Michael's project.

Actor, Michael Scheid, seen here in his excellent stage portrayal of Mo,

along with Stiffy (played by Dave Flannagan) but probably better known as Channel 10's Rock Wallaby, has a project that he is launching himself into with determination. The project is to locate a sports car special built by his cousin John A Mariner.

History : Built for street use approximately 1961-1963. It was later sold to Light Motors, Adelaide. It was believed to have then been sold to speedway driver and "wheeler dealer", the late Laurie Jamieson.
The rego number is unknown at this stage but was a 6 figure number beginning with 55....
It was reputedly repainted from red to dark green.
Description : Chassis was apparently copied from plans of a particular model Ferrari roadster of the fifties. The body was hand made in metal beaten from a collection of 1940s Ford sedan panels.
1948 Ford Mercury side valve motor. The car had Lakes pipes.
Aim : To trace the history, hopefully locate, and write an article.

The "Forgotten Fiberglass" (I really do know how to spell fibreglass) site (see links) has been featuring the Bangert Manta Ray a fair bit in recent times and that car is certain to have made the odd appearance in Popular Mechanics in the late 50s. Even though John M constructed the body in steel, it looks very much like the Bangert inspired him.

Not only does the car have the DB3S/Buchanan front wheel arch cutaways, they are also in the rear guards as well.
If anyone has any recollections about this unique sports car, please let us know. There may even be the odd photograph out there somewhere.

Back in the "poor student" days it was common for the young guys around our way to drop Corolla motors into their ageing Morris Minors and Michael was no exception. The only difference is that forty years later Michael's Toyota powered Morris is still his daily driver. It's been all over the place, Darwin included, and has had more colour changes than you can imagine.

Stacey's Mk4A

Well, it's not Stacey's any more. The car has come East and to a good home I'm sure. Beven and Graham take note. Dave Crabtree is the new owner.  Dave used to run a Cheetah Mk.6 in ANF2. Here's a couple of photos of it circa 1980. The first one is at Oran Park.

And this one is at AIR.

I remember that weekend well. Those great big Datsun marquees took up all the room where the double decker buses should go.

SR6 1970

Joe Curcio (not the boxer) sent me this photo of the start grid at Phillip Island at the New Year 1970 event (we think). No.70 is "the" Rennmax BN2 driven by his brother Frank Curcio (not the violinist and 249 game Fitzroy Lions ruckman whose 3 broken fingers in a match ended his music career). The Rennmax is the car built for Max Stewart in 1968. Max's success in the car in 1968 brought him to the attention of Alex Mildren. Clive Millis raced it in 1969, eventually having a massive accident at Warwick Farm. The car was rebuilt and Clive continued racing then sold it to Frank for 1970. Anyway, behind the Rennmax, No.52, is Alan Newton in the Bolwell SR6.

Hasn't Phillip Island changed?

2 more from Broken Hill.

John Harrland sent these.

Concours at Zinc Lakes.

Mad Max country. Oh Look! A black Falcon Interceptor!

Broken Hill Easter 2012.

A line up of Bollies outside the motel.

Photo from Dean Malone.

Kapunda - week 46

Tuesday after Easter is usually interesting in Kapunda. There's usually a National car meeting around here somewhere over Easter and on the Tuesday, the people who haven't a job to rush back to cruise about the place and end up in Kapunda. Often they are Victorians in no hurry to go home and who can blame them. Anyway, today was no exception and as there was the Morris Register National Meet in Port Pirie (our museum's Morris Commercial hearse went over for it) a number of Morrises ended up here. Here's a couple of them.

This special bodied Morris was a stunner.

This square nosed Morris Cowley ran so quietly and started so instantly it put modern cars to shame.

ProdSports and after.

Being a bit of a hoarder I still have my old "Prodsportsman" newsletters. In the 70s they were still printed on foolscap paper and on a Gestetner, just like the early Slipstreams. The photos weren't too flash but interesting nevertheless. Here's a few.

Doug, Barry and Ron.

The Main Bolwell and the Docker Bolwell. However that's not Barry driving No.25, it's the "Good Captain".

This is what John Latham drove when not driving the Midget.

Ranald.

This is Alan Edwards pre Bolwell. Alan Hanns was also pedalling a Datto pre Bolwell. Both their Datsuns went North afterwards. If you are wondering why there's no John Gourlay Bolwell in this lot it's because around this time he was stepping out of his ProdSports Spitfire and into a very quick Midget. John Latham ran a Midget as did Alex Tsakmakis. Speaking of Alex, here's one of him in the Bolwell leading Ron.

B8/75 was a very formidable racecar but the ProdSports career was shortlived. It was a very quick road car too, probably still is.

I took this photo soon after, in its roadgoing phase.

It was at the back of a warehouse in a lane behind Elizabeth Street, that part on the other side of Latrobe Street that heads out to Flemington Road.

Same car? Looks like it. This was taken by Warwick at the 1979 Victorian Show 'n' Tell. Tell me Peter, who was the P-plated member at that time.

We in SA were unfamiliar with the car until it turned up in Performance Cars yard on North East Road where it was bought by the late Gus Safranko.

It was a very quick car then, with Gus making it much quicker again.

When Gus eventually sold it, it went to the Apple Isle to Mark Williams. Mark may still have it, I'm not sure.

Bobby T and Mt. Alma hillclimb.

Nice one Bob.

Maybe the guy is dead.

Never mind the Sunmaid, what about the Sunbird?

Apart from the Sunmaid, Bolwell also made the Sunbird 25 which was five feet longer and had more accommodation.

Then there was the Sunbird motor sailer which had an inboard Volvo diesel and a roof over the wheelhouse.

Tarlee

I had to go over to Tarlee this morning to meet Dino & Sheryl and transfer some Bolly stuff from car to car. The dust storm was in its early stages cutting visibility down a fair bit. The strong winds have continued throughout the day. Let's hope everybody's gypsum piles are still there. Anyway, in rolled these 2 7s for a "wee break".

Yes, it was Ron and Rick and John H on their way to Broken Hill. I'd love to be going with them but it just wasn't possible this year. I've got a whole year to plan for next Easter.
On the way home I stopped to take this picture of a neighbour's new letterbox at the farm gate. The Australia Post contractor shouldn't have much trouble chucking the paper into this one.

In John Goodwin's neck of the woods.

Is John familiar with this legend?

...and do truckies still see it coming out of the darkness?

Any colour you like as long as it's white.