Thumbs Up - February 2017
| thumbs_up_february_2017.pdf |
Please note that Norman's article is below the mag this month not in it.
THE KI-GAS and Tiger Moths Adventure
It all started when I discovered I only had one chrome button- so requiring five more to hold the J2 mudguards on Pierino said he could make them and sent me off to buy carriage bolts and huge washers which he braised on to form the shape. Once Bob was happy with them off we went to the plots past Benoni to get them chromed. That’s is when we saw the tractors!
What I need for the J2 is a Ki-Gas from a tractor. It is a hand pump which is used to prime the supercharger at start-up. So when we went to collect all the chromed parts we popped into the ‘Tractor’ plot.
The young chap ,working on the tractors, knew exactly what we were after, telling us where we might try to find one and in the process giving Bob and me a guided tour of some twenty tractors of all shapes, sizes and vintages. His running commentary had us all absolutely flabbergasted, and on my return home I phoned Wilf Mole down at Sandstone to tell him about this knowledgeable 25 year old, polite, kid who knew everything about tractors. As Wilf was coming up back to Joburg a week we agreed to meet, have lunch and go along with him to the Springs Flying Club for a meeting with the pilots coming to Sandstone in a couple of months time.
However, the following day Ron and Valery Gammons were flying in from the UK and as Pat had to have a four seater for work that day I asked Bruce to help me collect the Gammons and deliver them to Roy Watson in Bryanston as they were flying on the last leg of the Vintage Air Safari down Africa. Ron co-piloting a Tiger Moth with young Courtney Watson and Valery flying a rented Cesna so as not to miss the fun. The following day Ron needed to go to Krugersdorp to write an exam so I picked them up in the TF and top down in glorious weather we belted along. The following day using Pats ZR I took them to Leopards Lodge for lunch and then to Hertz car hire for them to drive on their return to Cape Town. All went well and I am sure they would have loved to have been with me the next day when off Bob and I went with Wilf to Springs to see Tigers of all shapes fully restored and being restored and meeting the man who had recently bought George Dehlens MGTC -Small world!
Then back to the plots to meet young tractor guy and to introduce him to Wilf. Off we went for a chat over lunch at the local- and hey, ho- Wilf hired him.
A week later Peter Steyn magically appeared to collect all his Twin Cam and P spares at Bob’s place and invited us to see what he has been doing. His workshop and car parking area defies description. Suffice to say if Pat thinks I will live to 125 to finish my projects then Peter will have to live at least 20 years longer
AND – Peter was able to show us Ki-Gas that he got brand new with a six cylinder F-special from Somerset West. So now we know what to look for. Wonders never cease!
Octagonally
Norman
PS- My thanks are due to all who came out on my birthday run . Too see all my old buddies- Esra, Jaques- Tilda and several cars like Bobs MGA, The Baylis TC made it MaGic!!
Norman
PS- My thanks are due to all who came out on my birthday run . Too see all my old buddies- Esra, Jaques- Tilda and several cars like Bobs MGA, The Baylis TC made it MaGic!!
