The annual Goodguys Rat Day in Sydney attracted one of the largest turnout of cars and visitors today for the 2013 Fathers Day event. From one J type van in attendance last year, there were three today and Laurie Bellette’s V8 J won Top Unique!
Rat Day in Sydney is a special event. A day of radical workshop specials, the vehicles made of (sometimes) discarded automotive parts which cause a gasp when first glimpsed and followed by the question “how can that possibly run?” or HOW can THAT be driven?” It is a very diverse automotive display. Today was the usual great showing of VW Combi’s and rare American small trucks but this year the display included an assortment of British-based vehicles. Of great interest to the register were the three J types on display. Sydney’s now famous 350 Chev powered V8 J type van was there along with JB 41717 resplendent in original stature and Kelly Ashton’s V8 J. All vans were of interest to the public and it was fascinating to see people compare the vans side by side. The judges were also impressed, Laurie won the trophy for ‘Top Unique’.
For those interested in “old cars – made good” , have a squiz (look) at the September issue of Australia’s Street Machine magazine. Oz readers can go to their local newsagency but this digital age allows ‘away types’ access through the web. I was very surprised JB 41717, my ex ABBCO Bread van, was included in the magazine’s hallowed pages but this is the 300th issue and I had been there, with the van when it started in 1982.
You might think I too would love a V8 J? Too right, mate One day.
www.streetmachine.com.au
or FACEBOOK – streetmachinemagazine
A panoramic view of Saturday’s line-up of J-vans. Photo by Annette Pijpstra
The 65th Anniversary Rally is over, and there are already those who are talking about the 70th!
A really impressive display of vans was achieved. A mixture of J-types, J/Bs and an Austin 101. We had a GPO Planning van or three, a Royal Mail van, an ex-Australian van, an ex-New Zealand van, a coachbuilt pick-up, a van driven over from Sweden, a van attending a rally for the first time in probably 30 years, and more.
It was also a chance for owners to meet and greet. And marvellous to see the signs of another generation of J-enthusiasts coming through. Ken Cookes’s daughter Debbie’s enthusiasm for the van shows that she’s a ‘chip off the old block’. MYH 238 would perhaps not have made it to the Rally were it not for the help that Will Southard gave his father Graham over the months leading up to the event, and Abi Pitcher created the J-type cake for the occasion, and insists that 5003 NX will be hers one day!
It was wonderful to see J-owners Andrew and Susan Trollope and John Brooksmith and partner Annette, all four over from Melbourne Australia and able to attend the event.
Our thanks to the BaMMOT museum staff who helped make the Rally as enjoyable as it was, and who went out of their way to make sure everything ran smoothly.
12 vans and three J type Grilles turned out for the photograph and barbecue, and a JuBilant time was had by all!
Large prints of the Melbourne display and the forthcoming Sydney get-together will be on display at Wythall. Peter has also promised two or three additional large prints to put into a ‘silent auction’ to generate funds for the Register. Thanks Peter, they’ll be most welcome.
Somewhat tongue in cheek Peter also writes:
“To celebrate 65th anniversary of the J van, I flew from Sydney to Melbourne last weekend to photograph a group shot of Melbourne vans and their custodians. At short notice, 12 vans and three J type grille panels turned out for the photograph and barbecue, a JuBilant time was had by all. I’m planning to do the same here in Sydney. We Sydneysiders do not have that many J’s but MOST go vroom – vroom.
This has got me thinking. Based on the Australian population being 23 million (as of last Tuesday!) I will have (on photographic paper at Wythall) I reckon 22 vans – nearly one van per million of the population. Now the UK has a population of 63 million, so I reckon it will be a win for the Aussies if you lot fail to get 63 vans to the Register’s 65th bash at Wythall on June 15 and 16, 2013. Come along to Wythall and view the photographs of some Australian J type vans.”
Anyone else out there got anything to add to a ‘silent auction’?
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.
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.
Peter Bateman is organising a get-together of as many Js as possible in Melbourne on April 27th, 2013. Peter would like any owner who might be able to take part to contact him via jtypesaustralia@gmail.com.
The location for the 65th J anniversary photograph in Melbourne is at the old Harrington Bakery site at 499 Canterbury Road, Vermont, 3133, on Saturday April 27, 2013. Please arrive around Mid-Day to be ready for photography at 13.00 hours (1PM). There is heaps of parking for a trailer or tow car.
Contact Peter Bateman – jtypesaustralia@gmail.com
Peter also tells us “The 100 year anniversary of Morris is being celebrated in Australia with a National Morris rally in Canberra on April 19, 20 & 21 and there are some J’s being organised by moi which intend to be at the display day on Saturday, April 20. Considering it is a 600Km round trip of which about 100 K HAS to be on a Motorway, this is a heart in mouth and deafening experience which I will be enjoying in full… …after/when I have returned!”
There will be the largest assembly of road going Morris J type vans in Australia for many years at the CARnivale Car display to be held on Macquarie street Sydney on January 26, 2013. The vans will be beside the Hyde Park Barracks facing Hyde Park. All welcome & make yourselves known.
Also of interest was a visit to Novgorod, syd’sKnee last weekend by JB 43247’s custodians, Andrew Trollope and Susan Hunt. Mr Cholmondeley’s minder was having a working bee and Andrew was pleased to see JB 43570 arrive for a show & tell then Kelly Ashton arrived with his took kit and multimeter. After spending a very hot afternoon at Novgorod J HQ he went off to Dee Why with Kelly to see the V8 J and the restoration J which is Kelly’s reason d’etre at the moment. On the Sunday Andrew & Susan revisited Novgorod for a nibble and a “tour of the Syd’sKnee sights”. First was a look see at one of the winning Appliances vans then on to Watsons Bay, via Bondi beach, to see the Doyles van.
A pleasant time was had by all.
Also of note is that Andrew & Susan have their tickets for the journey to Birmingham for the 65th.
By contrast we include a photo sent by Roland Turner of his van, which he has been using to get to and from work, in the snow. And just when we thought it was thawing, it’s started snowing again!
