directed to the Information
Officer.
Horn Back Issues Currently Available,
Contact: Simon Edwards, Membership Secretary Tel: 01708 372 306
No.151
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May 2004
May 2004
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No.151