The Bolwell Mark 3.

An absolute highlight of the Phillip Island weekend just has to be the appearance of the Bolwell Mk.3. Victorian members have had the opportunity to see it before as in recent times it has appeared in many sprints and hillclimbs.

I haven't seen it since Pat Ryan took delivery of it from Iain McPherson many years ago and discovered the unique windscreen and bonnet (although about a foot short) elsewhere.

After Graeme had sold it, it was later called the Elgaram when Rex Styles owned it and competed in it. The name Elgaram came from Bob Minogue's street name, Maragle Ave., spelt backwards.

For those that don't know, the car has a 3.8 litre Jaguar engine on an Austin Healey chassis and was built by Graeme Bolwell in 1962. Imagine the delight for Graeme and Campbell to see this car again. Campbell actually had a drive. I'm not sure if Graeme did but he certainly reacquainted himself with the seating arrangement.

Phil quite rightly, on another site, pointed out that there were 2 Mark 3s. This one, built by Graeme, must be the Mk.3 Mk.2. The other one (Mk.3 Mk..1), built by Winston Bolwell, was along similar lines, a Jaguar powered Austin Healey with a fibreglass front. After driving it on the road for some time, Winston subsequently swapped it with a good friend for a Mini. He was later killed in a road crash in that Mini. So upset at what happened, Winston's friend parked "the Bolwell" under a tree, covered by a tarp and there it could stay. Years passed and the tarp finally rotted away.

Offers to place the car under cover were refused and it remained in the trees for even more years until no-one was game to move it in case it broke in half. In about 2010 or before, the car was saved and a rebuild was in progress.

6 or 8 years ago it was advertised for sale in the Victorian AHOC magazine. I have not heard about it since until John Noble, who was driving Graeme's Mk.3 for Pat on the weekend, emailed me a recent photograph of it.

Looking for new ideas.

Campbell and Hsiuy checking out the Talbot.

Probably checking for suspension upgrades for the 500.

Almost ready - Mk.7 tail light surrounds.

Just a bit of a tidy up around the edges and then the centres stamped out.

Know any of these people?

Men in uniform - chick magnets.

Alan, you've got to stop sucking other people's fingers.

Wondering where Roger is? He was the other side of the camera.

Now where is Elfin chassis #8772

This Elfin race car body was made by the team’s body fabricator John Webb and subsequently used in the 1977 Can Am season. It was fitted to Elfin chassis #8772, which was driven by Vern Schuppen. After the season of nine races, the aluminum body was removed and put into storage. The previous owner was an SCCA racer who acquired it from a race shop in southern California, where it had sat unused. Eight years ago, the seller acquired the body and put it on display in his garage. The bare-metal finish retains sponsor stickers and painted advertisements as shown below. This one-off Elfin Can Am body is now offered in Portland, Oregon.

The aluminum body was made in 1977 for Elfin’s single-seat racer, but was reportedly replaced the following year with a fiberglass version. Vern Schuppan is identified on the side as the driver and had been named rookie of the year at the Indy 500 the prior year. He would later win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Rothmans Porsche 956 co-driven by Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert.

The bare aluminum features painted advertisements for Barrett’s Classic Cars (Tom Barrett of Barrett-Jackson) and Australian Ford dealer Bryan Byrt. Number 11 is retained on the front nose and wing uprights, and several vents and air scoops adorn the bodywork.

This body has reportedly not been modified or used since the end of the 1977 racing season. The seller states it spent the last 40 years in either storage or displayed as garage art. No additional parts are included.

Bolwells aside......

.......I'm really impressed by Scott Whittaker's Milano GT2.

It was mixing it at the front of the pack with the Brabham open-wheelers. I'm sure that this was the car restored by former BCC-NSW president, Andrew Kluver. Bill has the sister car and one day it would be nice to see both of them on the track together.

For those who don't have a job to go to.

They can stay over for the AGP.

Campbell, Graeme and Vaughan.

The events at the Phillip Island historics were so overwhelming to all of us Bolwell people that without exception we were all affected emotionally, I reckon, none more so than these 3 blokes and it wasn't hard to detect a quaver in Campbell's voice in his talk at the dinner.

A couple of ring-ins among the Holdens.

Car spotting in Horsham.

Favourite 3-wheelers No.40

Couldn't pull the skin off a fritz.

Sandgropers and bananabenders well on their way.

Nice of the trophy hunter to bring it back for the next person.