Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia Inc

Hornet Special Newsletter

Issue 62 September 2015

WHS Club ContactsSecretary

Bill Russell, ph (03) 9349 2262

PresidentLyle Cooper

ph (07) 3312 2365Editor

Henry Hancock, ph (07) 3878 2850

3 Gilia Court Indooroopilly Qld 4068hlaevt@aanet.com.au

2015 AGM and HORNET EXTRAVAGANZABathurst NSW on 13-16 NOVEMBER 2015All 1930 - 1935 Hornet enthusiasts are welcome to attend.

Once in a lifetime opportunity for your Hornet to circuit the Mount Panorama course - See flyer in this issue.

STOP PRESS: Parking will be with the pre-war MG cars in the area in front of the Court House in a group containing only pre-war Wolseley Hornets. The MG people are encouraged to wear period costume.

Vintage Sport Car Club Victoria’s annual Historic Rob Roy Hill ClimbSharon Balthazar’s picture in the Herald Sun Friday 14 August 2015

Confirmation that Col and Jacqui Schiller’s “outstandingly smart”Airline Coupe was on the road in December 1934 - The Referee (Sydney, NSW 1886 - 1939) Thursday 20 December 1934.

For those over 40, the Newspaper caption on the left says “An Olding (Syd.) version of something outstandingly smart in closed sports cars. The job is a Wolseley special” and the one be-low says “Among the many special cars competing in Sunday’s Rob Roy Hillclimb will be this 1934 Wolseley Hornet Special”.

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THE KELPIE RUNWe attended the South Australian, Hamilton & Districts Veteran, Vintage and Classic Drivers Club, 38th Queens Birthday Rally, June 2015.

I drove the Hornet and my friend John drove his Lagonda Rapier which we had restored.

We did over 1,000 miles for the trip; no problems with the Hornet, it used little oil and 33mpg.

The Rapier had a few missing problems but new plugs helped. It used about 4 to 5 litres more than the Hornet each time we filled up. The Rapier is an 1100cc twin overhead camshafts 4cyl.

There were over 110 cars, the majority were European including a 1936 Wolseley series 2 super six.

The Kelpie Dog Muster was held at Casterton on the Saturday and was very entertaining. Those Kelpies are very intelligent!

The Rapier won the Pre War Clas-

sic 1931-1940 trophy and the Hornet won the President’s Award trophy.

So, again the Hornets are very well liked!!

It was a great trip and most enjoyable. David and Yvonne Armstrong

Lagonda Rapier and Hornet

Hornet and 1936 Wolseley Series 2

Alan Muston’s HornetJohn Higham writes:Tim Shellshear of the Vintage Sports Car Club (NSW) has sent me four photographs of Alan Muston’s early Hornet. I believe it is the car shown on page 95 of the Wolseley Hornet book. Tim has promised me a CD of more WH pic-tures.

Issue 62 Page 3

WHSCA Treasurer’s BirthdayThank you Lyle and Margaret Cooper for hosting a party in Brisbane on 12 April to celebrate the Treasurer’s 80th birthday. The weather was fine, the food excellent and the conversation brilliant!

Photo right: Henry Hancock, the birthday boy John Ireland and Monty Schofield.

Below left: Joe Wilson, Mike Hawthorne, Peter Baker, Geoff Kenward and Lyle Cooper

Below right: Bev Wilson, Rita Schofield, Dee Ireland, Jo Hawthorne and Jo Lord

The Vintage Car Club of Queensland ConcoursHornets were well represented at the VCCQ Concours d’ Elegance in July which was held at historic Ormiston House at Wellington Point, serenaded by the Eastside Belles, a three girl group in 1930s costume.

Joe and Bev Wilson’s 1934 WHS with 1935 14hp motor and supercharger has now been trimmed and with a new hood it looks stunning. Bob Collet brought his recently purchased from WA, 1935 New14 Hornet which Lyle Cooper, Monty Schofield, Peter Baker and Henry Hancock had ridden in a few weeks before. All agreed that it pulled exceptionally well, even loaded with 4 people.

Bob Collet’s New 14 and Joe Wilson’s supercharged 1934 WHS Peter Baker’s 1933 WHS and his Austin 7

Page 4 Hornet Special Newsletter

Doctor’s Coupe purchasedWelcome to Ian and Lesley McConville who have purchased Jim Carr’s 1934 Doctor’s Coupe (previously John Summerfield’s and on page 152 of The Book) and Ian writes,

I purchased the ‘34 Doctor’s coupe that was owned by Jim Carr (see last page of April Newsletter). I have attached a few photos of the restoration to date. Some parts of the body construction were not able to be gleaned from the car as some sections had been dismantled.

Are any club members aware of a car of similar body style from which I may be able to get some ideas?Regards Ian McConville Tyers, Victoriaianandlesleymcconville@gmail.com

Joe and Bev Wilson visited the VSCC Sprints in the United Kingdom at Brooklands in June and sent this photo back.

Hornets at Brooklands

In the foreground is Tim Greenhill’s Seber Hornet that was 5th fastest time of the day, supercharged and running on methanol, being scruitineered, overseen by Mel Foster the mechanic. Behind is John Seber’s latest creation with John with his back to the camera. The blue car is Tony Seber’s new car, first time out, Tony in the centre of the trio.

1933 Hornet Special with single scuttle hump - restoration progressing in WABarry Mackintosh from WA has been in touch - now retired and is working on his Abbey Coachworks car – has the engine ship shape and is commencing the body – he and brother Bruce are going to replace the wood with an aluminium frame. See The Book – page 133.

[Tim Greenhill picked up the Hawthorne Span-ish Trophy (the trophy won by Mike Hawthorne in the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix) at the VSCC (UK) Awards dinner in March earlier this year. It’s the first time in the last 16 years that it’s been won by something other than an ERA - Ed.]

Issue 62 Page 5

Newsletter and Club MembersNewsletter printing and postage costs, and distributionIt’s pleasing that for the 2015-16 year, the new financial arrangements for printing and posting, or of emailing the Newsletter, put the Club on a sound financial basis. At the moment we are able to continue with cheap cost price printing because the editor has been requested to continue working 2 days per week; but of course postage costs can’t be avoided.

We send newsletters to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. By post to 28 people and organizations such as the National Library, Canberra, and the National Motor Museum Beaulieu (UK) and by email to 27 people.

Welcome to new members:-Bill ScherekDick Serjeantson - President Wolseley Hornet Special Club (UK)Bob CollettTerry McGrathJudy BromhamBevan CursleyIan & Leslie McConvilleBrian Stroud (NZ)Gavin Turner (NZ)

ResignationPeter Wells in Western Australia has resigned due to ill health. Peter was the longest serving Australian member of the WHSC (UK) and contributed many articles to our Australian newsletter. Peter’s 14 HP sports has been bought by Stewart Donnetta of Donnybrook WA, a fellow Riley Club member.

Bumpers Not FittedCol and Jacqui’s ‘34 Airline Coupe under repair in March last year.

Note the rather rough slots cut out of the bodywork for the reat bumper bar supports.

Col was pleased to see that the photo in The Referee, on page 1 of this Newsletter, shows that bumper bars were not originally fitted.

Page 6 Hornet Special Newsletter

When Henry Hancock did a panel beating course he took his bonnet sides to TAFE and the lecturers tried, but couldn’t shrink the bonnet louvers which were badly dented with the metal appearing to be stretched, see the first picture.

Don’t despair with louvers, because after several days of careful tapping see the result in the second and third pictures.

Bonnet Louvre Resurrection

Col Schiller sent this photo of his father-in-law, Allan Platt’s 1934 WHS with a friend, Glennis, who intro-

duced his parents-in-law.

Registrar, Michael Santin, believes that this was originally Dr. Athol Blaubaum’s car now owned by John Summer-field. See The Book page 172.

Jim Lowe says: I am planning to get to the AGM week-end at Bathurst. Looks great! …and hope to scrounge

a ride around Mt Panorama circuit – perhaps in the same car I drove around there in about 1952 – John and Sharon Balthazar’s.I’ve enclosed a photo of that car with the original body (less bonnet side for cooling!).

P.S. I sold my Hornet to a man who had a chemical equip-ment factory …. In Paddington, Sydney …. The name was Marmot Inc. His name began with “G”.

Issue 62 Page 7

THE GREAT SKIRT DEBATE – “TO RING OR NOT TO RING”Before Peter Baker went off on his recent holiday he had some concerns that an intermittent clicking noise in his engine was caused by the skirt ring on his ‘33 Special coming below the top of the cut out on the bottom of the cylinder. I also broke one bottom oil ring, but that may have happened as I was assembling the pistons into the block.

It seems that engine reconditioners think that those two cut outs are clearance for the conrods which is not so, they are Wolseley’s idea for compressing the rings with two screw drivers to insert the pistons from the bottom. I have tried to do same but found that with the crankshaft in, you need three or four hands and a lot of luck. David Armstrong uses a brilliant idea i.e. a hose clip compressed and then just slacked off enough to slide the piston up, then put the three top rings on with that part of the piston above the block.

I found an article in the UK Technical Data (Book 103 page 35-36), where Julian Brownridge commented that the bottom skirt ring was hardly necessary these days with modern oils. I mentioned this to David Armstrong who has been in the motor trade most of his life and still thinks the skirt ring is necessary. He says that modern oils have many additives that make the oil stick better to metal than the oils of the 30s. The oil control rings used since about mid 60’s are a segmental type ring. If you could get these rings to suit the Hornet then perhaps there would not be a problem leaving the 4th scraper out, however, he has been unable to purchase any because of the small bore - even trying a ring manufacturer in America. Without the skirt ring to scrape off the oil on each stroke, the engine may burn oil at a greater rate than was desirable.

Any more feedback from members?

Lyle Cooper landmdcooper@optusnet.com.au

John Clucas writes:Been too cold down here for much Horneteering, but John Balthazar and I took our cars to Rob Roy Hill Climb on Sunday (spectating only). I drove there topless and the temperature had climbed to just zero degrees on my arrival. Needless to say my hands were frozen solid.The attached photo is our cars at Rob Roy, in the esteemed company of a recently restored SS100.Cheers, John

John and Sharon Balthazar advise that the photo in the Herald Sun on page 1 was in fact a file photo from a previous year as they did not run in the hillclimb this year. John notes that they have also got their car back on the road and he’s in the process of fine tuning it before testing out his home made solid copper etched gasket, and he says Sharon and I are travelling to NZ in January to take part in the Vero Rally (Vero being the local insurance company that sponsors the event). We will be travelling with some friends in a borrowed 1928 Oakland around the Dunedin area over a week, plus some sightseeing before and after. During the rally we are staying at a beach side apartment called the “Majestic Mansions Apartments at St Clair”, Dunedin. It turns out that Gavin who runs the place has a ‘32 or ‘33 Hornet and is after some advice on restoration and parts. I have pointed him to the whsca.org.au web site and he says he is keen to join up. It will be good to catch up with him and have a look at his car. Cheers John and Sharon

More on Rob Roy Hillclimb

The Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia Inc. (Victoria, No. A0034589S) exists to encourage the preserva-tion and use of Wolseley Hornets, Sports and Specials. The Club and its Committee take no responsibility for the accuracy of this newsletter’s content nor for the consequences of acting upon any information published herein.

Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia Inc. internet site Visit: www.whsca.org.au

We have been approached by the UK Club for copies of the recently released 300 page coloured, hard cover book with 450 documented cars and 150 with history. The Club still holds a few copies and before we release the books to the UK there may still be some members who do not have a copy. This is your last chance - $130 copy plus postage.

If you require a copy please contact Lyle Cooper on 07 33122365 or landmdcooper@optusnet.com.au by 1 November 2015.

THE BOOK

SPARE PARTSA reminder to those restoring cars - the Club has spare parts kindly donated by Gerry Dunford and the Estate of Howard and Alison Kenward. If you do have a requirement, please contact me and I shall try to access the parts from our stock. They are presently at Joe Wilson and Gerry Dunford’s homes and we are looking for a place for them to be permanently housed.

For those who are members of the UK Club, spare parts can also be obtained from spares@whsc.co.uk (Dave Phil-lips). A listing is on their website www.whsc.co.uk.

I wonder if it is worthwhile for our Club to obtain a few parts that are difficult or costly to obtain (without doubling up on what is available). i.e. I made a pair of aluminium covers for the cylinder jackets that cost me $55 – the minimum charge to anodize, whereas they would anodize four sets for the same price.

Example: pair of chromed water inlet pipes; pair of anodised aluminium cylinder jacket cover plates; 3/8” BSF High Tensile Head Studs etc

How this would be funded would need to be discussed. Your feedback would be welcomed.

Lyle Cooper

For Sale From Alan JonesHi Henry,

WHS members maybe interested in this very good 30-32 Wolseley Hornet/ Wasp 6 stud, 18 inch magna wheel I bought from a Echuca dealer, hoping it might be a 2nd spare for our 33 WH Sedan, but it has the smaller centre! If any members are interested I’d like $100 obo. Phone Alan (02) 6035 9120 A.Hrs.

Take care Alan