Pippy & Mr C ‘do’ Canberra

I felt it would be letting J types down if I did not make a little effort to display a Morris J type van at Australia’s official commemoration of the 100 years of Morris celebrations, so I arranged for JB 41717 (Mr C) to have a little drive to Canberra with JB 43570 (Pippy). Only a short drive, mind you. Peter Page can keep those long haul feats to the Englanders! We just had a jaunt. The round trip a mere 600K’s (Imperially only 375 miles), no problems!

Well, 147+ decibels from the B series donk in the cabin? I no longer have hearing…. not a problem! A B-series engine or two which perspired oil from every pore with gusto. Nah!, no problem there, Mr Castrol still makes a good drop. Or, even after stopping for a photo op, Mr C’s starter motor failed permanently. No problem, simply stop on inclines. That’s easy and perfect strangers LOVE to push J type vans.

The Clancy family were a tower of strength in providing a support vehicle so we could drive the JB’s at 40MPH on the freeway. Although we did get many thumbs up signs it was almost a disappointment when someone wizzed by and failed to notice our convoy. On our return journey we left the highway and found a very quiet road. So quiet it was a proper Oz thoroughfare, DIRT with strafing DUST behind our tails ! Now I’ll have to wash the grime off Mr C. Quelle Horror! And to top off a good story was the thrill of being able to brag “We were overtaken by a McLaren MP4-12C!”

What fun, but I have not asked the Clancy’s if they want to do another trip soon. I might leave that till next month.

Peter Bateman, Sydney April 22, 2013

Peter also sends this link: https://www.facebook.com/thegoodeggstudio

Register stalwart Roland Turner has sent in this photo of his van, OBL 432, emblazoned with a giant print of the 65th Anniversary poster! Looks fab Roly, well done.

Morris J/B van OBL 432 with J-type Register 65th Anniversary poster

An unusual sighting in Sydney’s Inner West this afternoon when three working Morris JB vans passed each other in a carpark. The two Pipe Perfection Plumbing vans and Peter Bateman’s Mr C had to stop for a ‘photo op’ to prove their existance.

Following the Morris 100 celebrations in Canberra there is to be a 65th photograph taken in Melbourne on April 27th and shortly after Peter Bateman is planning a Sydney J van photograph. Any J type owner willing to take part please contact PB at jtypesaustralia@gmail.com
Peter Bateman Sydney Australia

Is this a van from ‘down under’? The Hidden Valley Ranch J-van is appearing in commercials in Canada, and we believe, other countries too. The Register has no idea whose van this is or who owns it. Contact us if you are reading this and know anything about it, please. We’d love to know if it is a van new to the Register.