Jerome's Sunbeam Pages
3. Five Ws and an H
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Who
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My name is Jerome Yuzyk (rhymes with "music"). I am a Computer Guy, a moniker I chose a few years back since it's easier for people to handle than a half-hour long explanation of all the computer-ish things I've done and still do. See my business 5 Ws and an H for more, or My Résumé if you want to hire someone smart :). When I'm not doing computer things (in months with no "r") I garden (no eats, just shrubs and flowers), enjoy life and, now, look for reasons to drive around in my Alpine. Occasionally I enjoy a fine cigarillo while doing it.
My wife Angela often risks her lovely form in the passenger seat while I drive, and inspired the nickname I gave to the car: the Tomato. I had exactly ZERO experience with British Cars, nevermind Sunbeam Alpines, when I bought the Tomato. Now I have somewhat more. Henry is the fellow that sold me the car (on behalf of his son Terrence). Henry owned (and swept) British Motor Group, a British Car shop of some long standing. I'm using his garage to complete the car. Warren is a guy I met at Henry's that helps me a lot with automotive things, did my front suspension and is rebuilding my replacement gearbox and overdrive. Sunny did my bodywork and will be painting the car. Bruno is doing my engine. Rod graciously and efficiently moved my car from Henry's old shop to his garage with a simple request over the phone. Several other Alberta 'Beamers have provided interest and support. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What
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{The} Tomato: A Sunbeam Alpine Series II, #39 Carnival Red, black interior, no options, almost all original parts. Overdrive removed some time after manufacture. Twist-on oil filter. Top was the wrong size and trashed, there was bondo and oil leaks, but gave me almost 2000 largely trouble-free miles (once I found the hole in the fuel pump). After First Season: 1997 I decided to Teardown the car and set about to restore it. A combination of many things kept the car unfinished for the following season and the restoration is now underway again, with the Rebuild: Body complete.
For Parts: Sunbeam Alpine Series II, #39 Carnival Red, black interior, crushed by a falling load of lumber during a prior (not by me) restoration effort. Ouch! Equipped with an Overdrive some time after manufacture. Sawed in half along the foot of the deck, just in front of shackle mounts; front section stripped and discarded. See My Alpine Journal for what becomes of the rear section over the winter of 1998. Unfortunately, not much else is of immediate (or any) use for the Tomato, being a hybrid with a Rapier engine and an abused gearbox/OD.
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Where
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I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in an older, developed neighbourhood aptly-named Forest Heights that makes the Tomato look right at home. I walk down the back alley to the other end of the block to reach my office, so the Tomato is truly a luxury.
I did teardown and body work in a bay I rented from Henry at British Motor Group. There was a hoist, many specialty tools, and people that knew stuff that will take me years to learn. Now I'm in Henry's home garage, with some tasks, like parts painting, happening in my own (small) garage. I work on anything that can fit reasonably though the doors and doesn't make a huge mess in my office, a 1-bedroom apartment. I have a workbench in the kitchen and a quasi paint booth in the bedroom. Jerome's Sunbeam Pages are created and maintained from my desk in the living room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When
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The Tomato was purchased on or about April 24, 1997. The Parts Car was towed to its very final (intact) resting spot in July of 1997. The Tomato was taken off the road on November 11, 1997 to begin refurbishment. It is currently still undergoing that refurbishment. With diligence and decent fortune, it should hit the asphalt by June of 1999. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Why |
I wanted a convertible. And, my garden (another 0-60 project) is mature and now happens by itself, so I had some kind of urge to try something new. My first target was a MG of some sort, since a friend had a Midget and I didn't know any better about anything else. In looking for a MG I found out that what I could afford wouldn't be very much of a car, and even if I could afford a good one I'd still have a car that a lot of others do. Along the way I saw the Tomato, and put it in the back of my mind while looking around. A couple more visits and the unknown won out over the familiar.
Now that I find that just about nobody knows what a Sunbeam is (out in these parts, anyway) I know I made a good choice -- I typically Zag when others Zig. The recognition in the eyes and voices of people that do remember a friend or uncle (or themselves) owning one is an extra boost, though an Alpine owner has to get used to the Tiger marque's greater tip-of-the-tongue familiarity. And, you just can't beat those Series I/II/III fins! My restoration aim is to make a contribution to keeping this car among the running, and show it around to folks stuck in Sport Utility Vehicle mode (out here in The Land Of The Pickup Truck, a great many). Additionally, I'd like it to have all the parts it had when it left the factory, useless as they may be. The Tomato got its name because:
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How
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At first I intended to restore the Tomato to something approximating its condition a year or two after manufacture (with better paint), and get an education in the process. When it didn't look like summer '98 would happen without sacrificing my life, I stopped and re-evaluated things, and decided to use my spread-out time and money to do some well-considered extra work, with a goal to improving the reliability of the Tomato so I could drive it for some time (e.g., to SUNI III). Painful now (July 31 '98) on sunny days (of which we have had plenty this summer), but I'm expecting less so than future long-trip hassles would be.
I still figure CAN$15,000 and a couple years of mechanic's hands will get me a cool car in very good shape, and an education. Maybe I'll even do it again on another car... I plan to:
I've made a couple passes through the local public libraries, reading up on automotive fundamentals and practices, lately on performance issues. Like computing, there is much merit in (at least) studying the ways and means of those who take things very seriously, and looking at ways they can translate to my (smaller) world. I take a read-first approach to anything that costs a lot of money that I've never done before. I also use Internet resources A LOT - I know more people that I've never met that know more about my car than people I have met. I've also done business over the 'Net (both ways) without a single problem. In fact, the only bad deal I've had during the course of the rebuild has been with a local. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3. Five Ws and an H JOY/CVP/YSEV/0.31 - November 7, 1999 |