Monday, June 25, 2012

Quick whip around.

When I'm at the Mill I like to get around and visit a few "old friends". This time, was a bit on the quick side but there were a few notables nearby. Like the Giocattolo for example.
See the silver 260Z alongside. It was Don Dunstan's personal car from new until he died. He was notorious for forgetting to put petrol in it and I have memories of giving him a hand on more than one occasion to push it down The Parade and into the Ampol SS to fill up after konking out.
This fold-up caravan preceded the Bolwell one by 50 or 60 years.
Here's a 1948 Chev.
Pity about the whitewalls. These days I'm yet to see one of the GM cars of the 40s that doesn't have at least one of its door handles with a bit of a droop. Anyway, I have fond memories of my own '48 Chev which was the daily driver for quite a while. It was capable of perfect four wheel drifts coming down Ackland Hill Road which was a gravel road back then. It was black like the Pontiac alongside. I've never had a Pontiac but I did have a 1948 Olds which just happened to be the same light blue as this Chev.
This is a 1926 Chic.
They were powered by 4 or 6 cylinder Meadows engines and were built by Mr. Chick in Adelaide. Unlike others, the bodies weren't done by Holden or Richards but were built in-house in Currie Street.
Here's the Geoghegan Bathurst Charger.
Immanuel rebuilt the motor on this car not that long ago and in the name of authenticity discovered some strange bore sizes and head measurements.
This car is a Russian Zil (a Zavod imeni Likhacheva - ZIL for short).
This crowd are Russian truck and heavy equipment manufacturers. However, they also built armoured cars like this for Soviet leaders as well as hand-built limousines and luxury sedans in extremely low quantities for the Russian government. Prices for these cars are the equivalent of models from Maybach and Rolls Royce. Production rarely exceeded a dozen cars per year. A few years back the Kapunda community established a garden and memorial to a former resident, Vivienne Bullwinkle. Vivienne was the sole survivor of a massacre of a large number of army nurses on a Pacific island during WW2. Japanese soldiers, after capturing these women ordered them into the sea and then machine-gunned them. Vivienne did not die but remained in the sea until the Japanese left the island. She was later rescued by a passing warship I think. Anyway, the local people looked around for an appropriate person to launch this memorial and came up with another female war hero, the infamous White Mouse, the Paris espionage agent. She needed to be driven around in style and they decided that our Rolls would fit the bill nicely. Then at the last minute, someone came up with this Zil, which they decided would be even more appropriate (God knows why). Well, after a large number of gins, the White Mouse had no idea what she was carted around in. It could have been a barouche for all she knew. That night she was to give a speech at the dinner at the Soldiers Memorial Hall and later sign copies of the book about her exploits. She did manage a speech of sorts which was of the X-rated variety and most unexpected while she sent a runner up to The North for extra gins when the hall ran out.
Here's an Australian built Capri, but look, the steering wheel is on the wrong side.
It's a Mercury Capri.
Just then, the NSX mob rolled in.
As well as the others, it was good to catch up with Billsy after quite some time.

A nice touch.

The "Nagari" panel on the extra wide sills.

Safely in South Australia

The new orange Nagari has arrived at its destination thanks to Immanuel and his young son Cord (yes, Cord's little sister is Auburn - but would have been Packard if she had been a boy).
A few of us enjoyed a run around Birdwood's little test track before giving it a wash and dry.
That's Auburn.
Cord's in charge of the hose.
The car was eventually installed in the museum.
Where it has taken pride of place among some other Bolwell friends.

Profile

The orange Mark 10 in profile.
More beautiful in real life than than the photographs can portray.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

A hefty chassis.

No, it's not a truck chassis.
It's a 1963 split window Corvette.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

AIR drags 1973, 1974.

Bruce T continually ran Yellow Dolly at both Street Meets and National Title events in those years at AIR, joined from time to time but not always by Ken S and Colin Mc in their Mark 7s.
Here's one of his early tickets.
As mentioned before there was some intense rivalry among the 3 Mark 7s.

Don't get any ideas.

Bruce T sent me this. I'm not sure if it is a hint because I'm getting wonky in my old age. 4 wheels are a bit steadier than 2 though.

Hi John,
 
Here is another Bolwell to add to your collection
 
Gopher for sale - Bolwell 4 wheeler in very good condition.
At this price, don't miss this opportunity.
$800.00 onoEmail (see Contact page) or phone Edward Booth:
0412548558
 
 
 
 
Comes from the "for sale" page of the AEVA (electric vehicle assoc) website
 
Bruce

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Le Mans at last.

Paul Stubber took the Veskanda to Le Mans this year where it raced in the curtain raising Group C race. They acquitted themselves very well and impressed a lot of people.
Great to see it back in its old West End colours. Don't know why it hasn't got the front wing.
Prior to the Le Mans appearance it raced at the 2012 Donnington Historic Festival.

Does anybody know what these little sporties are?


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Don't be too jealous.

Not everyone's got flame mirrors!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Mould move day.

As we have the club display at the National Motor Museum it was suggested that a mould on a rotisserie would add to the interest.  This combined with getting all the moulds in one place in a container or two, meant it was time for a move.  So last Saturday Immanuel, Dean, Chris and Scott headed to Kapunda to load up the car trailer kindly lent by Immanuel.  We managed to squeeze the complete MK7 mould and frame on plus lots of bits from the various Mk4, Nagari and Ikara moulds/parts as well.  A slow trip back via Amanda's shop for lunch (Cheers!) and then the moulds were unloaded and washed off at Birdwood.  A possum had been resident in the Mk7 mould and left it to the last minute to vacate their tenancy which gave us all a start as it raced past in the shed at Kapunda.  Anyway the wash team now aided by John H and Immanuel's kids had the moulds looking and smelling fine.  
 
The Rotisserie was assembled in the display along with a Mk4 part and mould. It all looks pretty impressive alongside the shiny Bollies in the club display.  Next cars in are a MK5 and the NEW Nagari.  The club display will be there till the end of August and the New Nagari hopefully a bit longer in the Museum.
 
A big Thanks to all involved and make sure you get up there to have a look!
 
Perhaps a Club run to the Mill is in order?
 


Scott Baxendale  
    

Sunday, June 17, 2012

B9/11 - The end result.

Rob, now living in Queensland, has sent these photos of his car.