Chairmans Chatter - Peter Arnell
Now that 1999 is nearly a memory, I thought I would give a brief resume of what we, as a Register, have been up to this year. This is partly to try to encourage more of you to join us next year and also because Dennis has asked me to do it!

Our season opener was of course the Y Type Spring Run up in the Cotswolds. This had a very good turnout but still not the magic 50 cars (next year?). The beginning of the day was marred, somewhat, by Jerry Birkbecks unfortunate accident on the way to the start but, nevertheless, we all enjoyed a very scenic run around very pretty lanes and villages.

We had a stand at the Spring Gathering at "Glorious" Goodwood - fortunately the weather held until most people had got home. This was a very attractive venue with several interesting road runs to it and we had a good attendance.

The Regency Run, taking a new route (2, in fact) from Crystal Palace down through rural (at times very rural) Kent and Sussex to Brighton attracted 8 Y types which included 2 YTs.

The Blossom Run in Mid-May took us to Brogdale, home of the National Fruit Collection. It was a pity that, because of the warm Spring, there little blossom left, nevertheless, a very enjoyable day.

A good contingent of Ys took part in the Old Specked Hen Run, centred on Abingdon. Always very popular and oversubscribed, book early if you want to join in next year.

Silverstone was, as always, very enjoyable and sociable and a trifle wet at times. Neil Cairns, very deservedly, won the NTG Cup.

Unfortunately, we were not able to do the new style Wings Run in mid-June but there was a good turnout, 10 Ys in all.

The following weekend the Mitchell-Gogays and Kelloways upheld honours at the Woodcroft Gathering, and both came away with prizes in the Concours.

At the end of June, a group of us, at the kind invitation of Paul Barrow, joined the Bear and Ragged Staff Informal Concours evening. Although the weather was pretty miserable, there was an excellent turnout including other marques and we all found it a very friendly affair. Try to go next year if you live in that part of the world (near Romsey, Hants).

August was a quiet month, although Jack and Molly Murray and Bill & Lesley Atkinson joined in the 'Compiegne Gourmet Tour' in France and have probably been on a diet ever since.

September saw the South Downs Run from Petersfield to Eastbourne, again well supported and very enjoyable. Limited to around 300 cars and always over subscribed - apparently people start booking as early as February.

Although the day started wet, The Autumn Gathering had 8 Ys and the Kelloways again came away with a prize in the Pride of Ownership.

In all, Yvette, our YB, has covered some 3700 miles over the year, did not win anything but, more important did not break anything. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at events next year (our calendar is being finalised), and in the meantime best wishes for Christmas and for a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Y Type Carburettor Needles
Peter Arnell carried out painstaking research, and gives interesting information with his figures for SU needle D2 for the H2 carburettor fitted to the Y saloons.

The workshop manual gives needle EF for weaker running and the figures are very close to D2 but with richer points at the third and sixth stages, which might compensate for the rush of air as the piston lifts at quick throttle openings, and also give slightly richer mixture for cooling at low throttle openings in traffic or after a high speed run.

The factory-recommended FE does give a weaker mixture than D2 in the last third of the opening to full throttle and in my own YB this gives lively response with light throttle openings so that it is necessary to ease back to keep below 65 mph. Top speed is indicated at above 75 mph (speedo figures).

Mileage per gallon has risen from 27.3 on the standard F1 to 33.4 on the FE. Our YB does a healthy mileage with daily use, but the engine is absolutely original with some wear so I normally use 60 mph as top cruise with 10 mph in reserve. For economy I use a 50/50 mix of four star and unleaded.

The advance on the distributor is logical and one that many Y-type owners must have used over the years, but the engine mechanicals are a little noisy in ours so in deference to that I have stuck to TDC at static. I hope to rebuild the top end with new pistons and camshaft next winter and certainly will be following Peter’s advice, for I am sure his suggested 6o advance will give a useful power increase. Peter’s information that 1/4" at the crankshaft pulley is equal to 6o at the distributor is most useful in assisting this.
Philip F Waltham (YB saloon owner) Membership 93978

The Finishing Touch - Jack Murray
Like many classic car owners from all over the world, I set out on the morning of Saturday 11th September for my annual pilgrimage to the Beaulieu Autojumble. For the past few years my visits have lacked the urgency to search out that much sort after part, as the restoration of my car was completed some years ago. My visit was simply an expensive way to top up on gasket paper, cork sheeting and other minor consumables. As much as anything, I'm rather hooked on the event and enjoy soaking up the atmosphere, quite often with the emphasis being on 'soaking'.

However, this year the day dawned brightly and full of promise. I had a small list with me, itemising part numbers to look out for, and somewhere near the bottom of the list was an item that I have been searching for over the last ten years - a 'University Motors' dashboard plaque. "Hen's teeth!" I hear you say. Well, you'd be correct in assuming that they are not easy to find although, over the years, I have come across the odd specimen. Sadly, I am unable and unwilling to part with the sort of money the plaque seems to command. I've seen badly damaged examples with an asking price of £60 and a perfect specimen could set you back treble that amount.

Anyway, on with the tale. Imagine my glee when approaching the third stall of the day, I spotted, inside a glass display case, nestling between a Michelin Man badge and a Watneys Red Barrel key ring (remember those?), a University Motors key ring! Isn't it difficult to ask the price of something you really desire without appearing too enthusiastic? Trying to appear as nonchalant as possible, I enquired of the stall holder how much he wanted for it. He removed it from the case, turned it over to show a ticket marked with an extremely modest price. Now then, I don't know how lottery winners feel, but I suspect that what I was feeling was along the same lines. With sweaty palms I fumbled in my pocket to find the right money before he changed his mind or doubled the price. I walked away from the stall feeling like the cat who'd got the cream. I was still smiling inwardly some hour later when I came across the true object of my desire, (only joking Mollie), in a very similar display case. There it was, in all its glory; a University Motors dashboard plaque.

This time, the price was showing and surprisingly was the sort of money I was prepared to pay. I asked to view the plaque more closely as I was concerned that it was less colourful than it should be. The plaque that I had been searching for should have brightly coloured enamels (dark blue, light blue and red) with a silvered background. The badge resting in my palm was definitely brass in finish without the coloured enamel, but with a black background to the lettered area. Everything else about the plaque rang true. It had a St. Christopher in the centre and a heraldic device on each side of this. Above these were the words 'University Motors Ltd.' and below it read 'Stratton House W1', 'Grosvenor 4141'. It looked like the real McCoy apart from the lack of colour. I enquired whether the stall holder knew anything of the plaques’ history - perhaps this is a pre-war example, I thought. Sadly he could offer no help regarding its history and no explanation as to the lack of colour. I returned the plaque to the case and told him I would think about it.

It had only taken me time to view another two stalls when it suddenly occurred to me that I was being rather unwise. A ten-year search was almost at an end and I had just rejected one because the colours were missing! Within a few minutes I was the proud owner of a 'University Motors' dashboard plaque. I bumped into several Car Club members during the rest of the day and each one inspected the plaque and gave the opinion that it seemed 'correct' apart from the lack of coloured enamel. There is also no evidence of any damage that would no doubt be caused had the enamel been removed. Can anyone out there provide any help on this subject? Please.

Once I got the badge home, I carefully cleaned it up whilst still looking for the tiniest fleck of coloured enamel - none in evidence. During the cleaning process I wondered as to the significance of the two heraldic shields contained within the badge. Well, having been issued by University Motors' it would be logical to assume that there must be some connection to a seat of learning. Sure enough, a little research revealed that the crests are those of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. As you would expect, the key-ring shares the same crests but in less detail. As to the coloured enamels, seen on other plaques, that highlight the name and address of the company, they are dark blue and light blue, which again reinforces the Oxbridge link. I wonder if the company ever sort permission to use them?

The badge is now firmly attached to the centre of my dashboard and provides the finishing touch to my car. Despite the lack of colour it looks good. In fact, in comparison, the coloured version is a little garish.

During my searches, I have come across plaques that differ in manufacture. Some, like none, have the St. Christopher medallion cast during the manufacturing process whereas others have a domed St. Christopher that has been glued into a blank area between the two shields. In fact, I came across this version later in the day at Beaulieu. The plaque had suffered quite badly over the years, about half the enamel had broken away and the St. Christopher was missing, exposing a flat brass area.

The key rings presented to new owners also differed in style and design. Mine is a medallion held by a chain to the actual key ring and has a brass coloured background. The reverse is inscribed with the name of the first owner and the date on which her car was purchased. My good friend Bill Atkinson, has an example that has a different fixing to allow the attachment of a leather key fob, and has a silvered background.

If there is anyone out there who can provide me with any information regarding the history of the company and more importantly the origins of my dashboard plaque, I would be most grateful.