Queen's English - Van Nuys, Calif. March 8th

[mikeyr]

The As-U-Dryv was sold to someone in Florida who merely wanted the car for a "collection" and had no intent of driving it or joining the club so I never got any contact information from the old owner as the new owner wanted to remain "anonymous". I have been told the car is now in Texas and also in Oregon but I have had no luck confirming either rumor. The guy that owned it here in Santa Barbara is quite a recluse and he was not very interested in passing along current owner info to me, once he sold his Dino we lost contact. It was a very nice car but I fear its currently lost.

Sure wish I had time to prep the 1.5 for this show...hopefully I at least will have time to wash it, the interior is still at my old house in the attic so I will not have the interior at the show.

[mikeyr]

Come on...this is too quiet !!!

I really hate the idea of towing my 1.5 all the way for a show, I want to tow it there for other Singer owners to talk to.

I have a tiny little set up that I am bringing, I am bringing parts of a 4AD rear body, just one side so that people can see how they were built, also some new Le Mans sheet metal to show what kinds of parts you can still get from the various clubs, I was thinking of throwing a Le Mans block in the truck too just to show the motors size but that might be too much for the non-Singer enthusiast.

It was supposed to be raining all week INCLUDING Sunday but as of today they are predicting very cold but sunny days, dress warmly it is only going to reach low 60's, with the lack of rain this week the field should actually not be too muddy (very light rain today).

Any other Singer events going on that I should know about ? Lex (HRG) has canceled but is available for any other Singer event that might happen during the weekend.

[indian301]

Mike,

I received my sidecurtains. Of course they need modifications to work. If by some miracle KIP Motors sends me my canvas by Thursday I might be able to finish them. I would not want to drive 350 plus miles each way without some wind protection with the weather they are predicting. I will keep you posted.

Dave Singer 1952 4AD-V6

[Phillip]

Mike,

We're planned to fly in on Saturday. Should be in LA in the afternoon. We will rent a car. We should plan to get the locals together for dinner at least on Saturday night, so Lex can get to meet up with everyone. Suggestions for a place that would be convenient to everyone welcome!

We'll bring our overalls and hopefully the 100 years banner. If not, can you bring the 'Singer' banner you brought to Stowe?

We are leaving Sunday night on the redeye back to Montreal. so it really is an overnighter!

Cool? I'll take it over - 12c and 6 feet of snow~

[mikeyr]

hmm, not sure what would be central to all of us, its a 2 hour drive for me pretty much anywhere we choose in L.A.

I would suggest something in Thousand Oaks or Camarillo as that is about the middle between me and L.A. but I am not sure you guys want to drive that far. Not sure the best place, let me ask around but it really depends on the driving distance people in L.A. are willing to do, lots of places in Van Nuys where the show will be also.

Now if we were in San Diego (actually San Juan Capistrano) I would have the PERFECT place, The Coach House, its has good food and great decor...(hint: look up on the wall)

[Peter McKercher]

Cool. Did you get the serial number for Dave

[mikeyr]

Weather looks "ok" just very cold so bundle up.

my cell phone is 805-448-0318 I am waiting to hear from Tony and Lex about where a dinner or get together would work on Saturday but we are running short on time so now you have my cell phone

[Phillip]

Mike,

We're booked at the Crowne Plaza on Century Blvd by the airport. We have a car rented also.
Seems you are all spread far and wide and a meeting point might be difficult for Saturday night and there will be very early departure times for all on Sunday morning. Would it be better to get together to eat right after the show? We're heading out on the 10:00pm flight Sunday.

FYI, Lex is only a few minutes from our Hotel and is very keen for us to see his HRG since he won't be coming on Sunday. Jonas Waxman is flying in on Sunday morning.

Considering we are reasonably close to Woodley ( @30 minutes with no heavy traffic according to Google ) we figured we should be on the field early to help unload and position cars, etc. Does anyone have a 'pop-up' tent and a few chairs they can bring like we do for Stowe, etc?

We're registered for the early flight out tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed!

[mikeyr]

I will throw some pictures up here VERY soon, but lets just say a good time was by all.

It was not the size of Stowe and there were no rallies except by Tony who had rallied 50 miles each way in his 36 Le Mans (quite a brave man, it was freezing in the morning, high 40s and he drove with the top down all bundled up). It never did warm up, barely got above 65 degrees but it was sunny all day and the field was quite dry from the weeks rain, so no mud puddle that I was afraid of. I trailered my 1.5 but officially WITH witnesses committed to seeing if I can get it running with its existing motor for the next years show. Tony also brought his 37 Coupe via flatbed using AAA towing, he just forgot to mention that the year the car broke down was 20 years ago.

So 3 cars were on the field and all pre-war.

Jonas Waxman flew down from Oakland, it was really nice to see him again as its been about 15 years since I had seen him. Some crazy guys flew in from Canada too but I forgot to get their names, ran around in White coveralls looking like escapees from a asylum.

I found 2 things very interesting.

1. how many people appeared genuinely interested in Singer's and how many people used to own one (I think this is more a S. Calif. thing as the marque was very popular here), met one guy who used to race against 4AD's at the SB airport (sorry Peter I did not get his name, did not think of it in time but hopefully he will send pictures he said he had).

2. I can't count the number of people who just walked up and asked if I wanted to sell my 1.5, never even heard of Singer's, did not even know they were looking at Singer's, but very first question was "is it for sale?" My regular answer was "No" but I was not forceful enough with one guy who went on thinking out loud that he could pay me top dollar for the car that afternoon in cash, he could come up with maybe $3,500 that afternoon he said...I told him to add a zero and maybe we could talk, he went and asked Tony if the Coupe was for sale but because he was going to have to cut the top, he only offered Tony $3,000. I probably had over a dozen people ask if it was for sale, the 2 cars that are under restoration could have been sold a dozen times, but the finished and beautiful LM was never even asked about. I guess they think because its not shiny its cheap.

Took lots of pics, I will post them ASAP

[Phillip]

Well, I just flew in from LA and, boy, are my arms tired!

Actually, all of me is tired, but very satified at what was an EXCELLENT West Coast NASOC gathering at Woodley Park!

First off, Kudos to Tony for supplying most of the Singers assembled. As if driving the distance in his Le Mans wasn't enough, his wife Anna rode shotgun in a flatbed tow truck hire specifically to bring the '37 Coupe to the show! Commitment above and beyond! Mike's car rounded out a great Pre-War showing that had crowds around them all day. As one of those white-clad escapees, I can only say it was the finest kind of madness! We even spotted Jay Leno on the field! As Pre-War Registrar, I was the busiest I've been in a long time answering questions and serving up stats. As Mike says, the crowd really warmed to the Singers and the organisers thanked us for a great display, hoping NASOC will come back in force again next year.

As ever, it is the people behind the cars that make a good event great and this was no exception: It was an honour and a pleasure to meet Jonas Waxman and President Paul supplied the taxi service to ensure he got to and from the airport on time as he flew in especially for the day from Oakland. This may not seen like an especially unusual feat until you factor in that Jonas is a spry and remarkable 88 years old! Stephen Crisham was there too, having traded in his 1.5 4 seater Sports for a Jag E-TYpe, but he spent a good amount of time catching up with us at Singer Central.

Last but by no means least, a huge thank you to Lex Dupont and his wife Lawrence for hosting Paul and I for an excellent evening and dinner on the Saturday night, capped off with a behind-the-wheel high-point driving his '55 Singer-powered HRG 1500. Drving through the twilight streets of LA in a black HRG is an amazing and surreal experience! Lex had been very keen to attend the show, but his work commitments made it impossible, otherwise we would have been four cars.

So, thanks again to Tony, Anna and Mike for pulling it all together and making it finally happen on the West Coast and a special thank you to Jonas, Steve, his wife Anne, as well as Lex and his wife Lawrence for making it a wonderful Singer weekend.

Back to the Asylum now, I guess, but with some very happy ( and warm! ) memories. It will be quite a while before this Man in White enjoys the green grass and warm sunshine that we enjoyed in LA!!!

Here's to next year!

Look for a full report in the next NASOC NEWS, as well as photos and videos to be posted soon!!

[Paul Bouchard]

OH-MY-GOODNESS!



This was certainly a whirlwind weekend. From the frigid cold of Montreal to the warm sun of Los Angeles and back in 2 short days. I could not have imagined a better time to reunite with and see new Singer friends. What can be said but WAY TO GO TONY, ANNA & MIKE! Thanks too to the weather for being just so darn nice. I am a bit pooped having flown all-night from LAX to Montreal, then a 3-hour drive to Quebec City and 8 hours of meetings but I WOULD NOT HAVE MISSED IT!!!

Here are a couple of teaser photos from the day:

Webmaster Mike and Pre-war Registrar Phillip discuss things Singer next to Mike's 34 1.5 LM.

The lineup, the crowd, the day!

One of Tony's cars at the show, a 36 LM

Another of Tony's car, a 37 Coupe

I am sure that you will see and read more in future postings and, perhaps, the NEWS!

Paul (about to head for a good night's rest)

[mikeyr]

trying something new... I have loaded the pictures at http://www.singercars.com/gallery2/main.php

I did this because I had 30 pictures and felt it would overload this forum, besides this way you can click your way up to really big pictures, keep clicking and the picture keeps growing (2 times I think)

I can go back to posting in the forum if people request it but this is better for lots of pictures I think.

http://www.singercars.com/gallery2/main.php

Mike

[Peter McKercher]

Some excellent shots. Thanks to you, Anna and Tony for getting the cars out. It's not easy bringing non runners in tow.

Good work on the format as well. An excellent way to present a large number of photos