You can always tell when Christmas is fast approaching, because X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing seem to have been on the TV screens for weeks. Don’t forget when Christmas has been and gone we have our 200th issue event on the SVR, more details in the next issue. Our November issue seems to be best described as a Traveller special… … have you heard the one about an Englishman, a Welshman and an Australian, I am sure you have! But perhaps not quite like ours, we have a Black Minor Hearse from England, a Limeflower traveller from Wales as our main feature and a reader’s account of an awarding winning traveller from Australia. The humble traveller even features on page 46 ‘And Finally….’, it would be good if you could help with this one

Many thanks to all that have sent in details of the Jaguar Traveller that has featured in the media of recent weeks. I remember seeing this vehicle many years ago and personally not a great fan of it. For our main feature I get to see a Limeflower Traveller not far from where I live and it is a rather unusual shade but it sure does grow on you and it is complimented by a nice navy blue interior, this one is a ‘de-luxe’ version but I am not sure what make’s a de-luxe version of the traveller, can anyone oblige?

My editorial snap was taken in the sunshine at the National with a superb lilac Million at Knebworth. Recently Mandy & I joined up with the Minor Million Register Rally organised by Phil Smith to help them celebrate the 50th anniversary of the production of the Millionth Morris Minor. It was a great rally travelling some 60 miles through rural Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds a remarkable event. Thanks a Million to Phil for such a great day and a surprise visitor on the day was USA reader, it was nice to catch up with Bruce Blair.

For all those that are running a 1300 motor with a larger carburettor we have a cracking workshop feature on overhauling the HIF 44 with a complete overhaul kit kindly supplied by Burlens in Salisbury. I have just taken delivery of 2 new electronic distributors from AccuSpark www.accuspark.co.uk for the A series and the A+ series so I will be talking about them soon and showing you how to install one. Also on the workshop feature front Rene in Mexico has filed a report of installing a Ford 5-speed box, I know a number of readers have been down this route and many like me often think about, so that’s one to look forward to.

The Minor Monthly Calendar is available on the website and is sure to sell out so get yours ordered if you have not yet done so. Our ‘What’s On’ page has shrunk which is normal for the middle of winter but I know many events are being planned for next year and beyond so please let us know when and where and we will promote your rally, show or event and it will appear and remain in print until it happens, so please get in touch.

…Keep on Minoring!

Welcome to another edition of Minor Monthly, well the Classic Car Show at the NEC is all but upon us, so if you fancy a pair of tickets we’ve got 5 pairs to give away, just answer the simple question correctly  poised on page 8 and you could be a lucky winner! Thanks to Andrea at Poppyseed Media for all her assistance with these. This month’s editorial snap was taken by Mandy whilst we were at the Severn Valley Railway I am depicted with  their resident Class 52 Diesel Hydraulic Western Courier D1062 for those that are none train enthusiasts!

My editorial includes a few pleas and requests, I am after information or help from our readers on the list of vehicles that I would like to see and photograph for features during 2012, rumour has it that there is an unregistered Minor Saloon in Ireland, if anyone can help with this I would be most grateful. Likewise I am lead to believe that a traveller exits from 1971 (SFC 427J) that was made at the factory with GRP that was sold and registered and was last seen a few years ago, it is thought that a few such prototype vehicles were made, it is unknown if any others made it out of the factory. If you know the whereabouts of either of these please get in touch. Now for something that is easy and I am sure some readers own such vehicles, firstly Minors with original reclining seats that were available for many years as optional extras and finally ex-disabled cars or ex-Ministry Minors for features, again if you know of any or own such vehicles please give us a call… …thanks in advance!

In this issue I have started a new page entitled ‘Handy Hints’, so to start the ball rolling I am kicking it off with the Minor top radiator hose, please also note this tip is perfect for the 1275cc engine too where the thermostat cover is in theory at the wrong angle! So if you have any hints for sharing please drop us an e-mail with some digital images and we can pass the word.

This month I chat with Chris Ryder about his superb 4-door saloon from the Birmingham Branch who is also an active member of the Young Owners Register, the day I met him was back in April on one of the best days for sunshine this year! In fact on that day I was photographing many cars from the Birmingham branch I had badly damaged my finger and nail on my right hand, not Minor related I add. That brings me on to this week whilst busy rebuilding a 1275cc Ital lump for my van it was tight to turn and whilst cranking it over damaged my thumb after crushing between the crank and the block. Not exactly a handy hint but a lesson learnt shall we say.

I have been speaking to many Young Owners and many features are planned and photo shoots being arranged. I am still looking for branches, registers and Clubs to contact us from the UK and overseas for the ‘Profile’ where you will get 2 pages to promote yourselves, so please get in touch.

With further a do I shall let you get on and read the many great features this month…

…Keep on Moggying!

Here I am with the Stig well not quite it’s a cardboard cut-out, the Stig that is not me! The photo was captured by Mandy on our visit to Beaulieu earlier this year, I must say we had to return on at least 2 occasions for the pose as she has a habit of cutting off my feet in these type of editorial snaps and in this particular shot you do need them in!

Brain Wood is back in the garage, does he ever get out of there I hear you ask, this months workshop feature looks at something that we all need to do, that is rust-proofing. Mandy contacts the Dorset Branch of the MMOC for this months ‘Caught on Film’, she is extremely grateful to Dave Walker for providing the images and information. Another plea from her, if your Minor has been used for filming please let her know, drop her an e-mail on features@minormonthly.co.uk

Last issue I chatted about Bertie Bassett, well this month I get to meet and discuss Kermit the Frog In the second part of my Diesel Dilemma series. I meet up with Tony Garratt in the West Midlands, who has installed Ford diesel power as his preferred option, this time it’s the turn of the green van, hence where the name Kermit comes from! Jenny Ryder provides us with an insight into the MMOC MOT 2011 to France.

That’s about it until the next edition thanks for all the calendar images we are looking good and planning is well under way.

To coin a phrase from Colombo, just one thing before I go…  the 200th issue of Minor Monthly is looming on the horizon, February 2012 to be precise! Plans are underway for a Minor ‘Park ‘n Ride’ on the Severn Valley Railway on the weekend of 11th & 12th February 2012 (Subject to working railway conditions) where you arrive in a Minor and park at any of the stations and travel on the train. More details will follow but put that date in your diaries now, 200 Minors would be nice, help us celebrate in style! We recently attended a 1960s weekend there, it was fantastic.

If you and your Minor fancy being in that milestone edition of MM please contact us telling us why you think you & your Minor should be in there. We are looking for 2-3 Minors to feature so let us know by the 15th October 2011, as we will need to call on you for a photoshoot!

… Enjoy what’s left of the summer and keep on Minoring!

It was nice to meet up with some of you at the MMOC National at Knebworth it sure was a nice show with some superb vehicles on display some will be featuring in Minor Monthly in due course. This month’s editorial image was snapped taken by my good friend Keith Lancey at the ‘Sounds of the 60s’ event that we recently attend on the Severn Valley Railway (SVR). Its very apt pose with me back on the scales, for those readers that have been with us for some time will know that I have lost weight. My campaign started with ‘Slimming World’ (www.slimmingworld.co.uk) just about 21/2 years ago and I am still at my target weight after loosing a little under 4 stone! We will be preparing a full feature on the Minor invasion that took place at Bridgnorth station on the SVR.

Brain Wood dons his overalls again and deals with an issue requested by one of our readers from the Caribbean, a rather complex topic this but Brian guides us through the repair in his own fluent and amusing style. This issue sees Marry Hill & Steve Attfield from the West Country picking up the gauntlet that Phil James laid down by asking ‘Where do you go in yours’ they are telling us all about their journey to Switzerland in their black 6-wheeled Morris Traveller. Mandy’s ‘Caught on Film’ looks back a film that featured many Minors filmed in the UK and first appeared in cinemas back in 1997. She speaks to saloon owner Liz Briance who’s car appeared in the film, if your Minor has been used for filming please let her know, drop her an e-mail on features@minormonthly.co.uk

I start another short 2-part series where I look at diesel powered Minors suitably titled ‘Decision Diesel’ in part 1 I catch up with Suzanne Moore who is an antique furniture restorer in the West Country. This one is a working commercial and referred to as Berty Bassett and is Isuzu powered, it is more than up to task of ferrying pieces of furniture about.

That’s about it until the next edition….
… Enjoy the Sunshine and keep Morrying!

As you read this the height of summer should be with upon us or did we have our summer back in April & May? This month’s editorial snap was again taken by Mandy when we visited the North West at Christmas I guess the yellow submarine is a giveaway we were staying in Liverpool. Whilst in the North West we dropped in on Roger Stanforth to view his Military Traveller that forms the second part of my Minors from the Ministry feature.

Keith Arnold Chairman from the EKMMOC has produced a nice feature on a rather unusual Minor that he built for his grand daughter. It resembles the Noddy car, but a change of colour was made towards the end of the project, Keith reveals all. Thanks are recorded to Nick Hopkins for the delightful Railway & Minor scenes depicted on Page 19

We have been on our travels yet again attending the Spring Autojumble at Beaulieu, Mandy will have a full account for us in the next issue. It was nice to meet one of our readers from Australia Rob Spratt at the show, it was kind of spooky as I was talking to two guys about a Morris 1000 van that we were looking at for sale at £10k, one from the USA and the other was Rob! That brings me on to a conversation I had with Kirsty the other day, she was contacted by an Australian reader as he was paying $AU10 for an issue normally 3 months behind, however, by subscribing for 2 years he has saved nearly the price of years subs and now gets his magazines delivered to his door, 3 months earlier! So you know what to do, get on line and subscribe.

This issue sees Phil James from Cambridgeshire conclude his Classic European Tour in his Minor. Thanks are recorded to Richard McKellar for the report from the Morris Minor Car Clubs of Australia 15th National Rally that took place recently at Port Macquarie. Mandy’s ‘Caught on Film’ homes in on ‘Quicksilver’ a Minor that featured back in the early days of Minor Monthly, seems these features are proving to be very popular, but we can only do it with your help. So if you have a Minor or know of any Minors that have appeared on the small or large screen please contact Mandy as she would like to hear from you at features@minormonthly.co.uk

The rally season is in full swing and we are always out and about and look forward to meeting you at the various shows we will be attending, so if you see us walking about please come over and introduce yourselves, as I pen these ramblings we are on our travels to the ‘Sounds of the 1960s’ weekend at the Severn Valley Railway where I am expecting to see 35 Minors or so at Bridgnorth station.

In the meantime until next time….

… Get those Minors Rock’n'rolling!

June issues will be sent direct from Kirsty. as there was a problem with the distribution company and if you would like to contact Kirsty with details etc…The July issue will be as normal, Sorry for any inconvenience

May issue also available

Russell’ Round-up

Apologies firstly for the late arrival of last months issue, unfortunately, Kirsty our designer and publisher had a serious accident that involved her being hospitalised for a period of time, she had broken her pelvis in 4 places. She is on the mend, so a huge ‘get well’ soon from Mandy & me and along with all the readers of Minor Monthly we wish you a speedy recovery.

It’s the June issue half way to Christmas, by the time you next read my editorial you are nearer Christmas that is coming rather than gone, what a scary thought! Anyway, see page 46 for the explanation of ‘Half Christmas’. During April Mandy & myself visited the MMOC Branch in Birmingham and what a nice friendly bunch they are, we had plenty of Minors out on a Sunday morning, 7 in total for a photoshoot for a Branch Profile that we are planning and we also took the opportunity to snap a few of the members cars for future features towards the end of year. Any branches or register’s who fancy a profile please get in touch.

My editorial snap was taken by Mandy at Brooklands this year another cold day, I would love one these pumps in the garden but I know er’indoors is not keen, so I just need my photo taken by one once in a while! Don’t forget we are still looking for snow scenes so please keep sending them in, any calendar photos you want us to consider for the Minor Monthly 2012 Calendar need to be with us by the end of June. Sincere thanks to our roving reporters Terry Blackman, Jeff Lawrenson and Ray ‘Santa’ Dawes for their rally reports that feature on pages 6-8.

I finally get time to sit down and pen the feature on Gill Shaw’s green van from the Ministry, it is some 18 months since I visited Gill & Cam to take the photos. We are still looking for any information on Ministry Minors and what we would really like is any archive information or photos of the signage carried by these Forestry Commission vans. That’s always been a stumbling block for finishing the van off with the correct decal, so if you can help please get in touch.

We have some lovely features this month Phil James from Cambridgeshire recalls his epic Classic European Tour in his Minor, more on this one next month too. Andrew Bywater records his restoration on his Minor Convertible he did not have that much to start with. Mandy is back with more ‘Caught on Film’, this section is proving to be very popular, so if you have or know of any Minors that have appeared on Film (TV or Radio) she would like to hear from you at features@minormonthly.co.uk

Next month is the MMOC National we look forward to meeting many of you at the show, which will soon be upon us, so if you see us walking about please come over and introduce yourselves, in the meantime until next time…
…Happy ‘Half Christmas’ to all!

The May issue of Minor Monthly will not be on sale in the newsagents around the world but is still available to purchase direct from the magazine shop on-line or call 01202 469199

Russell’ Round-up

As I compile the editorial for our May issue, I have just returned from the Austin Morris day at Brooklands. We had another cracking day at this superb venue and the sun shone yet again for us although it was cold. It was great to meet many readers at the show and the promise of some features all proved to be a worthwhile journey. Mandy has completed a trip report for those that were unable to make it. My editorial snap for this month comes again from France it depicts a blue van, its close to Persian blue like my Minor 6 cwt van but sadly its not a Minor but the French equivalent a Citroen, that was seen in the back streets of Luçon

The last instalment in my ‘The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker’ series, so I get to meet a Candlestick maker? Well sadly not quite a candlestick but see the outcome of my meeting with Steve Hennessey from the Midlands he does drive a rather nice looking series III pick-up, all is revealed on page 24. Were you fooled by our ‘April Fool’ last issue page 6, was it the Minor Taxi or the Electric Minor the answer is on page 6 where you can see which one was for real!

A few words of wisdom, not mine I hasten to add but whilst chatting with Mick Peeling (Minor Clinic, Reading) he did mention to me a number of customers are querying the apparent reduction in MPG from their beloved Minors. In fact some have even gone as far as booking the car in for inspection but as Mick points out it’s all to do with the price of fuel. Most of us tend to buy fuel by a specific amount, not quantity, say £10 or £15 worth, but on today’s pump prices that is nearly 30% less that you were getting 12 months ago, so it does appear that the Minor is performing poorly, but that simply is not the case, you are getting less petrol for your money not fewer MPG. On the other hand if your carb is not up to scratch then we have a workshop feature just for you. Our resident mechanic Brian Wood from Dorset is all kitted up in his overalls once again and he has compiled an excellent workshop feature for us this month on how to service your carburettor.

We are still looking for snow scenes so please keep sending them in, don’t forget your calendar photos if you fancy being the in the Minor Monthly 2012 Calendar

Another date for your diaries this month is the ‘The sounds of the 1960s’ a 3 day event on the Severn Valley Railway visit www.SVR.co.uk for full details. The Minor LCV Register will be at Bridgnorth Station with Minor Monthly. I do hope many Minors will be attending the event

Lastly, if you see us at any event please come over to chat with us, so continuing in the 1960s theme…
…Carry on Minoring!

This is another feature packed issue of Minor Monthly coming your way. I can’t believe its April issue already, are you often caught out by an ‘April Fool’, then perhaps you may be surprised.

This issue sees my second instalment in my The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker series, so the series continues with a Bakers van owned by Fudges Bakery, that name may well ring a bell with you, if you visit your local supermarket you will see their delicious biscuits proudly displayed on the shelves. I visited Graham quite a while go in preparation for this series, and see the Fudges Minor van that Graham has owned for many years.

Mandy chats with Sue Pays, she is the MMOC Avon branch events organiser who tells her about her maroon 2-door saloon that has been christened Emma, this one is in lovely condition. Sorry to all those who were expecting our Minor Wedding feature, that had to be carried over to this month, I caught up with Mike Bond in Bristol and also spoke with Andrew Bywater, if you are looking for a white convertible for your big day either of these guys can help.

Brian Wood from the MMOC Dorset branch dons his overalls and takes to his workshop where this month he shows us how to repair the bottoms of your doors.

Don’t forget my pleas in last month’s editorial for snow photos and calendar photos for possible inclusion in the Minor Monthly 2012 Calendar, we need them by the end of June.

Calling all Minor Clubs Worldwide, MMOC branches and Register’s I am sure regular reader’s will have seen that we run Club, Branch and Register profile pages so if you want to be considered drop us an e-mail or send in 7-10 digital images and a write up (500-750 words) that should include some history, listing contact details and meets etc… We will then endeavour to allocate 2 pages to the Club, Branch of the MMOC or Register.

We are looking for cars to feature in the magazine whether it is for ‘Me and My Minor’ or a full article, we do travel about so if you fancy gracing our pages in any format please contact us. We have many features coming up this year, Diesel powered Minor vans, and we have seen a few. Minors of the Ministry will soon be appearing and more working Minors.

Lastly, if there is anything you would like to see in Minor Monthly please tell us, so until next time…

…Keep your Minor rolling!