museum updates Motoring Volunteers
Roger Horsfield enjoying a drive in Daisy shortly after preservation work was completed at the end of 2019. This was the first time the car had moved under its own power in 50 years.
As it has been a while since my last update, I thought it wise to give an overview of the work undertaken and completed since June 2019 rather than just focus on a couple of cars. You will have seen the article written by my colleague Roger Horsfield on Daisy, the 1904 Siddeley, in the last edition of the Bulletin. Although she can be temperamental to start, generally Daisy runs very well. However, on her last outing she ground to a halt with a mystery problem. This has now been diagnosed as cracking and a rusty ring inside the float. The part is currently being repaired by Colin Shaw and will be refitted as and when we have access to the Museum. The work to repair the pipe at the top of the radiator on the Salmson has been finished and the car is now running well. Elsewhere, bringing the MG PA back to running order has been completed, thanks mainly to the efforts of John Phillips, supported by various members of the team. You will remember this car had a serious oil leak, issues with the cooling system and electrical wiring. Gradually, we worked our way through the tasks and were supported by a number of MG enthusiasts we met at shows during the summer months. The car ran successfully in early March and has been returned to its display in the Museum. Calendars finally aligned for the upholstery work on the Duesenberg, which was finished early this year. After a short trip to the Flight Shed due to the risk of flooding, it’s now back on display in the ERA Shed. Little work has been done to the Morris
8, Ford 10, MG M-Type, Railton Terraplane, Hillman Aerominx or Lander Bentley other than keeping them in running order. They
were due to take part in the half-term demonstrations on the Finishing Straight, but heavy rain and floods put paid to that. The Alvis FWD has been moved to Dunlop Mac to look at the configuration of the rear cockpit, the idea being to improve the driving position, as reported previously, and to deal with the woodworm. However, a decision has been made by the Museum not to change the car, so if you know of any volunteers, please get in touch. The woodworm is quite extensive at the rear of the car and will be treated professionally. An old friend, the Napier Colonial,
has returned to the Museum. The 1911 machine needed some work to bring it back to full working order, but this was quite straightforward. The autovac problem highlighted in a previous issue of the Bulletin has been resolved and the car is running well. Another recent arrival is the replica of the MG D12, on loan from the Reynolds family following the passing of Colin Reynolds who ran the car at Brooklands in competition as recently as 2018. The car is a stunning example of Colin’s engineering skill and a reminder to the Motoring Volunteers of a much-missed friend. Pop into the Campbell Shed next time you visit for a look. The Lagonda has been suffering from overheating problems due to a radiator full of scale and a compressed bottom hose which resembled the soggy paper straw in your bottle of pop. The radiator was flushed through and a stent fitted to the bottom hose to keep it open.
A long-standing exhibit in the Museum,
the little green Austin 7 Sports Special, has finally come under our care as the owner would like to run it in the future. It
A rusty ring inside the float and some cracking caused Daisy, the 1904 Siddeley, to come to a halt on her most recent journey. A repair is now underway by Colin Shaw.
MAY - JUNE 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 13
had severe problems and something nasty going on with the brakes. The fuel system was found to be clogged, so that was cleared with compressed air and petrol. The distributor was refitted and the timing reset. Compression was found to be widely variable, so the valves were checked and reground to secure a perfect seal, then the valve clearances were adjusted. The brakes had been changed from cable to drum at sometime in the 1960s, but fitted on the wrong side of the car, so the shoes were trailing rather than leading. We have also helped the owner of the Cuthbert Riley to prepare the car for running. It had a known fuel pump issue and needed a thorough check before it could be started. A new SU fuel pump was fitted as the diaphragm was perished and other internals corroded. The battery, radiator, oil levels, spark plugs and leads were also checked prior to firing her up. Another vehicle we have been helping with is the Delahaye owned by Robbie Walker and run by his father Rob Walker. The car needs some work to the magneto, but flooding and Coronavirus has put a stop to that for a while. Finally, little work has been undertaken on the field vehicles due to the weather and lack of funds. The Land Rover Ambulance requires some paintwork, the Range Rover Fire Engine has a leaky water pump. The last bit of bodywork is still to be finished on the Bedford CA Crew Bus and work has only just started to repair the leaky roof on the Bedford Control Tower. The BMC Bowser and large diesel tug ‘Eddie’ are still running without problems and the Bedford HA is finally back on display. Clearly, all of these projects need funding and with the Museum’s forced closure, income is at an all-time low. If you would like to help us preserve the vehicles and keep them in running order, you can do so by making a donation via #LoveBrooklands or by simply continuing your membership. Thank you.
Debbie Crawt
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