# 6 Bruce Sewart
Bruce is the longest serving member of CSSC. His player card rocks a sweet 'fro, which, along with his numerous fixed up automobiles, is a hold over from the 1980s. Bruce's big attempt to save humanity involves trying to put together the world's most efficient electric car. He took time off his busy life puttering around the cottage at Lake Winnipeg to talk to CSSC Magazine about his long history with the club.
CSSC: When did you first join the club? What car were you driving? Can you provide some important culture markers so we can place the date in context?
Sewart: I joined CSSC in the late 70s at the invitation of Saul Schubert, (see CSSC alumni page) with whom I worked at that time. I was probably still driving the first car that I owned, a 1952 Rover sedan. I think that “Tonight’s the Night” (sexy!!) by Rod Stewart was the big hit back then, along with “Hotel California” (double guitar!!). The big movie was “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, and, sadly, “Saturday Night Fever” (disco!!). As additional context, cell phones did not exist. I graduated with a degree in computer science, entering the program in the first year that it was offered at the U of M, and learning about computers in the absence of personal computers, as they didn’t exist yet either. I think Bill Gates was busy inventing Microsoft back then; wish I knew then what I know now….
CSSC: You are the picture of health. How have you stayed in such peak physical condition and avoided injury through your long career while lesser men succumb to debilitating frailty.
One of the reasons I have avoided injury is that, unlike, say, the Hudsons, I don’t hang on to the ball long enough to get tackled. And, I have had the luxury of sweepers backing me up like Stefan and Sean, so that I don’t have to bust a gut trying to keep up with the ever-younger opposition all the time.
CSSC: What was your most memorable on-field moment?
I know that you didn’t ask this, but one of my most memorable CSSC moments was a “worst”, not a best, where an effort to clear the ball from our 18 yard line that should have been with my left foot was instead attempted with my right, and the ball looped over our goalie with tremendous top spin and ended up in our net. Fortunately John Loxley was right there to take the sting out of the moment with some humour, commenting on how I didn’t diddle around, but just put the ball in the net… I think the most memorable moment of a more positive kind was the game where I showed up at half time, we were down 3-0, and ended up winning 4-3, after I managed a goal line clearance. It was one of the best examples of the team spirit of CSSC, where we didn’t quit, and kept it positive even in adversity. It is one of the reasons I have enjoyed playing on this team all these years.
CSSC: You have a reputation as something of a backyard Mr. Fixit. What projects are currently cluttering up your St. James driveway or fouling the natural world of Lake Winnipeg cottage country.
I have some unique clutter in my cottage front yard in the form of a “water bicycle”, an invention of myself and a friend who thought that it would be cool to enjoy the experience of riding a bike on the water. We entered it in the Human Powered Speed Championships, where I was very briefly on ESPN in an unsuccessful attempt to set the fastest time. The front yard of my house in the city is graced by a 1964 Ford Econoline camper van, named “Danny Van” by my wife, which we have owned since 1984. This is a factory conversion camper which has all the latest camping options from 1964, which is to say an icebox, a table that folds down into a bed, a sink, and an aluminum pop-top in which is situated an upper bed which I still use to this day. It is getting harder and harder as the years go by to physically climb up into that bed, but I was still able to manage it on our camping trip this summer.
CSSC: What would you consider to be your greatest reclamation project?
I think that the camper van just mentioned. Keeping it running all these years has involved a motor/transmission replacement which I did in my driveway, the addition of extra radiators and pumps and wind dams to try an deal with a chronic overheating problem, and multiple repairs to virtually every component of that vehicle. I think one of my favourites was when our ignition switch failed, and to start the vehicle I had to use our camping toaster to short out the starter solenoid, resulting in a shower of sparks that always ended up with my wife running for cover, but also got the engine going.
CSSC: Younger CSSC members marvel at your willingness to put cars that appear well after their best before date on the highway. What monster from the 80s are you currently risking the lives of fellow motorists with?
I could use old Danny Van again to answer your question about the old jalopy which I am currently driving, but instead will refer you to the 1986 Toyota Corolla that I use on a daily basis, and which appears to be the object of envy for many young men. It seems that this car is coveted as a classic “drifter”, being a rear wheel driven vehicle that is preferred by those who like to slide their cars sideways. My sister-in-law was the original owner, and with very few miles on it, I hope to be driving it for many years to come, maybe even as long as Danny Van.
CSSC: Boxers, briefs or Y - fronts?
I don’t even know what a Y front is, but in terms of boxers or briefs, I will remind you once again that life is NOT a fashion show. However, after some pointed comments in the locker room after several of our scrimmages or games to a number of team members including me, I decided to change it up a bit and try some boxers. This was well received by my wife, and I can assure you that being well received by your wife when dressed only in underwear when you’re 64 is not a common occurrence. So, thanks for the comments and motivation to try something different!
CSSC: What has kept you such an important part of CSSC over all these years?
When I think about all the players, over all the years, that I have known with CSSC, I realize how lucky I was to be asked to join the team all those years ago. Our team has become a big part of my life. I hope we can keep the team, and its traditions, going for a long time into the future.
Bruce is the longest serving member of CSSC. His player card rocks a sweet 'fro, which, along with his numerous fixed up automobiles, is a hold over from the 1980s. Bruce's big attempt to save humanity involves trying to put together the world's most efficient electric car. He took time off his busy life puttering around the cottage at Lake Winnipeg to talk to CSSC Magazine about his long history with the club.
CSSC: When did you first join the club? What car were you driving? Can you provide some important culture markers so we can place the date in context?
Sewart: I joined CSSC in the late 70s at the invitation of Saul Schubert, (see CSSC alumni page) with whom I worked at that time. I was probably still driving the first car that I owned, a 1952 Rover sedan. I think that “Tonight’s the Night” (sexy!!) by Rod Stewart was the big hit back then, along with “Hotel California” (double guitar!!). The big movie was “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, and, sadly, “Saturday Night Fever” (disco!!). As additional context, cell phones did not exist. I graduated with a degree in computer science, entering the program in the first year that it was offered at the U of M, and learning about computers in the absence of personal computers, as they didn’t exist yet either. I think Bill Gates was busy inventing Microsoft back then; wish I knew then what I know now….
CSSC: You are the picture of health. How have you stayed in such peak physical condition and avoided injury through your long career while lesser men succumb to debilitating frailty.
One of the reasons I have avoided injury is that, unlike, say, the Hudsons, I don’t hang on to the ball long enough to get tackled. And, I have had the luxury of sweepers backing me up like Stefan and Sean, so that I don’t have to bust a gut trying to keep up with the ever-younger opposition all the time.
CSSC: What was your most memorable on-field moment?
I know that you didn’t ask this, but one of my most memorable CSSC moments was a “worst”, not a best, where an effort to clear the ball from our 18 yard line that should have been with my left foot was instead attempted with my right, and the ball looped over our goalie with tremendous top spin and ended up in our net. Fortunately John Loxley was right there to take the sting out of the moment with some humour, commenting on how I didn’t diddle around, but just put the ball in the net… I think the most memorable moment of a more positive kind was the game where I showed up at half time, we were down 3-0, and ended up winning 4-3, after I managed a goal line clearance. It was one of the best examples of the team spirit of CSSC, where we didn’t quit, and kept it positive even in adversity. It is one of the reasons I have enjoyed playing on this team all these years.
CSSC: You have a reputation as something of a backyard Mr. Fixit. What projects are currently cluttering up your St. James driveway or fouling the natural world of Lake Winnipeg cottage country.
I have some unique clutter in my cottage front yard in the form of a “water bicycle”, an invention of myself and a friend who thought that it would be cool to enjoy the experience of riding a bike on the water. We entered it in the Human Powered Speed Championships, where I was very briefly on ESPN in an unsuccessful attempt to set the fastest time. The front yard of my house in the city is graced by a 1964 Ford Econoline camper van, named “Danny Van” by my wife, which we have owned since 1984. This is a factory conversion camper which has all the latest camping options from 1964, which is to say an icebox, a table that folds down into a bed, a sink, and an aluminum pop-top in which is situated an upper bed which I still use to this day. It is getting harder and harder as the years go by to physically climb up into that bed, but I was still able to manage it on our camping trip this summer.
CSSC: What would you consider to be your greatest reclamation project?
I think that the camper van just mentioned. Keeping it running all these years has involved a motor/transmission replacement which I did in my driveway, the addition of extra radiators and pumps and wind dams to try an deal with a chronic overheating problem, and multiple repairs to virtually every component of that vehicle. I think one of my favourites was when our ignition switch failed, and to start the vehicle I had to use our camping toaster to short out the starter solenoid, resulting in a shower of sparks that always ended up with my wife running for cover, but also got the engine going.
CSSC: Younger CSSC members marvel at your willingness to put cars that appear well after their best before date on the highway. What monster from the 80s are you currently risking the lives of fellow motorists with?
I could use old Danny Van again to answer your question about the old jalopy which I am currently driving, but instead will refer you to the 1986 Toyota Corolla that I use on a daily basis, and which appears to be the object of envy for many young men. It seems that this car is coveted as a classic “drifter”, being a rear wheel driven vehicle that is preferred by those who like to slide their cars sideways. My sister-in-law was the original owner, and with very few miles on it, I hope to be driving it for many years to come, maybe even as long as Danny Van.
CSSC: Boxers, briefs or Y - fronts?
I don’t even know what a Y front is, but in terms of boxers or briefs, I will remind you once again that life is NOT a fashion show. However, after some pointed comments in the locker room after several of our scrimmages or games to a number of team members including me, I decided to change it up a bit and try some boxers. This was well received by my wife, and I can assure you that being well received by your wife when dressed only in underwear when you’re 64 is not a common occurrence. So, thanks for the comments and motivation to try something different!
CSSC: What has kept you such an important part of CSSC over all these years?
When I think about all the players, over all the years, that I have known with CSSC, I realize how lucky I was to be asked to join the team all those years ago. Our team has become a big part of my life. I hope we can keep the team, and its traditions, going for a long time into the future.