T.O.C. Newsbrief - February 2010

Hi members and friends. Here is this months Newsbrief. I hope you find it of interest.

January Social Event

As you will have hopefully read in the latest magazine this was once again a very popular event for all those who were able to attend. Special thanks to Bob and Carl for the entertainment and venue. Let's hope we can continue with these winter events.

Is everybody's Trojan off the road in the winter?

I am sitting here contemplating how many Trojan vehicles are up and runnning during the winter months, does anybody use theirs?

FHBC 'Drive it' day ( www.fbhvc.co.uk )

April 25 will be Drive It Day 2010. This is the Federation of Historic Vehicle Clubs way of promoting that owners of classic and vintage cars do actually want to continue to drive them. With sufficient numbers on the road on this day the old car movement should be noticed . This coincides with the TOC AGM, so perhaps will be a good reason to be out in the Trojan!

Two Stroke Rally Gaydon

Carl advises he has just received an entry for Gaydon from member Bob Cooper who confirms he has purchased Jonathan Woodhead's car, a 1927 3-door BS 9884 originally RA 1943. Well done Bob. Hopefully we can look forward to seeing a little more of you and the car in the future.

Observations from the Spares Secretary, David Vincent

Stanley Lucas, who is 110, and resides at a Care Home, in Bude, Cornwall remembers getting his first car in the early 1940's. Stanley says, and I quote the Western Daily Press -3rd Feb 10, "My first car was a Trojan car and I also had a Titan tractor. Driving the car for the first time was enormous fun. There were no driving tests. I picked it up then I had to drive it home. I then ran my brother-in-law to Plymouth and I hadn't driven 5 miles ever. We somehow made it there and back in one piece." The paper says Stanley celebrated his birthday with 50 friends and seems fairly 'with it'. He might have a Trojan story to tell. Hopefully we may get some additional details for the magazine in the future.

Exhausted

Chris Tordoff tells me that he has discovered the firm who manufactured early silencers for Trojan. This firm have offered to make him a new one for Joe's 3 door for an estimated £80-£100. They would also possibly manufacture XL and PH manifold gaskets. John Wilton thinks that they are van silencers but are nevertheless suitable for all pre-war Trojans. Is this an opportunity for the club's spares department? Hope this is of interest.

New Aluminium Brake Shoes for Chain Drive Cars

If I were to investigate casting some new aluminium brake shoes at reasonable cost, would there be any interest from members?

Brian Hounsfield's car

I have just had the pleasure of carrying out a rebore and general fettling of Brians Duple bodied 3 door. (It has been approx 28 years since I sold it to him). This also included relining and setting the gearband to making driving more pleasurable. Lets hope Brian soon gets an MOT and the car back on the road again!

Further mechanical work

>     Chris Todoff has been brave and taken his PH engine to pieces after 60 years of idleness. First signs are that everything looks good, lets hope so. I hope to take a look at the components whilst we are at the next committee meeting

>     David Hambleton, I understand has completed the rebuild of his RE engine finding all was well when stripped. I am really looking forward to hearing and seeing this up and running. When is the big day David ?

Committee posts

I repeat again this month, we are urgently seeking a volunteer to be nominated for the position of Newsletter Editor. This is a key position and the current committee are seriously worried about this situation. Any help or suggestions welcomed please.

Maintenance tip of the month

For those members who have chain drive cars, the epicyclic gearbox and reduction box can very easily be topped up /filled with oil using a modern large plastic syringe available very cheaply, very effective and very clean.

News from Australia (P3 Diesel Pick up).

This is a copy of an interesting email sent to me from Janice Moore in Australia. As you will read she is looking for further info about the pickup. Can anybody help with this information?

"Hi, just wanted to show you guys my late fathers Trojan truck. He bought the chassis new from Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, in September 1955, and drove it down to our home farm just outside of Gore. Distance of about 155km, sitting on an apple box! He had the cab made in Invercargill, most southern city in New Zealand, and he made the deck himself. It's still in the family, proudly sits in my garage. Still in wonderful condition, has a 3 speed gearbox, jumps out of 2nd gear, so looking at replacing that with a 4 speed that my brother thinks he has at home on the farm. Had it in a rally last weekend, it's a bit too highly revved for parades, have to ride the clutch a bit, so 4 speed will help with that. Just had new brake shoes made for her, had to use the handbrake for a while !

Specs are:

1954? model 20 1 Ton, 40hp.

Perkins P3 diesel engine (B. 3 1/2" x S.5")

The engine number is 1013278

Chassis number is M\6015

Type D T.

Not 100% sure if it's a 54 or 55 model, maybe someone in your club would be able to tell from the engine or chassis numbers?

Dad bought it for a farm hack, used often, him and mum even did a trip through to Milford Sound with my older sister and brother when he was 6 months old, that was in early 1960. There were roadworks going on, and he told us that the roading guys could hear something coming up the road from miles away, finally Dad came round the corner!! Love the noise of it, and the shaking when she starts up. They are pretty rare over here, know of about 4 in going order, and one being done up. In the yard at home there is another one dad got from somewhere, good for parts.

We have to get her re-certified and registered for on-road use, Dad and my brother were looking after 17 registrations on hold for various vehicles, and 3 have been overlooked, this one unfortunately one of them. Dad was a great collector and user of all types of vintage machinery and vehicles, nothing was ever thrown away, old was good! Miss him and his knowledge heaps. Hopefully she'll pass inspection and we can take her on a commercial vehicle rally at end of Feb. (had to A-frame her to last rally).

Well thanks for listening, hope to hear back if someone can confirm what year she is.

Regards

Janice Moore"

See photos attached below and please get back to me if you have any information or I can let you have her email address.

Well that's all for this month.

With best wishes

Phil P