Posted on January 22nd, 2013
Peter Bateman writes from Australia:
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!
Posted on December 18th, 2012
A quick blog entry to wish all J enthusiasts worldwide a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and to let members know that a Christmas issue of the Review is in the post! We will be sending a few more copies out in the New Year to non-member J-owners, with an invitation to attend the 65th Anniversary Rally at Wythall Transport Museum, Birmingham.
Posted on November 19th, 2012
Meanwhile in Australia…
There was a HISTORIC COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW here in Melbourne Australia 18.11.12 (An annual event)
We managed to get 7 Vans to the show – not a bad effort ( 2 on trailers and 5 roadworthy and driven).
John Brooksmith
Front view, Far left to Right
Nick Fuller Dark Green, A J with a J/B Engine
John Heir Black primer (he borrowed our J/B grill for one picture). He has a roller door at the rear
John Brooksmith Blue ( We have a J/B grill and a 101 grill but it is registered as a J/B because my initials are JB)
http://aq62uumrcool.blogspot.com.au/ Now registered as 07450H
Mike Red and White, MCJTV
Paul Howell Green J/B with a black J Grill (Ex New Zealand Van) http://jbmorrisvan.blogspot.com.au/
Sandy Payet Predominantly off white (to be resprayed)
Andrew Trollope Biscuit colour. He is only the second owner of the van and it is concourse. http://hdu072.blogspot.com.au/
Posted on November 17th, 2012
Our congratulations to the members of the Morris~Commercial Club, whose stand in Hall 11 at the Classic Motor Show has scooped the “Best Small Club Stand” award at Friday night’s ceremony. This is a particularly great achievement given that it is the club’s first time at the show. Well done, guys!
Posted on October 25th, 2012
Kelly Ashton’s V8 J type makes Rat Day 2012
It was promised in this blog many months ago that Sydney’s annual GoodGuys Rat Day would sport three J type vans. Optimism was there in spades but reality showed me to have fibbed. There in a dusty well worn patch of Gnawley Park, Taren Point was a large group of spectators paying compliments to only one J type van. Kelly Ashton’s Ford V8 powered J. Kelly had his J type exhibited “in the build” and what a crowd it pulled. Kelly was almost hoarse after fielding questions and compliments for four hours. As seems normal these days someone will turn up and wax lyrical about having a J in the past or one in the shed. This time it was Kelly who dragged me out of the crowd shouting “Pete, Pete here quick. This bloke knows of a few vans” and he proceeded to list this one and that and I just had to say, “You must be Steve Day”…Yes! the bloke almost fainted. Steve was the chap I bought JB 41717 from in 1981. We all had a jovial time but I could not get any “new” finds on that day.
Much work is still to be done on Kelly’s V8 J but that first showing has been & gone and the next one will come with SOUND!
I wake each morning wondering if today is that One day….
Peter Bateman – Syd’sKnee – Oz
Posted on October 9th, 2012
Our website featured in the editorial in October’s Classic and Sports Car magazine in an article about the 2012 awards at the NEC Classic Motor Show.
Posted on September 25th, 2012
The Goodwood Revival is over for another year, but what a great weekend it was. Check out the pictures for some of the delights.
On site over the weekend were SEVEN J-types: 221 EMF, 344 CNM, 477 XUK, 5003 NX, JSK 870, LDG 584 and LVJ 61, with TWO more in the car park on the Saturday. These were MJW 43 and MSK 194.
Posted on July 30th, 2012
JB/46628 is a very lucky J type. Phil Knight (the custodian) has been a model maker and model builder in his ‘spare’ time since forever! You know ‘spare time’,… time as in, going on holidays with the family, watching ‘uninteresting’ television, waiting for the kettle to boil or even the time other folk spend gasping on a ciggy? Phil’s model collection is best calculated by mathematicians but it does cover the walls of his workroom, study and large family lounge room. Comprehensive is a good word.
His latest feat is a JB, 1960 he says but I think he just went outside and measured up JB 46628. This photograph is of the ‘master’ body. There are about 36 other parts which go to make up the final kit, even the instrument binnacle is a stand alone piece.
A chap will need to devote a skilled hand to get Phil’s results but he assures me I could do it! I will need to be a very ‘controlled’ cove indeed. The detailing is commendable. Remember whilst looking at the van body in this snap everything has been made from scratch. Don’t bother to enquire of the hours spent. It’s only Phil’s “spare time”! Oh, the production run should start in late August.
Check out
http://www.thepartsbox.com/ Phil has done the master for his chum who owns the Partsbox and the model will be sold only thru them. Members might have some ‘spare time’.
Peter Bateman
Posted on July 17th, 2012
Tony Clipstone, the owner of J/R 649, the earliest known running J-type in the world, lost a courageous battle against cancer in Adelaide on the 15th July, 2012. He was 68.
Clipstone had a lifelong love of his beloved Morris vehicles and was the proud custodian of a Z van, a Minor van, an LC3 and an LC5. But his prize and passion was J/R 649. The LC5 fitted Tony’s madcap sense of humour as it enabled him to exercise his passion for the character of Claude Greengrass from the television program Heartbeat. His exploits at rallies and parties dressed as “Claude” were renowned.
It will forever be to Tony’s credit that J/R 649 has been preserved in original condition and unaltered.
Tony Clipstone was defined by his wit, humanity and sincerity. By profession he was a pharmacist. All comers were greeted with his openness and engaging personality. They were far too droll if they left without a smile. In the late ’90s, Tony ventured from his comfortable Adelaide home to live and work in the UK, as a pharmacist in North Wales. As an Aussie, he was able to entertain and bring a smile to the most crook (Aussie speak for unwell!) of Poms. Most found this bloke far too much fun and returned to his counter with any excuse for another remedy. He made friends easily and made all feel valued.
His farewell will be at Meadows, in the Adelaide Hills, and it is expected that the place will be overflowing. J/R 649 will of course, take pride of place. Tony Clipstone touched many; a gentleman whom it was an honour to have known. Tony is survived by his wife Wendy and mother Peg. Peter Bateman
J-owner Mike Slaney writes to inform us of the loss of another Australian J-owner and enthusiast, Chris Jackman, owner of an ex-Cripps Bakery J, now liveried as Jackman McRoss Bakers, which can be seen at http://www.jtypevan.com/morris-commercial/chassis-numbers-not-known/. Chris died suddenly at home, aged 42. He was a talented chef and mad about classic cars.
Posted on July 10th, 2012
Five Js and an Austin 101 line up at Ardingly over the weekend of the 8th/9th July. Well done to all the owners, this is a great sight to see!
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