Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia Inc

Hornet Special
Newsletter
Issue 89 June 2022

WHSCA Club Contacts Motoring in New Zealand

Secretary Colin Hey writes:
Margaret Cooper,
ph (07) 3312 2365
President
J enny and I planned to do as many events as we could over this last
motoring season, including the New Zealand VCC Vero Rally in New
Plymouth in January.
John Clucas
ph +61 419 592 275 We really enjoy these international events which are generally held every
Editor 5 years in NZ, although this year there was nothing “international” about
Henry Hancock, it because of COVID, however it was still attended by around 500 cars and
ph (07) 3878 2850 1000 people from throughout NZ.  ...... continued page 2
3 Gilia Court Indooroopilly Qld 4068

AGM & H0RNET EXTRAVAGANZA

thenryhan@gmail.com
Website
whscaorgau.wordpress.com
9th, 10th &11th Sepember 2022 ....... see page 7
Note website added to “Club Contacts”, above
We took our 1933 Wolseley Hornet Special, which did
prove to be a very good decision. It was also a good ex-
cuse for me to catch up on a few jobs that needed doing,
including a full brake hydraulic rebuild, fixing the fuel
and temperature gauges, some electrical work (including
fitting indicators and a left-side tail/brake light to make
motoring it a bit safer), and a some cosmetic work includ-
ing touching up some badly stone-chipped areas on the
rear guards.
Perfect weather for the whole nine days we were away
(except for one short spell of rain one night), meant that
the hood didn’t come out of the bag for the whole trip,
and most of our motoring was done in shorts, tee-shirts
and sun-hats, with lots of sun-block applied!
The motoring was excellent - lots of rolling country, with routes plotted to keep us off the highways as much as pos-
sible. The roads were superb and very scenic.
There were a few breakdowns, particularly amongst the more fragile veteran cars, but most were fixable on the side
of the road, and I only heard of one car suffering a major failure. Our only gremlin was an air leak at a fuel line fitting
on the suction side, causing a lack of power when climbing hills due to fuel starvation. It was particularly noticeable
when the tank level got low and was a problem I didn’t finally track down until I got home. We did however manage
to get through all of the runs just fine.
Highlights for us were the trip to Opunake on the coast south of New Plymouth (an excellent and full day of motoring),
the huge open day/display/street party in the main street of the small town of Inglewood on the Thursday evening, and
catching up with other Wolseley Car Club owners and friends from all over the country. There were 12 club members
and their partners registered for the event – 10 of them in Wolseleys. Ours was the only Hornet Special on the event,
although I did meet up with WHS owner, Jon Cooke from Auckland, and had a good chat to him.
Since returning home the car has had several more outings, including two where the car was used by our son. He too
really enjoys driving it.
If any WHSC members happen to visit Christchurch now that international travel is a possibility again, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch with us. We are only 10 minutes from Christchurch airport, and we’d be very happy to catch
up with you.
Colin

Progress in Western Australia

Barry Mackintosh in Kallaroo, Perth, Western Australia, has sent these photographs of progress on his
1933 WHS.

Page 2 Hornet Special Newsletter

Eric Bishop’s Hornet re-joins the Club
Eric Bishop ( partner Helen),
who bought Murray Cowper’s
lovely red Hornet Sports, as
featured on the front page of
Newsletter Issue 59, Decem-
ber 2014, has joined the Club
Welcome Eric and Helen!
With this car Murray won
the Club’s Wheels & Wings
Trophy at the 2014 AGM in
the Barossa Valley.

Fixing a worn distributor advance

W hen my 1933 Hornet Doctors
Coupe with a Lucas DJ6-A
distributor was on the dynamometer
to see if the carburettors were run-
ning too lean, I was advised that the
maximum advance was exceeding
38°, which is too much.
I built a piston stop through No. 1
spark plug hole to re-check TDC and
using the new accurate mark found
that to limit the ignition advance to
35° as recommended for the new
Wear on the advance limiting holes in Wolseley Hornet Special Club (UK) Silver soldered and filed back to
the base plate supplied camshaft, static timing had standard
to be set to 5° after TDC rather than the correct 10° BTDC i.e. it was 15° retarded. So, instead of 35° – 10° = 25°
advance movement on the internal mechanism, it had 35° + 5° = 40° advance movement on the mechanism.
The advance weights are limited in their outward movement by steel pins projecting down through holes in the steel plate
on which the weights pivot, and with wear on the weight-holes, my weights had risen up and worn a track outward.
My silver soldering is a bit rough, so I asked Peter Baker to add some to the holes for me to file back to standard. The
weights rest on several raised points to give 0.8mm clearance above the plate and the silver solder built up the edge
of the holes to this height to provide a more solid stop.
Now my advance is:
800 rpm = 7°
1200 rpm = 12°
2000 rpm = 27°
3000 rpm = 35°
4000 rpm = 35° Henry Hancock

Issue 89 Page 3
Brake Failure
Peter Baker writes:

L ast year we were out in my 1933 WHS and about half an hour into the run the front brakes locked up and it was
difficult to run to the side of the road. I felt the brake drums and they were very hot.
I bled both brakes, but they did not release, so I jacked up each wheel and after hitting the brake drums with a rubber
mallet, they returned to the off position. We then returned home using the dependable hand brake.
At home I removed the slave cylinders from the backing plates and found that the aluminium pistons (L in the draw-
ing) were seized in the relined stainless-steel cylinders and had to be driven out.
I cleaned and buffed each piston and checked that the cylinders were OK; that the pistons dropped through the cyl-
inders, and that all piston cups were in good order. I reassembled them and dismantled and serviced the rear wheel
cylinders.
The next job was to remove the master cylinder from
the chassis. This was found to have the rear piston
seal (J in the drawing) seized in the cylinder. This was
removed and replaced with a new seal. All the other
components were in good condition.
The brake service people advised never to use a lu-
bricant on the aluminium pistons. I had used a Dow
Corning Molykote Silicone O-Ring Grease “designed
to offer good corrosion protection and excellent oxida-
tion resistance while delivering lubrication between
rubber and metal parts in pneumatic aircraft, automo-
tive systems,” which had turned solid on the pistons.
I had used the same grease at the front of the master
cylinder, causing the seal to swell and seize.
They suggested that the whole system be washed out
with methylated spirits and be blown dry. Then to use
DOT 4 hydraulic brake fluid, very similar to the early
fluid which has the ability to prevent seizure of com-
ponents. I had previously used DOT 5 Silicone fluid
which had given 10 years of service. They advised that
the modern DOT 4 fluid should also give 10 years of service before requiring replacement.
The other important thing is to use the car regularly and, once a week, sit in it and press the brake pedal several
times.
The brakes were bled and adjusted and are now working well.
Peter

Peter Healy joins WHSCA

Vintage Car Club of Queensland member Peter Healy in Brisbane
has bought Mike Hawthorne’s 1931 vertical-dynamo Doctors Coupe
(advertised in Newsletter 85, June 2021) and has joined the WHSCA.
Peter has an immaculate light blue MG TC. Welcome Peter!
He has a question regarding how the front windows of the coupe
operate and the associated catches and has been put in contact with
our past-treasurer, John Ireland.
continued .......page 6

Page 4 Hornet Special Newsletter

GRAND OPENING of HornetWorks in Ballarat
Bill Russell writes:

O ur HornetWorks opening was an enjoyable afternoon, with good attendance, including representatives from lo-
cal car clubs such as the Wolseley Car Club and the Trentham Car Club. David and Yvonne Armstrong joined
us from Adelaide.

Bill Russell welcomed the guests and acknowledged traditional owners. The Rob and Kay with the wedding car
land on which HornetWorks is located formed part of the traditional lands of the Wadawarrung people, and for the last
150 years part of the Ballarat Common. In 1932 Sir Charles Kingsford Smith on a barnstorming tour to raise funds,
operated from the Ballarat Common in Southern Cross for two days.
Seven cars were on display: 1931 Hornet fabric coupe, 1931 Viper, 1932 Hornet fabric saloon, 1933 Hornet Special
coupe, 1934 EW International Hornet Special, 1935 New Hornet Saloon and 1948 18/85. This car formed part of a
wedding car set in 1969 used by Rob and Kay Oke who were in attendance and were photographed beside their wed-
ding car, 53 years later. The wedding ribbon was still in the glovebox!
John Mallia came over from Sunbury in his 1937 Wolseley 25 Drophead Coupe, which attracted much attention. John
was photographed with the Wheels and Wings Trophy (of which he is the current holder), which is on display with the
other Hornet Club trophies in a beautiful Queensland cedar cabinet donated by Don and Carole Santin.
Our guest speaker was Roger Banks, past Secretary and Registrar of the Hornet Special Club in the UK.
The Santin family was well
represented. Don and Carole
were unable to attend as they
were on a Murray River paddle
steamer cruise, however our
club registrar, Michael, was in
attendance and presented a talk
on the cars on display. Louis
Santin was also present and
provided informed advice to all
and sundry. Don had composed
a trumpet voluntary for the oc-
casion involving overlaying the
Bill Russell, Michael Santin, Roger Banks and same fanfare three times and this
David & Yvonne Armstrong
was played to much acclaim.
Les Dew, owner of a 1934 9 hp and many 21/60s attended from Colac and had
much informed knowledge to offer concerning the Viper. John Mallia with the Wheels and
Billington Scherek moved the champagne toast to absent friends. Wings Trophy for the restoration of
1932 WHS “2888”.
Roger declared HornetWorks open, standing in front of a Wolseley dealer flag
which he had brought from the UK, a gift from Dick Serjeantson.
John Mallia moved the vote of thanks, and refreshments were served.
Members are always welcome to view HornetWorks, subject to prior arrangement.

Issue 89 Page 5
John Higham’s Progress ...cont from March 2022 Newsletter
Starting the new motor.

T he first problem was that just in time I discovered that the oil pipes between the sump and the reservoir, and
between the reservoir and the oil pump were connected the wrong way around at the bottom of the reservoir and
that the reservoir was sited lower than the factory installation. This was fixed by taking the pipes off, annealing and
re-shaping them to accurately fit. This was not straight-forward as the surrounding pipe work had been formed to fit
around the wrong set up. So one of these needed to be re-shaped also.
Before putting in oil, I filled the radiator with water (12 litres). Looking in the filler hole I noticed that the water had
disappeared, so after 20 minutes I topped it up and it took another 5 litres. Oh dear!
I drained the sump and the missing water poured out. I was a bit shattered by the thought of having to take out the
engine or at least take the head off, so I called Greg. He suggested that I take off the sump and rocker cover and he
would be over in the afternoon. We found a hole in the head adjacent to No 1 cylinder exhaust valve spring close to
where the water leaves the head and enters the top of the radiator. Its dimensions were about 1/4” long and 1/8th inch
wide. We could see the hole from above and also through the water exit hole in the head.
No water had got into the cylinders, it had just run through
the hole into the camshaft area and then down the draining
holes to the sump. We cleaned out all traces of water and
sprayed with 666 (marine version of WD40). Greg sug-
gested not trying to weld it as it would crack elsewhere,
but to use Devcon (a 2 part epoxy and steel glue). This
meant that I didn’t need to take anything out or even take
the head off.
What a relief. I couldn’t get Devcon so I bought JB Weld,
a similar thing. I was able to build up the repair using three
layered applications over 4 days using a paddle-pop stick
on the area adjacent to the valve spring to block the exit and
layers by paddle pop stick from inside the water jacket.
I filled the car with water again and the level at the top of
the radiator did not budge - there were no leaks anywhere
including into the sump. Not a drop!
John says, “ I have now mounted the headlamps and I found So I filled it with Penrite running-in oil. Now to see if the
some BA15 LED light bulbs from Yass Valley Automotive Startix would work; and the rest of the ignition system,
which are working brilliantly, and only drawing about 2 amps carburettors, fuel gauge, fuel pump, ammeter, temperature
together’.
gauge, etc. I also topped up the oil reservoir, and then hit
the starter button - the engine was running! Oil pressure went up to 40lbs. I played with the distributor and got the
best position and then adjusted the carburettors. After idling at about 1200 revs for 10 minutes the temperature had
reached 70 degrees C and oil pressure dropped to 25 - 30 lbs.
After 2 more starts the engine is very smooth and very responsive to the throttle. I am expecting the oil pressure will
increase with the use of a thicker normal oil. I plan to use Penrite HPR30 (running-in oil is SAE 15.) The mechanical
noise and exhaust are wonderful.
Until today I had not started the engine for about 4 weeks, so I hit the starter button and it fired straight away and oil
pressure almost immediately sprang to life on the gauge, without any priming of oil needed.
John

Peter Healy joins WHSCA ...... Continued from page 4

John Ireland replies:
My car actually had wind-up windows when I got the remains, but it was all so rusted and worn-out with half the
mechanism missing that I decided to go to the original factory type sliding windows which were much easier to recre-
ate, but obviously had no catches and so I am unable to help on that score.

Page 6 Hornet Special Newsletter

AGM & H0RNET EXTRAVAGANZA
Yass, New South Wales
Friday 9th to Monday 11th September 2022

T his year, having endured the Covid Pandemic, the Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia is meeting in Yass
on the weekend of 9th, 10th and 11th of September; organised by John and Fran Higham.
Yass is the “home” of Hamilton Hume, who in 1824, just 2 years short of 200 years ago and at the age of 27 “discov-
ered” and generated the opening up of all the country between Sydney and Melbourne. The book, Australia’s Greatest
Explorer by Robert Macklin, is recommended reading and we will be visiting his home, Cooma Cottage. An excellent
summary of his life is at https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hume-hamilton-2211.
Accommodation for the event will be at the Thunderbird Motel (should be $155) in Comur St (the main street and
formerly Hume Highway). The motel provides excellent private parking and more than adequate capacity for cars
with trailers. Breakfast is available ($8 per head). Dinner will be at the motel for the 3 nights ($49 per head).
From 3pm on Friday, John and/or Fran will be at the motel to provide final details of the weekend in the usual pack-
age. The AGM will be held at 6.30pm and be followed by dinner. The time between your arrival and the AGM could
be well spent discovering the immediate town area. The tourist information centre is directly across the road from
the motel.
On Saturday Discover/shop Yass.
Morning tea and Hornet display at
Higham’s from 10.00am.
Lunch in Yass.
Guided tour at Cooma Cottage (home
of Hamilton Hume) at 2.30pm. 3 km
from Thunderbird Motel.
Dinner at 7pm.

The rear view of Cooma Cottage on a Vintage Sports Car Club

visit. (Photo by Richard Calver.)

Issue 89 Page 7
On Sunday At 9.30am depart from Motel and drive on beautiful country lanes to the small village of Dalton

A few people have not renewed their subscriptions (due 30 April 2022) ............. For details see the March 2022 Newsletter
(36 km) and enjoy morning tea at the historic pub.
Proceed to Gunning (10km), a larger town, and take time to explore the interesting old homes,
town architecture and shops.
Proceed to village of Gundaroo, where we will have lunch at the Cork St Café or the historic hotel.
Proceed via Murrumbateman where a number of the excellent cold climate vineyards are
located. Stop at any of these at your leisure and enjoy a taste. The total distance travelled would be
about 126 km in total.
Dinner at 7pm.
Detailed maps and instructions will be provided on Friday afternoon on your arrival.
Please contact the Thunderbird motel on 02 6226 1158
to make your booking. A number of rooms have been
reserved but will be squeezed out as we get closer to
the AGM. Rooms are hard to come by at short notice
in Yass.
Please contact John Higham on 0457894010 or email
me at mouracreek@optusnet.com.au to let me know
you have booked or if you have any questions.
The front view of Cooma cottage facing the Yass River. A
classic Australian Georgian style.

A drive to QSMEE (some didn’t arrive)

M indful of the 1931 Wolseley Viper steam car featured
in Newsletter Issue 85, June 2021, WHSCA mem-
bers in Brisbane were keen to drive with the Vintage Car
Club of Queensland to the Queensland Society of Model
and Experimental Engineers, QSMEE (formed in 1932),
to ride on model steam trains.
At least, Henry Hancock in his ’33 Doctors Coupe and
Peter Baker & Jo Lord in their ’33 WHS went, but Lyle
and Margaret Cooper didn’t quite make it in their ‘35 14hp
saloon.
They had brake failure
on the way when restart-
ing on a very steep hill
and rolled backwards
into a drain. Peter Baker & Jo Lord arriving at QSMEE (followed by a
1930 Aston Martin Le Mans), but where are Lyle & Margaret
As with Peter’s prob- Cooper?
lems recounted on page
4 of this Newsletter, it was brake pistons seizing in slave cylinders.
There was concern when they didn’t arrive at QSMEE and Peter & Jo went to the
rescue, with all four squeezing into the ’33 WHS (top still on) for the trip home,
while the ’35 Hornet waited for a trailer pick-up.
[It appears that the “tips” in Peters article on page 4 are important! - Ed.]

The Wolseley Hornet Special Club of Australia Inc. (Victoria, No. A0035489S) exists to encourage the preserva-
tion and use of Wolseley Hornets, Sports and Specials. The Club and its Committee take no responsibility for the
accuracy of this newsletter’s content nor for the consequences of acting upon any information published herein.