A request from the volunteers

"Come and join us here"

This is an artist's impression of what the Heritage Motor Centre's new Museum Collections Centre will look like. Construction work is now well underway and on schedule for opening on 1st October.

As a result more volunteers will be required to help run this excellent new building, which will house a diverse collection of British built cars and prototypes. The role involves facilitating access to the new museum for public viewing, guiding tours and valeting the collection.

So, if you have an interest in motor cars, the motor industry, people, or just want a project for your spare time - then why not get involved? No previous experience is required - so why not join us? The Trust would love to hear from you.

 There's not much to see at the moment as the ground work continues and the footings are laid.

The steelwork is due soon and then the building will really start to take shape. 

If you've not visited this blog before then do trawl through the archives which will give you a good idea of who we are and what we get up to. Our first blog "About us" is a good starting point.

If you follow this link here to the HMC's website can check the volunteer role profiles and download or fill-in an online form or request one by post.

For more information contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01926 645027 or email volunteers@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

1960 Standard Ensign - Continued...(PART 11)

1960 STANDARD ENSIGN - (Part 11)

Engine update

Our last blog on the engine (Part 9) gave a general overview of the engine's condition following a complete strip down of all its parts. This in turn revealed one of our main concerns, that the head did indeed have a crack in it. We also needed new piston rings, which we were finding difficult to source.

So, after a thorough detailed inspection and much debate, the general consensus of opinion was that the head could and should be repaired. Also it was decided that we should insert new liners with appropriate new pistons. All this work was carried out by a local third party specialist.

The crack was right in the centre of the head and you may just be able to pick out the pins which were inserted to secure the weld.

These photos show the new liners in the Standard's 1570cc petrol engine and one of the new pistons.

Whilst as explained in previous blogs, the body/chassis is still a major restoration task for the volunteers, the engine and gearbox project is now progressing well.

Incidentally, when the engine was away for repair, the team that has been working on it was presented with another task: to - build a new V8 engine. Well, actually it was a very intricate and clever working model that the museum's education department wanted as a demonstrator for children. It proved quite a challenging task at times, but also very amusing and enjoyable.

Roger, Mike and John hope that the Ensign's engine will run as smooth as the model's.

 

To read the full story click here...

The Archive Volunteers

Whilst this blog has always featured the activities of the volunteers recruited in 2012 as part of the new Museum Collections Centre, we certainly must not forget the work of Colin, Oliver and John, who between them have been volunteering for a total of around 24 years already. They are very much the back room boys, working out of the archive department, with a huge collective knowledge of the British motor industry.

The archive collections originated from the British Leyland Corporation, which began gathering such material from its constituent companies in 1975. The archive’s role is to preserve the surviving records of some of the most famous names in British motoring history. This comprises of; brochures and sales literature, press material, workshop manuals and handbooks, production records, business records, which include things like minutes from board meetings, films, negatives and photos.

 

 Colin evaluating documents and transferring them to an acid-free box. Behind is an expanse of sorted boxes.

 

The British Leyland archives are at the core of the collections, but in addition other automotive supplier companies such as Lucas Industries are represented. They also feature the work and history of people such as Herbert Austin, William Morris, and Alec Issigonis plus items likethe archives of motoring journalist Nick Baldwin.

So, as you can imagine the collating, labelling, documenting and filing of such a vast archive, which is always growing, requires a willing and knowledgeable workforce. This is where the archive department's three volunteers play such an important part. They are:-

Colin, perhaps better known as the Vicar of Longbridge, has been volunteering the longest at around 13 years. His broad knowledge of the British motor industry is a huge asset to the department and he has under taken many sorting and cataloguing tasks over the years. His specialist subject is without doubt the life and times of the Austin Allegro.

Oliver is a former BBC editor and has been volunteering for 10 years. He tends to specialise in the sorting and labelling of film material, as well as working with the archive’s oldest glass negatives, dating back to as early as 1900, which have up till now been unlisted and unsorted.

John is the new boy, who joined the team just over a year ago. He's a retired long time Longbridge engineer with a detailed knowledge of the company. One of John's main tasks has been to help with the sorting and reboxing of material that were rescued from the Longbridge factory when MG Rover finally closed in 2005.

Oliver and John study an old glass negative on the lightbox

Details of the archive services, together with a list of all the marques for which records are available can be found on the Heritage Motor Centre's website, here. You can also see the link to "Document of the Month" a new feature just launched which is well worth a read. Please also do have a look at the FAQ link which covers the main queries received by the department.

1960 Standard Ensign - Continued...(PART 10)

A big challenge

This blog has rather neglected our restoration of the Standard over recent weeks, mainly because progress has been slow. This is certainly not due to any lack of enthusiasm, but simply because the nature of the work required on the car has been very difficult and at times testing. It should be remembered that the chassis/body of our  Ensign model was in a very sorry state – beyond repair, some thought. Added to this our collective experience and knowledge of metalwork and welding at such a demanding level was somewhat limited.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY SO FAR...

2015 - A busy and special year for the volunteers

One of the main reasons the volunteers were recruited back in July 2012 was that they would become an integral part of the new Museum Collections Centre at the Heritage Motor Centre's (HMC) Gaydon site. As with most big projects, especially where lottery funding and planning is involved, progress has been slow. However, the builders have now arrived and progress is already well underway, with completion and opening anticipated for early October. The volunteers can't wait.

Behind the fence work is now underway on the new Collections Centre

Meanwhile work continues with our three main projects, restoration of the 1958 Standard Ensign, vehicle data recording of the Trust's entire collection and the Oral History project.

The Standard, as explained in previous blogs, was in a very poor state chassis-wise, but good progress is now being made. This blog will give an update of the current situation soon.

The data team continues its laborious, but interesting, task of researching and collating detail on every vehicle in the museum. The fruits of their labour will greatly enhance the viewing experience of the new Collections Centre, particularly among the technically minded.

The curator gets an update from the data team project leaders

Having interviewed HMC-based colleagues and fellow volunteers, the Oral History team is now busy interviewing  people who have an interesting motor industry story to tell, past or present, as part of the "Car Stories" project for the new Collections Centre. With the protection of unanimity, great stories are emerging from those who held roles across the motor industry, from secretaries to senior managers and shop floor workers.

A volunteer from the oral history team conducts an interview

If that's not enough to keep us all busy, there's yet more to do in 2015. Previous blogs explained that volunteers will be very much involved in the two "Classic Virgin Experience Days", while shortly volunteers will be going out to the local community to give presentations on what the new Collections Centre is all about.

Volunteers are now being recruited to help out at the popular Club Expo on 28th February and more requests will follow for other HMC-based events. HMC will be announcing future events that they will be attending in due course and it is more than likely that volunteers will also be asked to assist at shows and festivals where the HMC has a presence.

So, a busy and exciting year lies ahead. All we need to do now is to persuade the Tuesday Resto Baker Boys to make a special cake for the opening of the Museum Collections Centre.

Details of all the activities etc. at Gaydon can be found on the HMC website here 

2015 and volunteers doing more volunteering

One great thing about volunteering at the Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) is that there always seems to be new opportunities to get involved in. This blog briefly outlines two recent invitations to support the work of the museum, both of which have had plenty of willing takers.

The first involves spreading the word to local communities and organisations about the new Museum Collections Centre, as well as giving them a brief history of the Heritage Motor Centre and what it has to offer. The volunteers will be very much part of this outreach programme, which is being led by Adela Thomas, the HMC's community engagement officer.

The project kicked off in early November with a Community Open Day, when some local groups were invited to the HMC for a presentation and tour of the museum. These included a Scout group, youth centre, WI and Probus groups and staff from a local school. The volunteers' main role will now be to go out into the community and give presentations to any club or organisation who would like a better understanding as to what the HMC and the new Collections Centre are all about as well as details of their exciting plans for the future.

 

 Community Open Day presentation - our turn next

So, if you're within about 15 miles of Gaydon and would like a talk, then do please give Adela a call on her work mobile number, 07857 349904. We'll come armed with an interesting Power Point presentation, which also covers the history of the Gaydon site and a few unusual motoring related artefacts from the museum's collection. 

The second opportunity we've been presented with involves helping with the running of an HMC initiative known as the, "Classic Virgins Experience Day". The first one took place in September 2013, followed by a further two in 2014. This year two more are planned in April and September and due to their success more help from the volunteers has been requested.

      

  

Volunteers help out with instruction in the workshop section of the day

Run by course director, Bob Wilkinson, the Classic Virgins Experience Day is a hands-on, informative event aimed at those considering buying and owning a classic car. The day also gives participants a chance to ride in a range of classic vehicles along country roads. To quote one participant from the last course "I always wanted one but never had the courage to take the next step ... after today I will be doing that. I now realise how clubs offer support to owners too, which is a great help"

 Bob recently briefed all the volunteers who put their names forward. Given that all of them own one or more classic cars which they've restored, he clearly has some able and experienced helpers.

For more information, enrolment details and the 2015 dates look here 

Oral History Project

Whilst this blog has given you plenty of information regarding vehicle surveys, restoration work and data collection undertaken by the volunteers - there is more, and that's the work of the oral history team.

The team consists of ten volunteers, many of whom are also involved in either the restoration or data projects. Team leaders Vince Hall and Alastair Wilson head up and coordinate the team, whose task is to source and record an oral history of the British motor industry. This is all part of the opening programme for when the new Museum Collections Centre opens in 2015.

However, before they were let loose with microphone and voice recorder, they all received a full briefing from the curator on the main objectives of the project. This was then followed by training from Julia Letts of Letts Talk, whose company specializes in the art of interview planning and techniques.

  

Operating the Zoom audio equipment was also part of the training programme

What got this project off to such a good start was the fact that a large number of the volunteers, now mostly retired, had worked in the British motor industry. This was either on the factory floor, or for suppliers and includes managers, designers, engineers, paint specialists, IT people and SMMT management. All had a story to tell, with memories, experiences and opinions.

When the first interview took place and the equipment tested, one of the first things that became apparent was the background noise the microphone picked up. What we really wanted of course was a sound proof studio/room. Then someone realised we had the very thing parked on the museum floor - the 1968 Vanden Plas 4 litre Princess. This was ideal, comfy seats and excellent soundproofing, helped by the glass screen separating the drivers area. The slight downside was that after about 30 minutes with the doors shut and two people talking, you needed to come out for a bit of fresh air.

Just to give you a brief flavour of what one of the first interviews revealed - this is what we found out about volunteer Chris Bramley's early career. Chris joined Rover in the early '60's, following civil and mechanical engineering training. He was assigned to gas turbine development and worked on Rover T3 and T4 development. He was also part of the Rover team that went to the 1965 Le Mans 24 hour race with the legendry Rover BRM. During his time with these projects he worked with the likes of Spen King, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart.

  

Leslie Gunde interviews Chris in the back of the Vanden Plas Princess

Future blogs will give updates  as the project expands to include more interviews with the general public. However in the meantime,  if you've worked in the British car industry, or have an interesting car related historical story to tell then we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Sonja Dosanjh on 01926 645027and you could be sitting in the back of a luxurious old limo.