Progress on a certain little yellow car.

My question is - will there be anything left of the original Mark 4?

And it's being trailered to Albany for Easter.

Another Milano.

Phil Franzone has acquired what he describes as a basket case Milano in Perth. It's anything but a basket case in my opinion. Anyway, he's trying to piece together where it came from. It's very unique in that it has a dedicated and well fitting space frame chassis. Take a look.

The only information Phil can supply is that he purchased it from the deceased estate of Julian Cowan. Julian raced a variety of cars over in the West and was, in fact, a former member of the Bolwell Club over there. What can you West Aussies and other Milano fans tell Phil about his car?

Ron's Mark Sevens

I see Ron Bailey's red Mark 7  is still on Carpoint. It's been there a while. It's reasonably priced and $2000 cheaper than the similar one that's on the same website. I wonder if that's anything to do with living in the country (less people making the trip to come and see it) Ron's health problem causing him to put his 2 Mark 7s on the market is arthritis making it difficult to get in and out. That must be hard to take.

Anyway, Ron can be contacted on 02-44737066.

I must admit I was more attracted to his other one for no other reason than a fascination to see how a rotary powered Bolwell would go. Yes I am familiar with the Mark 4 rotary but this is different. It made a brief appearance on eBay at an extremely low reserve and disappeared as quickly as it was put up. Either it was withdrawn or someone picked up a bargain.

XFR-5

The Jaguar XFR. A 4 door V8 and a 5 litre at that. Many of the ingredients for a V8 Supercar.

2 pack.

2 PACK PAINT THE DANGERS 

Banned in the European Union, 2 pack paints (volatile organic compounds (VOC). Have in recent times become common place in paint shops and back yard painters all over Australia

Dangers of Isocyanates (VOC)

Isocyanates are highly reactive chemicals that have a low molecular weight. These qualities allow isocyanate products to be sprayed as a mist or vapor and they are commonly used in a variety of industry processes. 

Direct contact with the skin can cause irritation, but isocyanates are at their most dangerous during application. Two-pack paint products contain harmful isocyanates that irritate the membranes of the eyes and damage the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Users of isocyanate materials become sensitized, and this can cause ailments such as asthma if exposure to isocyanates occurs in the future. 

Modern body shops use respiratory equipment to protect their workforce from the dangers of isocyanate poisoning. The most common form of personal protection equipment is an air-fed mask, which feeds a controlled supply of clean air to isocyanate users while spraying is in progress. According to a report by the Health and Safety Executive published in 2009, sprayers are 80 times more likely to develop asthma than a worker in any other environment, and this makes mask use mandatory. 

Reports of may suffering nasty affects even while using both ventilated and air fed masks are becoming more common with the increased adoption of the use of 2 pack paint systems throughout Australia. 

The Short-Term Effects of Isocyanates 

Early signs of isocyanate damage can include red eyes that continually water because the membranes have been eroded. Workers will often experience coldlike symptoms including deep coughing and a runny nose. 

The chest will often feel tight, even when a worker is at home, and breathlessness and wheezing can occur when the worker is resting or sleeping. As exposure to isocyanate materials increases, the symptom become progressively worse until the worker develops severe asthma, which is incurable. 

The Long -term Effects of Isocyanates 

The effects of isocyanates over a longer period time are more severe. Workers often find that they have to leave their jobs because they fail mandatory lung tests, and this can result in financial hardship if alternative employment cannot be found. 

For many, the effects of isocyanate poisoning become more concerning as they get older, and many former paint sprayers in country's where the product has been used for several years, have to use ventilator equipment to breathe more easily. In some cases, the effects of isocyanates can even be fatal. 

From my personal experience and investigations, isocyanate can also be mistaken as symptoms of a heart attack, with many not knowing the reasons for their sickness. 

Symptoms include; ■ chest tightness, often occurring outside working hours in the evening or early morning; ■ persistent cough; ■ persistent cold; ■ wheezing; ■ breathlessness; and ■flu-like shivers and heart attack related symptoms 

Build up of these chemicals in the blood stream and lungs can be fatal, which has resulted in bans in several countries I have to conclude that Australia should look at similar bans, in the short term I would advise an immediate enquiry by the EPA, including the investigation of air quality around even professional spray painting booths, and a temporary ban on the sale of these products to non professional users. 

At the very least we MUST ensure by way of a public campaign that people are at the very least aware of the dangers so as they can make an informed choice whether or not the take up a job working with such dangerous chemicals, or in fact use them as a hobby based choice. 

My enquiries in recent weeks show many Australians are falling victim to the use of 2 pack based paint systems, and they will suffer for life, and with the chance of death from its use, immediate action is not optional. 

I have spoken with paint shops, painters and even Ambulance workers and the problem does exist and is increasing at a rapid rate, so action must be taken now. 

It is highly probable that from my casual use over a couple of months that I have already done unrepairable damage to my lungs, so I hope that no other users or workers ensure the same. 

Mark Aldridge Independent Candidate

Kapunda - week 61

Spotted this '32 5-window in Hill Street the other day.

I really like hot rods like this. It seems rather practical as an everyday driver. Lots of room inside for a 2 seater. This particular one is so meticularly built and well finished off. I like the modern suspension and the blinkers in the tops of the headlights. I don't mind replica bodies either if it saves butchering classics.

Security.

Security at Clipsal 500 courtesy of  Weslo.

Security at United States F1GP courtesy of Texas National Guard.

FYI

Proposed hoon laws in WA. Yet another state panicking about dangerous driving. Panic produces irrational methods to solve the problem. Here's a letter from Stacey to his fellow sand groper Bolly members :-

hi all,
In W.A, I am on a face book page called steel bumper car cruises. Also associated is Grunt files on fb from the Eastern states.
 
A lot of effort at the moment is the new proposed so called hoon laws, by BOTH parties. One that will impact is that more that 5 cars going in the same direction will be in the proposed law. one offence = cars impounded, also to loud = car impounded. no 2 or 3 offences, but one. this is actually in the proposed laws by both parties!
 
There have been representives from steel bumpers going to both parties on the ridiculous nature of these laws.
consider it....
when we all cruise for a cause,,,(the amount of money raised for charity is enormous) will be caught up in this legislation.
Weddings, funerals will be unintendedly caught up in this law and so will All national meeting's held in w.a.' thus affecting every country town that these events are held bringing in thousands of $ to the economy of that town.
For us (the Bolwell car club) we have had national meetings at Bridgetown and this year at Albany. When we have gone east, we know the amount of national meeting's held across the country by all car clubs.
If it gets thro here, it will be picked up oz wide!   
 
Australia is becoming a nanny and kill joy country. 
 
We all need to make it known to all politicians how stupid this is becoming. 
 
We all need to contact our politicians and put our point across NOW.
 
For those of you on face book, grunt files (a site set up to protect the car enthusiasts rights) has a generic letter that takes 5 min to copy. They also have a list of politicians in your area to send it to.
 
Please take this seriously as it is happening. The delegation that has been set up has already seen both party's and has put these points across.
 One problem has been the media that never puts across good news car story's,,,just hoon ones that a lot automatically think every car enthusiast is. We know that is not the case, and we need to put this across in no uncertain manner.
 
Get off your arses and act....
 
stacey, bolwell car club president, w.a

Here in SA we had a similar situation when the state government tried to act on outlaw bikie gangs and rendered it illegal for more than 3 or 4 motorcycles or motorcyclists to be in the one place at the one time. This had a major impact on law abiding friends going for a ride together or going for a coffee even. It even made the annual toy run illegal. If I remember correctly these laws were successfully challenged in court and the government were back to the drawing board.

Lake Gairdner.

Ross is at the annual speed trials. Here's some photos he sent the other day.

Was the Milano there this year, Ross? What did Hatfield bring?

Engine bay before and after.

This is Vic's "Mark 7 with the Nagari doors". Last time I heard the job wasn't completely finished yet but as you can see the transformation is looking good.