Intrepid Oz J-reporter PB writes:
This is a snap of a Winning van parked outside their head office in Danks Avenue Sydney whilst the building is being renovated.
The sign says it all. That’s J types for you!
PS – it is the ex Old Middleton Grain Store van which was restored by Paradise Garages in Sydney.
The Southbank Centre in London has been celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain with events throughout the summer. TSL 577 was on display, but SLO 414, 835 BMM and JSJ 982 were working for their living! These photos were taken by GS on August 12 2011.
Intrepid Oz J-reporter Peter Bateman emails:
Chris Z has sent us photos of his Morris J/B part way through its restoration. The Register has known of the existence of this van, but until now we did not have any photographs.
This is how the Register website should work – owners and enthusiasts seeing what is needed and supplying it! It would be great if other owners also pass on details of how their vans are, roadworthy or not…
See the entry ‘under restoration – UK’ in the J/B gallery (click on the Morris badge) for more photos.
Another J-type get-together at Tatton Park has been and gone. The Register has had a display of vehicles for 21 consecutive years. On display over the weekend were: 344 CNM, 5003 NX, 749 VRF, 8444 UA and 224 TRE. There will not be a 22nd with any Register support!
On the Sunday, one of our members, who had driven his van, 572 CKC, over from Birkenhead, was denied entry at the gate despite having the correct paperwork, because he was late. This was someone who, despite the inclement weather, had made the decision to drive to the show anyway only to be told he could park his classic in the car park and pay for himself and his wife to go in. I can imagine his reply, and fully understand his decision to turn round and drive home. It would show disloyalty to him and to the effort he made to attend if we carried on as normal and booked in again next year.
He, and many, many other exhibitors, were late due to the woefully inept system that the marshalls have to work to, where all exhibitors have to come through a single vehicle access gate. Long queues inevitably form. Vehicles in this queue, late because of a system put in place by the organisers, should not then be turned away…
If anyone has any thoughts on an alternative venue, please let us know. The annual get-together must carry on.
We have just heard that we have been successful in having been allocated a stand at the 2011 Classic Motor Show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England. The show is on the 11th, 12th and 13th of November. Our stand is 4C110 in Hall 4 directly opposite the Minor LCV Register.
We realise how difficult organising an event like this must be, and this year a record 220 car clubs will be represented. Our thanks to the staff at Clarion Events for their continued support.
In the photo, from left to right, are Anthony, Wendy, Lou, Sam and Bjorn. Wendy contacted the Register a month ago asking about 317 BXY, her dad’s van many years ago. She had found the photo on our website and following my reply, wrote: ” my Dad will be so pleased to hear all this as he often talks about it… I was born 1964 and remember it from early on, he bought it for £40 having a large brood of six kids to cart about and we went on many happy holidays in the van”. Wendy’s dad now lives in Texas, but she was able to tell him that the van survives and said in a following email “he’s thrilled we’ve managed to track the van down and to know that it didn’t go to the scrap heap”.
Wendy’s contact with us was timely, it coincided with Bjorn, owner of 317 BXY, coming to the UK for a few weeks – in the van! It was arranged that we would all meet up at Wendy’s so that she could see the van for the first time in many years. Wendy also invited along Lou and Sam. Sam worked for the GPO and serviced many J’s including BXY, and was instrumental in the van becoming part of Wendy’s family. Sam couldn’t believe how well the van was, telling Bjorn all manner of interesting bits about his time servicing the vehicles. It was a wonderful, emotional few hours, I’m so pleased to have had a part in it.
Bjorn has now met up with all but one of the previous owners of BXY (deputising Wendy for her dad) and the one remaining previous owner, a relative of Wendy’s, will apparently be in Sweden for a wedding over summer.
This really is the worldwide web working at its best. These contacts would not have been made were it not for Wendy finding the details on our website.
And ‘Chug-a-boom’? It was what the kids called the van!
It’s nearly a fortnight since the Classic Motor Show finished at the NEC, and we’ve finally got all the information together to put up for sale the van that has been promised for a number of weeks now. The owner of the van, Don Dracup, has owned the van for 27 years! Let’s hope the new owner buys it to love, cherish and use in the same way – not just to make a quick profit by selling it on, or parting with the number plate.
Please note that mid-November we will be putting a member’s van up for sale here on the Register website. Details are being finalised!
November 12th/13th/14th. We are delighted to have a stand at the Classic Motor Show again this year, where we will be in Hall 3/3A, Stand number 3C255. We will be directly opposite the Morris Minor Owners Club stand, with the autojumble nearby for a change.
We are even more delighted to announce that Peter Page is bringing his globe-trotting Austin 101 van up to Brum to display on the stand. Excellent news!
