Charleville and District Veteran, Vintage and Classic Club

June 2009 Newsletter

Dear members,

Welcome to the June news letter!

The last quarter went very well for the club.  We held our Annual Spring Run in April with a turn out of 106 cars.  We also presented St. Josephs Foundation and the Friends of Mallow Hospital with cheques for €2350 each, raised on our Charity Run in March.

Coming up we have the clubs Inaugural Tractor Run - more on that later!  And also we have our first quiz – make sure to get your entries in.  We also have a very interesting write up on Classic Mini’s later in the newsletter.

Once again we hope you will all enjoy our newsletter.  If you have any ideas for the newsletter or have any car stories or ad’s that you would like us to include please contact us on Charleville.vintage.motors@gmail.com or any of the club contacts on the back page.

Thank you,

C&DVVCC

Upcoming Events

*NEW* 7 June-09

Charleville Inaugural Classic Tractor Run
For more information phone Mike on 087-2530955
or Paschal on 087-2731336.

05-July-09

Vintage display at the Cheshire Home, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick
Details contact 086 8340637

05-July-09

Castletownroche Vintage Club Annual vintage rally.
Details contact Billy Sheehan on 086 8184093

12-July-09

Duhallow Vintage Club Annual Run
Details contact Daithi Collins on 029 56168,
086 2300859 or davidcollins2005@eircom.net

12-July-09

Clare Classic and Vintage Club Summer Run.
Details contact Aisling McCarthy on 087 2811290

19-July-09

Blarney Vintage Club are holding The Chris Pardoe Memorial Fun Run at Sunset Ridge, Kileens, Co. Cork. Starting at 11.00am entry fee €20 per car
All Proceeds go to The Cork Alzheimers Society and The Holly O Keefe Fund.

15 & 16-August-09

Ballincollig & District Vintage & Classic Car Club annual show
Details contact 087 7937560, 085 7665127 or
0879096616

21 - 22-August-09

Irish Mini Owners Club annual family camping weekend.
Details contact Billy Mulqueen on 087 4195640

23- August-09

Duhallow Vintage Club autumn run.
Details contact Daithi Collins on 029 56168,
086 2300859 or davidcollins2005@eircom.net

06-September-09

West Limerick Vintage Club vintage day in Askeaton, Co.limerick. Details contact Gerry on 087 6708486

20-Sept-09

Autumn Run 2009
For details contact Pascal Fenton on 087 2731336.
or Dominic Treacy on 087 9924575

27-September-09

Clare Classic and Vintage Club Anthony Barry Memorial Run.
Details contact Aisling McCarthy on 087 2811290

Dont Forget!
The Club Meetings on the second Thursday of every month 8.30pm at the Cannon Hayes Memorial Hall in Effin

Recent Club Events

ANNUAL SPRING RUN – 5TH APRIL 2009

We had a very successful run on Sunday 5th April 2009.  We are lucky with the day, a beautiful warm spring day.  It was the biggest turn out of vehicles ever seen on a Charleville Run, 106 in total.  After a cup of tea and biscuits served by some of the lady members of the club, we got on our way and travelled through scenic Ballyhoura country via Ardpatrick and Kilbeheny to our first pit stop at Mitchelstown caves, where we enjoyed a guided tour.  We moved off again through Ballyporeen, Ronald Regan’s ancestral home and Doneraile, until we arrived at the Corbett Court restaurant in Ballyhea for dinner and prize-giving.

The Harry Millard cup went to Jack Downey for his stunning Fork Capri Mark III
The Car of the Rally went to Larry Power for his MG
The Best Commercial went to Billy Kiely for his Bedford TK truck
The Best Classic car went to Francie Shanahan for his Mark II Cortina 1.6 E
The Best Overall went to Conor Moloney for his 1975 Triumph Stag

A big work of thanks to all who helped out on the day; St. Joseph’s Foundation for the use of their excellent facilities, Gerry Hynes for planning the route, printing the maps and putting up the signs, all the stewards for their help, the lady members for making tea and coffee in Charleville and Mitchelstown, Davie for his recovery services and Corbett Court for an excellent meal.  I want to thank the Vale Star, Cork Examiner and local radio for their advertising and coverage, and all our members and supporters who turned up on the day with their cars, vans and trucks – without ye there would be no run.  Thanks to all and safe and happy rallying during the year.  Hope to see ye all again at our Autumn Run

For Sale

New car transporter, contact Noel on 087 2572931

Wanted

All chrome parts, lights, exterior trim, bumpers etc ror Riley Elf / Wolsey Hornet.
Contact andrew on 087 7796254

Upcoming Club Events

Charleville & District Veteran Vintage & Classic Club will hold a vintage tractor run on Sunday 7 June 2009, starting from Colmanswell Community Centre. 

This is our club’s first tractor run – members and non-members are welcome to join us on the day for a short drive.  There will be time for tea and coffee and a chat before we start – the Community Centre will be open from 10 am and we plan to get going at around 11.  A lot of old tractors can be seen around our locality - some in everyday use and others in sheds gathering dust - it is time to get them out and oiled up and ready to work again.  The run will be in aid of Rathfredagh Cheshire Home – a small donation would be appreciated.

Colmanswell is in county Limerick, on the road between Ballyagran and Charleville.       

For more information phone Mike on 087-2530955 or Paschal on 087-2731336. 

Paschal Fenton P.R.O. 

CLASSIC MINIS CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR

The first Minis rolled off the production line on August 26th 1959.  Aside from minor cosmetic changes and various engine modifications the Mini remained basically the same throughout its 41 years of production and when the last Minis were made in October 2000, 5.3 million Minis had been sold worldwide.  There were 133 versions of the Mini including convertibles, pickups, vans and station-wagons, mini coopers, Riley Elfs and Wolseley Hornets.  The Mini was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis who had already major success in 1948 with designing the Morris Minor.  Lord Leonard of B.M.C. had asked Issigonis to design a compact, economical car in response to the fuel shortages of the day which was caused by the conflict between Israel and Egypt over the nationalization of the Suez Canal.  The only engine stipulation that Lord Leonard gave Sir Alec was that he was to use an existing B.M.C. engine.  The engine chosen was the A-series 848c.c unit which had 34 brake horsepower.  Issigonis created a box shaped car which was 10 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide.  By mounting the engine transversely and using front wheel drive his car could carry four adult passengers and luggage with ease.  Fifty years on and this design has become common practice in small car design with all manufacturers.  B.M.C. was formed when the UK’ two largest automakers Nuffield (Morris, M.G., Riley and Wolseley) and Austin merged.  So at the start two versions were manufactured, the Austin 7 was produced in Longbridge and the Morris Mini Minor was produced at the Cowley plant, identical cars but badged differently.  One of the early production cars used in the press launch was loaned to race car builder John Cooper in September 59.  John Cooper’s formula one car driven by Sir Jack Brabham was on its way to both the driver’s and manufacturer’s F1 work championship.  Cooper also built a car for the junior series and he chose the B.M.C. A-series as the basis for his race engine.  When Cooper drove the Mini he was really impressed with its handling ability and its potential as a competition car.  He struck a deal with the head of B.M.C. to produce an initial run of 1,000 Mini Coopers which were built at the Longbridge factory.  The stroke of the 848c.c. was lengthened and the bore dropped slightly in size, this resulted in the now famous 997c.c unit.  Other modifications were twin 1.2 inch s.u. carburettors, larger intake valves and higher compression ratio.  Production of the Mini Cooper began in July 1961.  In April 1963 the Mini Cooper S debuted, this car had a 98 brake horsepower and revved to 7,800r.p.m.  This allowed the car a 0-60mph time of 13 seconds which was remarkable for a car of its size.  Its top speed was now 95mph.  In 1964 hydrolastic suspension, which was a pressurized fluid system, was introduced instead of the rubber cone set up which had initially been used.  However due to its high manufacturing cost this suspension was phased out between 1967 and 1971.  Two more engine sizes were introduced in 1964, the 970c.c. high revving unit primarily for racing and the 1275c.c. which eventually became the basic power plant for all later models.  The competitions department of the B.M.C. was at Abingdon and they campaigned what became known as the Works Minis with amazing success.  Drivers such as Rauno Aaltonen, Timo Makinen and Paddy Hopkirk are all synonymous with victories in the Mini in The R.A.C., Circuit of Ireland, Monte-Carlo and the Tour De Franc Rallies to name but a few.  Pat Moss was the most famous female driver.  Other interesting facts about this amazing little car:  its original selling price was just 495 pounds and by 1999 you would pay upward of 10,000 pounds.  To celebrate the Mini’s 40th Anniversary, 25 people crammed themselves into a Mini to set a world record.  The most famous movie which 3 Minis starred in was called The Italian Job.  The Mini has had many famous owners such as The Beatles, Peter Sellers, Peter Ustinov, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Princess Margaret and Twiggy.  I could go on for ever and ever talking about Minis and as the saying goes “if you were lucky enough to own a Mini you never forget your first Mini”.  There are many Mini clubs worldwide and the club in Ireland is called The Irish Mini Owners Club and they hold their Mizen to Malin Head run on the 22nd May this year.

Pats Classic Quiz

1. What company invented the radial tyre?

2. The Ford Aglia celebrates its 50thBirthday this year.
Name one other car that is 50 this year

3.Who was Lord Nuffield?

4. What do the letters S.U. as in carb stand for?

5.Whose ancestors came from Ballinascarthy in County Cork?

6.What did Saab make before thay made cars?

7.What do the letters D.B. stand for with Austin Martin?

8.Who designed the Mini?

9. What was Fords first front wheel drive car?

10.What do the letters B.S.A stand for?

Please return all entries on or before the 31st July 2009

Entries can be sent to charleville.vintage.club@gmail.com

or by post to