Singergram vol 27 no 1 mar 2014

[Two articles were received covering the All British Day at Echunga. The first from Stephen and Vida Schild is published here, the second from Stephen and Wendy Bitmead follows. – Ed]

AFTER approximately three years of restoring our 1952 Singer 4AD it was time to give it its first long run – the annual All British Day which is held at Echunga in the

Adelaide Hills.

As we backed ‘Sebastian’ (which is its name) out of the shed, the wind was gusting at about 30 knots from the South-west and grey clouds looked ominous. We had no hood (as yet) so

Continued on page 7

INTERNATIONAL RALLY...Have you expressed interest in the next International Rally? Caloundra is the destination for Easter 2015.

If you would like to share this issue of Singergram with your friends and family, go to – http://issuu.com and search for Singergram. Then choose the issue you wish to review.

SINGERGRAMMarch 2014 Vol. 27 No. 1

SINGER CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Brilliant British Day

Stephen and Vida Schild’s beautiful 4AD ‘Sebastian’.

SINGER CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA Inc(To preserve the marque and unite the owners)

Meetings are held on the second Monday of each second month at the Caledonian Hotel 219 O’Connell St, North Adelaide (cnr. Barton Tce).

Meet at 6.30 pm for a great meal or just attend the meeting which commences at 7.30 pm.

OFFICERS FOR 2011President............................................ Stephen Schild (08) 8552 8646 (H) PO Box 1375 0419 848 512 (M) Victor Harbor SA 5211 [email protected]

Vice President................................... Ivan Margitich (08) 8294 5253 (W) 17 Old Drive (08) 8294 5022 (W) Novar Gardens SA 5040 0419 800 799 (M)

Secretary........................................... Peter Wright (08) 8598 7066 (H) PO Box 254 0419 800 917 (M) Tailem Bend SA 5260 [email protected]

Minutes Secretary............................ Diane Wright (08) 8598 7066 (H)

Treasurer........................................... Rob Martin (08) 8284 7947 (H) 1 Thornton Street 0419 188 944 (M) Angle Vale SA 5117 [email protected]

Assistant Secretary........................... Pat Oxley (08) 8365 2820 (H)

Parts Officer .....................................Stephen Bitmead (08) 8254 2716 (H)

Conditional Registration Officers... Rob Martin (08) 8284 7947 (H) Ivan Margitich (08) 8295 5692 (H)

Committee......................................... Vida Schild, Peter Oxley, Deidre Solly, Phil Keany, Sue Margitich, Sue Matthews, Arthur Ackland, Darhyl Walters.

Librarian/Official Photographer ....Sue Matthews (08) 8284 7947 (H)

Auditor.............................................. To be advised

Web Master....................................... Rob Martin www.singercars.com.au

Singergram Editor............................ Jeff Vale (08) 7509 0930 (H) PO Box 572 0427 152 029 (M) Greenock SA 5360 [email protected]

SCCA Secretary................................ Andrew Bull (03) 9499 6746 & Magazine Editor 9 Burton Crescent [email protected] East Ivanhoe VIC 3079

SINGERGRAM Page 2 MARCH 2014


WElCOME to the meeting! The line up of our Singers yesterday at the All British Day is

testament to the effort and support our members have with our car club.

But, having said that and despite our membership numbers remaining static I feel that the long term survival of our club is at risk without younger members.

The old brigade is getting older and we need greater numbers to share the load of the administrative work.

I have mentioned at our last committee meeting that I might make an approach to other Rootes Group Clubs with a view to amalgamation of clubs.

If successful, it would result in a greater spread of vehicles with stronger events.

I am aware that Clubs similar to ours have experienced these problems and could be interested in amalgamating.

I believe our Club needs greater numbers to draw fresh ideas and enthusiasm and to relieve the burden of just a few holding official positions.

For example I have held the position of President for too many years and would like to see someone take over that role. I am sure other officers of our Club feel the same.

Despite my gloomy predictions we have all worked hard. Our Club has survived and new cars are coming on line. We are truly a dedicated group.

Our success in arranging National Rallies speaks for itself. I would like to thank my committee for the hard work over the past year. I would like to thank the many members who have attended our monthly meetings and supported Club events.

Jeff Vale has done an amazing job with our magazine. Peter and Diane Wright have attended to the secretarial duties with enthusiasm. Rob Martin has been reliable in keeping our financial records and also attending to our historic registration requirements.

I would also like to thank the members who have contributed to our events.

Next year we’ll see the National Rally at Caloundra in Queensland and that always creates greater interest in the Singer Marque and I hope our members will support it.

Finally, I acknowledge the loyalty of our members to the Club and the Marque and it is that which has kept our Club alive.IVAN MARGITICH, President.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE AGM from Ivan Margitich

SINGERGRAM is happy to place your For Sale or Wanted ads in this space.

Please email any items suitable for this column to [email protected] but remember to NOTIFy THE EDITOR WHEN THE CONTENT OF THE AD IS CHANGED OR NO lONGER REQuIRED.

FOR SALE & WANTED

FOR SALE – Framed Hunter promotional colour poster about A3 size. I am also clearing all my Singer parts, mainly for 9/4AD roadsters, SM1500 and Hunters. Ask – I may have it. Sedan parts include radiators and a Zenith Carburettor taken off an SM1500. VW Solex carby – may suit 9 motor. Roadster parts include front axle, side curtain glass, back shockers, electrical and body bits.

Drew Marshman, 08 8356 6010, e-mail [email protected].

WANTED TO BUY – Rear axle for 1952 4AD Singer Roadster. Phone 08 85528646 / 0419848512. email: [email protected]

WANTED – Hood bows for Singer Nine 4AB.

Please phone (08) 8331 8695.

WANTED – Set of hubcaps to suit SM1500.

Please phone Mostyn Upton (08) 8331 8695.

WANTED – Pin for side curtain to fit front screen of 4A. Please phone Darhyl on 08 8386 2394 or 0401465030.


Remember this email address for YOUR next article . . .

to be received no later than 30th June 2014

[email protected]

QUICK WITMy neighbour knocked on my door at 2:30 this morning, can you believe that? 2:30am? Luckily for him I was still up playing my bagpipes.

–—— :: –——

The Grim Reaper came for me last night, and I beat him off with a vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death.


SECRETARY’S REPORT TO THE AGM – from Peter Wright

IT is with pleasure that I submit my secretary’s report for 2014, though I find it hard to believe

that another year has passed.

Firstly I would like to welcome our new members Trevor and Jane Bailey.

There are several people who have requested and received information on the club.

We hope to welcome them as members in the near future.

We are sad at the loss of Kevin Keany but we welcome his son Philip who is continuing the keany tradition.

As with many similar car clubs,, the perennial problem is how to attract new “blood” and remain relevant with a younger age group. I urge all members to give serious consideration to this dilemma as a matter of some urgency this year.

The friendships and camaraderie amongst our members remains exemplary and a feature highly valued by members. Our social outings are always a pleasure and perhaps in 2014 we can increase the frequency to monthly events.

However, perhaps consideration could also be given to events that focus more on the cars themselves where members and interested parties can meet to discuss issues and all things mechanical.

Mechanical interest days could be promoted as a means to encourage potential members with an interest in motor vehicle restoration as well as members currently engaging in restorations to attend our meetings.

We continue to receive magazines from a number of other motor vehicle clubs with several now coming electronically. I have continued through the year to increase the number of electronic magazines to facilitate distribution amongst members.

I thank everyone for their continued support and my lovely wife for her assistance.

I look forward to another successful and innovative year for the club.

PETER WRIGHT, Secretary


RECIPE OF THE WEEKThanks to Leonora Elejorde for this one!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients• Carrots (about 300g)• 1 cup (150g) self raising flour • 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour• 3 tsp bicarbonate soda • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon• 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 1/2 cup walnuts• 1/2 cup sultanas• 1/2 cup (80g) brown sugar• 3/4 cup (185ml) olive oil• 1/2 cup (125ml) golden syrup• 1 tsp vanilla essence• 3 eggs

Icing• 250g spreadable cream cheese• 1/2 cup (80g) icing sugar• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Method1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease a 20cm

(base) round cake pan lightly with oil and line with non-stick baking paper. Peel and grate the carrots and set aside. Sift the flours, bicarbonate soda and nutmeg, walnuts, sultanas into a large bowl.

2. Put the brown sugar, oil, golden syrup, eggs and vanilla into a seperate bowl. Use a whist to mix until combined.

3. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to stir gently until just combined. Stir in the grated carrot.

4. Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 1 hour. Set aside for 5 mins. before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Spread the icing over the cake.

Ahoy Singerites[Our Events Coordinator Stephen Bitmead has advised the following details. Hope some of us can join in.]

Graham Martin from Victoria is seeking expressions of interest to gauge how many SA members are interested in joining all or some of their SA Rally.

The tentative itinerary is listed below.

Date Night Stay

Friday 1/10/2014 Skipton

Saturday 1/11/2014 Hamilton

Sunday 2/11/2014 Naracoorte

Monday 3/11/2014 Naracoorte

Tuesday 4/11/2014 Kingston SE

Wednesday 5/11/2014 Mt. Gambier

Thursday 6/11/2014 Mt. Gambier

Friday 7/11/2014 Warrnambool

Saturday 8/11/2014 Melbourne

I am unsure as to how much of the rally we can join in on, I would assume it’s possible for us to definitely catch up with them in Naracorte for a night or two, or maybe join in through to Mt Gambier, or of course the whole event.

Please let me know what you’d be interested in, and I’ll pass this information on.

Once I get more details I will advise.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak!


BRILLIANT BRITISH DAY – continued

Continued on page 8

we packed raincoats and an umbrella.

After the obligatory stop at McDonalds for breakfast and coffee for the trip, we then met up with out travelling companion Deidre Solly in her 4AD Singer ‘Solomon’, just on the outskirts of Victor Harbor .

We left our meeting place at about 8 am and with Deidre in the lead we set off for Echunga at about 45 mph. It was a lovely cruise through some beautiful countryside, Kuitpo Forest and Meadows, and after about an hour of travelling we reached our destination of Echunga without any problems.

After a short wait in the line up we drove into the oval, and were directed to the Singer display area.

What a surprise to find out we had space for eight Singers. I have never seen eight Singers all together in South Australia since joining the Club.

The line up of cars were Deidre Solly, us, Jeff & Maureen Vale, Trevor Bailey, Stephen Bitmead, Peter & Pat Oxley, Arthur Ackland and Vanessa & John Eason.

The weather turned out great with a cool breeze and sunny skies, and good company all day.

At about 3.15 we packed the car and followed Deidre out of the oval and proceeded towards Meadows where we turn off to Victor Harbor.

The traffic was heavy and by the time we arrived at Meadows there was a long line of cars waiting to turn right to Victor Harbor.

Sebastian chose that time to stop in the middle of the road!

After cranking the engine a few times we managed to get it moving and off the side of the road onto the footpath.

Top: ‘Sebastian’ is flanked by Jeff and Maureen Vale’s SM1500 sedan and Deidre Solly’s 4AD.

Bottom: Stephen Bitmead, Vanessa Eason and Peter Wright share the shade.


The motor would start OK but not idle and no amount of fiddling with idle and mixture screws on the carby would fix the problem, so it was decided to start the motor, keep it revving and manoeuvre around the traffic and see how the car performed on the open road.

No problems. Once clear of traffic the Singer sang along all the way home, with only the minor hiccup when we stopped a couple of times to have a chat with Deidre.

We have put the problem down to fuel vaporisation.

So all in all it was a good day with good cars, and good company.

We are looking forward to the next Singer outing._________________________

And now ... from Stephen and Wendy Bitmead

WEll the 2014 All British Day was a big event for Wendy and I. Our last run in our Singer to this event ended in grief when a con rod went through the side of the

block. This year was to be our Junior’s much awaited return after nearly two years being repaired.

We had only one shortish 30 kilometre run prior to the event last December to prove the rebuild had been a success and that was on the plains, whereas our route to from One Tree Hill to Echunga was a 120 kilometre round trip through the Adelaide Hills.

Still confidence was up and my Saturday shakedown was limited to a trip to the petrol station. Despite the record hot summer we are having, amazingly this year the weather was perfect. The day before it was 42 degrees and the day after it was the high 30s, I had decided we wouldn’t do the run if it was over 34, but we were blessed with a 28 degree day!

Wendy and I set off at 8.30am giving ourselves 2 hours to make the 60 kilos. I must admit to a large degree of trepidation at exceeding 35mph with a fresh non run-in-engine that may have suffered its failure from over-revving. So there was plenty of time to soak in the scenery as we cruised along the route.

We ended up behind some other entrants at Woodside

Continued on page 9


Stephen and Wendy Bitmead’s Junior (second from left) lines up for the display.


and at Balhannah I foolishly followed them in taking a left turn, which was in fact a wrong turn. Worse was to come.

The car started losing power and chugging a bit to the point that while it cruised beautifully at 35 it could only accelerate very slowly. Fingers were crossed we could finish the trip without stopping. Eventually though we came to a standstill at Mt Barker when the car stalled

at some traffic lights and wouldn’t restart. upon lifting the bonnet I discovered that the Bowl and jet on the Solex Carburettor had actually FAllEN OFF!! into the engine bay, fuel had gone everywhere, somehow not catching fire on the exhaust and all parts were present and accounted for! I reattached the bowl and it ran a treat, full power restored, we actually arrived in Echunga exactly on the two hours mark.

The Singer Club had 8 Cars in total on display, Pete and Pat Oxley, Deidre Solly, Jeff Vale, John and Vanessa Eason, Arthur Ackland, Trevor Bailey and for their first run in their recently completed 4AD - Stephen and Vida Schild, their car looked wonderful, and to cap it off Stephen won a raffle prize as well!! Still me not losing any parts of the carbie was better than winning a raffle! Ivan and Sue Margitich and Rob Martin also came up sans Singers after being too late getting their entries in.

It was a brilliant day, I must admit the new location at Echunga is a great location, plenty of food, lovely green ovals, room for lots of cars and just enough trade stalls - I couldn’t resist a reproduction 1937 Adelaide Street directory. This year ABD was celebrating Aston Martin a very fine display but to my mind they had too many moderns and very few “real Astons” on display.

Wendy and I spent a very pleasant few hours of car spotting, treasure hunting, casting envious glances at the Austin J40 peddle car being used to showcase a car restorers capabilities - the owner has spent $4,000 on a complete restoration after finding the body in a country tip (sometimes a cheap find doesn’t end up being cheap) – but it was magnificent, and of course dodging the Morris Dancers – lucky they wear bells as you can hear them coming (I much prefer hearing The Coventry Singers myself) and of course just sitting around and chatting with fellow club members.

Peter and Pat Oxley with Ivan and Sue Margitich and their granddaughter Sienna.


Continued on page 10


Where Did the Term ‘Dashboard’ Come From?From Diane Wright

THE word “dashboard” was originally used to describe the wooden board carriage makers attached to the front of carriages to prevent mud and rocks from being splashed (or “dashed”)

onto drivers and their passengers by the horses that pulled them about. In essence, dashboards served as mud flaps for horses’ hooves.

While the term “dashboard” didn’t work its way into popular English until the 1800′s, the concept of a “dashboard” existed long before then. In fact, Mesopotamian chariots dating as far back as 3,000 BC employed similar guards against mud and rocks.

It wasn’t until the early 1900′s – when carriages became dependent on motors instead of horses – that “dashboards” were repurposed to house vehicle instruments, like speedometers and gas gauges.

Shortly after, the word “carriage” was shortened to “car”; the term “instrument panel” replaced “dashboard”; and windshields were developed to guard drivers and passengers from light debris.

Still, the term “dashboard” never quite disappeared.

Really the All British Day is a better Club event than the Bay to Birdwood because unless you are super organised and travel in convoy you don’t get to park together at Birdwood.

The trip home only took an hour and a half as confidence grew in the Junior and we hit the heady heights of 42mph!! Mind you I did run out of fuel with one kilometre to go but “Mustn’t Grumble” The day overall was a great success – although quite fortunate that the carbie bowl stayed in the engine bay – lesson learnt there

Hopefully this is the start of many consecutive All British Days.

My next “project” is getting my reground camshaft back from the grinders and seeing how the Junior runs after that.


The excitement was all just too much for Stephen Bitmead!


WHO would have thought that my month-long sea voyage emigrating from England to Australia nearly 55 years ago would lead to my being introduced to the owner of

a 1926 Singer 10/26!

On board the P&O Strathaird in 1959 my family became good friends with a similar family who, like us, settled in the Barossa Valley. We still keep in touch to this day, even though both families are scattered throughout the country.

One of my new found friends (Sue) married a guy named Graeme Mudge. They now live in Queensland but also have a place in Blackwood which they use as a base when visiting family in Adelaide. It was here that I met up with them a few weeks ago.

I was there to view his Singer which has not been on the road since 1966.

Graeme bought the car for £7/10/- in 1965 and as a teenager performed a good deal of restoration so he could use it for driving to Trade School in Adelaide.

However, the Singer was only registered for that year and has not been used since.

Fortunately, the car has been well stored on blocks in a nice dry environment and is started occasionally to keep things moving.

As can be seen from these accompanying pictures, the Singer is in remarkably good condition. A new hood and side curtains were fitted a number of years ago which has preserved the interior well.

ANOTHER SINGER SURFACES – from Jeff Vale



Graeme is currently applying for membership to our club and although living in Queensland, both he and Sue get to South Australia for family visits whenever they can.

They are hoping to have their Singer back on the road in the not too distant future and will hopefully be joining us for some club runs where possible.

We welcome Graeme and Sue to our club and look forward to seeing another 10/26 on the road.

[Just think – if I hadn’t met Sue on board that ship all those years ago, we may never have known this Singer existed!]

ANOTHER SINGER SURFACES – continued


1932 SINGER SPECIAL SPORTS – from Martyn Wray

This is an interesting article first published in the UK magazine “Singer Owners Club” and is reproduced here with kind permission.

PATIENCE is a virtue so they say and we had to wait 18 months for the then owners of this little gem to decide they really did want to part with it. The car resided in a garage

in Sittingbourne, Kent for many years; gradually disappearing under an ever growing heap of ‘stuff’ but it wasn’t until we went to remove it we discovered the complete story of this very unusual Singer.

First registered on 31st March 1932 by Frank Field-Buss, the car was purchased from Rock, Thorpe & Watson in Tunbridge, Kent. A meticulous owner he kept every tax disc up until 1963 when he stopped driving, it transpired that he was the only person ever to drive the car as after his death in 1976, ownership passed to other members of his family but none ever drove the car.

The exact model of the car was unknown to the owners as the registration document had been lost and an original assessment of the car had reported it as a Porlock. Our only visit prior to purchase had revealed it actually to be a 9HP Special Sports which looked to be complete but probably in need of a total restoration. This model was only built in 1932 and has a Junior chassis powered for the first time by the 9HP engine. Some of these models are included in the SOC’s recently acquired chassis cards but over the last 3 months of 1932 only 14 were built which suggests that probably less than 100 were made during the year and only a handful have survived.

The first surprise when some months later we went to collect the car was that all the




1932 SINGER SPECIAL SPORTS – continued

tyres stayed inflated, the brakes weren’t seized and the winch wasn’t needed as it rolled easily onto the trailer. For the first time we were able to see the back of the car with its sign written Singer 9/60 logo which we interpreted to be 9HP and 60mm pistons (later said to be 60mph) and an exhaust fishtail with ‘Singer’ cast in. We could also see a rather large dent in the tail!

With the car safely transported back home we were able to have a much closer look at this very rare specimen. Behind the seat we found the yellowed and brittle side screens, and

the hood that had shrunk so much that it no longer fits, along with some of the original tools including the little ‘hydraulic’ jack and the wheel brace in what was probably the original tool bag.

Originally we had considered it only fit for a complete restoration but with a bit of polishing ‘Mickey Mouse’ (as the car has become known due to its radiator mascot) looked very good and every one who saw it had the view that it should remain as is.

So did it run? We knew that the engine rotated freely so after establishing that the original 6v battery could not be restored we invested in a new one that unfortunately required a modification to the carrier as it was a slightly different size.

The sump and rocker box were cleaned out and although the oil was pretty thick there was no sign of any water leaking in. With the new battery connected, some of the electrics worked but the starter only turned over without engaging, but it only needed a clean up and before long the engine was turning over and with the plugs removed it was showing 15psi on the oil pressure gauge. A spark was the next requirement and this was rather elusive. At first I thought it was the condenser but a new one didn’t cure the problem but after cleaning all the contacts on the distributor top plate a spark appeared.Next issue was fuel and the Special Sports has an Autovac with which I have no experience but it was obvious that the fuel tap was seized so even if it was working no fuel would get through to the carburettor. I removed the tap and left it soaking in petrol and eventually managed to get it to work. I didn’t want to put petrol in the dry tank due to the corrosive nature of modern fuel so rigged up a pipe to draw from a can, but still no success but then I realised that the windscreen wiper was also vacuum operated and the pipe to that was linked to the Autovac but the rubber connections were completely perished so a sealed system it


1932 SINGER SPECIAL SPORTS – continued

wasn’t! With that little problem solved and a piece of 2”x1” to push the floor mounted starter the little engine finally burst into life for the first time in exactly 50 years. I didn’t leave it running for long as there was no water in the radiator as both top and bottom hoses were completely perished but with those replaced it was quite happy to run for quite a long time even though it became obvious that the bottom radiator joint had a serious leak and the rather depleted silencer emitted a very fruity sound.

The interior of the car is well worn to say the least and the seats and trim panels are all covered in Rexine (a man made material, basically cotton coated in amongst other things, cellulose nitrate and then embossed to look like leather) which unlike leather cannot be ‘fed’, at best it can only be cleaned. The seat cushion was inflatable with two ‘bladders’ manufactured by SElCONCuSCO of Manchester (Self Controlled Cushion Company ltd) both of which were still in place but completely flat and extremely brittle. Our plan is to replace them with foam for now but

possibly replace that with new blow up cushions later. All the instruments are in good condition and working apart from the very fine clock that is mounted to the right of the steering column and may or may not have been a standard fitment but is definitely period. The milometer reads 52491 and we have no reason to believe that it is anything other than correct.The floor boards (well woodwormed but still reasonably intact) are covered in the usual brown lino but as reported in the ‘Book of the Singer Junior’ also had pile carpets and what I believe was the original carpet was still in place but had another stitched over the top to cover the threadbare areas.The treacle has been removed from the gearbox and back axle and replaced with something a little more fluid, the tyres have been replaced with a new set of longstone’s Dunlop look-a-likes and the clock has gone to a friendly Singer Owner for a clean.Clipped into the strap that retains the spare wheel we found a small lapel badge, which had not been noticed by the family or ourselves and despite searches on the internet and elsewhere we have not been able to identify it, if you recognise it we would really like to know.Where next? We are still unsure if it should be left as an ‘oily rag’ or if it should be restored but for now it’s just an enjoyable challenge to get it running and see if and how it drives.

We’ll let you know.


My mum used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread butter on bread on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn’t seem to get food poisoning.

Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can’t remember getting e. coli

Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake or at the beach instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.

We all took PE ... and risked permanent injury with a pair of Dunlop sandshoes instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors that cost as much as a small car. I can’t recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now.

We got the cane for doing something wrong at school; they used to call it discipline yet we all grew up to accept the rules and to honour and respect those older than us.

We had 30+ kids in our class and we all learned to read and write, do maths and spell almost all the words needed to write a grammatically correct letter ... FUNNY THAT!!

We all said prayers in school and sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention.

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can’t recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations. We weren’t!!

Oh yeah ... and where was the antibiotics and sterilisation kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed!

We played “King of the Hill” on piles of gravel left on vacant building sites and when we got hurt, mum pulled out the 2/6 bottle of iodine and then we got our backside spanked.

Now it’s a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10 day dose of antibiotics and then mum calls the lawyer to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family.

How could we possibly have known that?

We never needed to get into group therapy and/or anger management classes.

We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn’t even notice that the entire country wasn’t taking Prozac!

How did we ever survive?LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA. AND TO ALL WHO DIDN’T, SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED.I WOULDN’T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING!

AAAAh, those WERE the days!!!!

THOSE WERE THE DAYS!(Under the age of 40? You may not understand.)

The famous accident involving two Singer 9s when their steering failed in the 1935 Ulster TT. Sammy Davis’s car is about to land on No. 38, previously crashed by Gordon Crosby. Three of the new Singer 9s crashed due to broken steering-arms. A fourth Singer was withdrawn from the race.

Singer Eleven Airstream

The 1935 Singer Eleven Airstream Saloon was carry-over from the previous model year. Price was £300. It was not continued for 1936.

like the other Elevens it had independent front suspension and Fluidrive transmission with freewheel and clutch-less gear change.

It is believed there are only two existing today in the world.


HERE are a couple of photos that may be of use for the magazine. They are of ‘Sebastian’ and ‘Solomon’ Singers’ first outing together (meaning my Singer and that of Stephen

and Vida Schild).

It was the Victor Harbor Christmas Pageant. We had ‘mechanics’ walking alongside the cars giving out lollies. Vida was one as you can see in the photo.

SINGERS AT VICTOR HARBOR – from Deidre Solly

‘Solomon with Deidre at the wheel, followed by ‘Sebastian’ driven by Stephen Schild.

Vida Schild at left was the ‘sweet’ mechanic!


GRAND PRIX TO N. CAMPBELLMotoring Thrills at Lobethal

ADELAIDE, Monday.

DRIVING a well-judged race, in which he consistently averaged 62 miles an hour for the eight and three-quarter miles circuit Noel Campbell, a South Australian competitor,

won the second South Australian Grand Prix (100 miles) motor race from a field of 24, at lobethal to-day.

The racing, which was watched by a crowd of more than 40,000 people at various vantage points was full of thrills, but was singularly free from serious accident. The meeting was one of the best conducted on any road circuit in Australia.

Campbell had the race won with only three laps to go.

He was about half a lap in front of uffindell with Ohlmeyer, who had taken third place, moving up.

Jackson and Dunne were best placed of the back-markers, but after completing eight laps Jackson went into the pits with plug trouble.

Murphy was in seventh place, and then came Beasley and Dunne. Nutt moved up to take Jackson’s place, and was lapping at a consistent 81 miles an hour.

Going along the straight opposite the grandstand, Dunne passed Cowper to take sixth place and Murphy, one of the favoured competitors was eighth, almost a lap behind Campbell.

Ohlmeyer passed uffindell and took second place as he began his last lap and Dunne was pushing Boughton hard for fourth. Campbell flashed over the finishing line half a lap ahead of Dunne who, in his last lap, had passed Boughton, uffindell, and Ohlmeyer.


FROM THE MELBOURNE ‘ARGUS’ – Tues., Jan. 4, 1938


A. Moulden in a Sunbeam G.P., with J. Watt as mechanic, crashed at the bend before Mill Corner. Moulden suffered a badly dislocated left shoulder and Watt a cut above the left eye. lea-Wright’s Terraplane also crashed spectacularly, but no one was injured.

In the 50 miles handicap Nutt and Dunne averaged 84 miles an hour on their first lap and kept close together for the whole of the second lap.

Nutt went into the pits in the third lap, and had to retire.Results:–

FROM THE MELBOURNE ‘ARGUS’ – continued

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN 100 MILES GRAND PRIX

N. CAMPBEll (Bantam Singer) handicap 27min. 30sec., corrected time 97.37 ......... 1

C. DuNNE (Vic.) (M.G. K3 Magnet) 4.0, 77.39 .................................................. 2

A. OHlMEyER (S.A.) (T. Type M.G.) 17.0, 90.55 ................................................ 3

R. S. uFFINDEll (S.A.) (Austin) 24.0, 98.33 ................................................ 4

Fastest time: R. Nutt (Vic ) (Day Special) 77.33.Others to finish in order:– J. Boughton (Vic.) (Morgan) 18.0, 92.54; R. Nutt (Vic.) (Day

Special) 1.30, 77.33; l. Murphy (P. Type M.G.) 14.0, 90.31; F. J. Thwaites (S.A.), (Ford V8) 9.30, 89.20.

FIFTY-MILE HANDICAPC. Dunne, 1.0, 38.02, 1; J. Boughton, 8.0, 45.50, 2; l. Murphy, 6.30, 45.10, 3; J. Phillips (Vic.), (Ford V8), 3.0, 42.01, 4.

Fastest time: C. Dunne, 38.02.

Others to finish:– R. A. lea-Wright (Vic.), (Terraplane); A. V. McDonough (S.A.), (Ford V8); F. J. Thwaites (S.A., (Ford V8); G. A. Cowper (Vic.), (Morris); A. Beasley (Vic.), (T. Type M.G.); N. Ellsworth (Bugatti).


CALENDAR OF EVENTSStephen Bitmead has been appointed Events Coordinator and will be relying on ALL

members to advise of any changes or additions to our Calendar of Events.Please contact Stephen on (08) 8254 2716 (H).

Bi-monthly meetings are held at the Caledonian Hotel, O’Connell Street, North Adelaide – 6.30 pm for meals and 7.30 pm for meeting –

2014APRIL

13 The President’s Run – A visit to the 2014 Adelaide Hills International Sculpture Symposium. Meet at McDonald’s on Glen Osmond Road at 9.30am then on to Hahndorf, or meet at around 10.30am at The Cedars in Hahndorf.

14 Meeting19 Display at Mallala – Easter National Historic

MAY4 British Classic Tour – Jolly Street, Victor Harbor. Assemble from 9.30am for Devonshire Tea.

Tour starts at 11.00am. Entry $10 for car and driver, $5 per passenter. Entries close April 16.25 Adelaide Gaol Tour – Suggested by Darhyl Walters and leonora. $14 per head less

pensioner discount. Plenty of parking. Meeting point to be decided at April 14 meeting.JUNE

9 Meeting.TBA Annual Lunch – Ivan and Sue Margitich.

JULYTBA SA Railway Museum Port Adelaide – Phil Keany – More details soon.

AUGUST11 Meeting.TBA Deidre Solly to advise date and location.

SEPTEMBERTBA Tentative – Shed run to Stephen and Vida’s at Victor Harbor.26 Bay To Birdwood.

OCTOBERTBA The Wellington Run – Peter and Diane Wright – Note: the Hillman Club is having a run t

Wellington East organised by Kevin & Lyn Hunter. We may try to coordinate with this.13 Meeting.

NOVEMBEROct 31st to Nov 3rd – Vic Rally to SA – See page 6 for more details.9 Rootes Group Run - Humber Club to organise.

DECEMBER8 Meeting.TBA Christmas Picnic/Registration Day (Rob Martin and Sue Matthews).

2015JANUARY

TBA Volunteer Required to organise an event.FEBRUARY

TBA Annual General Meeting.TBA All British Day.

MARCH16 Historic Vehicle Gatherin at South Parklands.

Documents

Singergram vol 27 no 1 mar 2014