NSCA News

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Here you will find all the most up to date news from both the Association and our members. Don't forget full details also always appear in our quarterly Magazine and newsletter.

Headline News

Members Meeting 17th April 2010

For full details please see the EGM Feb 2010 Page.

Members Meeting,

Saturday 17th April 2010 at 11am onward with the official meeting at 1.30pm

Kilsby Village Hall,

Kilsby, Rugby,

Northamptonshire. CV23 8XX.

Ian Broadbent

We find ourselves again reporting the sad loss of another member.

Mr Ian Broadbent was a true gentleman who has given the club his unfailing support over the last year even though suffering deteriating health, and for that the club will be eternally grateful. He was a great man of many talents, wonderful qualities and engaging stories.

It was our pleasure to have Ian and his lovely wife Christine with us at our launch at Dorset where even under wheelchair power he supported us tirelessly.

Our thoughts go out his wife Christine, son Craig and daughter Wendy and their families at this truly sad and difficult time.

Michael Oliver

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Michael Oliver. Known throughout the steam fraternity and regular face at so many rallies he was one of the founding members of Stourpaine Bushes Rally which we all know became The Great Dorset Steam Fair.

His funeral is to be held at Child Okeford in Dorset at 2pm on Tuesday 15th December in St Nicholas Church. For further details and to register your attendance (as numbers are expected over 1000) please visit The Great Dorset Steam Fair website

Our thoughts go to Jean, Martin, Sarah and families

Jim Calder

It is with great sadness that we report that fellow member Jim Calder passed away on Saturday 19th September.

A founder member of the steam car movement in this country and a regular face at Steam Rallies across the country Jim was always to be spotted out and about in his distinctive Foden Tractor or his Steam Bread Delivery Van, both in "J Calder and Sons - The Regal Steam Bakery" livery.

Jim had undergone surgery for a brain tumour in June but had returned home from hospital to be with his family.

Our thoughts go out to Sue, Ian, Stewart and family, he will be greatly missed by all that had the pleasure to know him.

Official Launch - a HUGE success

The National Steam Car Association were pleased to officially launch from this years Great Dorset Steam Fair.

Invited by the National Traction Engine Trust we provided a display of steam cars in their marquee which stands in the center of the main working steam section of the 500 acre showground. We had a excellent week attracting much attention and many new members. All the officers and volunteer members that attended were overwhelmed with the positive and supportive response to our new Association and we would all like to thank everyone that took the time to come up and say hello.

We would also like to thank the Steam Fair Radio and show for their excellent coverage of our launch. Our stand in the marquee was matched by the excellent display of cars and Association stand in the Steam Car section at the top of the play pen, where again we were on hand to answer questions and meet with members and public.

On the Saturday evening our week was topped off with a evening of 'Natters and Noggins', with a traditional folk band in attendance from the show and a chance to meet some of the new members that we had met throughout the week the four hour party was a great success with a wonderful friendly atmosphere and we hope that those that joined us had just as good a time as we did.

For a full report please check out the next magazine and you can also see more photos on the GDSF 2009 page. In addition the launch has got great press coverage so if you are lucky enough to subscribe to Vintage Spirit then check out page 52.

NSCA proudly joins forces to preserve Light Steam Power

Sue Stamp daughter of John Walton and his grandsons Ben and John visit NSCA at the GDSF 2009

The National Steam Car Association are joining forces with the Walton Family to preserve the Light Steam Power Archive. For the full press release please see below and for more information on Light Steam Power go to our Archive page for more details.

Congratulations to Dean and Steve for completing their epic trip

The National Steam Car Association would like to Congratulate Dean and Steve on a great achievement - see the Challenge page for more details.

The British Steam Car Challenge - World record finally broken by the British Team

The British Steam Car Challenge has successfully broken the steam car world land speed record. For full details see our British Steam Car Challenge page.

Watch out for more television coverage

The British Steam Car Team were featured on the BBC 1 Inside Out programme (South region) on 19th October at 7.30pm, as a two-part special.

The first on the 19th covered the UK car development and testing, and the USA record will be aired on the 26th October. If you are not in the South region you can view it on Sky channel 984, or BBC iplayer.

Blue Peter, The One Show and BBC 2 documentary will be broadcast on either the 17th or 18th November – and will be confirmed with scheduling by November 3rd. We will keep you posted with steam team news!

To MOT or not to MOT that is the question?

The question over MOT's is one that has been debated for a long time within the steam car world. Some believe that you don't have to have one, while other appreciate the necessity of having the correct documentation. NSCA strongly encourage all their members to ensure that they have an up to date MOT certificate wherever they go, and no member is allowed to attend a NSCA event without one.

This article appeared in todays national press, 9th July, it proves that MOT's are important and required. More importantly it shows that officials are checking for this documentation at public events. We should remember also that many event fields, whether tarmac or grass choose to come under the Road Traffic Act.

Association News

Useful Information

Check out the Members Notice Board page for the latest additions which you just might find useful, and don't forget to submit information to the club to share with your fellow members.

Extraordinary General Meeting

Dear Member

The NSCA EGM for the purposes of adopting the Articles of Association was held on the 13th October 2009. The committee would like to thank the membership for their wonderful support for this meeting and in returning so many Proxies.

The Articles and Memorandum were successfully adopted. Full details in the upcoming magazine.

Official Launch - a HUGE success

The National Steam Car Association were pleased to officially launch from this years Great Dorset Steam Fair.

Invited by the National Traction Engine Trust we provided a display of steam cars in their marquee which stands in the center of the main working steam section of the showground. We had a excellent week attracting much attention and many new members. All the officers that attended were overwhelmed with the positive and supportive response to our new Association and we would all like to thank everyone that took the time to come up and say hello. We would also like to thank the Steam Fair Radio and show for their excellent coverage of our launch. Our stand in the marquee was matched by the excellent display of cars and Association stand in the Steam Car section at the top of the play pen, where again we were on hand to answer questions and meet with members.

On the Saturday evening our week was topped off with a evening of 'Natters and Noggins', with a traditional folk band in attendance from the show and a chance to meet some of the new members that we had met throughout the week the four hour party was a great success with a wonderful freindly atmosphere and we hope that those that joined us had just as good a time as we did.

For a full report please check out the next magazine and you can also see more photos on the GDSF 2009 page.

New Tours Announced

See our Events page for full details of the latest tour details. There is a tour planned for September and details of the Official 2010 NSCA Tour are also now available.

Press Releases

Click here of the full Press Release Archive

NSCA proudly joins forces with the Walton Family to preserve Light Steam Power

An agreement has been reached between the Walton family, Mr Chris Wedgwood and the new National Steam Car Association who have been given the sole rights to the published and so far un-published works from the collection of Mr J N Walton of LIGHT STEAM POWER. The collection consists of;

The Bolsover Brothers magazines

Light Steam Power Magazines

Reprints of old time catalogues

Numerous Sets of Drawings

John Ness Walton has been interested in steam from an early age. Born in Millom, Cumbria in June 1921, he took an apprenticeship at his Uncles colliery, where after a long days work, looking after the winding engine he would cycle 14 miles each way, to attend night school in order to gain the theoretical knowledge. During the war John joined the RAF and was based in Norfolk where shortly after the war he purchased a magazine from two elderly gentlemen (the Bolsover brothers) and developed it into what we now know as "Light Steam Power"

Over the years John continued to develop the publishing business, adding reprints of catalogues, working drawings and castings. His combined collection now boasts over 700 exhibits, from pictures and paintings to stationary steam engines and six different steam car engines! Within his personal archive much of the information dates back to the early 1800's.

With advancing years, the desire to find a partner to preserve the considerable depth of knowledge in the huge amount of published works and drawings in his collection led the family and their representative, Mr Chris Wedgwood to find such a partner. During a private steam car tour to the Isle of Man in 2008 the idea was discussed between David Webster, now Chairman of the new National Steam Car Association and Chris Wedgwood on how this could be achieved.

With the formation of the new National Steam Car Association, the discussion re-opened as the objectives of the Walton family in preserving the legacy of LIGHT STEAM POWER and all the previous published works and even some so far un-published works could be brought together into an active ‘archive’ that would be accessible via the National Steam Car Association for the foreseeable future.

With the sole publishing rights now granted to the NSCA, the Associations’ aim will be to establish a full listing of everything that exists in the archive, with the objective of making copies of all the published work available to individuals and bodies worldwide. The NSCA has also secured the rights to republish any of the works and will consider this if the demand justifies it. This includes J N Walton’s comprehensive description of Abner Doble’s work, Doble Steam Cars, Buses, Lorries and Railcars.

Full details will emerge in the National Steam Car Associations quarterly magazine, STEAM CAR WORLD as to how and when the archive will be set up and accessible. Initially the most important thing is to ensure that the lifetime work and publishing by J N Walton is preserved for the future.

Certainly, the Association’s magazine, STEAM CAR WORLD, will feature in future issues some of the previous published articles and some as yet un-published.

National Steam Car Association Formed - Monday 15th June 2009

With the ever increasing interest in Steam Car preservation, the National Traction Engine Trust were approached by a group of well known Steam Car Owners who as a result have formed the National Steam Car Association, very much affiliated to the National Traction Engine Trust, sharing in general the same principles and aims as the NTET.

The objects of the new National Steam Car Association are, apart from catering for all those interested in Steam Cars themselves, to promote responsible preservation, restoration and conservation of all steam cars, including those of both historic and educational value. Members of the new NSCA, aim to take part in not only their own activities, but to integrate with the NTET's Steam Apprentice Club and Approved Rallies and Events, allowing their interest in Steam Cars to be spread amongst all steam related groups. Together with the NTET they aim to develop a guide for all Steam Car users, covering maintenance, restoration and the general running and regular examinations of the pressure systems, so that anyone interested can come to the NTET for the same advice and support as any new Engine owner, likewise the Steam Apprentice Club will have a route for any younger members specifically showing an interest in cars. Another important activity of the new NSCA will be to build a historic archive, pattern register and technical support for all cars in preservation. Like the NTET, the NSCA will share the objective of 'Preserving our heritage with steam on the road'.

David Webster, well known to both the traction engine and steam car fraternity will be the NSCA'a first Chairman. David was one of the initial End to End runners in his Sentinel S4 in 1977 and previous owner of the Sentinel S6 'TARMAC' waggon, before retiring from bigger things and taking up his own interest and ownership of a Stanley Steamer several years ago, being an active member of the steam car fraternity.

Membership is being handled by Mrs Diana Goddard and all enquires for membership can be addressed to her or Sally-Ann Dod who is the new Company Secretary. Membership is £25.00 per year. The new National Steam Car Association has its newly developed website, www.steamcarassociation.org.uk, where full contact details can be found and they plan to publish a quarterly and informative magazine to all members.

The new National Steam Car Association will be staging its main launch at this year's Great Dorset Steam Fair, where the NTET will be hosting the new Club with a display of steam cars in its marquee and all those interested will be welcome.

For more information contact:

Sally-Ann Dod, Middleton Lodge Farm Astrop Road Middleton Cheney Banbury OX17 2PJ email: - sallyanndod@hotmail.com Mb: - 07970721976

Membership: Diana Goddard ,29 Nibs Heath Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 1HL email: - steamcargb@aol.com Tel: - 01939 260595

NSCA in the News - Press Cuttings

Here are links to the press cuttings where NSCA or NSCA members feature. Don't forget if you spot something in the press that we have missed then please do send it in.

Simply click on the image to enlarge and view