News from the February Meeting

Max Moke Month

It was a good plan, but the weather didn't co-operate.

One has a right to expect that an early February summer evening should have a warm, top down feel to it. Not the case. The forecast was for an Armageddon-like storm to hit just at the start of the meeting. It was a half an hour late and it wasn't a war zone but it was very wet.

The result was 6 Mokes were parked outside the clubhouse. We had Min Moke Month instead!

It begs the question Which month will be Max Moke Month? in this 50th year of our club.

When Is Our Birthday?

The inaugural meeting of what became (on the day) the Moke Owners' Association of Victoria was 2pm Saturday March 15th 1969 at 65 Whitworth Avenue, Springvale. Eight Moke owners attended, including the co-Founder, Peter Gilbert and they were the first 8 members of the club.

While we are speaking historically, your club also believes it is the first club for Mokes in the world.

Member Update

As of the meeting night we had 260 members. If 'H', who was visiting to 'check us out' likes what he saw then we might soon be 261. There's always room for one more.

 How Will We Celebrate?

We're gonna party! First up is a 60s Beach Party in West Rosebud on Sunday February 17th. That will be followed on Saturday March 23rd with the Big Birthday Bash at Akoonah Park Hall Berwick from 17:00. Ring Rhonda (0419 580 924) for both these events and find more details in Tracks for these and other events as the year progresses.

What's Happened to Tracks?

It's gone full colour from February! You might not have noticed if you get it electronically because you are used to seeing colour on screen. But those who still receive a hard copy version will see the difference. And it's cost the club less to give you this much more.

How can that be?

The answer is that Scott Williams is manager of Le Pine Funerals, Box Hill, and the company asked each manager to nominate a community organisation they were passionate about with a view to it receiving sponsorship. Scott asked if his organisation could be the MOAV and whether the sponsorship could be in the form of printing the club magazine using the company's facilities. As you can see the answer was yes and the club only has to supply the paper. That will make a significant difference to our monthly balance sheet. Thanks Scott and Le Pine Funerals.

Christmas at the Clubhouse 2018

Moke Parking   Dale, Livia and Andrew show us how to do it. One space, two Mokes. It's environmentally friendly. (Click photos to enlarge.)

How's This?   Step inside the clubhouse and meet ... our 50 year celebration banner. Designed by Cameron Bendix and presented by proud parents Axel and Helen.

Club Clobber   Through the door you will find the first release of T-Shirts, mugs, stubby holders and more ... all decorated with the 50 year logo. Just ask Rhonda - but first let her have a bite of her barbequed burger.

Special Guest   Ho ho ho. Look who's made a special visit for Christmas. Now let's see who this one is for.

A Little Doubt   I don't really know who you are, but are you sure this is for me?

I'm a Believer   Thanks Red Man. I thought it would be a Moke, but I reckon this will do.

Mokin' Christmas Better   Thanks Santa. You really are a magical, good bloke. Have a great Christmas yourself.

Mokin' it to 90

John (Pop) Almond turned 90 recently and it was wonderful to have him on board with us at the Annual Presentation Dinner. John got his nickname when he joined the club in 1983 - we all thought he was old when he joined.  Ha! ha! ... Now a lot of us are the age he was when he joined (or older!). Perhaps the laugh's on us after all. At the dinner Pop was presented with his 35 year membership award and he won a bottle of wine in the raffle! The perfect partner to the cheese board and knife set won by his son Lee. We believe Lee was the nominated driver so Pop could have a drink. That all worked out pretty well then didn't it (wink, wink). Pop is an absolute card and a true Mokee! More power to ya' Pop. (Photo taken at Pop's 90th which several Mokees attended at the invitation of the family. Click to enlarge.)

Moken Up The Middle: 10th Anniversary

At the June 2018 General Meeting those present were treated to a few photos of a club trip in 2008 from Melbourne to Alice and back. Up via the Oodnadatta Track and back via the Stuart Highway. The purpose of the presentation was to:

• Celebrate this memorable moment in club history.
• Encourage members to take the opportunity of joining any other such adventure when it comes along in the future.

Such an opportunity will come. The club has a long history of successfully biting off more than others think we can chew. Let the sample of photos below tempt you then check out this site:

• http://www.blackdouglas.com.au/mokenalice/index.htm

for the full story with many more photos, captions, preparation information, costs, poetry written on the way and much more.

For a better view of the sample photos shown here:

• Click a photo to enlarge it.
• Then use the Next or Previous buttons, or arrow keys, to move through all the photos.
• Buttons are near the top right and left and show when the mouse moves over them.

           

           

           

           

           

After Down and Dirty

It doesn't have to be a trip through the Simpson Desert to get your soft top dirty. Just driving to the shop can do that. But what do you do to clean it? Here's a bit of advice from Dean of Straight Line Motor Trimming which he offered to members at the June General Meeting.

• Keep it clean. Wash regularly with warm water and nothing stronger than a little quality kitchen detergent.
• If it's really, really dusty you could blow some off first with an air compressor.
• Definitely regularly blow out lift-the-dots with the compressor.
• If necessary use a little squirt of silicone spray.
• Same with zippers.
• When lifting-the-dot be sure to slide the clip to front of post before lifting.
• On the roof and clears a light spray with Mr. Sheen and a rub will increase waterproofing.
• If dripping through the seams annoys you can seal the seans using a wax stick and a hairdryer.

And here's one for the books - or should that be bots. If you have tombstone seats Straight Line now have seat warmers with or without built in massage!

Is There A Resto In You?

That was the question addressed to a panel of three Resto-Achievers at the April 2018 general meeting. Actually the question was addressed to the audience by panel chairperson Terry Pollard who had prepared a set of questions and slides to draw out the wisdom of experience from Clive Allan, Axel Bendix and Peter Shackleton. The meeting was well attended and helped many members to consider - or reconsider - their desire to restore a Moke.

Key considerations from the discussion were:

• Whatever budget you set and whatever time you allow, a restoration will cost you at least twice as much in time and money as you expected.
• Where will you work? Where will you store? How will you move efficiently between the two areas?
• The body is the focus. Put your energy into getting it right. The rest is a meccano set you take apart and put back together.
• As you deconstruct, photograph, label, categorise and store. Reconstruction will be so much easier if you do this well.
• Some parts of the process might be better passed over to a professional - sand blasting for example.
• You can do it and you don't have to do it alone. There is always someone in the club who will help you learn.
• Keep on the good side of the domestic financial controller. Promise of a ride when it's done may not be enough.
  

Now some words of wisdom from each of the panel members:

Peter Shackleton

This 1979 Moke was purchased in 2004 with a restoration deadline of the 2006 Muster. It was completely dismantled before a bolt by bolt restoration. The shell was in magnificent condition and only had a small amount of rust in the front driver’s pannier box. Bumps and dints particularly to the rear and front passenger side needed work. A rotisserie is an essential piece of equipment and cuts tens of hours off a restoration (including painting). Happy to lend it ... when I finish my next one!

       

 

Axel Bendix

Mokes are a great car to restore as there isnt really any rounded panels and they are about as simple a car as there is. Take lots of photos and label everything. Take your time and enjoy the journey. There is always plenty of people in the club ready to lend a hand and some friendly advice.

       

Clive Allan

Don’t be intimidated by people who have done a restoration. You don’t need any particular skills other than perseverance and having the desire to “give it a go”.