Hundreds ousands - · PDF fileHundreds & Thousands ... The official newsletter of the Austin Healey Owners’ Club of Victoria incorporated In this issue ... Regalia Jeff Gillard Phone

1Hundreds & Thousands - February 2015

Hundreds&The official newsletter of the Austin Healey Owners’ Club of Victoria incorporated

In this issue

• Changes to VicRoads CPS

• Lorne Rally Program

• Snowy Mountains Tour

• Healeys On Holidays

Print post number 100000633 March 2015 Issue #59

Thousands

2 Hundreds & Thousands - February 2015


HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS IS THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE AUSTIN HEALEY OWNERS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA INC

Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, the Austin Healey Owners’ Club Inc or its committee. Information is published in good faith and we do not accept responsibility for any loss, damage or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. All rights reserved.

Calendar of Events.........................................................................4President’s Report...........................................................................5VicRoads Permits Scheme ...........................................................6Austin Healeys That Raced In Australia...................................8Feeling Social (social events for February)...............................9Competition Report & MSCA News......................................10Lorne Rally Program..................................................................14More Pages From History ..........................................................16Little Healey On Holiday..........................................................17So Much for our Free Trade Agreement.................................19Healeys On Holidays (Part 2)................................................20Healeys On Holidays Linda’s Story........................................22Land of the Long White Cloud...............................................24Stop Press Snowy Mountain Tour..........................................25Side Exhaust...................................................................................26Hoggies Wine Order Form.........................................................28Odds & Ends..................................................................................29For Sale Or Wanted..................................................................31Austin Healey Owners’ Club General Meeting Minutes......32

CONTENTSPresident & CAMS delegate Terry Wade 0438 597 366 or 5985 6017 [email protected]

Vice President - VACANT

Secretary Brian Aitken 0419 025 858 or 9775 3699 [email protected]

Treasurer Lorraine Newman 0488 639 999 [email protected]

Membership Simon Gardiner 0409 426 076 [email protected]

Clubrooms & CMC Tony Barrett 0427 051 297 or 9725 5587 [email protected]

Social Arthur Tuckett 0418 105 627 or 9571 8324 [email protected]

Librarian Mick Smith 0419 553 840 or 9789 7698 [email protected]

Communications Alex Hope 0467 855 875 [email protected]

Competition-MSCA Rod Vogt 0408 395 240 or 5962 1915 [email protected]

Regalia Jeff Gillard Phone [email protected]

AOMC Representative VicRoads CPS Officer Ken Styles 0431 481 082 or 9809 4382 [email protected] [email protected]

CAMS Tony Barrett 0427 051 297 or 9870 4447 [email protected]

Registrar Iain McPherson 9850 3267 [email protected]

Magazine Editor Mandy Parry-Jones 0409 806 986 or 9884 9200 [email protected]

AHOC COMMITTEE 2015

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL MEMBERS

THE AUSTIN HEALEY OWNERS’ CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED.

THE PO BOX IN MULGRAVE IS NO LONGER IN USE.

ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO GO TO AHOC 23 ROSALIE STREET

SPRINGVALE 3171.


CORRESPONDENCE: 23 Rosalie Street, Springvale 3171. INTERNET ADDRESS www.healeyvic.com.auCONTRIBUTIONS: Items of interest, articles, technical information, correspondence, constructive criticism, photographs - all material is very welcome. Any material for inclusion to the magazine should be sent directly to the editor details below.

The next general meeting will be held in the clubhouse, 19-23 Rosalie Street, Springvale on Thursday 5 March, 2015.

Printed by Snap Dandenong, 10 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, Vic 3175 (03) 9793 3859.

Deadline for the March edition of Hundreds & Thousands is 13 March, 2015Articles and photos can be sent to [email protected] send photos as separate files DO NOT embed in word documents. Ideally photos should be as large as possible – above 1Mb would be great (improves quality in finished magazine).

Please note these dates are subject to change. This calendar is not a comprehensive list of events please check the website www.healeyvic.com.au

Date Event Organiser1 March plough inn, myrniong

To be run by Ralph Fletcher details on page 29 this issue.AHOC

5 March AhoC monThly mEETing General meeting the clubrooms 19-23 Rosalie St, Springvale 8.00.

AHOC

6-8 March phillip iSlAnD ClASSiC www.vhrr.com

VHRR

7 March run To phillip iSlAnD ClASSiC Details to be confirmed.

AHOC

14-21 March RACV Fly ThE FlAg murRAy riVEr Tourwww.abccc.com.au/FTF/

RACV

14 March mSCA SupEr SprinT CAlDEr Contact Rod Vogt on 0408 395 240. Go to www.msca.net.au/events.php for information.

MSCA

23-25 March 25th AnnuAl SpEED WEEK lAKE gAirDnErwww.dlra.org.au

DLRA

25 March pEninSulA lunChDetails page 30 this issue.

AHOC

26 -29 March AuSTRAliAn moToring FESTiVAl mElBournE ShoWgrounDSwww.australianmotoringfestival.com.au

VACCRACV

2 April AhoC monThly mEETing General meeting the clubrooms 19-23 Rosalie St, Springvale 8.00.

AHOC

11 April mSCA SupEr SprinT CAlDEr Contact Rod Vogt on 0408 395 240. Go to www.msca.net.au/events.php for information.

MSCA

17-20 April AuSTin hEAlEy oWnErS’ CluB nATionAl RAlly lornEProgram details on page 14 this issue.

DLRA

27 April - 2 May TArgA TASmAniAwww.targa.com.au

TARGA TAS

29 April pEninSulA lunChDetails page 30 this issue.

AHOC

WHAT’S ON THIS MONTH & NEXT


PRESIDENT’S REPORT

WHAT A GREAT start to the year last month at our February general meeting. An excellent attendance on a perfect night weather wise. Thanks to all those who contributed particularly Mick Smith and Ralph Fletcher, Ron Boyle and the many other members who made the night such a success. John and Leonie Johnsons TR3A and camper certainly showed us what is possible to achieve with some ingenuity. Thanks to both of them for bringing it along.I am pleased to report that David Rapley will be speaking at this month’s general meeting and bringing along the 100/4 registered GHE184, which is well known to many members and is a rather unique car. Without going in to all the details as that will be revealed at the meeting GHE184 was discovered by David in the early days of the club and eventually purchased by him. He had to complete its rebuild, which had been com-menced many years earlier, before he on sold the car to me in the '70s. I was lucky enough to drive the car in the first Historic race at Sandown in 1976 and then own the car for the next 20 years before I sold it back to one of David’s customers who has owned it ever since.The story of the car and the modifications that were done to it will be detailed by David and there will the opportu-nity to see the car close up and ask any questions about it. As well as that David will talk about how he came to be involved with Iain McPherson in starting the club as well as his involvement with the start of Historic racing in this country. And of course his many years of restoring lots of historic cars for a number of different well known identities.So it will be a meeting not to be missed as we have been trying to get David to talk to us for quite a few years and now the added bonus of having him bring GHE184 along as well. I am sure it will be a night to remember.February was very busy with events all detailed elsewhere but March is even busier and I am grateful to Arthur and many others who are putting in so much work to

make all this happen. I look forward to seeing as many members as possible at some of these events.

Cheers, Terry

Left: the TR3A tow car and camper. Above: David Rapley & Iain McPherson.

Above: Bob Symons, Dave Thompson and John Olsen behind his table

of wares. Below: It was a perfect night for sports cars.


ABOuT CLuB PERMITSFinancial membership of the Austin Healey owners club offers the opportunity to use the VicRoads Club Permit Scheme (CPS), enabling you to drive your Austin Healey for any pur-pose you wish other than commercial use or financial gain, for 45 or 90 days per annum. The scheme comes at a significant cost savings compared with full registration, plus 4.2% stamp duty is not applied. A number of insurance companies offer comprehensive insurance at a reduced rate.There are also responsibilities attached, the key ones being:• Number plates and windscreen label must be correctly

displayed.• The car must be maintained in a ‘safe condition’.• A logbook must be carried in the car, and for every day

the car is used, an entry must be made in the logbook before leaving the garaged address. (it is easy to forget to do this and police do conduct CPS logbook checks).

• The permit holder must be a current financial member of the car club, you can’t legally drive the car if club membership fees haven’t been paid by the due date of 31 December.

• The car cannot be used for the ‘carriage of goods or pas-sengers for hire or reward’.

• Permits are not transferrable so if you sell the vehicle you must notify VicRoads and the club immediately as well as destroy the label, logbook and remove the plates.

Penalties for failing to comply with the conditions of the permit may include significant fines, suspension or expulsion from the CPS and possibly deemed to be driving an unregistered vehicle and all the associated legal consequences. AHOC strongly recommends that all club permit holders familiarise themselves with the conditions of the permit. Full details of CPS are available at https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/limited-use-permits/club-permit-scheme.

Procedure to obtain a Club PermitGo to the VicRoads website page detailing the procedure for obtaining a club permit. The address is www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/limited-use-permits/club-permit-scheme/get-a-club-permit . There are a few points to note :• Currently Ken Styles is the AHOC signatory for the

Vehicle Eligibility and Standards Declaration form and Club Permit Application form. Ken is based in Camberwell and is contactable on 0431 481 082 or [email protected]

• VicRoads requires that the club keep dated photographs of at least the front, driver’s side, rear, driving position (with driver’s door open), chassis number and engine number. AHOC requires that applicants provide these photos, preferably digitally in jpg file format. The photos should be at minimum as per the samples on this page.

• Many digital cameras have a date stamp function that can be turned on and off. Most computers also allow you

to turn off the function that strips the ‘date photo taken’ metadata from a .jpg file when it is being emailed. If your computing skills can manage this, you can probably email the photos to Ken in advance of going to have the docu-ments signed.

• Once VicRoads has issued you with a permit, you MuST promptly notify AHOC of your permit details, particularly permit number and expiry date. Contact Ken Styles on [email protected] or 0431 481 082.

Renewing your permitStep 1: VicRoads will mail you a renewal form and logbook before the existing permit expires.Step 2: Verify your AHOC membership is current.Step 3: Have renewal form signed by the AHOC. Currently the ‘duly authorised representative’ is Ken Styles, phone 0431 481 082 or [email protected] Please consider that this is an entirely voluntary position and including a pre-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of the documents would be appreciated.Step 4: Submit the signed renewal form to VicRoads and pay the renewal fee. This can be done at any VicRoads Customer Service Centre or mail the signed renewal to VicRoads with payment of the fee, to VicRoads. Postal address is on the form.Note : Permits not renewed within three months of expiry will be cancelled by VicRoads and a new permit application will be required which includes obtaining an RWC.

Points to noteCPS plates are only manufactured in a maroon background with white characters and there is no choice of numbers. Age related plates and vanity plates cannot be used on the CPS.Left hand drive vehicles more than 25 years old may participate in the scheme.Some States or Territories do not recognize the CPS and require a permit from the registration and licensing authority in that State or Territory to legally drive in that State or Territory. It is strongly recommended that drivers of CPS vehicles check before driving interstate.

Changes to CPS came into effect 31 January 2015:Go to https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/limited-use-permits/club-permit-scheme/changes-to-the-club-per-mit-scheme-from-31-january-2015 for full details.• For cars built after 1948, a Certificate of Roadworthiness

from a VicRoads Licensed Tester is now the only accept-able evidence of the ‘safe for on-road use’ requirement.

• Applicants for new club permits will be required to provide proof of ownership.

• Applicants for new club permits will be required to provide the club with dated photographs of the car.

• Changes to and clarification of ‘acceptable modifications’. Recognising that the Vehicle Modifications Guidelines document known as VSI8 is intended for modern cars, a version known as VSI33 specifically for vehicles on CPS has been issued and it defines modifications that can be

VicRoads Club Permit Scheme


AALL MARKS

ALL MARKS BODYWORKS

Qualified & over 25 years experience panel beating

& fabrication.General servicing

& mechanical repairs.All types of welding.

CLASSIC SPORTS CAR RESTORATIONS SPECIALIZING IN AUSTIN HEALEY

Mark Ingham 4 North Street Yea 3717 Vic Email [email protected] Phone 57 97 27 07 Mobile 0411 259 229

made without engineering certification dependent on age category of the vehicle in question. In the 1949 to 1968 age category, the types of modifications that might be treated more leniently than previously are not commonly seen on AHOC eligible cars and there are many other types of modifications that are expected to require engineering certification the same as VSI8 which is the long standing CPS rule.

• Introduction of a new permit category for modified vehicles requiring engineering certification. These will be 5 digits followed by M.

• VicRoads has stated that they will not actively pursue a requirement for modified vehicles on existing CPS H plates or CH plates to apply for the new M plate category of permit although they reserve the right to do so. It’s also worth noting that permits are not transferable so the new owner of a modified vehicle previously on CPS would be subjected to these new rules.


Words & pics Iain McPherson

JACK OLD RAN Monaro Motors which commenced business at Malvern Road, Malvern, before moving to Spencer Street, Melbourne and finally Elizabeth Street. They sold MGs and made various performance components, such as inlet manifolds, finned brake drums, aero screens and other alloy components. He also operated Automotive Carburettor Co. and was the sole dis-tributor for Sus, and agents for Wade superchargers in Australia.In February 1954 Monaro Motors was

appointed “Metropolitan Dealers for the world famous Austin range of vehicles”.Peter Manton commenced working

there in 1951 after working at the Commonwealth Aircraft Factory. He eventually became a partner and finally bought Jack out. When Geoff Petty pri-vately imported, probably the last new Austin-Healey to come to Australia in July 1967, the paperwork had to be done through Peter Manton Motors.Jack bought one of the first Austin- Healeys in Victoria, chassis number 148549, and had it registered GCY 990 on 17 February 1954.He had previously run a Morris Oxford in the Midnight Rally in 1953 and Mrs Old, navigating for Mrs Ikinger in a Morris Minor, won the Ladies Prize in the 1953 Novices Trial run by the Victorian Sporting Car Club.During Easter 1954 Jack raced the Austin-Healey at Orange in company with Gordon Grieg, Peter Vennermark, and L Schacht, which was the first meeting where an Austin-Healey had been raced in New South Wales. Peter who normally drove a Maserati 4CL and was the current track record holder, was driving the Austin-Healey of Murray Nankervis also from Victoria. Peter Manton was there in his Austin A30 and won the Cafes of Orange Handicap. (It should be noted that during that same weekend, only 40 miles away, there was another meeting taking place at Bathurst where David Shmith from York Motors in Sydney ran his Austin-Healey for the first time).The first event on the programme at Orange was the Hotel Keepers Handicap. Australian Motor Sports commented: “J Old in his Austin-Healey was motoring well but not quite holding his handicap”. The longest race of the day was the Mo-tor Traders Handicap over 75 miles with the limit man having 2-lap start. There were a number of retirements, but the Austin-Healeys were there at the finish. Jack had a best ¼ mile time

of 101.7 mph.It seems that this was the only time Jack raced the car, so why did he run the car at Orange when there were meetings at Altona and Fishermans Bend prior to Orange? I asked one of his good friends George Spanos who drove a variety of cars en-tered by Monaro Motors. He could not explain, but he confirmed that Jack didn’t do a lot of racing, but entered a lot of cars in the name of Monaro Motors.One possible reason why Jack was in Orange is that the Orange meeting was part of the Orange Easter Motor Festival which began on Easter Friday with a Monte Carlo type Rally commencing in Melbourne, Syd-ney and Brisbane, and culminated in the best days racing in Orange history with 10,000 spectators.Jack made the Austin-Healey available for Australian Motor Manual to road test in September 1954. The same car also featured in a comprehensive Road Test Report in the October 1954 issue of Cars. The author concluded that: “This seems to be an exceptionally good fast sports car in the true sense of the word”. He was most impressed with the brakes which he suggested were close to 100% efficient. He believed the owner Jack Old had been doing a great deal of re-search on Austin-Healey brakes.

At the Albert Park Meeting in March 1955 Jack drove a Fiat 1100 TV in the Moomba TT, and the following year he entered two Porsches in the Australian Tourist Trophy for the November meeting at Albert Park.

AUSTIN-HEALEYS THAT RACED IN AUSTRALIA


One, a 1500, was driven by Jack and the other a 1600 Speedster was driven by Peter Manton who had the distinction of rolling it end for end in practice on the Saturday.Jack was a great supporter of motorsport. He usually ran two ads in the motor racing programs of the period and he was a scrutineer at Rob Roy for the Light Car Club over a number of years.It seems Jack kept the Austin-Healey until about 1958 when it then spent its time in the Benalla/Yarrawonga area in the hands of three different owners.The Victorian registration lapsed in the name of Graeme McKenzie of Puckapunyal in 1964. At some point in time the engine from this car found its way into another car in Queensland. I have tried to pin point when the change of engine may have occurred. My best guess is that it happened just before that car came to Melbourne in the early 1980s. As a consequence I had hoped that I might have been able to determine the fate of the Jack Old car, but this remains an unknown. The car with the engine from Jack’s car is now in is now in New South Wales after being in Melbourne for about ten years.

RACING RESULTS Orange Easter Monday 1954 Orange Hotel Keepers Handicap Non place Orange Motor Traders Handicap Non place

Feeling Social?Sunday 1 March Plough Inn Myrniong lunch preceded by morning tea at 10.30 am at Linda & Ralph Fletcher’s at Bacchus Marsh, then approximately 90k through the hills to Myrniong. Booking essential. Ring Ralph 0418567218 by Friday 27 February.

Friday 6 to Sunday 8 MarchPhillip Island Classic. Look for Club Muster Point inside of Turn 1. Let’s make a day of Saturday 7 to show support for our drivers.

Sunday 22 MarchSusie Harris Memorial Classic Car Show at St Leonard’s College, South Road, Brighton East. Raising funds for Motor Neurone Disease. Pre registration is required. $20 per car. All enquiries and car registrations 0417062880 or www.susieharrismemorialfund.org/classic.car.show

Wednesday 25 March Peninsula Lunch. Marina Restaurant and Lounge Bar, Mullet Street, Hastings. Book with Gordon 0418540920 by Monday 23.

Tuesday 31 March Coombe Cottage, Coldstream. Light lunch, inspection of garden preceded by a short run. Limited to 40, so please book with Barry Barnes asap on 0412583868.


MARQUE SPORTS CAR ASSOCIATION (MSCA) 2015 MSCA Championship PLEASE NOTE NEW CALENDAR - different to December magazine

Round 1 Sunday Feb 1st *Sandown inc. “Come and Try” for novices Round 2 Saturday March 14th *Calder Park Round 3 Saturday April 11th Hillclimb at Haunted Hills Round 4 Sunday May 3rd *Calder Park Round 5 Sunday June 21st *Sandown Round 6 Sunday July 19th Motorkhana at Laverton Round 7 Sunday August 16th *Winton inc “Come and Try” for novices Round 8 Saturday Sept. 12th *Phillip Island inc. “Come and Try” Round 9 Saturday October 10th *Sandown Round 10 Sunday November 1st *Winton

ENTRY FORMS are available on the MSCA website www.msca.net.au . Ring Rod Vogt on 5962 1915 or 0408 395 240 or email [email protected] . Spectators are encouraged. Entry is free and you are welcome in our pit garage. Competition starts at approximately 9 am. Events marked with * count towards the competition championship. Sprint and Regularity events require a basic CAMS level 2S licence only.

COMPETITION REPORT & MSCA NEWS

MARCHSat/Sun 6-8 Phillip Island Classic Historic races/reg www.vhrr.com Sat 14th MSCA Calder sprints & regularity www.msca.net.auSun 29th Alfa Club Winton Sprints www.alfaclubvic.org.au APRILSat/Sun 11/12th Vic. Supersprint Championship Rd 2 Phillip Island www.piarc.com.au Sat/Sun 18/19th Vic. State Circuit Race Series Phillip Island inc MG & Invited BritishSat/Sun 25/26th Mallala All Historic races and regularity www.sportingcarclubssa.org.au MAYSun 3rd MSCA Calder sprints & regularity www.msca.net.au Sat/Sun 2/3rd Festival of Sporting Cars Wakefield Park, Goulburn www.fosc.com.au Sat/Sun 2/3rd Morgan Park Autumn Historics races and reg Warwick. [email protected] Sun 9th Alfa Club Sprints, Sandown. www.alfaclubvic.org.au Sun 10th Winton Sprints Rd 2 www.wintonraceway.com.au Sat/Sun 16-17th Vic. State Race Series, Sandown inc MG & Invited British. Sat/Sun 30/31st Austin 7 Club Historic Winton short course, with motorcycles www.historicwinton.org (pre-war reg only) JUNESat/Sun 6/7th Sydney Retro Speedfest, Sydney Motorsport Park. www.hsrca.org.au Sat/Sun 6/7th Vic. Supersprint Championship Rd 3, Sandown www.ffcc.com.au

Sun 14th Alfa Club Sprints, Broadford www.alfaclubvic.org.au Sat/Sun 13/14th Vic. Supersprint Championship Rd 4, Phillip Island www.piarc.com.au Sun 21st MSCA Sandown sprints and reg www.msca.net.au JULYSat/Sun 4/5th Historic Queensland, Morgan Park, Warwick. Qld. www.hrcc.org.au Sat 4th Alfa Club Sprints, Phillip Is www.alfaclubvic.org.au Sun 12th Winton Sprints Rd3 www.wintonraceway.com.au Sun 12thVic. Supersprint Championship Rd 5. Phillip Island. www.piarc.com.au Sat/Sun 18/19th Vic. State Race Series, Sandown. inc MG & Invited British. Sun 26th Jaguar Club Sprint, Winton www.jagclubvic.org.au AUGUSTSat/Sun 1/2nd Phillip Island 6 Hour Relay www.6hourrelay.com.au Sun 2nd Alfa Club Sprints, Winton www.alfaclubvic.org.au Sat/Sun 8/9th Historic Winton Festival of Speed long track races/reg www.vhrr.com.au Sun 16th MSCA Winton sprints & reg www.msca.net.au Sat/Sun 29/30th Historic Races, Queensland Raceway, Ipswich [email protected] SEPTEMBERSat/Sun 5/6th ARDC Muscle Car Masters (inc Group S cars)Sydney Motorsport Park. contact to be announcedSat 5th Winton Sprints Round 4, www.wintonraceway.com.au Sat 5th Alfa Club Sprints, Sandown www.alfaclubvic.org.au Sat 12th MSCA Phillip Island sprints and regularity includes “Come and Try” www.msca.net.au

2015 COMPETITION CALENDAR – MAIN EVENTS for points scoring for championships


Sat/Sun 19/20th Wakefield Park Historic races and regularity www.hsrca.org.au OCTOBERSat 10th MSCA Sandown sprints & reg www.msca.net.au Sat/Sun 17/18th AROCA Winton Six Hour Relay www.alfaclubvic.org.au Sat/Sun 24/25th Vic. State Race Series, Phillip Island inc MG & Invited

NOVEMBERSun 1st MSCA Winton sprints & reg www.msca.net.au (final MSCA event for 2015)Tues 3rd Vic. Supersprint Championship Rd 6 Sandown

www.ffcc.com.au Sat/Sun 7/8th Historic Sandown “Return of the Thunder” www.vhrr.comSat/Sun 14/15th PIARC Sprints Phillip Island www.piarc.com.au END OF 2015 AHOC COMPETITION YEARSTART 2016 YEARSat 28th Winton Sprints Rd 5 www.wintonraceway.com.au Sat/Sun 28/29th “Tasman Revival” Historic Races, Sydney Motorsport Park. www.hsrca.org.au DECEMBERSat/Sun 5/6th Ken Leigh 4 Hour Enduro for HQ Holdens at Winton (go Phil Aitken!)

phillip island historic races march 6-8 2015

Entries have just closed and the CAMS on-line Entry website shows a total of 517 entries over all classes for what should be another great event.Group S racing is a capacity field for Sa/Sb and the separate race for later Group Sc cars. Sa/Sb has 5 big Healeys (Peter Jackson and Steve Pike from our club, and NSW entrants Colin Goldsmith, Chris Komor moving up from regularity in his 100/4 and new Healey driver Zac Macafee in his 100/6) plus Rod Vogt in the MGB. Two AHOC regulars are unfortunately missing – Peter Kaiser entered the Sb Sprite too late and missed out, while Brian Duffy is still rebuilding the engine in the 3000 after the Sandown Historics last November. Many new Porsches , Shelby GTs, Corvettes and other V8s in Morgans and a TVR Tuscan which will be great for spectators. Our Healeys should be garaged together in the first shed on the right over the pedestrian bridge.Graham Marks (Mac Healey) and Geoff McInnes (Riley Special) compete in Group Lb. In Regularity, AHOC members are David Kelly in his 100, Bill Vaughan in his Bugeye, Steve Pike in Sam Cassells’ BN2, Hamish MacLennan in the MGB, Tony Rogers in his 1974 Porsche 911 and Shane O’Brien in Hugh Purse’s Lister Jaguar Knobbly. You can also see the Healey of Frank and Tim Hook and the Healey Silverstone of Louis Raper.In a new format, there is no Friday morning practice, just straight in to qualifying with race one in the afternoon.A gathering of Healey members will be on show in prime position inside Turn One on the fence on Saturday, noT SunDAy as normal – to avoid the Sunday afternoon traffic leaving the circuit. Saturday has two races for each class and is the better day because by Sunday many cars have either broken down or the interstate entrants have packed up early for the trip home.On Sunday our members in Groups S and Lb and in regularity have only one event each in the morning – five other classes have an afternoon race and there are various rolling displays and a tribute to Jack Brabham. So make your own way on Saturday morning (gates open at

7am) and join the Healeys inside turn one. Club tents will give some protection from the elements if they are not perfect.So there are no surprises when you arrive the cost per head for entry is Friday $30, Saturday $35, Sunday $45, three day entry is $95, Fri/Sat $55, Sat/Sun $70 and entry includes free program me and free entry to the pits.Keep checking the Victorian Historic Racing Register website www.vhrr.com for more details on drivers, classes and cars, and the race program, particular event start times for the races in which our members are involved. It is a great weekend with a wonderful variety of cars that are fully accessible in the pit garages, with some international visitors in some magnificent cars.

EVEnT rEporTS

mSCA Sandown February 1st 2015

The MSCA season for 2015 started at Sandown on Sunday 1 February with a nearly full capacity entry of 107 cars with five sprint groups and regularity plus a “Come and Try” group (which included a current model McLaren super car!).A record entry of nine AHOC members despite missing regulars Russ Baker (Clubman not yet repaired), Rob Raverty (engine not yet together) and Ken Sadler (getting ready to go O/S). Russ and Rob and Sue R. came to support, a bit far for Ken from Warrnambool just to watch. Regularity had its first capacity field of 20 cars including the big Healeys of Tony

Andis Salins, son Axel and the Autin Healey 3000.


Rogers, John Goodall, Steve Pike, Leon O’Brien and first timer Andis Salins plus Club Registrar Iain McPherson in, of all things, an Alfa Sud based sports sedan and Shane O’Brien in Hugh Purse’s magnificent Lister Jaguar Knobbly.

Bill Vaughan and Rod Vogt ran their Sprites in the Sprint group (where real racers compete!).A magnificent display in our prime position pit garages which drew a great deal of attention from other competitors and spectators. We invited Peter Clarke (AHSDC president) and Glen Coombs in the pale blue Bugeyes to join us. Competing were ex AHOC President Bill Vaughan, current Sprite Club president Peter Clarke and immediate past AHSDC president Greg Corbin. Officiating were immediate past AHOC president Selwyn Hall and current president Terry Wade as CAMS stewards and Clerk of Course was David Kelly who wears both Healey and Triumph hats. Supporting us was president twice removed Paul MacPherson – that doesn’t read write does it! You know what I mean – two presidents ago. While our top club officials support club motorsport like that it will continue to thrive under their watch. It warms the cockles of your comp secretary’s heart.A big thank you to David, Selwyn and Terry for a very well run meeting on the track and to Mark Rae and his behind the scenes helpers who give up their time to organise each event. The MSCA committee is trying hard to come up with some ideas to get new helpers on board as the same old faces cannot carry on forever. I will mention some supporters – not game to attempt a full naming in case I miss some. But it was terrific to see Peter Jackson in the pits after a difficult six months health wise and it was a real boost for us all.

Some things old, some things new!“Some things old” was obvious. Bill Vaughan is old, his Sprite is old but Bill has been doing this plus Historic Regularity and 6-Hour Relays for a long, long time and like a fine bottle of red just seems to be getting better with age. The same can be said of John Goodall and Steve Pike who have been around forever – and I want to thank them both for coming back to MSCA occasionally despite still competing at open events. Oldest of the lot (perhaps you are older, David Kelly?) and an inspiration to us all is Leon O’Brien in his 100/4 who is a

Sandown specialist. That is, he is a Phillip Island and Winton virgin which we must correct soon. And me? More like a bottle of vinegar that has been on the shelf too long! However my only claim to fame might be that I have done more laps in the last eight years than those afore-mentioned gentlemen.The old brigade went well. The Sprite and I were just .03 sec off our best and I was OK with that because I knew that this would be the last run before new brakes all round and it did cross my mind at the end of the front and back Sandown straights that, even though I checked the brakes before the event, I am not much of a mechanic and did not like to think of the consequences if I had miscalculated. You can’t be a champion driver AND a great mechanic. I am NOT Jack Brabham! A vibration in the fourth and last session turned out to be a collapsing right front wheel bearing but my second and third fastest laps for the day were my two last laps. It’s OK, Sue doesn’t read my report. So a Class win to my blue Bugeye and second place to Bill Vaughan in the green Bugeye for an AHOC clean sweep. And if Bill had any issues he is keeping them to himself. Bill just seems to run and run with no fuss. I will find something embarrassing to write about him one day, even if I have to make it up. As an aside I was very impressed with the enthusiasm of David Kisby as one of our many supporters – he was there very early and was still there at 5pm as we loaded to go home. I thanked him for his enthusiasm but he pointed out that he had come up with Bill, in Bill’s car! He couldn’t go home until Bill was finished. Strangely Bill, David did fiddle under the Sprite’s bonnet at about 3 o’clock. Just tuning for you I suppose? John Goodall ran seamlessly in his 100/6 with Graham Palich and Trevor Smith as his pit crew as usual, running in company with the Roger’s Healey and scored a second to Tony in the last regularity session. Leon missed the last session after the 100/4 went off song at the end of the third run, and with no trailer he sensibly and sedately drove home early. A new head gasket and the Healey will be fine he reports. Steve Pike gave Sam Cassells’ 100/4 a good shakedown in preparation for Regularity at Phillip Island Historics in March, breaking 1min 40 seconds which is getting pretty quick for a modified road Healey. Steve scored 3rd in his third run but left early to get the Lister back to the workshop via a nice pub in South Melbourne, as you do.“Something new?” Tony Rogers, you are in this group. You are certainly old enough and have been around for an eternity in your yellow 1974 Porsche BuT this was only your second drive in your Big Healey. We all watched with interest as you headed off for the first regularity run on that very wet surface – it was dry and warm at the Winton 6 Hour! Well, Tony just took off as if he had been driving that Healey for a long time and then really nailed it in the dry second, third and fourth sessions. Like Steve, Tony ended up in the 1.39s and drove so

Iain McPherson’s mightly looking Alfa Sud sports sedan.


consistently that he came first in ALL THREE regularity runs and will have a trophy to show for it. A bit slower than the Porsche but Tony clearly has fallen in love with the Healey. And the sound! We all commented that the only other Healey that made that distinctive exhaust sound belongs to one Peter Jackson. Magnificent, intoxicating, distinctive. Now all you need is to find another 12 seconds a lap and you’ll be right behind PJ!“Something new”Definitely was our Club Registrar and joint AHOC Club founder and first secretary Iain McPherson, not in a Healey but the wildest Team Healey car to grace our group in my time at least – his newly purchased Alfa Sud based Sports Sedan. Engine behind, driver midships (and I mean in the middle like a McLaren three seater supercar), and panels that lifted off from everywhere. Couldn’t be further removed from a Healey if he tried. Put’s Phillip Aitken and his HQ Holden firmly back to second as a non-Healey associate class car.Also “new” was Andis Salins, like Iain bypassing the “Come and Try” option and coming straight in to MSCA regularity in his basically un-modified road going six cylinder 3000. Iain and Anders did their preparations, checked in with me on a couple of queries and came well prepared and breezed through paperwork and scrutineering easily with plenty of support and advice in the Team Healey garage. Andis brought along his 14 year-old son Axel, Iain brought along HIS 40-something year-old son too! Team Healey support came to the fore when a misfire was ap-parent early in the day for Andis and experienced heads led by Russell Baker dived under the bonnet and cured the problem. Both “new boys” were very brave to head out in the first session on a streaming wet track from heavy rain in the hour before their start. Smiles all round and plans for more events when time permits from Iain and Andis and a sigh of relief from yours truly.Also “new”, with a stretch of the imagination, was current AHOC competition champion Shane O’Brien in Hugh Purse’s magnificent Lister Jaguar Knobbly.

I hope you saw it at one of our general meetings last year. I watched it run in anger at Historic Winton long track meet-ing last August, and Hugh wanted to give it a shakedown at Sandown prior to regularity at Historic Phillip Island in March where it will attract a LOT of attention, and also to give Shane some much needed practice in a relatively “new” car for him. It attracted plenty in the garage at Sandown but unfortunately the chance for Shane to get to know the Lister better before PI did not happen – out after just two laps when the gear shift

broke off in Shane’s hands. I promised Shane no jokes alluding to how tense he must have been to snap that metal shaft in two! Steve Pike built the Lister for Hugh and immediately saw that the lever, which was original, had a crack which would have failed at Phillip Island anyhow. A good thing it failed now and will be ready to go on the big stage in March. Impressively, first time at Sandown, two timed laps only and Shane clocked a 1.35.5! @#$%%@# - that should say, good-ness, gracious me.poinTS ToWArD AhoC CompETiTion ChAmpionShip and 4 fastest lapsBill Vaughan (Sprite) 973pts 1.40.74, 1.40.86, 1.40.87, 1.41.01Tony Rogers (3000) 935pts 1.39.03, 1.39.12, 1.39.60, 1.39.68Rod Vogt (Sprite) 929pts 1.32.56, 1.32.98, 1.33.15, 1.33.27Leon O’Brien (100/4) 918pts 2.02.93, 2.03.30, 2.03.74, 2.03.75John Goodall (100/6) 865pts 1.44.28, 1.44.63, 1.45.50, 1.45.59Steve Pike (100/4) 695pts 1.39.22, 1.39.86, 1.40.48, 1.42.27Andis Salins (3000) 558pts 2.04.55, 2.06.63, 2.08.93, 2.08.97poinTS ToWArD AhoC ASSoCiATE ChAmpionShip and 4 fastest lapsIain McPherson (Alfa S/S) 897pts 1.55.66, 1.55.88, 1.56.66, 1.56.69Shane O’Brien (Lister Jag) No points - two timed laps only

Follow up on mSCA Winton. november 2014. I reported on the battle of the Vogt and Southwell Sprites at this event and graciously mentioned that despite giving John a flogging I had to admit that he had a few issues. Wel, John has upped the sledging by sending me an outwardly pleasant email which clearly is aimed at unsettling me, AND DOING A GOOD JOB TOO! He has now “removed rear springs, re-rolled, added extra leaf (left set had straightened out!), replaced bushes to radius arms with blue nylon (all four were shot)…replaced electric fan (car ran hot due to no pressure in radiator-fixed water pump leak)… added heat shields around manifolds…replaced bro-ken clamp to distributor (this is why engine ran flat and was breaking down at high revs). All this will probably not improve my times but will be more enjoyable to drive, hope-fully less chaos at the rear end.”OF COuRSE it will improve your times John. I am immediately going to check out my Sprite to see if I can come up with something, if only I knew what you were talking about and I couldn’t fix it myself anyhow, unlike you! (ALL IN GOOD FuN). Looking forward to a battle at PI and San-down some time, away from your home track at Winton where I might stand a chance.

A CLOSING THOuGHT“I finally found an honest mechanic - he honestly doesn’t know how to fix anything.”

(your treading on dangerous ground - ed)

Cheers Rod Vogt




Specialist in:• Full restoration services• Side vents and rally grilles• Accident & chassis repairs (extensive experience in jigging systems)

Email: [email protected]: 0400 618 050 Postal: PO Box 407 Creswick 3363

IN JuLY 2008 edition of Hundreds and Thousands there was an article I wrote which Barb Meredith, then editor, labelled ‘Pages from History ‘ showing a 100S competing at Albert Park in 1958. I have recently had cause to look through more of the old photos and thought you may like to use the following: As a result of a recent phone call from Tony Parkinson (SA) regarding a photo of a 100S published in the July 2008 issue of Hundreds and Thousands, I found another two photos of mine showing Healeys in competition, the first of which was taken at the same meeting at Albert Park circuit in 1958, the details of which were reported in that earlier article. This one I think is a 100/4 with an indistinct number including 4 (R. Phillips 74 and C.W. Miller 94). The second photo (sorry about the quality) was taken at Sandown in 1962 but I can not remember any further details. Perhaps other AHOC members may be able to shed further light on it.

David Kelly

More Pages From History


IN THEORY THE best-laid plans are made, in reality they are thwarted by airlines – our midnight arrival into Christchurch became a 3am arrival. It was cold and windy despite Merv George telling us it’s not always windy in NZ, it is always windy.This is the same Merv that apparently led a cavalcade of Healeys into a vet surgery for coffee during a drive around Christchurch. And he was a local.Back to the windy story; in the six or seven years we’ve owned Nigel the Bugeye we have never had the roof come off of its own accord, only in NZ. Simon was sleeping peacefully in the passenger’s seat while I was driving, it was just outside of Kaikoura in a gale when whoosh, the roof blew off. We heard later that David Kelly’s car was literally picked up by the wind and moved sideways in a cutting scaring the bejesus out of the following Healeys.It wasn’t THAT cold, so we bundled the roof and side screens into the back of the car as best we could given that the back of the car had six small bags with our clothes. Obviously, Geoffrey H had never considered long trips. Not only is the car small but there’s no boot lid, instead your dive head first behind the seats to smuggle little bags into the corners of the turtle deck along with the spare wheel, jack and tools.Just before the roof blew off we had stopped at a service station in Kaikoura, our first petrol stop for despite a fuel tank capacity of just seven gallons (what-ever in litres) it’s not thirsty. As we pulled up next to a ‘60s Mustang the owner muttered: “I’d rather be filling up your car.” We smiled and then on paying realized why – our most expensive fuel stop in NZ was $2.41 a litre, the average was around $2.30.During our next stop in Blenheim we ventured to director Peter Jackson’s (not our own PJ) aviation museum. I was ho hum about it, love cars, love motor-bikes but old planes just don’t do it for me but director PJ showed me what presentation does for enthusiasm. I was one of the last people out; it captured my imagination and sent me scurrying around looking for that museum guy who could answer all my questions about planes. Every display was a film set that had you imagining what happened in that moment in time. Loved it.My favourite meal of the whole trip was at the Wairau River Winery where I chose the lamb burger. Delish, didn’t expect it to be that good. What I also didn’t expect was to be leaving the winery in what looked like a wedding car. Nigel had been parked under a vine and during a particularly windy wet squall my little blossom was showered in little white blossoms. No, it’s not windy every day.While the best lamb burgers are in Wairau the best pizzas are in Nelson, or was that the scotch talking? In Nelson I was led astray by my next door neighbour Malcolm MacGregor and his peat whisky. He gave me a glass and it tasted strange, very smoky, but the second glass was much better, by the time he and I had finished the bottle (no it wasn’t totally full when we started) we had enticed Ed Jensz into our drinking group. And another bottle was found…the pizzas, which were picked up by Simon (not a drinker) tasted really good.Now for the bad news: Franz Josef, the glacier not the person. We drove from Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier in a torrential downpour with an icy wind (though I have been reliably informed that it is rarely windy in NZ). We mounted what seemed like an infinite number of speed humps until finally we arrived at the car park and started the walk to the glacier, and walked and walked and walked. Where was the sign that said I had to walk 2.5 kilometres in sleet and hail over slippery rocks, forge two rivers and climb a rocky out-crop to see … nothing. Almost nothing, we were halted in our trek by a rope that held us back so that in the distance we could see a small dirty patch of ice clinging precariously to a mountain. Franz Josef you have a lot to answer for; another 2.5km trek back to the car – by this time I was water logged, my glasses so wet it was easier to see without them.On to Queenstown, in an usually strong wind – who’d have thought. With our roof attached not only by the front clips and steel bar but also 100mph tape, we

Merv, a man who wears many hats, probably because it’s so windy in NZ that they keep blowing off.

Little Healey on HolidayGone with the Wind


were secure in the knowl-edge that we had the NZ wind whipped. Wrong, it whipped us and whipped the roof off again. The addition of two layers of race tape on the outside plus two on the inside sorted out the problem.We needn’t have bothered though as we followed the man for whom the wind never whips – Merv George, over the Haast pass starting out in a torrential downpour followed quickly by snow. To be fair we only had two days of heavy rain, and just one day with a snowfall.Over the other side of the pass we travelled down NZ’s answer to the Stelvio Pass in Switzerland, the Cardrona Valley Road. It was a pity it was so wet as I would have had a fantastic fang in dry condi-tions – every corner was a switchback. I think Simon was glad we made it to the bottom safely. The windows were fogged up – and I thought he’d been holding his breath.We ventured into Queenstown, the most picturesque city we visited, albeit a little hilly with a strategically placed hill-climb to reach the hotel’s car park. A 60-degree slope was not far from the truth followed by a sharp right hand turn. Direct entry to the hotel from the car park was on the sixth floor – that says something about the climb. Nigel did it once in first gear, and then we found an alternate route.So near and yet so far: Simon’s hero is Burt Munro, the guy with the fastest Indian. For those not familiar, an Indian is a motorbike, it’s a great story and film.

Burt was a New Zealander from Invecargill a town 187kms south of Queenstown. With three days in Queenstown there was no way that we would not make the trip, and Denis Varley and Bob Symons came along for the ride. Strangely, perhaps not in NZ, but Burt’s Indian was not in a museum but on display in a hardware store. When Simon first mentioned this we were a little skeptical but lo and behold here was a hardware store like no other. Not only did this hardware store have Burt’s bike but also a number of other significant bikes, engines, parts and classic cars dotted in amongst shelves of tools, parts, and even kitchen-ware. It was worth the trip just to marvel at the ingenuity of the owner.Wanaka we nearly made it! Within sight of the Warbirds and Wheels Museum with Bob Symons directly in front of us we ground to a halt, not because Nigel had given up the fight but Bob’s car was tired. It putted to a stop and refused to be enticed another inch. We moved the Healeys onto the expansive grass verge, parked and then the boys started taking the car apart. We watched in awe as an inflatable jack was pulled out of someone’s car. I think it was Barry Newell’s, wow. While this was going on an incongruous little white Corolla stopped behind the last of the Healeys and out popped four Asians. I thought ‘isn’t that nice they’re coming to see if we need help’ – keep dreaming.

They posed in front of every Healey taking selfies and happy snaps then hopped back into the Corolla and pissed off without so much as a “please and thank you”.

Top: Thank God for small mercies, I’d rather be filling up the Sprite.

Second: The Indian at Invercargill’s hardware store.

Third: Small is better, you can park under a patio for shelter when taping down the roof, again.

Fourth: Can you spot those legs? That’s Simon. What is he and Bob Symons doing?


I told Glenda Newell we should have stood in front of the Corolla and taken each other’s photos, just to confused them.By this time Simon had made a baffling discovery – that’s a bad joke – a baffle in the fuel tank had broken off and damaged a pipe. Off we drove in Nigel to Wanaka to find some hose and pipe.We found the recommended place but while it was open we couldn’t get anyone to serve us, not a soul in sight. After 15 minutes seven people appeared out of the lunchroom, it had been lunchtime and EVERYONE took lunch together leaving the retail area and workshop empty. Blokes that eat together, stay together.One thing that blew me away about NZ was the water, not the drinking water, the water in the lakes, streams and rivers it was crystal clear and often an amazing vibrant blue that suggests you photoshopped the pictures badly. It was beside such an expanse of brilliant blue that I looked up and there was a house floating aimlessly in the air, occasionally hiding behind the trees. What more can I say?In one way sadly we made our way back to Christchurch, in one way I was ecstatic because due to Ralph’s foresight he led Simon and I to Hind’s Garage. We were so overwhelmed that we even forgot to take any photos. Martin, the owner was an eccentric man who by his own admission had little mechanical ability but was buried in mountains of old car parts and memorabilia. This shouldn’t surprise anyone because to own old British cars requires an amount of eccentricity but to actually store thousands of parts

for them requires an even greater amount, and to do that when you admit to having no mechanical ability is one step much further.Simon started his methodical search through the masses of car parts both new and used which included everything from wind-screen wipers to engine blocks and trim parts. And there he lived for several hours.Over the years I had

hankered after an original sales brochure for Nigel, I had an Austin Healey Sprite MkII brochure but the Bugeye brochure had proved elusive. Not any more, out from under the counter Martin produced one in A1 condition. Initially he was a little reluctant to part with it but I prised him from behind the counter and dragged him outside to meet Nigel, one look at that cheeky face and he caved in and sold me the brochure. Hinds Garage was and still is for sale, and I swear if it had been located in Melbourne we would have bought it lock, stock and barrel however, the commute is a little too long.Finally, after more than two weeks with the Healey crew we said goodbye in Christchurch with a formal photo outside the Commodore Hotel. Sitting proudly at the front was Nigel, this was because he was the only Sprite amongst the Big Healeys but for me it was significant because it was proof that the crew accepted him as one of the Healeys – the small, cheeky one.

Words Mandy PJ, pics Mandy & Adrian Newman

Hinds Garage. Simon was lost in action for several hours.

NZ WARRANT OF fitness - Ralph’s challenges continued…So much for free trade between Australia and New Zealand …….. All 14 cars, 13 Big Healeys and Nigel Little Healey were required by NZ law to pass a Warrant of Fit-ness (WOF) before they could be let loose on the NZ open roads. Ralph had secured the Monday in NZ before the start of the rally for the inspections with a NZ Government testing station located near to the shipping company handling the cars. Closer to the testing date Ralph phoned NZ to confirm the date only to be told

that the Monday was a NZ public holiday. As it turned out this misdirection by the NZ Government testing station proved to be a Godsend as Jill George in her travels in Christch-urch had spotted Rocky Point a local

private company that could perform the NZ WOF’s and who turned out to be sympathetic to classic cars. On the Friday before the NZ long weekend with little notice the Rocky Point mechanics inspected all 14 cars in the morning and Ralph and the rally advance party drove the cars over to the motel near the Christchurch airport ready for the start of the NZ

rally on the following Tuesday. Except for one minor incident all cars completed the 2600km trouble free. Thank you to Ralph and Linda for a brilliant Healey Rally…

So much for our free trade agreement

by Adrian Newman


Healeys on HolidaysRalph’s story Part Two

SaTURday 1 NovEMbER – We headed out under overcast skies and made our way towards Murchison some 125kms down the road. Just about everyone had pulled in at the only eating and coffee shop in town. david Kelly’s car was using twice as much fuel as it should have been so bonnet was up and troubleshooting commenced. Problem was dirty dashpots meaning pistons were staying up. after a cleanup and a bit of adjustment of fuel mixture plus some new air cleaners all was rectified. at this stage we decided to put the hood up as skies were looking omi-nous. as it happened we had clear skies with a bit of breeze blowing as we headed to Punakaiki to look at blowhole and pancake rocks. Lots of Clubmans and Lotus cars in the area. almost as if on cue it started to rain at Greymouth and continued until we reached our stop on the beachfront at Hokitika.Sunday 2nd – Misty rain falling and aspirations of flying over Franz Joseph Glacier in a helicopter rapidly evaporating. Most of the crew de-cided to do some retail therapy in Hokitika. We had a pleasant run to Haast and from thereon we had a mixture of rain, sleet, snow as the weather deteriorated. Some hardy souls tried glacier walking and got absolutely drowned. Most headed for the warmth and comfort of their rooms. dinner that night was a mixture of room service and braving the ele-ments to eat at a place called “The Landing’ due to full house in the restaurant where we were staying.Monday 3rd– We estimated from midday the day before until this morn-ing there had been somewhere between 4”-5” of rain. Cars are saturated and very cold but all fire up and in what one can only

David Kelly’s car receiving some attention after drinking too much - the car not David.

We were there for more race tape for the roof.What were the others doing at Repco? Ed


describe as trying conditions we head down to Fox Glacier and follow the coast road along until heading inland to Haast. The elevation from Haast to Wanaka is 1500M and the vegeta-tion begins to thin as we split the two lakes, Lake Wanaka on our right and Lake Hawea on our left. Warm soup, pies and pasties and toasted sandwiches at Wa-naka soon revive us as we fortify ourselves for one of the great drives in New Zealand the run from Wanaka to Queenstown via the Crown Ranges. Lovely drive with several scenic lookouts to take advantage of the views, ripper hairpins to keep the driver focussed and even one of the crew who has driven Healeys for 50 years manages to have a slide on this fabulous stretch of road. With clouds clearing, The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Queenstown never looked more inviting. The drying room for skiers was soon being put to good use.Tuesday 4th – Melbourne Cup Day and Milford Sound. We left the cars to try and dry out and caught our bus. Lester our informative driver filled us in the various back-ground items as we made our way down to Milford Sound with a stop at Te Anau along the way. Due to the inclement weather yesterday there were no trips into Milford Sound so today we are indeed fortunate as there is a fresh coating of snow and waterfalls are really running due to heavy rains. We took advantage of scenic stops en route and about an hour out of Milford Sound a few opted to take helicopter rides. under clear skies we boarded our vessel and had lunch as we headed down the fiord to open sea at Anita Bay. Spotted a few seals on the way back and headed right in under a waterfall resulting in everyone getting wet with the spray. We had just on two hours on the water and again on our return to terra firma some opted to fly back to Queenstown while the rest of us relaxed on the bus. Wednesday 5th – Queenstown the excitement capital of the world, quite a few caught the Gondola up to the summit at Skyline, Pascal went para-gliding while others simply explored Arrowtown and indulged in more retail therapy. Mandy, Simon, Bob and Dennis jumped in their cars and drove down to Invercargill to catch a glimpse of “The Indian” the famous motorbike. Others headed to Cromwell and Bannockburn to sample some of those famous Central Otago Pinot Noir’s. That evening we all boarded the TSS Earnslaw (launched in the same year as the Titanic) and enjoyed a wonderful meal over at Walter Peak Homestead, along with sheep mustering and shearing demonstrations followed by a sing-a-long on our return journey. Easy run today as we leave Queenstown behind and head over to Wanaka via Cromwell. First off we stop off at the Highland Motorsport Park, Cromwell, owned by Tony Quinn. This venue is a racetrack as well as a car museum featuring identities of New Zealand motor racing. From there we travelled to Warbirds and Wheels Museum just out of Wanaka. Many of us just passed the 4-5 Healeys pulled up by the side of the road near the Museum assuming that they had stopped to take a picture of the sky divers. As it happened the baffle in Bob Symon’s fuel tank had broken free and thus began a series of trouble shooting experiments to

determine what the problem was. A trip to a local tractor dealer chasing hosing etc. soon had Bob underway. That night we gathered together for a BBQ around the pool and were joined by Rosco and Shona from the New Zealand Healey Club who had spotted Greg and Robin Nicholls in their BJ8 and stopped by say hello.Breakfast next morning was at the Edgewater Resort overlook-ing the lake. under clear skies we headed off towards Lake Tekpo via Twizel and for some of us via the 56km drive in and out to Mt.Cook Village. We stopped at Pete’s Lookout on the way back. A bus load of Canadian Chinese were soon taking photos of Hector. Women posing like models leaning against the windscreen and a few sitting in behind the wheel. We reckoned by the time we got to Lake Tekapo Hector would have gone half way around the world via facebook. Our enjoyment and laughter pretty quickly changed when we got to Lake Tekapo late afternoon to discover our rooms were not ready, lakeside rooms booked and confirmed not available etc. etc. By now my trained crew who had checked in ahead of us started asking serious questions. As compensation we received food and drink free of charge. After dinner quite a few of us caught the bus to the Mount John Observatory. In reality we may as well have stayed back at our accommodation because intermittent cloud coupled with moonlight coupled with switching of telescope from one constellation to another constellation meant we saw 3/5th’s of 5/8th’s of nothing and what you could see via the telescope you could almost see as well with the naked eye.Saturday 8th – We commence our run back into Christch-urch. More lovely driving conditions as we head through Bourke’s Pass on to Fairlie where unfortunately their Heritage Museums was not open so we carried on to Geraldine where we had a look at their Vintage Car and Machinery Museum (lot’s of old tractors). I had heard of a British Car enthusiast Martin Perry who has Hind Motor Emporium which was on our way further down the road so we pulled in and made ourselves known. Martin had every car part known to man for British vehicles in stock and soon we were joined by Mandy and Simon. Simon had no trouble at all in spending an hour and a half looking at everything on display and documenting some of those hard to come by parts for future reference. We enjoyed the opportunity to blow the cobwebs out of the Healey as we made the run in on freeways. Back at the Com-modore once more the washing machine and dryers were quickly put into action while the boys began the task of clean-ing up the cars ready for transportation back home. The car cleaning rolled into Sunday for some while others took trips around the town or went out for lunch. Tonight was our last night together and our hosts the Patterson Family kindly put on French champagne for us and CEO Mike has joined us to say a few words of appreciation and I in return expressed our gratitude to Mike and his friendly staff. Tonight we had a private room for our farewell dinner. In be-tween courses Merv George was on his feet and spoke about the trials and tribulations experienced to get us to here, about


the fabulous trip and group that had made it all so worthwhile and presented Linda and myself with a very generous gift on behalf of all the group. In return I thanked everyone for it had been a most enjoyable and memorable trip and this was followed by a speech from David Kelly who handed out various awards. Monday we drove our cars back over to Lyttelton where they were repacked into containers and headed home. It is hard to put into words the absolute enjoyment derived from this special trip. I was blessed with a crew who embraced it with great gusto and spirit, and were rewarded many times over by it all. Fantastic roads, tailor made for cruising in our Healeys, food, drink and laughter shared over 1700mls or approx 2700kms accident and trouble free. What an experience!

Ralph Fletcher has been a Member of the Victorian z Austin Healey Owners Club of Victoria for a decade. During that time he has organised two trips to Tasmania (2008 and 2013), a “Tittilate your Taste Buds tour to South Australia including Kangaroo Island, A Great Ocean Road Run, a combined Victoria/SA run to Mildura for 78 participants and a combined Victoria/SA run to Mount Gambier for 56 participants. The genesis for New Zealand evolved following our February/March trip to Tasmania when some bright spark said “OK Ralph what about New Zealand?” and muggins me said “Why not!” And so the challenge began.

After months of hard work by Ralph, we arrived in New Zealand. What a lovely hotel in Christchurch. The management was wonderful and the staff efficient and affable. I knew from the moment we arrived there that this was going to be a trip to remember. I was right. There are so many memories of happy people. Every night when we assembled for pre dinner drinks the accounts of the various drives, museums, car displays, wineries, scenery and weather got better and better as the days wore on. For me the “Wow” factor was the fact that everyone enjoyed themselves so much. There was much laughter and banter in the bars that it was plain to see that the group gelled, but then they would as they are Healey people. My favourite drive was from Wanaka to Mount Cook. It was a stunning day and the lake sparkled and the snow capped mountain in the distance was like a magnet. The road was one of the best, and with very little traffic it was made for a Hea-ley.

My second favourite drive was from Franz Josef to Queens-town. To say that it had everything was an understatement – rain, sleet and snow, followed by clearing skies and brilliant sunshine. The twists and turns through Haast Pass in the rain, sleet and snow with the inevitable battle to keep the windscreen clear, and then the amazing drive on Crown Ridge Road descending into Queenstown in brilliant sunshine was wonderful. Never a dull moment on this trip.I will not forget ”WOW”. The ingenuity of the people who created the garments was beyond words. Who could forget the crinoline dress made of computer keys. I could have sat through the video of the presentation in Wellington time and again. It was so spectacular. The World War I aircraft display at Blenheim was very special. Peter Jackson’s set production team excelled and there were such a lot of

interesting bits and pieces tucked away in cabinets. The car display at WOW was probably the best I have ever seen, and I wonder who has the task of polishing all those vehicles. They sparkled. There are so many happy memories but one thing that I regret that I didn’t do is paragliding with Pascale.

Linda Fletcher

Healeys on HolidaysLinda’s story

Above: Pascale Turvey paragliding over Queenstown.



SOME OF uS have enjoyed driving our Triumphs and Healeys on the wonderful roads of Tasmania either socially or competitively where the traffic is light and the roads conducive to spirited driving. Well, if you think that Tassie is good you should try New Zealand!Recently 14 Austin Healeys were loaded three to a con-tainer provided that they were clean under and over and only had a quarter of a tank of fuel. They were then shipped to Christchurch where they were collected a few weeks later by anxious owners in preparation for roadworthy inspection by local authorities. Fortunately, all cars passed and were issued with a Warrant of Fitness allowing them to be driven on NZ roads. The actual process of arranging the export and import of the cars in and out of the two countries was long and painful and a credit to our AHOC organizer Ralph Fletcher.From the Commodore Hotel in Christchurch, which is the staging point for the uSAF personnel travelling to McMurdo Base in Antarctica, and explains why the TVs were always tuned to a gridiron football channel, we travelled North reaching the coast at Rangiora.Here the road meets the rail line to Picton harbour, which we then followed closely (a few metres) to Blenheim where we visited the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre. The impressive display of WWI aircraft and artifacts was well worth the visit. At Nelson one of the attractions is the World of Wearable Art and the Classic Car Museum in which we spent considerable time. Many of the ladies dresses were made of cars parts and other interesting items e,g, cable ties! The museum has its own workshop

where several vehicles were being re-stored including a streamliner Greyhound bus. Of interest to us of course, were the Triumphs, TR3A, Herald and Renown as well as many American and rare vehicles. We found an emphasis on British cars of the '50s at several museums during our travels which reflects the reliance of NZ on the Mother country in those economic times. Nowadays many of the cars are import-ed second hand Japanese models. Commodores were in fact not common(‘doors’).At Picton we partook of a boat cruise in Queen Charlotte Sound in perfect weather, the owner accompanying us and providing wine and mussels. As payment we were asked to line-up our Healeys for a promotional photograph, which I guess may appear on their ‘Cougar Line’ website! The Healeys were featured in the local newspaper in Nelson and were a great source of interest throughout our two week journey around this beautiful island. Not only was the weather near perfect (except for the West Coast) but we always seemed to have an easy run going against the traffic as most of the other folk touring at this time were travelling clockwise around the island.Once we started down the West Coast toward Greymouth the skies opened up and water inevitably found its way into the cabins of all our cars, even the

hardtops! Driving in the rain on winding mountain roads with waterfalls only metres away and many one-way bridges required much concentration. The water ingress resulted in some ingenious methods for drying, sev-eral days later one driver purchas-ing an extension lead and plugging in the hotel hair drier and leaving it on overnight under the carpet! Fortunately, as we turned East-wards after Hokitika the weather

improved and normal (sun) methods finished the job over several days.Queenstown is the excitement area of the South Island, not for the spectacular water and mountain views, but the jet boat rides, para-gliding, sky diving, bungy jumping, joy rides in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and snow skiing.It is a young persons paradise, we oldies being outnumbered by a large majority; at least there was an historic village to stroll around at Arrowtown and a few wineries to visit. A trip on an old steam boat TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu and dinner at a magnificent farmhouse Walter Peak, was one of many highlights of the trip.Travelling North we stopped at Cromwell to visit the Highlands Motorsport Park the excellent circuit of which has only been recently completed. The track and museum were built by the owner of VIP pet food. The museum exhibits old and new NZ race cars and histories of their drivers up to the present day. Amongst the impressive array of cars were not one, but three Mercedes SLR McLaren su-percars of which only 25 were built.Our next stop was at beautiful Wanaka, home of the Wanaka Warbirds Airshow, where we toured the Warbirds and Wheels museum and retro cafe. After several hours at this most interest-ing place we took our (bored) wives northwards stopping at the magnificent

Driving a British Sports Car in the Land of the Long White Cloud


Lake Tekapo to visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the edge of the Lake. At the motel each room had its own garage which was the scene of the hair drier incident mentioned above.Much to our wives’ dismay we next stopped in Geraldine to visit the Vintage Car and Machinery Museum. Here, arrayed in large numbers, were the British cars of the '50-'70s, lines of every model of Vauxhall, Austin and Morris and others you can imagine, some mod-els of which we did not see in Australia. Of note was the Velox with autographed bonnet driven by Anthony Hopkins acting as Burt Munro in the film ‘The Worlds Fastest Indian’. (Three Hea-

leys had previously made a dash from Queenstown to Invercargill to check out the exhibition.)On the way again and into the green productive Canterbury Plains where we were fortunate to visit a dairy farm with a massive homestead set in a magnificent garden, full of rhododendrons and azaleas with its own stream flowing through a lake – at last the ladies had something to spend time inspecting! The dairy was fully automated being equipped with four robotic milking machines and micro-chipped cows, the whole operation operated by one lady and a computer! It was then time to hit the main road back to Christchurch and the farewell dinner.But what about the Healeys you may ask; did they have any troubles? Fortunately there were no major issues and we had a real mechanic in the group (Simon Gardiner). One 100/4 suffered a severed fuel line when the baffle in the tank broke loose and broke the inlet pipe. Our car had an excessive fuel

consumption early in the trip which was soon rectified when Simon cleaned the carburettor pistons, and of course no trip would be complete without someone’s overdrive playing up, which for once was not our problem.If you would like more information about the paper warfare required for our trip to New Zealand, then I refer you to Ralph Fletcher who undertook the substantial (massive?) task of organizing the shipping of our cars to and from Christchurch. The return to Australia was more complicated than arrival in NZ due to pedantic quarantine officials demanding that all the cars had to be steam cleaned a task which took them several days and required yet more expense. Although we had cleaned the cars well before delivery to the agent in Christchurch, we were informed in Melbourne that they contained ‘QRM’ (quarantine risk material)! Our car is now home safe and sound, after an absence of three months. Well, was it worth it? Absolutely!

David and Rae Kelly

Above: The three Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Supercars. Above: Geraldine’s Car & Machinery Museum

The World’s Fastest Indian was housed here, in the hardware store in Invercargill.

A five (5) dAy adventure tour through the legendary High Country of the mighty Snowy River Hydro Scheme.We will cover a total of about 1300kms with a daily average around 250/300kms.Bookings are open [email protected] until the end of April. Type your name/s clearly as some email addresses are confusing.i will be overseas May and June but will restart taking bookings from 1 July.

There is a limit of 15 cars. i will keep a “wait” list if more than 15 book.Upfront payment approximately $650/$700 (exact amount TBA) by no later than friday 24 July so i can guarantee all the bookings i make on our behalf. PLeASe UNdeRSTANd. NO RefUNdS AfTeR 24 JULy2015. Any queries email me any time until end of April.

Selwyn Hall

STOP PRESS

Selwyn’s Snowy Mountain Tour

26 -30 November 2015


A BIG HEALEY is a ticket to a busy social life. The growing bookshelf of Austin Healey magazines are full of the trips and travels of members, spearing off to gastropubs and spectacular spots all over Australia and all over the world. And all over every other country where the marque thrives. Smaller groups of like minded friends sharing tastes on how to drive and what’s exciting, make spontaneous expeditions to dramatic destinations, often involving a few hairpins and fast chutes. A picnic might be included, even a glass of Merlot. Recently, your correspondent was out in the tintop and encountered a solo Healey in full flight coming the other way. Gorgeous dark blue BJ8, clearly on a mission. Looked and sounded sensational, he in cap, she in headscarf. 1965 was suddenly all around. Next day, there it was, parked outside the best B&B in town and it did not take long to find them. Soon, I realised enthusiasm was not welcome. No, they did not belong to AHOC. The Healey was their only car, otherwise they used public transport. No, they were not interested in meeting other Healey owners. Yes, they loved the Healey – they’d had it 10 years, they loved the way it made them feel special, how every trip, how-ever mundane, felt like a bit of an escape. And they loved the rapport it brought them with people they encountered. Did I know if they could get to the Blue Duck via Fall’s Creek ? OK, now we had something to talk about. Lots of Wild up there, mate ...With barely a thousand Big Healeys spread across Australia, owning one is a guarantee of presenting an independent style. So the comments of these committed Healey owners struck home – for them,

owning a Healey is a statement of individuality, not a ticket to a party. And you can see where they are coming from.As our cars age, the technology of modern ‘everyday’ cars are creating a growing gulf with classics, so that the act of driving is becoming almost a different kind of task. Cars know how to change their eight or more gears by sensing what sort of mood you’re in, set the speed control by using GPS to spot where the hills are and neatly self park against the kerb. Control is now by voice and gestures in case your fingers are too weak to flick the switches or jab the screen. And to fill the gaps in your time which the car has supplanted, you can watch a movie or answer emails or search Google – providing you’ve touched the ‘I Agree’ button absolving the maker of blame if this distracts you.As a means of transport able to perform across a wide spectrum of harsh condi-tions, modern tech is hugely superior.But for people who sometimes want more from driving than arrival, who are thrilled by the satisfaction of controlling gears and judging grip and testing skills via the rawness of primitive technology, the Healey is a wonderful solution. And as AHOC members all know, owning one is both an individual treat and a social opportunity. You don’t have to choose.A Healey trip with Healey friends is such fun. You might have got to know each other through the shared interest of the marque, but friendships develop around personalities and involve mutual understanding, enjoyment of each others’ company and sharing opinions honestly and without fear of judgement. So you can disagree about his Jap gearbox while still respecting each other (OK, maybe that’s a bad example).

AHOC trips add depth to the mutual fund of shared experiences to be relived later. For more complex or remote trips, there’s safety in numbers if you have a problem – punctures and holes in sumps can spoil your day. usually someone has done all the hard work on the best route, booking beds and meals, so you just enjoy the drive and listen to your partners’ perspectives on your driving state of comfort, and when the AHOC snake arrives you just park and unload. Really easy.The solo trip is different. You’re on your own, you can please yourself where you go and stay and do. Your partner – unless this is a driver only zoom to the Wild – will be an intimate part of it all. He or she shares the sense of escape from reality, the romantic feel-ing of the two of you heading off in a low slung sports car, such a '60s Hollywood image. ‘Off ’ means to the fresh air, beachside or mountains or country, putting aside the constraints of everyday to create a place of fantasy which is only there for a while.But maybe the defining difference be-tween a social trip and a solo trip, is the relationship with others. When you BYO friends in Healeys like yours, you are there for each other, not so much for strangers you might meet. When its just the two of you, strangers are key to happy random events. Victoria is blessed with a brilliant network of sealed country roads, criss crossing all over the countryside, especially the hilly bits. Off on a day trip along a particularly interesting combination of these roads, the Healey driver noticed something unusual in the mirror – another car keeping up, but some way back.Soon a small town arrived and the couple stopped for a Devonshire tea. The car behind pulled in too. Out of

‘FRIENDS’


the slightly battered Skyline R33 GTR stepped two young blokes. ”What is that mate?” The taller of the two asked “We couldn’t catch you and we know the roads, we live here”.Bonnets were opened, tyres examined, techniques discussed and eventually club emails given. A few months later, a smarter R33 was cutting laps at Winton and a few years later, a gleaming R33 was at the quick end of Early Modern in Targa. Our Healey driver was happy to have sparked the passion, but avoids those particular back roads now.In this remote pocket of rural France, the front tyre of a BT7 had no air because there was a roofing screw stuck in it. Changing to the spare and driving to town lead to a garagiste who confirmed he could get a 15x195 tube and fit it to the 15x6 Dayton wire. Come back Tuesday. On Tuesday, with the Healey up on the jack, a crowd had gathered to watch the ceremonial knocking off of the wire wheel. One spectator seemed very knowledgeable about Healeys, Sus and overdrives. ‘That’s unusual’ thought driver as he

chatted away in French. Then the spectator asked whether they were 72 spoke. That was when it dawned. “Vous êtes Anglais?” “Yes, dear boy, what about you?” Came the reply in smooth Thames Valley.The Healey and their XK120 cruised through the balmy Mediterranean air to the hilltop retreat, where this Brit couple resident in France for 30 years rested from the hectic of Nice real estate. A blissful day was spent in the pool and sampling the owners’ wines.Another time, a Healey was in a solid bunch of traffic on the A41 making for a night stop in the old town of Rottweil after a few days biking around Lindau on Lake Constance. A warm, summer Sunday afternoon, the returning weekend traffic was heavy. Suddenly everything gleamed red as a 8-kilometres of traffic ground to a halt. Very peaceful, sitting there on the concrete Autobahn where cars normally cruised above 250 kph. In front was a Renault Megane and the family soon had the picnic tables set up and the baguette and cheese set out and a decent supermarket red ready and invited the Healey couple for a snack. Out of the A Class Merc behind came

a young couple who were soon tucking into the baguette, while contributing a large Bratwurst from the Black Forest. On each side were banker types in BMW 3 series touring and plump Audi SuV. Both were soon fantasising about owning a Healey. And in Australia too! The excitement was almost more than they could bear, so they dug out the Pils. Soon the party was joined by a family from an AMG with a collection of exotic middle eastern foods – coming from Turkey as ‘Gastarbeiters’ (guest work-ers) in the '80s, they had prospered with a delicatessen business. An hour later, when the traffic started to move again, that Healey couple had an extended Christmas card list of their European friends.Healey trips are special whether you take your friends with you or make them along the way, whether you are across the world or in the next State or doing a lap of Aus. Here in Vic we are spoiled by wonderful roads to escape along, often little skinny, knobbly sealed tracks across the hills and round the lakes. As long as Vic roads are there, Big Healeys will have friends.


THROuGH THE GOOD graces and excellent industry con-tacts of Ralph Fletcher, the club has been offered an opportunity to once again purchase top quality winesat outstanding value for money prices.About the wine. The wine is from Hoggies Estate Australia Range, made byGavin Hogg, former Chief Winemaker Mildara Wines at Coonwarra in SA.Gavin has his own vineyards at Yelta (just out of Mildura) as well as Coonawarra. He is a multi awarded wine maker whose 1988 Jamieson’s Run won the Jimmy Watson trophy in period.The varieties Gavin is offering us are:• Sparkling Chardonnay / Pinot Noir• 2013 Australian Chardonay• 2014 Australian Moscato• 2013 Australian Coonawarra Riesling

• 2012 Australian Cabernet• 2013 Australian ShirazFinally – price. As mentioned – outstanding value for money – every wine isavailable to us at $96/dozen which works out at $8.00 a bottle – you can’t buy clear skins for less!To place an order contact Adrian NewmanMobile: 0418 356 302 A/H (03) 9726 9513 A/W (03)9819 3853Email: [email protected] load an order form from the AHOC web site www.healeyvic.com.au or use the one below.

AUSTIN HEALEY OWNERS’ CLUB OF VIC 2015 RALLY FUND RAISER


Odds & Ends

Left: Dan Johnson with Mandy PJ at Coombe Cottage. Dan, is the man in charge of the whole Melba estate. He is also a Healey owner, a small Healey,

and a long time member of the Austin Healey Sprite Drivers’ Club. Coombe Cottage was once Dan’s personal garage before it was converted into

the lovely restaurant, gallery and wine tasting area that it now is. He was responsible for the vision and design of Coombe Cottage.

Coombe Cottage Lunch

COOMBE COTTAGE IS part of the estate that formed the home of Dame Nellie Melba.The AHOC will be going there on Tuesday 31 March for a tour of the estate and lunch.Meet at Reading Cinema car park, on Maroondah Highway, Chirnside Park.We will leave at 9.30 am for a scenic mountain drive for 45 minutes on made roads, arriving at Coombe Cottage, Coldstream, at 10.15am.A guided tour of the

magnificent gardens will start at 10.30am. It includes the gallery which has paintings, films and memorabilia from the Melba era.After our tour there will be a light lunch in the garden restaurant including tea /coffee.Total cost will be $45.00 per person.Contact Barry Barnes on 0412583868 or 98592384 the email is: [email protected] booking advised as total number allowed is 44.

Ralph and Linda Fletchers’ Run to The Plough, Myrniong is on Sunday 1 March.Champagne! Eggs Benedict! No, just wishful thinking. What about coffee, tea and scones to start the day?Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11.30am at Ralph and Linda’s, 7 Ramsay Crescent, Darley (Bacchus Marsh) Melway Map 327 E12.Please come down the driveway and park at back of the house. Morning tea then a run of approximately 90kms, or just over an hour to The Plough, Myrniong. Mine host Mark Mills is a fellow club member. In short Mark “IS’ The Plough and continues to sweep all before him. Lunch will be: entree trio of dips with grilled ciabatta bread and charcuterie board (a selection of cured meats, terrines and parfaits).Mains will be alternate drops of 36 Hour slow cooked blade steak with mash, peas, mushroom and red wine jus. Ask My Kitchen Rules expert

John Raisbeck re this magnificent dish. John thought he had just eaten wagyu steak for the first time it was that tender! Or alternate drops of crumbed chicken breast filled with garlic butter, served with mashed potato and bok choy. Desserts are either Jaffa infused baked chocolate pudding with mandarins and orange blossom fairy floss or trifle, soaked in chocolate port, layered with vanilla cream and mixed berries, crushed meringue and raspberry sorbet. Bet that menu got the taste buds flowing.This promises to be a great day with a lovely drive down country roads and superb food and hospitality. Not to be missed! Cost is $50.00 per head, bookings are essential. Contact Ralph on 0418 567218 or [email protected] Please advise if there are any special dietary requirements.Website www.theplough.com.au or simply read the reviews on Tripadvisor re the venue and the food.

The Plough Lunch


Odds & Ends

ON THE LAST Wednesday of the month we meet for lunch, all members are welcome to come along and enjoy the fellowship. We look at venues that have a lunch available for a maxi-mum of $30.00 per head, or you may choose from the main menu, if you have a suggestion for a venue please let me know and we will check it out.Please phone me 0418 540 920 or email [email protected] no later than the Monday prior to the lunch if you intend going, I will ring the venue on Tuesday morning with the final numbers. Restaurants need to organise seating and staff. Lunch is at 12.00 for 12.30.Looking forward to seeing you all at lunch,

Gordon Lindner

January 28th Lunch at Sands Hotel, 71 Hall Road, Carrum Downs. February 25th Lunch at Pig & Whistle, 365 Purves Road, Main Ridge.March 25th Lunch at Marina Restaurant & Lounge Bar, Mullet St, Hastings.April 29th Lunch at Frankston RSL, 183 Cranbourne Road, Frankston.May 27th Lunch at Benitos, 1196 Nepean Highway, Mount Eliza.

June 24th Lunch at Trios Sports Club, Grant Street, Cranbourne. July 29th Lunch at Baxter Tavern, 117 Baxter-Tooradin Road, Baxter.August 26th Lunch at Rosebud Hotel, 1099 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud.September 30th Lunch at Settlers Run, 1 Settlers Run, Cranbourne South.October 28th Lunch at Cardinia Hotel, 200 Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd, Beaconsfield.November 25th Kirk’s on the Esplanade, 774 Esplanade, Mornington.

Please book with Gordon Lindner on 0418 540 920.


WORKSHOP MANUAL Austin Healey 100 Service Manual (series BN1) printed 1959. Good condition. $70.Austin Healey 100 Parts list printed (series BN1) printed 1958. Good condition $70. Call Rod Brown on 0417 590 992. Pick up in the city or Seddon.

SPOKE WHEELS Set of 52xspoke 185 x 15 wire wheels and tyres $150. Call John Anderson (Geelong) on 0418 518 505 or 5276 1505

WORKSHOP MANUAL for Healey 100/6 and 3000. Mint condition. Call Graeme Maundrell on 0418 394 790

NEW WINDSCREEN BJ7 Cost is $130 pick up from Mt Eliza. Contact Harvey Kellam email [email protected]

LATE 58 MOTOR. Motor removed from the car in 1989 and

put into storage - as rebuilt in 1967 3000 motor. Missing the head but otherwise complete. $650. Call Stephen Brooks 0407 540 008

AUSTIN HEALEY SPRITE MK3A 1100cc, roadworthy ready. Reconditioned suspension, gearbox and brakes. Light Blue. Good condition all round including soft top. $10,750. Call Arie Vermass on 0428 304 051 LARGE COMPRESSOR Two clisby made in South Australia approximately 23 cubic feet, it

takes two to three blokes to lift it. If interested give me a call and we can chat about price.Ron Smith 03 9789 7698

CARBIES Triple 1.5” for a Healey 6 with air cleaners, exhaust manifold & heat shield.We can talk price. Brian Forelich 0407 008 628

BN1 ONWARDS I’m looking for any Austin Healey from BN1 onwards.. K J Parekh 0405 261 275

BN4 BOOT LID. Any condition as long as it is in one piece.. Bill Metcalf 039876 2167

BN2 I’m currently looking to purchase an Austin Healey BN2 perferably with Le Mans modifications. LHD or RHD. Contact Craig A Leeson at [email protected]

FOR SALE

WANTED

For Sa

le or W

anted

From Octane Magazine December 2014COLuMNIST STEPHEN BAYLEY under his column title “the Aesthete” made an interesting observation when asking “Has Jaguar lost it’s way on style?”Bayley wrote of the tragic death of British Formula One driver Mike Hawthorn when he crashed his modified British Racing Green Jaguar 3.4 Saloon on January 22nd 1959 on his way from the Tourist Trophy Garage (which he owned) in Farnham to the Cumber-land Hotel at Marble Arch where he had an appointment. He had announced his retirement after narrowly winning the 1958 World Championship, wearing his signature bow tie at the wheel of his Fer-rari 246, following the fiery death of his close friend Peter Collins. To add to the romantic tragedy he had been diagnosed with a terminal kidney condition and there was a suggestion that he may have encountered F1 team owner Rob Walker in his Mercedes 300SL early in the journey. “Seems they may have made eye contact and a race followed….” Bayley went on to talk about Hawthorn’s Jaguar 3.4, known universally as VDu 881, as being one of the great cars of its day. After describing the attributes of the factory sports saloon and modifications Hawthorn had made, Bayley wrote in his usual emotional style:“There can be few expressions more redolent of 1959 and the bow tie era than “sports saloon”. The term suggests cosy architecture and brisk athleticism, with a hint of wink-and-nudge raciness and a ghost of cigar smoke… It was world of pine scented Home Counties private roads, gin and tonic,

loose fitting underwear, approximate dental hygiene and amiable bigotry. Hawthorn’s address was Greenfields, Folly Farm, Farnham. I bet they did not much discuss abstract art or modern jazz thereabouts.Nostalgia was, correctly, defined as a medical condition. I would not want to advocate a return to 1959 – things are better now – but I do wonder whether this moment (before the E-Type, never mind the exciting discovery of sex and the Beatle’s first LP) provided optimum condition for the creation of interesting cars”Bayley then opined that the new Jaguar XE is apparently what the market wants but is: “Aesthetically lazy and boring. What market wants that? They (jag-uar) have neither better ideas nor even the audacity to look for them. This car looks German but Hawthorn’s 3.4 looked like a Jaguar, not an Opel record. Do you imagine that 50 years from now someone will be writing about the 2014 Jaguar XE in the same spirit of wistful romance (as I have about Hawthorn’s Jaguar). No, I don’t either. Mike Hawthorn has gone. So to has Jaguar.”This could just as easily be written about our Austin Healeys don’t you think? The difference being that unfortunately our chosen marque has not been in production for a very long time. Efficient as MX5s, Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, various Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Porsche convertibles may be, they can not and will not take us back to the era of the Hawthorn Jaguar. Of course, we would not want the Healey to be our daily driver now would we?

Rod Vogt

MEDIA WATCH


AUSTIN HEALEY OWNERS CLUB OF VICTORIA INC.Minutes of “General Meeting” held onThursday, 5 February 2015at 19 – 23 ROSALIE STREET, SpRINGVALE

Next Meeting date 5 March 2015

Meeting opened at 8.08 pm

present: 72 Financial MembersNew Members: George and Betty ShawVisitors: Ray ColemenApologies: Bill and Wendy Ingham, Alan and

Maureen Cant, Mary and John Birdsey, Jill and Merv George, Rob and Sue Raverty, Shane MacIntosh, Louise Goad.

Welfare:Bill Ingham has advised that after a serious setback, Wendy is now recovering and the good news is they expect to see us at the Rally. It was also very good to see a number of members present this evening who have also recently faced health issues and are now obviously recovering well. Minutes of previous Meeting:

Motion that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 6 December 2013, be accepted.Moved; Bill Vaughan Seconded; Barry Barnes CarriedMatters Arising: Nil.

Correspondence In:

FlyersVarious offers from commercial venues given to Arthur for his consideration.

E MailE mail from Charlies Auto Museum at Arthur’s SeatE Mail from Shepparton Motor Museum re Motor Show on March 14E Mail from Universal Tint & Auto Centre offering Universal Tint 3m Window Tint Package Savers.E Mail from Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club advising of new restaurant etcE Mail from Robert Gunn Events with January newsletter.E Mail from Lake Mountain Alpine Resort offering accommodation etc

MagazinesFebruary 2015 “Crankhandle” SPCHCC (Southern Peninsula Classic and Historic Car Club) magazine.December 2014 “Slipstream” magazine of the Bolwell Car ClubFebruary 2015 Catalog – Jaguar Club magazine

LettersCorrespondence out:

Annual Return to Consumer Affairs

Advice to various Clubs etc regarding our Change of Address Card to Wendy Ingham Letter to AOMC advising names on 2015 AHOC Committee Correspondence in: Letter from MSCA requesting nominations for Committee Letter from AOMC with tickets to Classic Showcase Minutes of CMC December Committee meeting

2015 president Terry Wade gave the following report:Welcome to our first meeting of the Year - good to see such a great turn up. Especially like to make mention that we have both the founders of our club here tonight; David Rapley & lain McPherson. I think this could be the first time that we have had them both here together in our clubrooms - certainly the first time I can remember since the '70s!As most of you would know our first event was the Natter Day at the Georges estate at Mount Martha and what a good day it was. Thanks must go to Merv and his daughter Debra for having us all there and providing all the facilities. Thanks also to Mick and others for the sweets. Last weekend at Sandown we saw a large number of members present and the club was certainly well represented both in the ranks of the competitors and the officials running the meeting. I will leave it to Rod Vogt to give you more details. There is a busy few weeks coming up event wise and we will hear from Arthur shortly with more details. Thank you to Ralph Fletcher and Ron Smith for the help with the barbecue tonight and to Mick Smith for the Salads. Good to see such a large number of Healeys in the car park and thanks also to John & Leonie Johnson for bringing along their TR3A and their camper to show us what you can do if you put your mind to it!. We will hear from our National Rally director Paul McPherson about the progress so far as I know you are all looking forward to what looks like being a fabulous event.

Financial

Membership:Simon Gardiner reported that he has no specific issues to report at this meeting!

Social: Arthur Tuckett UPCOMING EVENTSSunday 15 Feb BBQ at Sue and Ray Lodder’s at Woodend. Please confirm by 9 February.


Meet at BP near Thunderdome at Calder at 10.00am for a 10.30 start. Sunday 22 Feb RACV-OAMC Classic Showcase, Mornington Racecourse. Enter between 9 and 11.00am. Discounted tickets available from Art. Art also thanked Bill Vaughan, David Kisby and Roger Swales for their assistance with the set up. Wednesday 25 Feb Peninsula Lunch, Pig and Whistle at Main Ridge Ring Gordon by Monday 23. Sunday 1 March Lunch at Plough Inn, Myrniong after a run organised by Ralph Fletcher. Ralph invited all who plan to go to come to he and Linda’s house for morning tea between 10.30 and 11.30am before setting off on a short drive to the pub. Lunch will be $50.00 per head. Saturday 7 March Phillip Island Classic. The feeling is that it is best to meet at the site. Expressions of interest requested. Wednesday 25 March Peninsula Lunch, Hastings Marina Pub - see magazine for details. Tuesday 31 March Eastern Run. BARRY BARNES spoke about the visit to Coombe Cottage, Coldstream.

Mick Smith also noted that we still need some volunteers for the Supper Roster – please see her following the meting.

Editor:Mandy thanked all contributors of articles for the magazine and noted that this month’s deadline is 14 February.

Regalia:Jeff noted that his choice of T-shirt at the meeting was not necessarily an indication of the future direction Regalia may take under his stewardship! He did however invite any suggestions as to what items members may like to have available and directed our attention to the sale of old stock presently underway at knock down prices. Jeff also reported that he plans to have Club regalia available at the Rally to supplement the Rally Regalia.

AOMC/Vic Roads:

Ken Styles updated members re the latest changes to the Club Permit scheme:“I assume the copy of the Club Permit Scheme which appeared on the AHOC website late last week without any notification from Vicroads, is the final one. I am working through this to produce a design allowing easy operation for the AHOC membersWe expect this to be in a form which operates as.

On AHOC websiteEmailed to all AHOC membersIn AHOC magazine H & T notifying of the ready to use form. The size of the CPS is 20 odd pages so we cannot print it out in the magazine

We have had to impose an amnesty on processing new applications until 12.03.2015 (March committee meeting) to allow us time to get the new system operating correctly & we ask for some patience in this regard.The raw information we are working from is available on the Vicroads website, if anyone wishes to see it, it is on “Limited registration”.As soon as we have the new system operating we will advise members promptly.”

Competition / MSCA:

Event Report by Rod Vogt

The MSCA season for 2015 started at Sandown on Sunday 1 February. A full capacity entry with five sprint groups, maximum 20 cars in regularity plus a “Come and Try” group.A record entry of nine AHOC members despite missing regulars Russ Baker, Rob Raverty and Ken Sadler. In regularity were the big Healeys of Tony Rogers, John Goodall, Steve Pike, Leon O’Brien and first timer Andis Salins plus club registrar Iain McPherson in, of all things, an Alfa Sud based sports sedan and Shane O’Brien in Hugh Purse’s magnificent Lister Jaguar Knobbly.Bill Vaughan and Rod Vogt ran their Sprites in the Sprint group (where real racers compete!).A magnificent display in our prime position pit garages which drew a great deal of attention from other competitors and spectators. We invited Peter Clarke (AHSDC president) and Glen Coombs in the pale blue Bugeyes to join us and ex AHSDC president Greg Corbin was close by for a great Healey line-up.Thank you to David Kelly, Selwyn Hall and Terry Wade for being the key officials in a very well run event.A full report will be given in the March magazine.

Coming Events - Phillip Island Historics 6-8th MarchA reminder for your diaries, with more details next month. Entries have just closed and the CAMS on-line entry website has 496 entries for what should be another great event.Group S racing has five big Healeys (Peter Jackson and Steve Pike from our Club) plus Rod Vogt in the MGB. Many new Porsches, Shelby GT’s and Corvettes which will be great for spectators.


Graham Marks and Geoff McInnes compete in Group LB. In Regularity, AHOC members are David Kelly in his 100, Bill Vaughan in his Bugeye, Steve Pike in Sam Cassells BN2, Hamish MacLennan in the MGB, Tony Rogers in his 1974 Porsche 911 and Shane O’Brien in Hugh Purse’s Lister Jaguar Knobbly. You can also see the Healey of Frank and Tim Hook and the Healey Silverstone of Louis Raper.A gathering of Healey members will be inside Turn One on the fence as usual. Keep checking the Victorian Historic Racing Register website www.vhrr.com for more details.

Web Master / Communications ManagerAlex Hope had no specific issues to report.

Cars / parts / Buy / SellTerry Wade noted that various purchases have taken place at the “buy / swap / sell display this evening.

2015 Rally Report

Paul McPherson updated members on latest Rally information. Due to a few cancelations, a few vacancies have arisen – anyone interested in attending should contact Annette or Brian on 9775 3699 or [email protected]. In addition and due to popular demand, a third order of Hoggies wine will be available, including for the first time, a Mascato variety. Please see Adrian Newman or check the web site / magazine for an order form. Wine can be collected at the April meeting.Next, Paul noted that Adrian and Lorraine Newman have brought samples of Rally Regalia for members to try on to check their size - need to go by measurements!Finally, Paul noted that the Rally Program has been published – check it out on the website or in the magazine. The Car Display will take place on the grassed area adjacent to the Surf Life Saving Club on the foreshore in the centre of town on Sunday morning 19 April commencing at 10.00am.Members not registered for the Rally are invited to attend and display their cars if desired – bump in commences at 9.00am.

CAMS

Terry Wade reported that the first State Council meeting has been held but nothing arose that requires reporting.

CMC/Clubrooms

Tony Barrett noted that the MK2 Version of the BBQ trailer worked reasonably well but further modifications to address minor problems still need to be made.

General Business:Mick Smith voiced her thanks to Mandy for an excellent magazine this month.She then went on to advise members that we have been requested to clean the clubrooms following our March General Meeting as our usual cleaner will be on holidays and the Austin Healey Sprite Drivers’ Club are holding

their meeting the next evening.

Meeting closed at 8.43pm.

Terry then introduced John and Leonie Johnson who kindly brought in their amazing camper trailer/TR3A tow vehicle to display. Since Leonie’s birthday is celebrated tonight, we owe her much appreciation for agreeing to come! Happy Birthday Leonie and Many Happy Returns!

Next Meeting date 5 March 2015

Brian Aitken

Secretary

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