The Classic Commercial Show at Gaydon is upon us. See you there!

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’?

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.

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!”

65th ANNIVERSARY RALLY 15th/16th June 2013

Most J-type Register members will have known for a year or so that the venue, Wythall Transport Museum, is the same as was used for the 50th and 60th Rallies and that the dates are 15th and 16th June, which includes Father’s Day.

This email is to announce finalised artwork for the Rally posters and leaflets. We need to publicise this rally as much as possible. We will be sending images and information out to the Classic press.

All owners and enthusiasts are invited. If you are an owner, please try to bring along your vehicle – we would love this to be the biggest and best UK display of J vans ever. The Register managed to attract 29 club vehicles to the 50th, and 29 again ( but many not the same as the previous ones) for the 60th. Let’s see if we can get the total into the thirties, with so many vans having been restored recently.

The Museum will have all manner of additional attractions, including classic bus rides into Birmingham and around the surrounding countryside. It might be possible to arrange a classic bus ride to the (scant) remains of the factory, as we did for the 50th.Please let me know if this is of interest.

The Museum’s full address is Chapel Lane Wythall Worcs B47 6JX. If driving, it is best approached from junction 3 of the M42 motorway. Head towards Birmingham as far as the large roundabout at Beckett’s Farm, turn left and then left again for the Museum entrance. If in a club vehicle you will be guided into the club display area, if in an everyday modern vehicle you will be directed to parking areas.

To coincide with this announcement there is a new page on the J-Register website: http://www.jtypevan.com/newsevents/65th-anniversary-rally-wythall/ where comments from members and enthusiasts re the rally will be placed and regularly updated. If you would like to add a comment please send a message via the ‘Contact Us’ button or via this email address.

Images released for all press/publicity/website/blog use. High resolution images available on request. If publishing, please use entire graphic image. Cropping of poster only by prior permission.

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