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G'day
First drive of Morrx for a while yesterday, nothing special just around town in traffic, but enough to feel the fun and how easy it is to drive and really not want to stop when I got home. Cheers Graham :):) |
G'day
MVEC ( Motor Vehicles Enthusiasts Club) had some cars in the Grand Parade at the Royal Darwin Show Yesterday, Morrx went along. About twenty vehicles all up, a variety of makes and ages, 3 Morris, one Austin, one Jag and others. https://i58.tinypic.com/91kqqr.jpg Morris 8, Sunbeam Talbot https://i61.tinypic.com/2r6go6e.jpg 1955 Minor https://i59.tinypic.com/vzkfb9.jpg A Big Austin 7 sports special https://i58.tinypic.com/imo2hg.jpg With cable brakes. https://i57.tinypic.com/25jxrpe.jpg XJC 4.2 https://i61.tinypic.com/adzwbk.jpg 1927 Dodge truck https://i57.tinypic.com/chw29.jpg Something old https://i59.tinypic.com/2m33bsn.jpg Cheers Graham :):) |
G'day
Last weekend the Ralley for Veteran cars from Adelaide to Darwin (South to North of Australia 3000+ kms) arrived in Darwin finishing at the Headquarters of the Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club ( a 1934 QANTAS hanger in Parap). Some of the cars parked at the hanger after finishing and hear are a few of them. https://i61.tinypic.com/j6idjl.jpg https://i60.tinypic.com/oitxle.jpg https://i62.tinypic.com/i70ppx.jpg https://i59.tinypic.com/2l9mc78.jpg https://i57.tinypic.com/n1sdxy.jpg https://i58.tinypic.com/2daeovd.jpg https://i61.tinypic.com/e7kqjs.jpg Cheers Graham :):) |
G'day
In 1934 QANTAS built a hanger at Darwin's then airport ( what is now Ross Smith Ave. in Parap) as part of its service to Singapore and hence London. Last weekend the Motor Vehicles Enthusiasts Club, the current lease holder, celebrated the buildings eightieth birthday with a dislpay of some of the members vehicles. This building is rare in Darwin as very few buildings have survived for eighty years, after the WW2 bombings and Tropical cyclones ( primarily Tracy in 1974) destroying large parts of the city. Here are a few pictures I took on the day, a wide range of vehicles on display from a 1907 Triumph bike through T models , WW2 jeeps, Yank Tanks to 5 Minors. https://i61.tinypic.com/11r572v.jpg Darwin has grown a bit in the last 80 years, the hanger is now surounded by flats https://i62.tinypic.com/55o805.jpg Morrx https://i57.tinypic.com/2yn2krc.jpg 1500 Datsun and 5 speed also with air con https://i59.tinypic.com/2vuzrr4.jpg https://i59.tinypic.com/b5i329.jpg https://i62.tinypic.com/104ntih.jpg https://i61.tinypic.com/4zyc2e.jpg https://i59.tinypic.com/35a7h3t.jpg 1907 Triumph https://i60.tinypic.com/2nlqmug.jpg One way to get your bike to the show tow it behind your other bike https://i61.tinypic.com/2a5khme.jpg Cheers Graham :):) |
I had a chance to buy a Triumph Spitfire that had a 13B already in it. Reading this, I'm regretting even more that I didn't grab it.
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G'day
First Friday gathering tonight, when I arrived I could not resist parking next to the GT 40 and getting a picture. All three cars were in production at the same time (early mid 60's), quite a difference in style and price today. An original GT40 is worth millions, the Cortina 10,000 plus and the Minor 4 to 5 thousand. https://i59.tinypic.com/2enw0fr.jpg https://i59.tinypic.com/315iipk.jpg Pictures taken at Fishermans Wharf, Darwin just on sunset 3rd October. Cheers Graham :nod::) |
G'day
First Friday last Friday, a pleasant night high 20's with a light breeze , an almost clear sky and a high tide. A good turn up of a variety of cars, Morrx was the only Minor but two other rotaries turned up a nice RX2 coup and a FC RX7. https://i62.tinypic.com/20kc6tv.jpg Morrx was parked between a rather nice 55 Coup Deville and an early Statesman. https://i57.tinypic.com/1zlq15g.jpg As usual a good night. Cheers Graham :):) |
G'day
The first Friday of December yesterday so the monthly gathering of chrome bumper cars at Fishermans Wharf here in Darwin. http://i57.tinypic.com/282oubq.jpg As usual a few different cars RX2 Mazda, Mustang, Morrx and a XW Falcon. December in Darwin each year brings around the anniversary of Cyclone Tracie, this year it is 40 years since it hit on Christmas eve destroying 70% of the houses. Hear are a few pictures I took, from our house in early January 1975, To give you some idea of the mess it left . My cousin was getting Married just after Christmas so the whole family was fortunately in Melbourne for Christmas. http://i61.tinypic.com/5z4021.jpg I think this was my brothers room, the little wooden platform on the leaning wall held the water tank for the solar hot water system. The tank was on the other side of the wall, holding it up. http://i58.tinypic.com/nv34fa.jpg Next door, they had 3 kids under 6 but fortunately were on holidays as were quite a lot of Darwin. http://i59.tinypic.com/2zjflh3.jpg The other side but unfortunately they were home, the father died , the mother was badly injured and the two girls survived in a wardrobe in the back yard. http://i57.tinypic.com/a1pt2d.jpg Not sure if the people behind were home if so they survived. In the far distance you can just see the Water tower on Parra Drive, two suburbs away, nothing left standing to get in the way. Sorry about the quality of the pictures I am surprised they have survived 40 years. Cheers Graham :):) |
G'day
Six years ago, yesterday (28th Dec.), I started this project, that became "MORRX", by buying my second Minor ( the first was 40 odd years ago) on Ebay. This seems a reasonable time to reflect on the journey so far. This being the first time I had done anything like this, it could have been managed better and some things could have been done that were not done. But the over all package has turned out as I had thought/hoped it would. As I said at the beginning of this thread "MY vision of what a Minor should be in the 21st century". The Rotary fits with less cutting than most of the modern motors being used and produces smooth progressive power from 0 to red line at 7000. Forget about most of what you know about rotaries being noisy and thirsty, these are invariably older motors that have been hotted up and like all hotted up motors are not the easiest to live with. I used a standard 6 port injected 13B which has 2 extra ports, to allow increased fuel flow at higher revs by opening at 3500 when the second set of injectors open. This is like an early form of variable valve timing except being a 2 stroke there are no valves. This allows the engine to pull smoothly, with no cam affect, all the way to the red line at 7000 rpm. Keeping the revs below 3500 keeps it on the primary injectors and allows around 30mpg even in traffic and the air con on. Evan so the car still has enough power to easily keep up with the traffic. The main advantage of the extra power is felt on the open road when it is easy to maintain any chosen speed and especially when over taking is required. Mid range acceleration is quite good for any car let alone a Minor this means a lot less time on the wrong side of the road and a much easier and safer trip. Over all I am very happy with my car, to me it looks good and is fun to drive, with the changes I made you have the choice of playing little old car or to hustle along at the speed limit if the mood takes you. Cheers Graham :):) |
Great job Graham, and absolutely love the project. I enjoy reading your posts and pics from shows, so please keep them coming! Happy New year to your and all the best in 2015!!
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The morrie is so cool, I've always wanted to restore one. Still reasonably cost effective here in kiwiland as well. That cyclone was wicked, a guy that used to work in the business next to me (in Auckland) survived it but lost his wife and young daughter unfortunately. Amazing photos, they really show the destruction and tragedy. Cheers
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G'day
First Friday gathering at Fishermans wharf tonight, very pleasant night no rain but a light wind to keep it pleasant, about 28 C temp. A bit of variety just next to Morrx. Hot Rod thing one side http://i60.tinypic.com/33o4ksp.jpg With a just completed Valiant Panel Van on the other. http://i60.tinypic.com/10p0lsw.jpg With a 360 V8 http://i58.tinypic.com/avlb2a.jpg Cheers Graham :):) |
^^Great turnout Graham. 82F (28C) is perfect!
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Morrx arriving at my parents house in Portarlington Vic. Nearly 4000km down less than 400 km to go to the Morris Minor National Rally in Albury Wodonga at Easter. Cheers Graham :):) |
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