Rob's Blog | British Car Club of Hawaii

Rob’s Blog: Meet Ockham’s Razor

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I suspect you already figured out there will be no monthly meeting again this month. Plus, the annual All British Car Day is postponed.

The monthly meetings will not resume until the stay at home order is lifted and social distancing is relaxed a little. Like most of you, I have no idea when either of these two things will happen, but in the meantime, I’m fine playing by the rules and not tempting fate with a case of the virus.

As for All British Car Day… Best guess is it could be on Labor Day weekend, Sunday, September 6th. Don’t start making plans just yet, but that is the next three day weekend, and far enough in the future when things could be much different as far as social behavior goes. Right now we couldn’t even get a permit to use the park.

The enormity of this pandemic is hard to comprehend. Imagine car clubs around the world in the same boat as us. The shows, rallies, cross-country drives and tech sessions being canceled. On the other hand, the shutdown of business activity is license to work late into the night on car projects that have been put off for years. In other words… no excuse for not having a huge showing whenever the next All British Car Day is held.

On another note… Since I seem to be the self appointed clearing house for all the car stories, 25 to date, I’m also the one receiving feedback from members who have enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations of fellow owners. I have learned from several reliable sources, there are still some memories being developed for our amusement, but for now, on behalf of everyone, let me thank all of you who have taken the time to write about your adventures.

For me, it has been an opportunity to re-live some of my own, and appreciate the depth of loyalty we have to old British sports cars. It would be so much easier for all of us to drive Toyotas and Hondas, but to go to the extremes some of us have gone over the years, recovering, restoring, and putting up with the endlessly, agonizing issues that haunt us while keeping these things running is truly amazing.

Having been left stranded along side the road more than once, I have come to two conclusions. First, there are car people all over the place willing to go out of their way to help a classic car owner in distress, and second; When the problem is fixed, it is usually something a lot less complicated than originally suspected. For example… Knowing your gas gauge is unreliable, you run out of gas anyway. Then, after blaming the fuel pump, the filters, the timing, the points, the coil, the condenser and the distributor, you decide to put some gas in the tank before driving home with a perfectly running engine. To be humble is a valuable lesson because there are those who have, and there are those who will. Ask me how I know.

We have another month to fill before possibly meeting again, so don’t be shy about sharing more memories. It doesn’t have to be about speed. Just write a story about you and your car. How could that not be entertaining.

Aloha,
Rob

Rob’s Blog: A life worth remembering

Even if you don’t follow Formula One racing, or racing of any kind, the name Stirling Moss may sound familiar. His obituary was in the Star Advertiser this morning. A few members alerted me to his passing and that was all the reason I needed to think the rest of you might want to know too.

To race for 14 years, then retire from the international racing circuit at age 33, and still be counted among the top ten racers of all time is quite an accomplishment. To say he was a man of many interests would be an understatement. Among his many achievements, in 1957 he broke the world land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats. I’d guess that not many current Formula One racers have even been to Utah.

Two quotes attributed to him seemed especially noteworthy. “Courage and stupidity are pretty much synonymous,” and the other, “People watch racing to witness the point where courage converges with catastrophe.” After reading these words, I couldn’t help thinking of the stories many of you have sent to share.

He seemed to summarize many of our own collective experiences. One of his accomplishments illustrates his driving philosophy to an extreme. In 1955 he won the Italian Mille Miglia by driving 995 miles in 10 hours. Do the math on that and you will see what I mean. It would seem that throughout his career he not only out ran his competitors, but fate as well.

Aloha,
Rob

Rob’s Blog: Does it Always Have to be British?

Two months in a row without a tech session. That must be some kind of record. But not to worry my wannabe mechanics. Hang on to your spanners, charge up the fire extinguisher, and get ready to dive into another project.

Tech Session

For next month, plan on meeting at Victor Geminani’s garage in Lanikai to get his Jaguar E-Type on the road. A variety of jobs await the collective wisdom of the club including brakes, installing a new gas tank, and predictably, an ignition issue that will surely come up as soon as the key is turned.

We begin around 10:00 a.m. and break for lunch around noon. Depending on the progress, or lack of it, we either gloat in our success, or return to the garage and keep fiddling until we tire of defeat and go home, leaving poor Victor to grovel on his own.

He has promised to fire up the grill but it’s always suggested you bring a beverage of your own. Victor lives at 1237 Aalapapa Drive Kailua (Lanikai). His house is almost at the end of the loop so if you head that way, you will go past his garage on the right.

A word of caution on weekend parking. It is extremely limited, if not impossible, and the parking police are not there to help. There is some room in the yard, but heed the signs if you don’t find a spot on his property.

Holiday Party

The Christmas Brunch will be held again at Josh’s house on Sunday, December 15th. His family home on the North Shore is the perfect beachfront venue for this event and gets us out of the city for a real road trip sort of drive.

The cost per person will be in the $15 to $20 range, but if you have been to one of these wing dings, you already know the raffle gifts can easily equal the price of admission. Mark your calendars and make sure your old car can make it that far.

As in previous years, we will plan on meeting at the Temple Valley Shopping Center and caravanning up the coast together. In keeping with the phrase “safety in numbers,” we might as travel surrounded by helpful friends and tow ropes. More details when the date gets closer.

Ford vs Ferrari

Remember the club’s last movie night? I don’t either. I’d say we are over due for another one. This time we are going to take it up a notch and plan a real outing to see the new movie, “Ford vs Ferrari”, which is to be released November 15th. It is being offered in super sized IMAX format or regular screen. Either way, even though the link to British cars is sketchy, at best, it will still be a fun movie for a bunch of car guys to experience together. Time and date to follow on this as well.

It’s a Wheel Deal

Here is another good deal for someone out there. Member Terry Tusher has an offer worth looking at.

Contact him directly if you are interested: 808-225-2805

I have a deal for you if you own a TR2-4A, MGA, MGB, MGC, Morgan 4/+4, or Austin Healy BN1 – BJ8!
The car they were purchased for, unfortunately, is none of the above and the wheel offset is wrong.
For Sale: 5 new MWS silver painted, 72-spoke, Heavy Duty, 5×15, wire wheels (Moss Motors #454-665).
My error is your good luck!
My cost: $300/each + shipping. Make me an offer I can’t refuse.

The next club meeting will be Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. at Gordon Biersch, Aloha Tower Market Place.

That’s all I have for now. Be sure to give Terry a call about his rims, mark your calendars for the Saturday, November 9th Tech Session, the Christmas Brunch on December 15th, and the next membership meeting on the 12th.

Aloha,
Rob

Rob’s Blog: Need a Lift?

Engine hoist photo

If you’re contemplating the removal of your car’s engine, I’m about to become your new best friend.

For years I have stored a huge engine hoist in my garage, anticipating the day I’d have to remove the monster engine from my Jaguar. I used it once to install the current engine at least twenty years ago, and a few other times around the house for miscellaneous “hoisting” jobs.

If you need to pull the concrete base of a basketball pole from the ground, this will do the job without breaking a sweat. If you need to uproot a tree, you won’t even need a pick and shovel.

This hoist is not one of the light weight models you see on sale at NAPA, or O’Reilly’s. This monster is capable of not only lifting large engines, but entire cars off the ground. The upper range is rated at 4000 pounds (2 tons) That’s five Jaguar engines, or a half dozen Bug Eye Sprite’s, at the same time. That’s the good news. The bad news is that with such a massive lifting ability, it is very heavy, and not something you toss into the trunk of your Honda. It does have wheels and the legs are removable for easy storage.

I know as soon as I get rid of it, I’ll probably need it to remove the Jag’s engine. Because Murphy’s Law.

Here is my offer…

So, does anyone want this monster to use for as long as they want, until I need to borrow it back? Seems dumb to hold on to it while someone else in the club might need it.

I know what you’re thinking… “That bum just wants someone else to store his hoist.” Well, sort of.

Feel free to loan it to someone else after you’re done. We can pass it around the club like an unwanted raffle ticket. Eventually someone will need it. A real win-win situation.

In the folded configuration, it is 56″ high and the width between the wheels is 38”. The pump handle is missing, but anything that fits into the opening will work.

If you’re interested in this once in a lifetime offer…don’t be shy. Give me a call and we can go from there. Remember, anything from pulling stumps to lifting the corner of your house is possible with this baby.

Aloha, Rob

Rob’s Blog: 46th Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade

St Patrick's Day Parade photo

For those of you who like to test the limits of your British car’s cooling system, here is an opportunity coming up in March that should do the trick. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Friday, March 17th.

The club has paid the entry fee for members of the British Car Club to participate in this event. It is not a British Car Club event so I/we have nothing to do with it except pay the entry fee for our members.

For information, you need to get online and find out who is in charge, and what they expect from the participants that morning. The link below should get you there.

Have fun, and good luck,

Rob

More information at:
http://fosphawaii.ning.com/events/46th-annual-st-patrick-s-day-parade-in-waikiki

Rob’s Blog: Another opportunity to save a classic car

Anyone interested in a 1974 MGB project? I got a call from the friend of a friend on the North Shore, who wants to “just get rid of it.”

Whatever that means, it is has a current registration, runs poorly, and has a ratty interior.

The owner’s name is Bernie. Call him directly if you’re interested. Phone number 808-589-6242.

Aloha, Rob

Rob’s Blog: Christmas Brunch Reminder

Next week Tuesday the 12th is the RSVP deadline for sending your check for the Annual Christmas Brunch. It is $16 per person and receipt of your check will be your RSVP.

You may also combine next year’s dues with the brunch check. The dues are going up a little. So a single membership is $20 and a family membership is $25.

Don’t forget… THERE IS NO MEETING TUESDAY.

The years spectacular brunch will be on Sunday the 18th, 10:00 a.m. at Josh Greig’s house. I will be sending a follow-up reminder with directions at a later date. So far there has been a great response to this event. We’re already close to the same number of people we had last year.

Thanks to everyone who has sent their check already. Here is where they go:

Dave Luengen
91-1138 Lanakoi St.
Kapolei, HI 96707
(check payable to: British Car Club of Hawaii)

Aloha, Rob