VOLUME 49 ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2013

People’s Choice Concours AwardOwners: Bill and Paige Baker1949 Bentley Mark VI, Park Ward Drophead Coupe (B162FV)

Automobile Driving Museum - August 25thAutomobile Driving Museum - August 25thAutomobile Driving Museum - August 25th

AUGUST 2013

August

2013 Regional OfficersChairperson Pierre Lemieux 760 408-0230 Vice Chairperson Steve Butler Treasurer Karen Perrault 310 519-0536 Secretary Carolyn Quadt 562 598-7028

Appointed PositionsChief Judge Tom Mercurio Technical Chairperson Ronny Shaver Membership Chairperson Susana Gateau-Cumin Awards Chairperson Tom & Terri Mercurio Newsletter Editor Dori OisenHospitality Chairperson Joan Hugron Cell: (949) 439-0465Marketing/Advertising Gene TowIe Directory Editor Karen Perrault Webmaster Steve Power-Fardy Archivist Diane Cerveny Bylaws, Policies, Procedures Brad Zemcik

2013 Board of DirectorsBenoit Gateau-Cumin Ronny Shaver Howard Green Larry Ewaska Brad Zemcik Sherry SternClint Camomot Joan HugronRobert/Nancy Ratinoff

Editorial StaffEditor: Dori Olsen

Cell Phone: (424) 644-5987 dorianolsen@earthlink.net

The Spirit of Ecstasy is published monthly, approximately two weeks after the meet. Articles and notices should be received no later than the 15th of the month prior. Please Identify cars (with chassis numbers) and individuals in all photographs. Private party advertisements for Rolls-Royce/Bentley sales, wanted items, parts, lost and found, or information will be published for members at no charge. For car sales, include chassis number and asking price. Photos will be published at a nominal charge. Non-member advertising will be accepted at published rates. Display advertising is accepted, at the discretion of the Editor, for business card, 1/4, 1/2, or full page insertions in increments of three, six or twelve months. Please contact the Editor(s) for information or published rates. Articles reflect the opinion of the authors and do not necessarily reflect national or regional policy. The Southern California Region and its Editor(s) seek to publish accurate material but neither assumes responsibility in the event of a claim of loss or damage resulting from publication. The organization is under the control of the National RROC.

The Automobile Driving Museum On Sunday, August 25th, Steve and Sue Butler will be our hosts for a visit to the Automobile Driving Museum (ADM) in El Segundo. This jewel of a museum has about 130 classic vintage and antique automobiles, some of which can be taken out for guest rides on Sundays. We will be able to ride in an open classic Packard, Cadillac, Chrysler or Lincoln, depending on availability. We will also be able to view all of the cars in the museum, including some that are no longer manufactured such as Studebaker, Packard, Stutz Hudson and Nash. There is also a display of cars by Ray Dietrich and Dutch Darrin. After our rides and tour of the museum, we will have a short drive to the aviation- themed Proud Bird restaurant where we will have lunch in a room overlooking vintage planes and a view of the LAX runway where we will be able to watch the planes take off and land. Your choices for lunch are: 1) Marinated Sirloin Steak, 2) Atlantic Baked Salmon, or 3) Vegetarian Pasta, accompanied by a California green salad, roasted red potatoes and New York cheesecake. Please mark your remittance envelope with your luncheon choice.

What: The Automobile Driving Museum

Hosts: Steve and Sue Butler

Date: Sunday August 25, 2013

Time: 10:00 a.m. Coffee and muffins

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Car rides and tour of the museum

1:00 p.m. Lunch at the Proud Bird Restaurant

Cost: $53.00 per person

RSVP Deadline: August 16, 2013

Directions:

From North of LAX: Head South on the 405 freeway to the 105 West towards El Segundo. Exit on Sepulveda Boulevard South. Go under the 105 freeway heading South to Maple Street and turn left (East). Go East to Lairport and turn right on Lairport. The museum will be on the left about the middle of the block.

From South of LAX: Head North on the 405 freeway to the 105 West towards El Segundo. Exit on Sepulveda Boulevard South. Go under the 105 freeway heading South to Maple Street and turn left (East), Go East to Lairport and turn right on Lairport. The museum will be on the left about the middle of the block.

Adrien LabiWest Hollywood

Samuel MirejovskyNewport Beach

John SpahiSanta Monica

Donald WiseNewport Beach

Grant BrophySanta Maria

Randalyn FosterCalabasas

Bart KesselPasadena

Dennis KneierSan Marino

Steven Holm Pasadena

Jill KentSanta Barbara

RROC-SOCAL.COMRROC-SOCAL.COM6

2013

Willy HugronChairman’s Corner

AUGUST 2013

RROC-SOCAL.COMRROC-SOCAL.COM6

2013

Willy HugronChairman’s Corner Well, it’shardtobelievethattheyear ishalfover!Wehavealotofexcitingeventscomingupoverthenextsixmonthsthatshouldbeofgreatinteresttoyou.Theclubtriestoofferavarietyofsocialandcareventsinhopesofappealingtoallofourmembers.Withthediversityofinterests,especiallyamongstmoderncarenthusiastsandvintagecarenthusiasts,planningeventsthatareappealingtoallcanbedifficult.Wearealreadyplanningfor2014andareopentosuggestionsonwhatwouldtickleyourPMCfancy.Pleasefeelfreetoe-mailmeorcallmewithyourthoughts.

In speaking with other regions around the country,I learned that one of their more popular events is amonthlybreakfast gathering. Theymeet once amonthfor breakfast and it’s a quick, easy and inexpensivewaytostayintouchwithotherRROCmembers.Wearegoingtostartthisonaquarterlybasisandsincewehavesuchalargeregion,wewillrotatethelocationbetweentheLosAngeles,OrangeCounty,PalmSpringsandSantaBarbaraareas. So save the date for our first breakfast rallybecauseitwillinOrangeCountyonSaturday,September21st.IhopetoseeasmanyofourOrangeCountymembersaspossible,aswellasmembersfromotherareasthatareabletojoinus.Pleaseseethearticleinthisissueformoreinformation. Don’tforgetthatourannualhuntforFreddytheFoxisrightaroundthecorner.HowardandBettyGreenarebusywiththepreparationsandthisFoxHuntwillbeoneofthebestever.

IwouldliketoofferspecialthankstoGeneTowlewhoisinchargeofmarketingandadvertising.Hisdedicationandenthusiasmhasdonewondersforournewsletterandthebestisyettocome.ThanksGeneforallofyourhardwork!

Staycoolandhappymotoring!

PierreLemieux

Where’s Freddy?

August3 Safety Self-Inspection Technical Seminar Host: Ronny Shaver

25 The Automobile Driving Museum $53 Host: Steve Butler

September7 Monthly Tech Seminar No Cost Host: Ronny Shaver

14 Warner Brothers Studio $84 Hosts: Craig and Yoshie Roberts

21 Board Meeting Host: Steve Butler

21 Quarterly Breakfast Meet No Host Cars and Coffee, Irvine Pacific Whey, Newport Coast

22 Coast Village Classic Car Show, Montecito For information, please go to sosc.org/sbcarshow This is a non RROC-sponsored event

28 – 29 English Motors at Fairbrook This is a non RROC-sponsored event For information please go to www.englishmotorsatfairbrook.org

October5 Monthly Tech Seminar No Cost Host: Ronny Shaver

20 Fox Hunt Hosts: Howard and Betty Green

26 Palm Springs Air Museum/Great Car Show Contact Erik Baltzar at (760)346-1984 or driwasherik@aol.com This is a non RROC-sponsored event

November2 Monthly Tech Seminar No Cost Host: Ronny Shaver

9 Board Meeting

December7 Monthly Tech Seminar No Cost Host: Ronny Shaver

15 Holiday Party Hostess: Karen Perrault

AUGUST 2013

Battleship USS IOWABy Larry Ewaska

Battleship grey was the color of the day as close to 50 members and guests braved the cool, overcast “June gloom” weather to gather on the morning of Sunday, June 23rd for our guided tour of the famous battleship USS IOWA. We were greeted with hot Starbucks coffee, yogurt, fruit and fresh bakery items to warm us while viewing the beautiful array of PMCs on display. Our tour guides, husband and wife team Larry and Chris, met us promptly at 10:00 a.m. and were a wealth of information as they led our two groups through the wonderful vessel. Did you know that it was on the USS IOWA that President Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met to plan the D-Day invasion of Europe, which ultimately led to the end of WWII? Or that the USS IOWA was called back to active duty to serve our country a remarkable five times?

Following the tour, we enjoyed delicious box lunches in the Crew’s Mess Hall, which capped off our thoroughly wonderful day. A number of our members got into the spirit and drove their PMCs to the USS IOWA meet. We want to acknowledge the following members for creating a wonderful display of PMCs next to the ship:

Brock Backlund 1989 RR Silver Spur Jim and Barbara Brownell 1948 RR Silver Wraith (WDC16)Steve and Sue Butler 1976 Silver Shadow, saloon (SRE26228)

Cal (Laura) Caldarone 1958 RR Silver Cloud I (LSGE212)Larry Ewaska & Gary Naramore 1984 Corniche, Mulliner, Park Ward drophead coupe (DAE-08762)

Gary & Carol Fraser 2004 Bentley Continental GT (CR4-22117)

Roger Gibb 1990 Bentley Turbo R (RBL-31682)Willy Hugron 1958 RR Silver Cloud I (LSJF22)Lou Oddo 1959 Silver Cloud II, saloon (LSRA37)

Karen Perrault 2001 Azure ((KB1-62550)Cesar Polanco 1974 RR Silver Shadow (LRC20561)Craig Roberts 1987 RR Silver Spur (NAH-16833)

Many thanks to our hosts Larry Ewaska and Gary Naramore for arranging this intriguing event.

Please go to the RROC So Cal website at www.rroc-socal.com for more photos of the USS IOWA meet.Please go to the RROC So Cal website at www.rroc-socal.com for more photos of the USS IOWA meet.

Memorial PlaqueTurret Two Explosion

Plaque

From a bygone era

Dockside

Our tour guide with the group

On our tour

Hosts Gary Naramore and Larry Ewaska with guests

View from the upper deckThe guns of the USS IOWA

Th

e C

over

Sto

ry

MY

“B

AC

K A

ND

FO

RT

H”

BE

NT

LE

Y

By

Bill

Bak

er

In

198

0 or

198

1, I

first

lear

ned

of th

e 19

49 B

entle

y M

ark

VI,

Par

k W

ard

Dro

p H

ead

Cou

pe, (

B16

2FV

) th

roug

h D

ave

Mer

rill,

my

fath

er in

law

, who

se in

vest

men

t clie

nt o

wne

d th

e ca

r an

d w

ante

d to

sel

l it.

Whe

n I i

nspe

cted

the

car,

it w

as in

an

unde

rgro

und

gara

ge in

Cen

tury

City

with

all

four

tire

s fla

t and

it w

as c

over

ed w

ith d

irt.

A s

mal

l car

dboa

rd s

ign

was

on

the

fron

t sea

t with

han

d pr

inte

d le

tters

“Ja

mes

Bon

d’s

Car

” and

“O

wne

d by

Ian

Fle

min

g.”

I w

as to

ld b

y th

e ow

ner

that

the

car

had

prev

ious

ly b

een

owne

d by

Ian

Fle

min

g an

d w

as c

omm

only

kno

wn

as th

e “J

ames

Bon

d ca

r.” W

hile

that

was

nic

e to

kno

w, i

t was

n’t a

sal

es fe

atur

e to

m

e; ju

st a

n in

tere

stin

g hi

stor

ical

tidb

it ab

out t

he c

ar.

I h

ave

sinc

e co

ntac

ted

the

Rol

ls-R

oyce

and

Ben

tley

Clu

b in

Eng

land

and

obt

aine

d a

copy

of t

he o

rigin

al m

anuf

actu

rer’s

car

d sh

owin

g th

e or

der

num

ber,

the

orig

inal

pur

chas

er a

nd th

e de

tails

ab

out

the

car

incl

udin

g en

gine

num

ber,

switc

h ke

y nu

mbe

r, gu

aran

tee

num

ber,

man

ual n

umbe

r, th

e ty

pe o

f ba

ttery

and

the

dat

es o

f de

liver

y of

the

cha

ssis

and

car

. A

ll of

the

orig

inal

cha

ssis

sp

ecifi

catio

ns a

nd w

ork

inst

ruct

ions

wer

e al

so in

clud

ed, a

s w

ell a

s th

e ha

nd w

ritte

n co

mm

ents

with

iden

tifica

tion

num

bers

for

the

vario

us p

arts

inst

alle

d.

T

he o

rigin

al o

wne

r w

as M

ajor

Ow

en F

urth

at H

artle

y S

t. D

ye W

orks

in D

ewsb

ury,

Yor

k, E

ngla

nd.

The

rec

ords

sho

w th

ree

subs

eque

nt o

wne

rs: a

Mr.

Jeffr

ey in

Brig

hton

, Sus

sex,

on

Sep

tem

ber

30, 1

959;

Mes

srs.

Cro

wn

Gar

ages

in L

ondo

n on

Jan

uary

13,

196

0, a

nd G

AF

Ram

sden

in S

t. Jo

hns

Woo

d, L

ondo

n, o

n N

ovem

ber

20, 1

961.

The

rec

ords

sto

p in

196

1. I

cou

ldn’

t find

“Jam

es B

ond”

or

“Ia

n F

lem

ing”

any

whe

re o

n th

e lis

t, so

who

kno

ws

if th

at w

as a

myt

h or

trut

h. Ia

n F

lem

ing’

s es

tate

did

not

hav

e an

y re

cord

of h

is o

wne

rshi

p of

the

car,

eith

er. O

h w

ell:

it do

es m

ake

a ni

ce s

tory

!

A

fter

the

initi

al s

ervi

cing

on

the

car,

I fo

und

that

it r

an g

reat

. No

maj

or r

esto

ratio

n w

as n

eede

d or

per

form

ed.

The

car

pet

was

old

, th

e w

ood

was

in g

ood

shap

e an

d th

e N

augh

ahyd

e se

ats

wer

e se

rvic

eabl

e. O

ur fr

iend

s, R

ay a

nd S

ue L

amor

eaux

, had

Ray

’s p

aren

ts’ 1

957

S1

Ben

tley

and

we

atte

nded

the

Rol

ls-R

oyce

and

Ben

tley

Con

cour

s at

San

ta A

nita

on

“Der

by D

ay” w

ith th

em fo

r se

vera

l yea

rs.

One

yea

r, w

e w

on “

Bes

t Pic

nic”

and

our

car

won

“La

dies

Cho

ice.

”

In

198

7 or

198

8, I

sold

the

car,

alon

g w

ith fo

ur o

ther

res

tora

tion

proj

ects

, to

a cl

ient

in C

oron

a w

hose

nep

hew

, a b

ody

shop

em

ploy

ee, w

ante

d to

sta

rt h

is o

wn

car

rest

orat

ion

busi

ness

. T

hese

w

ere

to b

e hi

s st

arte

r pr

ojec

ts.

O

ver

the

next

cou

ple

of y

ears

, whe

neve

r I v

isite

d m

y cl

ient

in C

oron

a, I

aske

d ab

out t

he c

ars

and

som

etim

es s

aw th

e B

entle

y. B

y th

en th

e ca

r ha

d be

en v

ery

muc

h “im

prov

ed.”

The

Fly

ing

B

was

rem

oved

and

a b

ulld

og w

as in

stal

led

on th

e ra

diat

or.

The

can

vas

top

had

been

pai

nted

, and

whe

n th

e to

p w

as th

en lo

wer

ed, t

he c

anva

s rip

ped

and

tore

all

over

. My

clie

nt w

as n

ot a

t all

happ

y w

ith h

is n

ephe

w w

ho, h

e sa

id, s

pent

mor

e tim

e go

ofing

off

than

run

ning

a r

esto

ratio

n bu

sine

ss.

T

he y

oung

bod

y sh

op o

wne

r ap

pare

ntly

dro

ve t

he B

entle

y “u

nsaf

ely”

one

nig

ht;

smas

hed

into

the

bac

k of

one

tru

ck,

and

in a

n ef

fort

to

avoi

d be

ing

caug

ht,

drov

e to

o fa

st in

rev

erse

and

sm

ashe

d in

to a

noth

er tr

uck.

The

n, in

his

has

te to

exi

t the

sce

ne w

ith a

leak

ing

radi

ator

, he

burn

ed u

p th

e en

gine

and

it c

ease

d w

orki

ng.

The

top

of th

e ch

rom

e gr

ill h

ad a

den

t the

siz

e an

d sh

ape

of a

trai

ler

hitc

h ba

ll, a

bout

two

inch

es d

eep.

The

rea

r en

d w

as s

mas

hed

and

the

side

s ha

d cr

acks

from

top

to b

otto

m. T

he d

oors

bar

ely

open

ed.

M

y fr

iend

had

had

eno

ugh

and

reco

vere

d al

l of t

he c

ars

his

neph

ew w

as “

rest

orin

g” a

nd p

ut th

em o

n so

me

prop

erty

he

owne

d, a

lso

in C

oron

a. T

he c

ars

sat t

here

for

seve

ral y

ears

. D

urin

g th

at ti

me,

I as

sist

ed m

y cl

ient

by

refe

rrin

g hi

m to

a b

ody

shop

to r

epai

r th

e bo

dy (

Ros

coe

John

son

in H

ome

Gar

dens

) an

d to

JR

’s R

olls

-Roy

ce (

now

Ron

ny’s

Gar

age)

in S

anta

Ana

, to

rebu

ild th

e en

gine

.

In a

bout

199

6 or

199

7, I

rece

ived

a te

leph

one

call

from

my

frie

nd w

ho a

sked

me

“Do

you

know

a g

ood

junk

yar

d?”

I re

spon

ded,

“Yes

, wha

t do

you

need

?” H

e sa

id “N

othi

ng, b

ut m

aybe

they

’ll

give

me

$50

each

for

thes

e ol

d pi

eces

of j

unk

I’ve

got s

tore

d.”

I was

spe

echl

ess

and

agha

st.

I sai

d “J

ohn,

you

can

’t do

that

.” H

e re

spon

ded,

“Got

cha”

and

he

told

me

to c

ome

and

pick

up

the

cars

. H

e ad

vise

d m

e he

was

sel

ling

them

all

back

to

me

(I w

as e

late

d) a

nd t

hat

we

wou

ld w

ork

out

the

pric

e an

d ho

w t

o pa

y fo

r th

em la

ter.

As

it tu

rned

out

, I

spen

t th

e ne

xt s

ix y

ears

slo

wly

res

torin

g th

em. I

sol

d th

e 19

49 C

adill

ac, a

nd fi

rst r

esto

red

the

1961

Cad

illac

, the

n th

e 19

47 C

adill

ac a

nd th

en I

final

ly fo

cuse

d on

the

Ben

tley.

W

hen

I pic

ked

up th

e B

entle

y, it

was

stil

l in

two

piec

es.

The

tota

lly r

e-bu

ilt e

ngin

e w

as a

t JR

Sha

ver’s

sho

p in

San

ta A

na a

nd th

e bo

dy w

as in

Hom

e G

arde

ns s

low

ly b

eing

rep

aire

d.

Fin

ally

, in

abo

ut 2

004,

the

body

was

fini

shed

and

take

n to

JR

’s s

hop

in S

ana

Ana

to jo

in th

e en

gine

. T

he m

echa

nica

l res

tora

tion

and

re-a

ssem

bly

then

com

men

ced.

JR

and

Ron

ny S

have

r (R

onny

now

ow

ned

the

shop

) st

arte

d at

the

fron

t and

wor

ked

thei

r w

ay b

ack,

reb

uild

ing,

rep

laci

ng a

nd r

esto

ring

ever

ythi

ng m

echa

nica

l. In

Jun

e, 2

006

new

leat

her

upho

lste

ry w

as in

stal

led,

as

wel

l as

a ne

w

top

and

carp

et.

But

the

top

and

carp

et w

eren

’t rig

ht.

I the

n se

nt th

e ca

r to

“M

ilton

’’, in

San

ta A

na w

here

a c

orre

ct to

p an

d th

e co

rrec

t car

petin

g w

as in

stal

led.

The

trun

k w

as th

en r

ebui

lt.

I h

ave

sinc

e ha

d To

ny C

orre

ia, w

ho o

pera

tes

“Spe

ed S

hop

Cus

tom

Pai

nt” i

n C

oron

a, g

o ov

er th

e bo

dy a

nd p

aint

, rem

ovin

g an

y im

perf

ectio

ns a

nd re

pairi

ng a

ge c

rack

s an

d ot

her i

mpe

rfec

tions

. H

e is

a d

etai

l fre

ak!

T

hrou

gh th

e as

sist

ance

of R

RO

C m

embe

rs, I

hav

e lo

cate

d an

d in

stal

led

ever

y to

ol a

nd p

iece

of e

quip

men

t tha

t was

orig

inal

ly s

uppl

ied

by th

e fa

ctor

y to

the

first

ow

ner.

I dr

ive

the

car f

requ

ently

an

d it

runs

wel

l, rid

es s

moo

thly

and

is u

sual

ly th

e ce

nter

of a

ttent

ion

in p

arki

ng lo

ts.

I d

id d

isco

ver

that

the

car

was

use

d in

the

Eng

lish

TV

ser

ies,

“G

ideo

n’s

Way

” in

the

mid

196

0s. Y

ou c

an s

ee th

e sh

ows

onlin

e an

d if

you

visi

t (

http

://w

ww

.imcd

b.or

g/ve

hicl

e_19

1993

-Ben

tley-

MkV

I-B

162F

V-1

949.

htm

l), y

ou c

an s

ee s

ome

of th

e sc

enes

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AUGUST 2013

RROC-SOCAL.COMRROC-SOCAL.COM6

2013

Willy HugronChairman’s Corner

AUGUST 2013

Rear View Camera for Your PMCBy Dr. Bob Pazen

I needed a rear view camera for my 2007 Bentley Arnage T (LF7-12060). The car is large, with blind spots and being older, I don’t turn as far as I used to. I was referred to OG’s Auto Accessories at 36665 Cathedral Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, CA 92234. If you know the Palm Springs area, they are steps away from the Mary Pickford Movie Theater in Cathedral City. Ask for Omar or Chip at (760) 770-9923.

My camera was purchased and installed for $500.00. They worked on the car from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and would not take additional money since it took more time……but I did buy the team a taco and burrito lunch. They did an outstanding job at what I felt was a very fair price. After they finished working on the Bentley, the car was returned to me looking showroom new. You would not know that any work had been done. The mirror/camera work beautifully and are a delight…….to say nothing of a back saver. The photos show the large rear view mirror, which gives you a slightly wide angle view to the rear. The camera is inconspicuous and provides a full rear view with grid lines.

I believe that OG’s Auto Accessories can find a mirror/ camera set up for just about any car. Oh, by the way, they chrome parts as well.

September Early Morning RallyBy Steve Butler

Are you an early bird? Join the RROC So Cal region for an early morning meet and tour of North Laguna, Crystal Cove, Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach. We will be starting (for you real early birds) at “Cars and Coffee” in Irvine at 6:00 a.m. where we can display our PMCs with all of the various other cars. You can purchase your early morning cup of Joe and a muffin if you wish and view all of the cars. At 7:30 a.m. we will leave to go out on Laguna Canyon Road and head up through North Laguna to Crystal Cove where you can purchase breakfast at Pacific Whey in Newport Coast at 8:00 a.m. and have a quick breakfast while looking out at the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. If 6:00 a.m. is too early, you can meet us at Pacific Whey at 8:00 a.m. After breakfast we will drive though Corona Del Mar where we can look at the beautiful homes and the Pacific Ocean. Then on to Balboa Island where we will take the car ferry across to the Balboa Peninsula and drive around on PCH until we get to the Newport Back Bay Ecological Reserve and have a quiet, reflective drive viewing the sea birds and the open space of the reserve. We will conclude out tour at the new offices of Gensler Architects where we will have a photo shoot of all of our PMCs in front of the motor court fountain. You will then be free to enjoy the rest of your day in the Newport Beach area, take a leisurely drive back home or join us at the RROC board meeting from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the new Gensler offices. Please be sure to RSVP if you are planning on attending the board meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at the rally!

Warner Brothers Studios On Saturday, September 14th, Yoshie and Craig Roberts will host an event beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a VIP tour of Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank. See “behind-the-scenes” and “into-the-scenes” of your favorite shows and movies at one of the world’s busiest motion picture and television studios. Guests of the Warner Bros VIP Tour are offered a rare and intimate glimpse into real Hollywood at work. This is not a theme park but one of the busiest working studios in Hollywood. The 2 hour 15 minute tour via carts takes you through back lot streets, sound stages, sets and craft shops. No two tours are alike and guides take you to where the action is. Walk on to the set of a hit television show, watch as Foley artists create sound effects for movies, see how sets are constructed, peruse over 10 million items in the prop department, and see your favorite vehicles from film and television up close in the “Cars of Warner Brothers” exhibit. You will also tour the Warner Brothers Museum. No promises but we are trying to arrange a tour of the “Two and a Half Men” and “Big Bang Theory” sets. You will also see many famous sound stages.

After our tour, we will caravan to lunch at one of Hollywood’s most famous restaurants, the Tam O’ Shanter Inn that has been owned by the same family continuously since 1922. There you will enjoy a classic Caesar Salad and your choice of prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, roasted chicken, fresh fish of the day or seasonable vegetable pasta. Dessert is ice cream and berries and your lunch includes coffee, tea, iced tea or soda. It will be a terrific day and we hope that you can join us! The price of this event is $84.00 per person, which includes parking for one car at Warner Brothers. The charge and tip for the valet at Tam O’ Shanter will be the responsibility of the member. Updates on this fabulous event will be coming soon so be sure to watch your e-mail and the September issue of The Spirit of Ecstasy for more information.

AUGUST 2013

Owner Hands-on Training Seminars

Welcome to the Southern California region’s monthly “Ask Ronny” column. This section of our monthly newsletter is dedicated to addressing technical questions regarding Rolls-Royce and Bentley automobiles. Each month I, Ronny Shaver – Technical Chairperson, attempt to educate and entertain PMC owners about their cherished chariots.

An essential component for these articles is member input (questions!) to provide topics of discussion. In the past, when lacking member input, I have tried to address common questions that I have heard during technical seminars, but now I am asking for your help. If any member has any technical question concerning their PMC(s), please e-mail it to ronnysgarage@gmail.com and I will either answer it directly or address it in an “Ask Ronny” column. Remember, “The only silly question is the one not asked.”

In recent months, I have been contacted about holding more detailed and technically focused seminars for those members who actively participate in the maintenance and repair of their own Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars. I have agreed to host informal technical meets at my shop once a month that will be much more technically oriented and hands-on. They will begin at around 9:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month starting in September and continue through the day until the specific topic or procedure has been covered completely and all questions have been answered. There will be no cost for these events and I encourage all to attend who are interested in participating or just curious.

Of course, topics for these seminars will need to be provided by participants and may even require “Guinea Pig” PMCs for demonstration. I encourage owners to get involved and learn more about their cars. Topics can be as simple as changing brake pads to tracing electrical faults to overhauling steering boxes to grinding valves and so on. So that we can cover as much as possible, topics and owners with donor training vehicles must contact me at ronnysgarage@gmail.com prior to the seminar with information so that all necessary supplies and literature can be ready for all who attend. These monthly seminars will be great opportunities to personally address issues with your car with an experienced Rolls-Royce/Bentley mechanic guiding you through the process. I want these to become “must come” events so that we can increase the level of members’ technical knowledge and instill a greater level of pride and confidence with “hands-on” experience. But again, I will need your help! In other words, MEMBER PARTICIPATION!

The general topics for the monthly meets will be announced in this column each month but I will also keep a list of interested participants that I will e-mail with more up-to-date details.

If you would like to be included in this new technical seminar program participant list, e-mail me at ronnysgarage@gmail.com with your contact and vehicle information.

Thank you and Happy Motoring!

Ronny

Safety Self-Inspection Technical Seminar Our Technical Chairman Ronny Shaver is hosting a technical seminar at Ronny’s Garage in Santa Ana on Saturday, August 3rd, where you will learn how to inspect your PMC yourself. The seminar will cover safety items such as brakes, tires, suspension, leaks, engine mounts, belts, hoses, etc. We will have checklists for participants who will be able to look under their own and fellow PMC owners’ cars and learn what technicians look at and how they determine what does and doesn’t need attention. Space and time will impose limitations on how many cars can be inspected. If you haven’t already done so, please RSVP ASAP if you are planning to attend. Coffee, tea, water, doughnuts and pastries will be provided.

What: Safety Self-Inspection Technical Seminar

Host: Ronny Shaver

Date: August 3, 2013

Time: 9:30 a.m. - ?

Place: Ronny’s Garage 1111 West 1st St., Santa Ana, CA 92703

RSVP: Ronny at ronnysgarage@gmail.com.

Cost: No Charge

Directions:

From West L.A.: Take the 405 South to the 22 East. Exit at Bristol and turn left (South) to 1st St. Turn left and make a U-turn at the second left and continue to Ronny’s Garage on the right.

From East LA: Take the I-5 South to Orange County. Exit at Broadway and continue to 1st St. Turn right and continue to Ronny’s on the right.

From South OC: Take the I-5 North and exit at 1st St just past the 55 freeway. Turn right and continue West past Flower St. to Ronny’s Garage on the right.

Tidbits Erik Baltzar shared these pictures of his once-beautiful 1959 Silver Cloud I LWB Saloon (LCLC10). It currently has a Body by Crunched. It was rear-ended on the freeway on the way to a concours and ultimately won the People’s Choice award at the show.

It’s never too early to begin thinking about the year-end awards. The application process will begin before you know it. Review the improvements to your PMC that have been accomplished this year and please consider applying for one of the awards: Best Restored Rolls-Royce, Best Restored Bentley, Most Improved Rolls-Royce and Most Improved Bentley. Watch upcoming issues of The Spirit of Ecstasy for additional details.

Here’s a photo of Santos Guerra at the San Marino Motor Classic with his beautiful PMC in the background. Members Bill Cronkhite and Aaron Weiss were instrumental in organizing the SMMC and are to be congratulated on its success.

(From the Editor) I especially want to acknowledge and thank members Erik Baltzar, Glen MacDonald and Bob Pazen for submitting their interesting articles and photos! I really appreciate their contributions!

Look What I Found While Cleaning the Shed!By Glen MacDonald

I have had the great fortune to come upon a 1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 in a shed in Ventura County. It has a sports saloon body by Hooper with a six inch extended and louvered hood that was special ordered from Rolls-Royce at the time it was built. The car had been on a jack in the shed since about 1983 when it was put up to change a rear brake hub. The operation was never completed and all of the hub parts remained stacked on the running board (fortunately). I could not resist saving it! It took five guys, two large floor jacks and a day to extract it from the shed. The Rolls-Royce had been in good company these 30 years with a 1920s Durant and a 1917 Chandler (complete with many bullet holes) sharing the shed. This Hooper has really lovely lines and is pretty much complete. It will be a long-term restoration project, but well worth the effort I think.

AUGUST 2013

Rolls-Royce Bentley Exclusive Expert Service

By appointment only please

Repair-Inspection-Restoration

1111 West 1st St

Santa Ana, CA 92703

714-953-0896 ronnysgarage@gmail.com

Ronny Shaver

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