by Dave Williamson, 1994 and 1995 NSW Sports 1300 State Champion 1995: Butterflies. Large flapping butterflies….so surely it must be spring?Bloody great butterflies …in my stomach.All this, while I wait on the dummy grid at Eastern Creek.Hot smells: hot oil, 100 octane Avgas being rapidly devoured by impatient engines. What’s this all about? We are […]
Stories
A one-family Gemini for 44-years
by John O’Farrell I’m custodian of a Holden Gemini that I believe is the best surviving Gemini wagon in Australia. Since it’s in stock specification and showroom condition, I make this bold statement based on my on-line involvement with the nationwide Gemini community. KCJ 193 was certainly good enough to be selected for Home Delivery, […]
Why a Canstel?
by Rod Chivas I blame dad for my love of Triumphs. My father was Sales Manager, NSW, forStandard-Triumph Australia and each evening came home in different examplesof the company’s locally assembled range: Vanguards Phase two and three,Rambler Ambassadors, even a Mercedes-Benz and, inevitably, a variety ofTriumphs. Mum drove a succession of Triumph Heralds and loved […]
Maserati: mia grande passione
by Dave Williamson The year was 1954, I was standing at the wire fence at Auckland’s racetrack, Ardmore, and watched as Stan Jones won the first NZ Grand Prix. On that day, I heard the V16 BRM screaming for almost three hours – an experience now embedded in my brain. At age 10, I was […]
Alberto Santos-Dumont, Pioneer in Aviation
Two books, reviewed by Garry Pritchard and Hugh King The Library at the Australian Motor Heritage Foundation holds two books from the first decade of the 20th century, with contemporary accounts of the aviation activities of an extraordinary man. Santos-Dumont (1873-1932) was a Brazilian aeronaut, sportsman and inventor, and is said to be one of the […]
45 years with a special car
by Brian Caldersmith I always admired Colin Chapman and his designs, especially from an engineering point of view. Breakthrough after breakthrough, advancement upon advancement, was routine in the development of his cars. Few people caused a law change because of their designs, and I know of no other whose cars were banned because they were […]
David Crotty’s “Qantas and the Empire Flying Boat”
Book review by Ian Debenham OAM The title of this book is an apt description of the contents of this book. It is focussed on the Short S.23 flying boats — otherwise known as the Short Empire flying boat and the ‘C’ class in Imperial Airways aircraft classification — designed and built by Short Brothers […]
Gary R Squire’s “Bringing Connie Home”
Book review by Ian Debenham OAM Australian aficionados of old aeroplanes will be very aware of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society’s (HARS) Lockheed Constellation VH-EAG, ‘Southern Preservation’, and its flights at various air shows here. At the time of writing this, it is the only flying Constellation in the world. Perhaps rather boldly, I venture […]
Andrew Moore’s “Aintree Down Under”
On Saturday August 13th 2022 our very own Ambassador and Volunteer Adjunct Professor Dr Andrew Moore delivered the “54th Ward and Olive Havard Memorial Lecture”
