MINOR HEADLINES

June 2019

Committee Members

CHAIRMAN CHARLES GARDINER 082-824-9731

VICE CHAIRMAN TOMMY SMITH 083-308-9840

EVENTS RUSTY CLOVER 083-264-6240

ASSISTANT EVENT COLLEEN BOWES 083-625-0282

SECRETARY ENGELA BOTHA 063-117-9679

TREASURER TOMMY SMITH 083-308-9840

ASSISTANT TREASURER DAVE STEWART 082-784-6427

REGALIA JOHN WEBB 073-625-1052

MEMBERSHIP TOMMY SMITH 083-308-9840

EDITOR SHARON SMITH 083-453-3320

TECHNICAL ALDO MARCON 084-772-6526

WEB MASTER GARY KLINKERT 082-974-4540

S.A.V.V.A. REP CHARLES GARDINER 082-824-9731

SOCIAL MEDIA JAMIE SMIT 082-416-8776

NEW MEMBERS: Rob van Niekerk

Sarel Vorster

Johannes Kruger

SAVE THE DATE FOR FUTURE OUTINGS

28th July

25th August

29th September

A REMINDER THAT YOUR MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE DUE

R 200.00

BANK DETAILS

Bank: Standard Bank Branch: Greenstone Branch code: 016342

Account: Morris Minor Owners' Club (JHB) Account N0. 427928567

JUNE JULY AUGUST

John Bowes Rory Alcock Gerhard Campher

John Grant Gary Klinkerkt Craig Stacey

Robert Leathers Janet Holgate Ernie Blignaught

Jannet Verrier Jenny Wells

Tommy Smith Dawn Clover

Gerty van der Merwe Lawson Flint

Debbie Silk Gerhard Kruger

Ben De Goederen Elize Kruger

Rusty Clover

Christo Eilenberg

21st April – Cullinan Steam Train

We arrived on a cool Sunday morning and it looked like we were going to have a rainy day, but the weather

cleared up and it turned out to be a pleasant day. The “Morrie “gazebo was set up on the lawn outside the

diamond sales office, and the ladies started selling ticket for the lucky draw. We had eleven Morris Minors

in attendance, and there was a lot of interest from the public, asking questions about our cars.

Some members set up tables and chairs in front of the cars and had a picnic lunch , while others had lunch

in the village . Thanks again to Denise for the great pudding. The lucky draw took place, and the diamond

was won by Joan Marcon, and Engela won a pendant. Joshua Harper won the prize for the best dressed

period costume. A good day was had by all and we had a safe trip home.

BY:TerenceRedmond

26th May – Annual General Meeting

This year’s AGM was held at Eden Village

Brentwood park. A warm welcome to new

members who attended their first AGM,

Namely James Moorcraft, and Rob Van

Niekerk.

Important matters were discussed, and

voting took place. Committee stays the same

except that Tommy Smith was voted in as

Vice Chairman, as Janet Verrier, the existing

Vice Chairman is emigrating to England.

It was time to move out into the gardens on a

lovely autumn sunny day. Braai fires had

already been lit, so it was down to getting

something to drink and braai. After a lovely

social afternoon, it was once again time to bid

each other farewell.

30th June Beauties and the Beast’s at the Tin Cup in Alberton

Tables and umbrellas were set out in yet another beautiful sunny South African day. On arrival at the Tin

Cup Restaurant, Morris Minors’ were shown to a separate parking area by the car guard. Although more

members than anticipated joined us, waiters quickly made a plan to seat everyone.

Some very nice toe tapping music was supplied by Wayne, the Tin Cups’ regular Sunday singer. Food

and service was excellent. A good time was had by all. Sixteen Morris Minors and forty-six people in total.

Extract from ESM’s (UK) Spring 2019 Newsletter - A Morris Minor Parts supplier in England

www.morrisminorspares.com

The Morris Minor parts we sell come from a fascinatingly wide range of different sources that have

evolved since the ceasing of production of the Minor itself.

Many parts are still sourced and manufactured here in the

UK. Other panels production using original Henric and

Hadrian tooling and bumper blades, still running off

original BMC tooling being great examples. There are

also many parts that are made by specialist

manufacturers from all around the world. As well as

China, India, Sri lanka ( and others) many Morris Minor

parts are manufactured in Thailand. The Morris Minor Centre Bath re-tooled parts there in the 80’s and

production has been successfully running there ever since. They were pioneering days and in more

recent years more businesses have set up there including notably,

Triumph motorcycles.

In February this year we had a tough job of a trip there and had to

endure bit of sunshine, escape from Brexit, and work that at times

felt more like a Holliday! Life can be tough ! the top picture was taken

on a river boat trip on the water ways around Bangkok. The boat was

powered by a truck engine with a propeller on the end of a drive shaft.

Proper recycling! The second photo is on MMC bath head lamp bowl or bucket tooling. These tools were

commissioned back in the mid 80’s and have produced many thousands of head lamp bowls since.

MEMBERS PROJECTS

Adrian Smith’s 1953 Morris Minor Pick Up.

In August 2018 Tommy received a call from Shaun

in Nelspruit to say that he has a 1953 Bakkie up for

sale. Tommy made a deal with Shaun. Adrian and

Tommy drove to Nelspruit to collect the Bakkie. it

was in a poor condition with a Datsun engine,

gearbox and racing seats. Needless to say, the

engine, gearbox and seats were ripped out and

sold.

In March 2019 a full restoration was started. The

Bakkie was completely stripped down. It was then

that the extensive rust in the chassis, cab and load

body was noticed. The chassis was sent for sand

blasting, all rusted sections repaired. Chassis has

been resprayed, rear axle and braking system fitted.

The cab and load body has also been sand blasted. Doors, fenders, bonnet paint was removed with Flint

paint remover. The cab floor had to be completely cut out due to extensive rust. Thanks to Albert van

Heerden new floor pans were pressed out. Floor pan and sill have all been welded back.

The next job is to replace the rusted panels in the load body.

Brien Rooken Smith - Dark Green 1953 Morris Minor 4 door Family saloon.

My Father-in-law Geoff Ridge acquired this Oxford, assembled Morris Minor as the first owner from the

agents in Bulawayo in 1953, with the Southern Rhodesian registration B 23504.

Both he and his wife Clarice travelled extensively around Rhodesia and ventured on holiday and family

trips to the "Union" - as they fondly remembered South Africa.

Clarice took transfer of this Morris on the passing of Geoff in 1978 and I purchased it from her when we

lived in Salisbury, where it became our second car, with all of 120 000 miles on the clock!

My wife Lise would trundle around Salisbury shopping - and teaching son William to drive.

William had inherited his Grandfather Geoff's interest in vehicles and as a teenager, having been given an

Austin Healey Sprite engine and carbs, set about successfully installing these in B 23504. This was

achieved while home during school holidays.

William was accepted for pilot training in the Rhodesian Air Force at Thornhill and B 23504 became his

"wheels".

Tragedy struck in 1980 when the Sprite engine sheared a crankshaft and B 23504 returned to storage in

Bulawayo where we now resided.

William, who is still flying, now for SAA, was always keen to see the Morris back on the road.

In due course, an 803 block found its way back into the chassis and our daughter, Susan, back from college

in SA and in Harare, acquired the car until "the wheels came off" (literally, as it shed the odd wheel as the

stud holes in the rims were enlarged and she had to abandon it as her transport).

1984 saw B 23504 back in storage in Bulawayo, with my good intentions of getting her back on the road.

Time passed and in 2008 Lise and myself moved to SA, leaving the Morris behind.

Efforts to export this non-runner from Zimbabwe kept hitting official snags until she eventually arrived here

on a trailer in 2014, thanks to the efforts of Peter Locke, AA Area Manager, Bulawayo.

Grandsons Greg and David, ably abetted and supervised

by Phil Holgate of the MMOC here in Johannesburg,

dismantled the Morris and filled our lounge with assorted

parts!

B 23504 (subsequently re-registered in Zimbabwe as

290-796 G) is now in the restorative hands of "Dr."

Tommy Smith who is doing a fantastic job in restoring this

66-year-old family heirloom.

Attached pics show B 23504 arriving in Germiston in 2014

and Brien and Lise Rooken-Smith standing in

front of it during its initial strip-down - which was

supervised by Phil.

Tommy collected the car on 21st February from

Brien’s place in a DIY format. The car was

placed on a rotisserie so that the rust on the

chassis could be repaired. Engine, gearbox,

differential and suspension was removed so

that they could be overhauled.

Assembly of the car is in a progressing well.

New electrical harness was installed.

Trafficators were repaired and operational. All window and door mechanisms were fitted.

On the 25th June ‘19 the rebuilt engine burst into life after being silent for 35 years. Remaining work to be

done is a new exhaust system to be fitted and the upholstery.

If you have any projects in progress and would like to share, please contact Editor Sharon Smith 083 452

3330 or email Sharon.smith4271123@gmail.com

FOR SALE

1969 Panel Van: Contact Barry Pringle in Pinetown 083 255 6474

1962 Morris Minor 2 door, D’ Etat winner in 2016 Bloemfontein Rally. 2nd Prix d’ Honneur at

the Johannesburg Rally contact :Janet Verrier – 082 676 2338

FOR A GIGGLE

Until we meet again

YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE IN A

MORRIS MINOR