Singers on Video: Hudson and Merrickville Car Shows...

[Phillip]

Two small town Canadian events with quite big turn-outs and both with Singers attending caught on video:

Hudson Car Show in August with over 500 cars attending:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrFeobCfppw

Merrickville Car Show in September with over 100 cars attending:
https://mgdriving.com/2022/09/27/le-mas ... -phillips/

The Merrickville event was this past weekend and I spent four days getting Barry's cars ready to roll. It was very rewarding to be getting the last cleaned and detailed by the night before. Barry got his entire fleet there on the day.

Pretty much the end of the season for us now I expect, although I might try one last pub night next week with the LM.

[mikeyr]

I thought they were called Le Mans, not Le Master's

Very nice videos

[MR TOAD'S GARAGE]

Hello again Miker; Is there a video to watch? I couldn't log on at first but it worked this time-- you're the software guy I'm a bolt and nutter~~
From your experience with Singer engines, what are the WEAK parts: Rod's or crank when worked hard? I want to Magnaflux mine and then Nitrate or/and shot peen them but is either specifically weak when worked hard? What have others found they can shave the heads for more compression? These engines are similar to other 1500cc's like the MG have decades of development as compared to the Singer engine and have good aftermarket support! I recall that Vaugn was faster than others but blew up but that info is hard to find!
I wouldn't be surprised if others have found lots of interchangeability with modern small engines. We're running out of anyone that knows about things that long ago along with skilled machinists etc!
Cheers;
Michael Rogers

[mikeyr]

Yes, there are videos, the links are above in the first post.

Regarding your engine question, there is really no major weakpoint in the 4AD motor, its a strong motor. The weakness in the drivetrain is the rear axle, but the twin carb rear is stronger than the single carb rear axle.

Vaughn did a LOT of playing with the cars, changing from Twin Solex's to SU sidedrafts and things like that, he even changed firing order from 1432 to 1324 (no change of crank, just camshaft change), I know because my car had one of those cams in it. I don't know if it changed timing of valves or just firing order, the car by seat of the pants feel did not have extra power but would never idle smoothly, changing the cams to stock made it idle pretty smooth.

[Peter McKercher]

Mike
Vaughan didn't actually do any of that themselves. They didn't even do dealer prep. Monroe Gretske, General Manager of Vaughan Singer Motors in Hollywood, originally approached Al Moss of Moss Motors to do his dealer prep. Moss didn't have much time for Gretske and certainly didn't want to be in business with him. Gretske eventually contracted dealer prep and all servicing to Schaeffer Motors, which was conveniently located in the opposite side of the building from VSM.

Any significant mods were typically done by individual owners such as Lammy Lamoreaux, Vern Gardner and Dick van Laanen. They used an assortment of engine builders and machinists such as Chet Herbert at Herbert Cams and Bill Kerrigan.

They did use an assortment of carbs. One of the favourite upgrades was a set of 4 Amal Cycle carbs.