A BIMONTHLY

PUBLICATION OF THE

VANCOUVER COAST BRANCH

OF THE

OLD ENGLISH CAR CLUB OF BRITISH

JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary----February 2020February 2020February 2020February 2020 Volume 25, Number 1Volume 25, Number 1Volume 25, Number 1Volume 25, Number 1

oecc.ca/vcboecc.ca/vcboecc.ca/vcboecc.ca/vcb

PAGE 2 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

Message from the Chair …

Alan Inglis, VCB Chairman

Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is … An exciting

season of British motoring and fine socializing with good friends beckons.

I am glad Spring is here because postponing the February meeting (topic: EV

race car) because of weather conditions was a difficult decision. Fear not, the

event will be rescheduled for later in the year.

The February event that was not cancelled was the Steve Blake Hearts and Tarts

run – even though Steve himself was bobbing around the seas off Cambodia on

a cruise ship, looking for any port in a storm virus. Steve and Susan are safely

home now! In the meantime, Steve shared the Hearts and Tarts route instruc-

tions with fellow Morgan member, Tom Morris, and the event ran very

smoothly. Many thanks to Steve, Susan and Tom.

We start March with a tour of the Mariner Brewery, Coquitlam, and your Event

co-ordinators are working on a week-end visit to a brass-era restoration shop in

south Vancouver.

April sees us visiting Colin Fitzgerald, formerly the proprietor of Octagon, on a garage visit and viewing his car

collection. We are invited by CXKJR/CCMGC to the Easter Bunny Run on April 5. Then we have the Fort Langley

run on April 18, organized by Walter. Lots of things to do and lots of things to see. Please join us on as many

events as you can.

For the few of you that remain interested in my motoring ambitions, the Lotus did get new brakes this winter.

It may have taken me weeks to complete, but completed it is! Then I tackled the passenger window rattle. At

the moment, the trim panel is off, the window motor is out, the door lock is off and the glass frame is out of

the car. I hope to pick up felt and rubber strips from Point Roberts to-morrow night. Might be complete by

Easter, then!

Happy motoring!

New Year’s Day Run 2020 Tony Cox Memorial Run By Alan Inglis

Branch members were invited to join CXKJR/CCMGC members us on New Year’s Day for a short run to a pub

lunch. Formerly known as the Whimper Wonderland Run, this has been renamed for 2020 to celebrate the

memory of CCMGC and LAMB Club member, Tony Cox, who originally devised the run, and who passed in

2019.

PAGE 3 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

AT THE WHEEL

Chairperson: Alan Inglis alan.inglis@telus.net | 604-737-0044

Vice-Chairperson: Tom Popovich

tom.popovich@rpeng.ca | 778-355-8885

Past-Chairperson: Walter Reynolds wdrauto@telus.net | 604-463-6305

Treasurer: Malcolm Tait (membership renewals)

mbtait44@gmail.com | 604-224-0938

4743 W 7th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6T 1C7

Secretary: Steve Hutchens sphutchens@yahoo.com | 360-483-6873

Event & Meeting Coordinator: Lorna Hoare lornahoare@shaw.ca | 604-584-2564

Membership Coordinators: Christine Guay and Elise McKenna

(new memberships and correspondence) christineg@telus.net | 604-501-0699

6210 Killarney Dr., Surrey, BC V3S 5W9

Communication Coordinator: Alan Miles milesfamily@telus.net | 604-272-2145

Roundabout Editor: Steve Hutchens sphutchens@yahoo.com | 360-483-6873

Webmaster: Alan Miles milesfamily@telus.net | 604-272-2145

Good & Welfare: Lorna Hoare lornahoare@shaw.ca | 604-584-2564

Tony was also a VCB member of OECC and member of the

London to Brighton committee for four years approx. 2014

to 2017.

The run participants gathered at the Campbell River Store

(Chevron) at 176th Street and 8th Avenue in South Surrey, at

10.30am for an 11am start. Participants enjoyed about 50

miles of driving through the lovely countryside of the lower

mainland in wonderful weather. Route instructions were in

“tulip format” which was a first for my navigator, but we are

still married. There was also a pub quiz at lunch at Jimmy

Mac’s Pub on 96 Avenue.

Judy Cox provided prizes for the quiz,

as well as for the best winter hats.

Mr. and Mrs. Chair won a nice

bobble hat!

Thanks to the CCMGC and Peter and

Ann Tilbury in particular for laying on

a very successful event.

From the Editor

Some folks eat to live while

others live to eat. Here’s

another take on one of the

editor’s favorite, fish ‘n

chips!

PAGE 4 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

PPHOTOSHOTOS BYBY L LESES F FOSTEROSTER ANDAND S STEVETEVE B BLAKELAKE

PPARKINSONARKINSON & &

BBLAKELAKE G GARAGEARAGE

TTOURSOURS

On January 7 we enjoyed a pub meal (1-5),

then our crew toured the garages of Gerry

Parkinson (6-8) and Steve Blake (9-13),

conveniently located within a short drive. 1

7 6

5 4

3 2

PAGE 5 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

8 9

11

13 12

10

PAGE 6 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

Photo by Tom Morris

Vancouver Coast Branch Calendar 2019 (as of 2/29/2020)

Sunday, February 16

HHEARTSEARTS ANDAND T TARTSARTS

20202020

MMARCHARCH 3 E 3 EVENTVENT: M: MARINERARINER B BREWINGREWING C COMPANYOMPANY T TOUROUR!!

From Sarah Wilson:

The Coquitlam Grill, 2635 Barnet Highway, Coquitmam, my favourite restaurant, is a good place to have a meal prior to our event. Join us at 5:30pm! You can access the restaurant from Barnet Hwy from the east or west. It is off Runnel Drive and just north of Tim Hortons. It is just a short drive east on Runnel, then south on Landsdowne Drive across Barnet and into their parking lot.

PAGE 7 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

BRITISH ELECTRIC VANS IN 2020

January 29, 2020: UPS has signed a deal to buy 10,000 electric delivery vans from Arrival Ltd., a London-based manufac-turer, between now and 2024 and to possibly purchase another 10,000 after that. The vans will be placed in service in the UK, Europe, and North America. UPS has also invested an undisclosed amount in the company. The stylish van is shown here in Royal Mail livery.

February 6, 2020: Rivian is an Ameri-can firm with a division in the UK. Ama-zon announced that they are going to buy 100,000 Rivian electric deliver vans (below). One of the biggest projects of its kind, it would represent one of the largest deployments of electric vehicles in the world. The massive order is likely worth over $4 billion.

Midland Railway Company lorries recharge at St. Pancras Station, London. 11 July 1917

UNITED KINGDOM : These lorries were used to carry goods around goods depots and to deliver them to offices in towns. The

Midland Railway owned a variety of road vehicles. At this time horse-drawn transport was still widely used but motor vehicles

were starting to become more common.

Back to the Future - an overview of the history of electric lorries | submitted by Les Foster

PAGE 8 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

Q Electric Vehicles

Perhaps the most remarkable vehicle is the 1-ton van

body built on a “Q” electric chassis, with “batteries posi-

tioned under the bonnet”. The legal lettering on the van

is “Q Vehicles Ltd., Scotia Works, Low Street, Sunder-

land”, so presumably this was a demonstration vehicle.

For all the positive statements in the brochure, the

company was not to have a long life. After a good start

with local customers such as Sunderland Corporation,

Cumberland Motor Services, Economic of Whitburn and

Bee-Line of West Hartlepool, the lack of sustained orders

made for a hand-to-mouth existence.

Despite a surprising order for five double deck bodies

again for Sunderland Corporation, the order book emp-

tied and in the London Gazette of 26 March 1954 a notice

was posted, advertising a creditors meeting at Mengs

Restaurant, Fawcett Street, Sunderland on 6 April.

It is believed that around 170 public service vehicle bod-

ies had been constructed by the company.

An "Electric" Drive on the Dairy Trade

24th October 1947, Page 36

BATTERY-ELECTRIC vehicles will be represented on vari-

ous stands at the Dairy Show, which will be opened at

Olympia. London, on October 28.

The Harbilt pram. manufactured by the Harborough Con-

struction Co., Ltd., will be shown in three forms on the manufacturer's stand. A chassis will be on view, together

with a milk delivery van, and an industrial truck which is normally used in bottling departments or factories.

Brush vehicles are to be represented on the stand of the London distributor, Henlys, Ltd., which will be devoted

entirely to Brush vehicles, chassis and chassis units. Pony models with dairy and van bodies will be shown, as well

as 10-14-cwt. and 18-22-cwt vans for milk or general delivery. An industrial truck will also be exhibited on this

stand. Some of the component parts on view will be linked up as working models.

From the West Douglas battery-electrics will be exhibited by the manufacturer, Douglas (Kingswood), Ltd., and

distributors. Among the models to be seen will be the 10-15-cwt. and the 20-cwt. and 30cwt. dairy types.

Apart from the exhibition, Q Vehicles, Ltd., has opened a sales and service depot at Avonmore Road, opposite

Olympia, where several electrics are to be on show. Visitors will be able to inspect open and closed dairy vans,

and a closed delivery van for parcels or bakery work.

In the Q delivery vehicle, which closely resembles a normal petrol-engined vehicle in outward appearance, the

batteries are housed under the bonnet, mounted forward of the driver's seat. The Q, which has profited by 25

years' continental experience of this B2 form of transport, is based on a welded tubular frame with transverse

springing at the rear. Parts have been standardized throughout the range, the motors, controllers, batteries, bear-

ings and even bolt sizes being the same for all vehicles.

Dispensing with the normal hardwood battery casing, the manufacturer has designed a lightweight cast-metal

casing to carry the batteries. It is a well-ribbed, strong and light structure, and is cheap to construct. Treated with

an anti-corrosive paint, the carrier is expected to outlast many batteries and, having lifting eyes at each corner,

PAGE 9 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

enables the batteries to be removed easily.

A single motor housed on the backbone of the frame drives through

a short rubber-cushioned propeller shaft to the underslung worm of

the rear axle. The front axle, with wishbone linkage, has transverse

semi-elliptic lanni flitted springs with twin master leaves.

Body panels of 20 s.w.g. aluminium are secured to a hardwood frame

reinforced with an underframe of mild-steel channel section. Light-

ness in design is a feature of both body and chassis.

From an outside source, it is understood that a large number of Q

delivery vehicles is being assembled to deal with the present petrol

shortage.

For the benefit of those people who are unable to attend the Dairy

Show, further particulars of the Harbilt range of vehicles may be ob-

tained from the Harborough Construction Co., Ltd., Harbilt Works,

Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

Details of Brush vehicles can be obtained from the manufacturer, The

Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., 32, Duke Street, London, S.W.1.

The Douglas range of vehicles is manufactured at the Douglas Road

Works, Kingswood, Bristol.

Is There an

Austin Electric

Motorcar in Our

Future?

In 2015, the ‘Austin Motor

Company’ patent was pur-

chased by John Stubbs in

Essex with the intention of

continuing Herbert Aus-

tin’s legacy.

The Austin name now be-

longs to the British Engi-

neer John Stubbs. Mr.

Stubbs also owns the spe-

cialist suspension com-

pany, Black Art Designs.

The new owner now aims

to take the Austin name

back into the mainstream

market, but with a modern twist.

The Austin Motor Company is now venturing into the electric car industry with hopes to bring back a British clas-

sic into the modern echo-friendly world. Stay tuned!

PAGE 10 T H E R O U N D A B O UT JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

Smith’s almost made it to the electric era

Smith Electric Vehicles (1920-2017)

Smith Electric Vehicles (also known as Smith's) was a manufacturer of electric trucks. The

company, founded in 1920 in the north of England, moved its headquarters to Kansas City,

Missouri in 2011. In 2015, Smith idled its manufacturing and it ceased all operations in 2017.

Smith was a manufacturer of the world's largest range of zero-emission commercial electric

vehicles, with gross vehicle weights (GVWs) from 3,500 to 12,000 kilograms (7,700 to 26,500 lb).

In 2009 Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp was created to penetrate the North American mar-

ket.[2] The company headquarters was in Kansas City, Missouri. From 2010 to 2015, the com-

pany produced over 800 commercial electric fleet vehicles. It manufactured vehicles for the

European, Canadian, Southeast Asian and

US markets.

In March 2010, the US company indicated that it wanted to buy out its UK

counterpart.[3] The basic cab and chassis, made by Avia was imported from

the Czech Republic, cost $75,000, but packs ranging from 40 to 120 kilo-

watt-hours added another $25,000 to $75,000. The batteries were sourced

from A123 Systems and Valence Technology. Final assembly of the trucks

was to occur in the Bronx.

After a poor multi-year trading history,[4] Smith's UK branches were shut

down. This included Smith Electric Vehicles (Europe),[5] which was put

into administration, and Smith Technologies[6] (which entered liquidation).

Read more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Electric_Vehicles

trucks I ran," said Down East's president, Edward Taylor, who purchased the pair of vehicles in 2011 for $200,000

The end of Smith’s: In the end, Smith sold only two trucks in the South Bronx, both to Down East Seafood of Hunts Point, a sustainable-seafood supplier. "They were some of the best

A lorry and trailer with two smaller vans loaded onto the trailer

for Smiths NCB Electric, built by Tasker and Co, Hampshire.