DON MCGREGOR'S FORD LOUISVILLE LN8000 - MRADMC - OCTOBER 2020 A00038005 DON MCGREGOR'S ...
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MRADMC
Don McGregor’s Ford Louisville LN8000 .
ISSUE: V38 - 11 - October 2020
A00038005
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club Inc.
www.mradmc.com.au
Clubrooms: 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Correspondence: PO Box 84 Gisborne 3437
Phone: 03 5420 7683
President: Adam Furniss Welfare/ Grievance: John Parnis
0404 034 841 0425 802 593
president@mradmc.com.au wellbeing@mradmc.com.au
Vice President: Alan Martin AOMC Delegates:
0402 708 408 • Robert Green 0408 532 603
vicepresident@mradmc.com.au • Don MacGregor
Secretary: Graham Williams Mid-Week Run Committee:
0419 393 023 0427 804 803
secretary@mradmc.com.au
blackkatnoir@gmail.com
Treasurer: Drew Jessop (OAM) Property Officer: Joe Mediero
0412 085 624 0432 810 202
treasurer@mradmc.com.au
Membership: Michael Camilleri Webmaster: Sarah Furniss
webmaster@mradmc.com.au
0423 718 250
membership@mradmc.com.au
Catering: Clara Tine
Head Scrutineer: Brian Jayasingha
9330 3331 B.H. Mon-Fri Librarian: Alec Mead (OAM)
Liquor
Rally Director: Richard Onyon License Nominee: Trevor Elliott
0414 466 966
rallydirector@mradmc.com.au
Sales: Lina Bragato Editor: Robin Fletcher
0432 583 098 0434 604 896
sales@mradmc.com.au editor@mradmc.com.au
Club Objective: To encourage the restoration, preservation and operation of motorised vehicles.
Meetings: First Wednesday of every month (except Jan) at 8pm
Disclaimer: The opinions and ideas expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the club or the committee.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 2
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Greg Brown’s article last month has
coaxed MG aficionado John Russell to
‘come out’ and describe the pleasure he
derives from his assorted MGs. Don
McGregor tells us the story of buying his
Louisville truck and Peter Amezdroz tells Thanks to all who have contributed to this
us about the world’s first and largest month’s edition, and in particular, thanks to
bonnet ornament. Harold Pearson has Alec Mead for his touching tribute to
shared some of the photos that he took at Debbie Dole.
Hanging Rock this year, to help “cheer our
members up a bit during the current situa-
tion” - thanks Harold, and John Van Gro- - Robin Fletcher / Editor
ningen has shared a few photos of some
of the most bizarre ‘vehicles’ you are likely
to ever encounter.
Is this a clandestine
shot of Brian J’s
workshop?
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Welcome to the October edition of Motor Mouth.
Dear members, I start this month on a sad note with the passing of Debbie Dole in early
September. She has been active member since 2005 and will be missed by many. Our condo-
lences to Gary and family.
2020 AGM: The committee is getting organised for the AGM in December. We would normally
hold it in October but due to Covid-19 restrictions we have had to postpone it. The AGM is an
opportunity for all members to get involved in the running of the club, so if you feel motivated to
get involved please nominate for a position. Fresh faces and ideas are always welcome.
Club Runs: We are trying to recommence club activities, guided by the Victorian government
guidelines. We are preparing for events like Hanging Rock (5 months away!), Red Plate Day, and
the Mid-Week Run. These are difficult times and we will all get together soon. Keep talking to
your fellow club members. Your ongoing health and wellbeing are our biggest concern.
Father’s Day congratulations to all Dads and Grandads. I had a great day talking with my family
over the phone but really miss the social side of this occasion. This year I received socks - not
any old socks - but XBGT socks and a subscription for Survivor Car Australia. Cool.
Bathurst BBQ would normally be happening in October but due to the lock down we can all
watch it from the comfort of our own lounge rooms. Last year Scott McLaughlin won his first
podium at the Mountain. Can he do it again? Go Fords!!
The winners of September Raffle are
• 1st prize - $100 gift voucher from Rare Spares is Giovanni D Ambrosio
• 2nd Prize - Fully Slick Pack from Bowden’s Own Products is Paul Sant
• 3rd Prize - Latest Issue 36 of Survivor Car Australia is Warren Jones
Congratulation’s. Keep checking your mail box.
See you on the road, Adam.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 4
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 5
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club FOR SALE ** Front seats from Austin 1800. These are adjustable to 'lay back' and are in very good condition. Contact John Van Groningen if interested - can provide a photo. $225.00 0418 341 415. 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 6
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Debbie Anne Dole
13-7-56 ~ 13-9-20
Sadly, the club has lost another long-time member, Debbie Dole. Debbie had
been in poor health for quite some time with an undiagnosed blood disorder,
which ultimately revealed that she had advanced pancreatic cancer and after
an incredibly brave fight, finally succumbed on Sunday the 13 th of September
2020 around 4:15pm. Not many people knew how sick Deb was, because she
didn’t want people to make a fuss, she just wanted to get on with her life and
not be treated ‘differently’ if people knew.
Debbie and her husband Gary, joined the MRADMC in March of 2005 and, be-
cause of their easy-going nature and passion for classic vehicles, quickly made
friends.
During her time at the club, Debbie was always one of the first to lend a hand,
and took on many roles like, Catering and Rally Director, but the role she loved
most was catering at Picnic at Hanging Rock. She will of course be sorely
missed and on behalf of the club we offer our most sincere condolences to
Gary, Deb’s two children, Laura and Wayne, five grand children, Claudia, Isaac,
Jacob, Olivia and Tahlia, and three great grand children, Havanna, Arizona and
Phoenix, and all who knew Deb and have been affected by her passing.
Deb’s funeral was held on Friday the 2nd of October in Ballarat, but due to the
Covid-19 travel and numbers of people who can gather restrictions, only family
members were able to attend.
Because of these restrictions, Gary has indicated that after the cremation,
Deb’s ashes will return home to Melton and stay there for as long as it takes
for anyone who wants to come by, have a cuppa and a chat, (BYOB – Bring Your
Own Biscuits), and have some form of closure by at least being able to spend
some time with her before she goes to her final resting place in Bonnie Doon.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 7
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
A message from the AOMC
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 8
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
A message from the AOMC
These has recently been a lack of clarity about whether left hand drive (LHD) vehicles over 25 years old (but
under 30 years old) are eligible for the club permit scheme.
The attached VASS Bulletin clarifies the rules for left hand drive vehicles. It will be available on VicRoads’
website in the next few days - John Lewis / Principal Practice Advisor – Registration and Licensing
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au 9
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
A message from the AOMC
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Written by
DON McGREGOR
Looking for a single drive Louisville LN7000.
My grandson found me this Louisville on Facebook,
located in Inner Brisbane. I enquired if it was still
there; the description of the truck looked good. The
truck build: LN7000 1979 beaver tail as new with an
electric winch remote control, 175 hp2208 Cat 10
speed Roadranger on 11.25 tubeless tires,
The next morning I flew to Brisbane where the owner
picked me up to view the truck. I looked at it and
thought “Looks OK”, took it for a drive, agreed on a
price and it was mine.
I took the Route via Cunningham’s gap to Goodiwindi
then down the Newel Highway to home. The truck
went well with no problems; these 7000s don’t have
power steering. I was on my way to the Dubbo truck
show and met a friend at the border. He asked me
about the outfit and asked me if I would sell it, so I did
and the rest is history.
The ad on facebook
On the way home in Finlay
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Next story: My Current Louisville LN8000
To find another Louisville was a bit of a search; finding anything with a good body or a good any-
thing was hard, but alas an old friend of mine said “would you like to buy the one I have? It’s the
Louie that I was going to do up myself but times have changed and I will sell it to you”. It was an
ex FMC truck which he bought at auction; hot dog luck happens.
The truck wasn’t going; it is a single drive LN8000 Louisville with the 210 bp 3208 Cat motor and
Allison 5 SP auto power steering. The truck was used as a tug in the Ford factory and hadn’t
done many kilometers
I went to my son-in-law Frank, who has Vulcan Motors Peterbilt experience. I asked him would
he do this truck to the standard of a Pete build? It hadn’t been driven for 10 years or more and
when it was finished, we went to Sydney and back ‘Haulin’ the Hume’ in 2019. It did the trip with-
out any problems.
When I bought it in Bulla, Victoria. We didn’t
use the sleeper cab; we found one that fitted a
Louisville.
The Ford writing on the door.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Awaiting a rebuild at Vulcan Motors.
The hole that had been cut in the cab was too big,
weakening the cab. It had to be repaired before the
replacement sleeper could be fitted.
Painting the chassis.
Chassis painted.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Ready to take sleeper.
Proper welding; correct fitting
Sleeper painted.
Sleeper fitted.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
A 10’ x 8’4” body
Dash painted blue.
Truck finished with chrome front rims,
295/80R 22.5 2” offset rear 11R 22.5, all
new rims and tyres, caps on axles 8”,
stainless steel trim under sleeper and
below the door. The Truck was fully ser-
viced during the build with all the engine
hoses replaced, water filters and any
faulty air hoses, fuel lines and filters and
all engine belts replaced, greased and
oil changed. The Marland roof top air
cond works as well as the Ford heater,
an Alison 5 speed auto transmission the
sleeper 8’ x 36” with a door and toolbox
on LHS and has a 75-gallon fuel tank LHS and the batteries are carried under the RH step, not
on the chassis. A water tank and tool box and has a 5” upswept exhaust and a 10’ x 8’ 2” tray
fitted; no expense was spared. The truck sits nice and high and is a delight to drive on the fully
adjustable driver’s seat Ford style.
This is the first truck the I have bought not going, spent money on and enjoyed doing it.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
In 1958, Ford introduced the Super Duty family of V8 engines. Built specifically for trucks, the
401, 477, and 534 cubic-inch petrol V8s were the largest-block V8 engines ever built by Ford
Motor Company and were the largest mass-produced petrol V8 engines in the world. To show-
case the engine launch, the "Big Job" conventional truck variants of the F-Series were re-branded
as ‘Super Duty’, a name added to other Ford trucks as well.
By the 1960s, Ford sought to modernize and
streamline its heavy-truck line. In 1961, the
heavy-duty F-series (F-750 to F-1100)
became a larger, separate model line along
with introduction of the all new H-series
Linehauler.
1961 Ford F750 Firetruck
1961 Ford H-series Linehauler
(A.K.A. Two-Story Falcon)
In 1963, Ford produced its first short BBC
(Bumper to Back of Cab) conventional with the
introduction of the N-series Super Duty,
supplementing the Super Duty models of the
F-series. As Ford did with the H-series cabover
(derived from the C-series and nicknamed the
"Two-Story Falcon"), an all-new chassis raised 1963 Ford N-series
the cab upward; while sharing its grille with the
H-series, the N-series shared its cab with the F-series pickup trucks.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
In 1966, the H-series was replaced by the all-
new W-series cabover. In a change from
adapting the F-series to become a heavy truck
and to replace the N-series, Ford began
design work on an all-new truck range, which
became the L-series. With an all-new heavier-
duty chassis, the L-series also featured a
larger cab; to improve serviceability, the design
included a front-hinged hood.
1966 Ford W-series Cabover
First generation L-series (1970–1995)
The Ford L-series (also named Ford Louisville or, for the 1990s aerodynamic models, Ford
Aeromax) is a range of heavy-duty trucks that were assembled and marketed by Ford between
1970 and 1998. Ford had been producing their "Heavy Duty" trucks since 1948 and their "Super
Duty" line-up since 1958, marketed by various GVW (Gross Vehicle Rate) ratings. Truck weight
classifications 1-8 were a new concept brought about by the US Department Of Transport
National Highway Administration. The first dedicated Class 8 truck produced by the company, the
L-series range replaced the F-series "Super Duty" and N-series (short conventional derived from
the F-series).
Produced as both straight trucks and semi tractors, the Ford L-series encompassed a wide range
of models through the Class 6-8 GVWR ratings in medium-duty, severe-service, and vocational
applications. The line would become one
of the most popular series of trucks Ford
ever produced.
The L series was produced in
the Kentucky Truck Plant near Louisville,
Kentucky, which gave rise to the nickname
"Louisville Line" trucks; as part of a 1996
redesign, part of the model line officially
took on the Louisville nameplate.
1970 Ford L-series (first generation)
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
In 1971, Ford introduced a set-back front axle
configuration. For the rest of the 1970s, the L-
series saw few major changes. In 1976, the LL/
LTL-9000 was introduced. Designed as a truck for
long-haul drivers, the LTL-9000 was a competitor
to the GMC General, Kenworth W900, Mack
Super-Liner, and Peterbilt 359. Fitted with a set-
forward front axle and a longer hood, this version
had more room for larger powertrains. In 1978,
Ford gave the LL/LTL-9000 its own grille and
headlight styling, including one of the first uses of
the Ford Blue Oval in North America.
Although the L-series would see few revisions
throughout its production, elements of its design 1976 Ford LTL 9000
would see use in other Ford vehicles. In 1974, the W-series cabover received a larger grille similar
to the chrome version on the L series. For 1978, the F-series/Bronco grille was given a similar egg
-crate grille pattern. In the 1980 redesign of the medium-duty F-series, the hexagonal shape of the
grille was carried over; it is a theme used in all Super Duty trucks since their 1998 introduction.
In 1984 (as 1985 model year), the rest of the L-series became one of the last North American
Fords to adopt the Ford Blue Oval; it was placed above the grille. In 1988, the L-series changed
its grille design from an egg-crate design to that of horizontal chrome bars; the Ford Blue Oval
became centred. In addition, rectangular headlights became standard in 1991.
1992 saw the introduction of the set-back front axle version of the LL/LTL-9000, designated the
LLS and LTLS-9000, along with the corresponding Aeromax versions that had more aerodynamic
bumpers and optional chassis skirting.
Second generation (1996–1998)
For 1996, the Ford heavy-truck lines were
redesigned, the second-generation heavy-truck
line was nearly exclusively for Class 8 weight
ranges.
In the redesign, both the Aeromax and Louisville
gained a wider cab with a sloping windshield.
Although Aeromax models would lose their
composite headlights, it gained a much larger
slope to the hood. To aid ergonomics, the
Aeromax and Louisville would borrow many
1996 Ford L-series (second generation)
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
interior controls from other Ford vehicles. Another
redesign was the grille bars, in the second
generation the trucks that had extended frame
bumpers knocked the "middle" full painted piece
off the grille.
1998 Ford Aeromax
Following the sale of the Ford heavy-truck
line to Freightliner in 1996, the L-series was
discontinued by Ford at the end of 1998.
Freightliner would concurrently take over
production of the Ford L-series, opening its
Sterling Trucks subsidiary; the L-series be-
came the Sterling A line, Acterra, and L line,
remaining in production until 2009 when
Sterling Trucks closed operations.
1999 Sterling A Line
Source:
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Ford_L_series
2005 Sterling L Line
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Based on an article
submitted by
PETER AMEZDROZ
In last month’s MotorMouth I posed the question “Is this the world’s first, and largest, bonnet
ornament?” This month I will answer the question … “No.” An article submitted by Peter
Amezdroz from the Click on Detroit website poses the alternate question “Did something so
ridiculous actually exist or was it a joke?”
The 1899 Horsey Horseless (yes, its name is just as stupid as its looks) was apparently the
‘brainchild’ of one-time Battle Creek resident Uriah Smith - an author, editor, Seventh-Day
Adventist church leader and inventor. There's no record of the Horsey Horseless ever being
actually built but its existence has been spread on Internet forums and lists. The author of the
Click on Detroit article was a little sceptical as no one really had any information about it. On
digging a little deeper he found an old article entitled "The Motor Car Back in ‘99" from "Motor
Travel: A Magazine for Automobile Owners." Under the head of ‘New Inventions' is a note about
the ‘Horsey Horseless Carriage,' which tells about Uriah Smith of Battle Creek, Mich., and his
method of preventing runaways on the part of horses who meet motor vehicles. The device
included the life size image of a horse down to the shoulders, which was to be fastened in front
of the carriage. This he warranted would allay the fears of any equine, ‘for the carriage would
have all the appearance of a horse-drawn vehicle; the live horse would be thinking of another
horse, and before he could discover his
error and see that he had been fooled,
the strange carriage would have passed,
and would then be too late to grow
frantic and fractious.'
The author considered that perhaps
Uriah had pranked the newspaper and
magazine writers of his day with a draw-
ing and some preposterous ideas; he
needed to find some actual proof. It took
him a while but finally he found the proof
of Uriah's ‘genius’.
Filed on March 13, 1899 and patented
April 11, 1899, it starts off with "Be it
known that I, URIAH SMITH, a citizen of
the United States, residing at Battle
Creek, in the county of Calhoun and
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club State of Michigan, have invented and produced a new and original Design for a Vehicle-Body...". Uriah also mentioned that the "the horse's head is arranged in a life-like attitude". So, there's no way to prove that this thing was ever produced but Uriah certainly wasn't joking. The inventor also recommends his device as a “wind brake and as a receptacle for gasoline." David Aretha of The Daily Drive website, in reviewing Uriah’s invention, notes that if he were a horse in the next lane “the sight of this eviscerated equine would freak me out and send me trotting for the high hills “. Now personally I don’t claim to be a ‘horse person’, having ridden a horse just once in my near three score and ten (not a pretty sight), but I always understood that horses were frightened by the noise generated by the new fangled horseless carriages, not the fact that they could ‘glide’ along with no visible means of motive power. Perhaps Uriah’s invention would have been more effective if, instead of a horse head on the front of the carriage, he had proposed using the other end of the horse, attached to the other end of the carriage. With the exhaust from the combustion engine plumbed to the appropri- ate orifice at the rear of the vehicle, perhaps the approaching horse would have simply put the un- toward noise down to the carriage having eaten something that disagreed with it….. Does this make me a ‘genius’ too? 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club I received an email recently from my Pommie-based brother in which he made the observation “Have you noticed that it is hard to tell who is out to rob a bank these days and who is just off for the weekly shop?”, and this set me to thinking. It was with considerable pride that I would head off once a month to undertake my ‘banking business’, dressed in the regulation banking- business uniform. The chest would swell as members of the general public, what the government likes to call “ordinary Australians” (as opposed to ???) would look and point, mothers would hurry their young from my path and, just occasionally, I would have members of the constabulary tracking my every move. Now, such attention is reserved for anti-maskers or those who are simply forgetful. Just last week I headed down to the bank to make my ‘monthly withdrawal’, only to be met with an enormous queue snaking from the door of the bank all the way down the street and around the corner. There were all manner of people in the queue, in particular an elderly man with an itchy backside and, a few places back a mother raising the next generation of anti-vaccers. For two hours the queue was slowly absorbed by the bank’s front door until, finally, I was face-to- face with the door. It opened and I was invited inside … The first thing I noticed was that the security guard was no longer there. He had always been just inside the door; we were on a first name basis. “Hello you thieving bastard” he would say and I would reply “Hello Boofhead”. But not this time. Next I noticed that the bank wasn’t actually there; no tellers, no tellers’ booths, no computers, no carpet on the floor and no paint on the walls, nothing - all gone. Just the bank manager standing in the middle of the empty room, and even he feigned not to recognise me. “Can I help you sir?” he said as opposed to his usual “Get out of my bank you thieving bastard”. The snub hurt I can tell you. I asked him where Boofhead was. He said Boofhead had found a new security ‘job’ at a flash hotel in the city. I told him I wanted to make my “usual withdrawal” and he just gave a snuffly sort of snort, pointed at the floor and said “That’s all that is left. Take them and go”. Now what was I going to do with two bent paper clips and a broken pencil? I left the bank and took the bent clips and broken pencil to the establishment that I always go to following a bank withdrawal, ‘French Fergal’s Fencing Facility’. And bug- ger me if the queue that was outside the bank isn’t now here, except that the lady rearing the next generation of anti-vaccers obviously knows a short-cut from the bank because she is now ahead of the old guy with the itchy backside. French Fergal’s processing time is a lot slower than the banks; four hours of my field of vision blocked by an old bloke with flatulence constantly scratching his arse before I was face-to-face with French Fergal’s door. It opened and I was invited inside …. 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club The first thing that I noticed was that the bank was now inside Fergal’s building. The tellers’ booths, the computers, the carpet, the paint from the walls; everything, even the tellers, but unlike the bank, all of the teller booths were manned. I was summoned forward to one of the booths where I requested a valuation of the two bent paper clips and the broken pencil. This seemed to cause some level of consternation amongst French Fergal’s new administrative staff, but finally a value was forthcoming; $1.00. “$1.00?” I said. “I expect a greater return than one miserable dollar for my day’s toils.” “Oh no sir” said the ex-teller. “One dollar is what it will cost you to leave that rubbish here.” This severely shook the confidence I have always had of receiving a fairly deal from Fergal. Next someone will be telling me that Fergal’s not even French! My confidence already having received a crushing blow, I listened that night with interest as the State Premier announced the assistance package for sole traders. I listened with spirits rising; I’m a sole trader whose income has been impacted by Covids. I’m sure to receive a helping hand here. But no! The nett support I will receive is less than that the government has provided to pensioners . Well, perhaps that is an exaggeration - some things are simply not possible. Surely there’s some sort of penalty for people impersonating professionals. 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club 7 8:00 pm Virtual General Meeting ZOOM (details below) 7 8:30 pm Annual General Meeting DEFERRED 18 9:30 am Cars & Coffee CANCELLED 20 8:30 pm Executive Committee Meeting TBA 28 9:30 am Midweek Run CANCELLED 4 8:00 pm General Meeting TBC 15 9:30 am Cars & Coffee TBC 17 8:30 pm General Committee Meeting TBC 25 9:30 am Midweek Run TBC MRADMC OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING - Zoom Time: Oct 7, 2020 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7999979291?pwd=Z25uaGh0YUt3UXFjWUxQOTNVWDJsdz09 Meeting ID: 799 997 9291 Passcode: ClubTeam 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Written by
JOHN RUSSELL
Following Greg Brown’s contribution on matters MG I am moved to pass on some of my own
observations and experiences.
It is by no coincidence that the word, ’imagine’ contains the letters, M and G.
Imagine the wind in your hair as you pass beneath the leafy green canopies of forests on
winding roads in mottled light …..in an MG.
Imagine the gentle sting to your cheeks in the crisp early morning air in the cooler months
just before and after the sun rises as you set out on the day’s adventure…. in an MG.
And
Imagine the warm caress of the evening air on a balmy summer’s night … in an MG.
Imagine, if you can, the soothing resonance of the growl from the exhaust trailing behind
you … in an MG.
Imagine, if you will, the coy but admiring glances from the girls waiting to cross in front of
you when you draw up to the lights……in your MG.
Imagine the wonderful foresight that God exhibited during its creation when he put the
passenger seat so close that there was nowhere else to rest your hand once you’d been
through the gears ….in an MG!!
Aaahh..
My first experience of an MGB for which I, at the time, had little regard was when a mate asked to
swap my MK IV Zodiac for his ‘B’ after a party while he squired a particular young lady around
the place. Said something about there being more room in my Zodiac. Buggered if I know what
that was about. I didn’t enquire.
Well, the MG grew on me and shortly after we swapped our cars back I set about getting my own
and never looked back. My Zodiac was beautiful in its own right but it soon became apparent that
it didn’t have the pulling power of the MGB and I ain’t talkin’ about torque, Brothers and Sisters.
My newly acquired white non-overdrive MGB eventually gave way to a red, seen better days,
MGA as I fell on harsher but not quite destitute days. There I was; a young bloke with a red MG
and a white Samoyed dog. It mattered little that I was entirely devoid of a personality in any form
or shape at all!
Then came two more MGA’s before my lot improved and I became the proud owner of a brand
spanking new white MGBL….. with overdrive. I can still smell the aphrodisiacal aroma of the
‘new’.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club My earlier B’s and MGA’s never missed a beat, well and truly used and a little abused though they were. But the new MGBL? Much has been written about the deterioration in quality when Leyland took over BMC who took over MG (Morris Garages) and my latest acquisition was no exception. Cooked the engine on the way to Bathurst in the middle of the night when the radiator opened up a yawning chasm. Virtually new car. Engine subsequently rebuilt under warranty but it was never the same. That was shortly followed by another engine stopped breakdown later determined to be due to the carbies internally haemorrhaging. Repaired begrudgingly again under warranty notwithstand- ing that Mr. Leyland insisted that I had put a screwdriver through the floats in the SU’s. Balder- dash and Bunkum. I can’t recall what became of that car and quite a number of years passed before I bought another MGB. White again. I wanted to drive to Perth and up the West Coast so I asked a mate who knew about SU’s to tune it for economy. “Careful”, he said. “you could burn the valves”. “Make it as lean as you can”, I implored. He did. And the MGB did. It started missing somewhere between Geraldton and Carnarvon on the way up and had a distinctly fatal feel about it by the time I reached the latter city. What to do? Little money. Turn around and drive back to Melbourne I guess. And I did. As long as I was gentle with the throttle it more or less ran on all four pots to get me home. Turned out that half the head of the inlet valve in one cylinder had been burnt away. There’s a tuning lesson in there for the sharper reader I reckon. As so often happens, there then came a handbrake…. sorry, ‘wife’, house and kids but not before I had put my backside into several Triumph TR5’s and TR6’s. Lovely. I‘m sure I’m not on my Pat Malone but many years later and only a few of those ago I succumbed to memories and nostalgia. Not one but two MGC’s. Why, oh why do I do these things??!! I have a lovely little British Racing Green Roadster MGC and a primrose converted American specifica- tion roadster. Remember the song, ‘Hair’ by the Cowsills?; “don’t ask him why. He don’t know”. Need I say more? 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
They are a delight to drive which doesn’t
happen anywhere often enough. The green
machine recently opted not to go into over-
drive so life again lays down another
challenge.
While I am a rusted on MG fan…… give me
a moment while I position my soapbox…
there, that’s better. I say there’s no better
driving/ownership experience than a British
sports car. And make it a ragtop. There’s
just something about them. I’ve had many
and don’t regret a moment of them. There is
something solid albeit with a certain
simplicity about them in the main.
Pukka. That’s it….. Pukka.
But I do wish I could remove the gearbox from an MG without taking out the engine.
Have to be off now. Need to get the leather patches on the elbows of my tweed jacket seen to.
Now where did I put my deerstalker?!
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Picnic at C322
With thanks to HAROLD PEARSON
Hanging Rock
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Picnic at C322
With thanks to HAROLD PEARSON
Hanging Rock
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Picnic at C322
With thanks to HAROLD PEARSON
Hanging Rock
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Picnic at C322
With thanks to HAROLD PEARSON
Hanging Rock
And just when you think that you have seen everything …...
With thanks to JOHN
VAN GRONINGEN
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club Another option that Uriah might have considered was to allay the fears of any approaching equine by developing sympathy within the approaching equine for the horseless carriage. This might have been achieved by attaching Uriah’s horse head to the front of the carriage AND attaching the rear of the horse to the back of the carriage (with appropriate plumbing of the exhaust of course). Upon approaching the horseless carriage, the equine would think “My good- ness! That horse has had to come to a stop in an enormous hurry. One of the two-legs has probably walked out in front of him. He has come to an emergency halt to avoid damaging the two-leg and the other two-legs in the carriage have failed to halt the carriage. It has rocketed up that poor horse’s arse and lodged in his stomach. And from the noise its making, the indigestion must be horrific!” - Now that’s ‘genius’, yes? No? Well, I guess not. OK then what about if ... - STOP IT! Just stop it! OK? I don’t want to hear any more about Uriah’s heap of bloody Horsey Horseless - Its not bloody. He’s not suggesting using real horse bits - ENOUGH! Step away from the keyboard! STEP…..AWAY…...from the KEYBOARD. Do it. Do it NOW, or so help me I’ll - But I just …... (THWACK!) Oww! That hurt! - It was supposed to hurt - In these times or Political Correctness you can’t say or do that - Hmmm …... (THWACK!) - Owww! I’m gonna tell on you! 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
MOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Guide to Tools of the Trade
HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer is nowadays used as a kind of
divining rod to locate expensive parts not far from the object we are trying to hit.
ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning steel pop rivets in their holes until you die
of old age, but it also works great for drilling mounting holes just above the brake line that goes to
the rear wheel.
PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads.
HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms hu-
man energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its
course, the more dismal your future becomes.
MOLE-GRIPS/ADJUSTABLE SPANNER: Used to round off bolt heads. If nothing else is availa-
ble, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
OXYACETELENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your
garage on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside a brake-drum you're trying to get the
bearing race out of.
WHITWORTH SOCKETS: Once used for working on older cars and motorcycles, they are now
used mainly for impersonating that 9/16 or 1/2 socket you've been searching for for the last 15
minutes.
DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of
your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, splattering it
against that freshly painted part you were drying.
WIRE WHEEL: Cleans rust off old bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench
with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprint whorls in about the time it takes you to say, "F...."
HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering car to the ground after you have installed your
new front disk brake setup, trapping the jack handle firmly under the front wing.
EIGHT-FOOT LONG DOUGLAS FIR 2x4: Used for levering a car upward off a hydraulic jack.
TWEEZERS: A tool for removing wood splinters.
PHONE: Tool for calling your neighbour to see if he has another hydraulic floor jack.
SNAP-ON GASKET SCRAPER: Theoretically useful as a sandwich tool for spreading
mayonnaise; used mainly for getting dog-doo off your boot.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club
Guide to Tools of the Trade
BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR: A tool that snaps off in bolt holes and is ten times harder than
any known drill bit.
TIMING LIGHT: A stroboscopic instrument for illuminating grease buildup.
TWO-TON HYDRAULIC ENGINE HOIST: A handy tool for testing the tensile strength of ground
straps and brake lines you may have forgotten to disconnect.
CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 16-INCH SCREWDRIVER: A large motor mount prying tool that inexplicably
has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end without the handle.
AVIATION METAL SNIPS: See hacksaw.
INSPECTION LIGHT: The mechanic's own tanning booth. Sometimes called a drop light, it is a
good source of vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin," which is not otherwise found under cars at night.
Health benefits aside, its main purpose is to consume 40-watt light bulbs at about the same rate
as 105-mm howitzer shells during the Battle of the Bulge. More often dark than light, its name is
somewhat misleading.
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the lids of old-style paper- and-tin oil cans and
splash oil on your shirt; can also be used, as the name implies, to round off Phillips screw heads.
AIR COMPRESSOR: A machine that takes energy produced in a fossil-fuel burning power plant
200 miles away and transforms it into compressed air that travels by hose to a pneumatic impact
spanner that grips rusty bolts last tightened 30 years ago by someone in Dagenham, and rounds
them off.
PRY (CROW) BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed
to remove in order to replace a 50 pence part.
HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to cut hoses 1/2 inch too short.
10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.auMOTOR MOUTH The voice of Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club 10 Webb Crescent, New Gisborne Vic. 3438 PO Box 84, Gisborne Vic 3437 www.mradmc.com.au
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