West Race Cars.

We missed the open day down at Melrose Park on Sunday but I'd like to suggest that a club night in the future wouldn't go astray.

West Motorsport, a private Australian company, designs and develops the most advanced racing cars in their class with industry best engineering. West manufactures and sells their cars to international markets and plans full annual calendars of racing meets to ensure maximum entertainment and excitement for drivers and owners. West also provides comprehensive after market services such as repairs, spare parts, customization, service and maintenance.

A bit of history.

Formula Holden. Loved that category.
Love the track too. No walls or cyclone fences. How's the photographers standing on the edge. Are you that brave Bobbie?

RIP Clem.

It is with great sadness that we let everyone know that Clem passed away peacefully at home this morning.

Time to wake it up again.

On Gumtree since the middle of last year.

A brand new Bolwell MK 4B sports car body and chassis. This is an opportunity to build your own classic looking 1960's, 2 seater convertible sports car. The Bolwell is front engined, rear wheel drive and suits any 4 cyl or rotary motor. The body is new, straight from the mould, with Coremat strengthening. The light weight tubular chassis is ready for your own suspension or clubman parts. The finished weight of these cars is 500-650kgs and with the power you choose makes for a real high performance vehicle.


There are numerous other parts of Mazda origin and some rose joints for suspension. A great project and a chance to own a Bolwell- "Australia’s True Sports Car"


Note- black/white photo and Nullabour shot is of a finished car.


Further info on the Bolwell MK4 from when this actaul car was displayed at the National Motor Museum.


This is an example of a Bolwell Mk4B showing the bare Fibreglass body and chassis. The chassis is very light, the complete car weighs between 450 -650 kg. Body weight is minimized by the use of full aluminium floor panels, inner guards, and cockpit sides. Fibreglass is used for the front and rear sections, which are hinged at the front and rear of the frame to allow maximum accessibility. These panels are straight from the mould and you can see the marks were the mould has joins in it, these are easily blended out.


Bolwell Cars’ first production vehicle was cleverly named the Mark 4. Campbell Bolwell’s reasoning was that no-one, not even an enthusiast, would want to buy the first “guinea pig” model from any manufacturer. So Mark 4 it was. Colin Chapman, one of Campbell’s heroes, had done a similar thing when naming his production cars.


The Bolwell Mk4 was clearly aimed at motoring enthusiasts with little money but with some mechanical knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm. Design influences for the Mk4 included the Elfin Streamliner and the Lotus 11 As such, the Bolwell Mk4 was designed entirely consistent with Campbell Bolwell’s ideas in relation to low height and good aerodynamics, minimal weight, and balanced front-rear weight distribution.


The chassis was designed to accommodate a range of stock component parts including Triumph Herald front suspension (ie wishbones, anti-sway bar, brakes and wheels) which was quite popular in those days with Lotus and others. It had very good geometry and rack and pinion steering


Price for a new kit ₤198 Number made- ~100 Mk4 body/chassis units, including 12 GT versions.


Engines- Small 4 cyl, however some Grey Holden 6’s were fitted


Information sourced from Bolwell promotional materials and various Road Test articles

Grey stuff - 46

1958 Buchanan roadster.

For sale on ebay in Hervey Bay.

Says the seller: “This is a fully restored Buchanan-MG and very rare in this condition. As far as I can ascertain it has never raced, however I do not know its early history except when I bought it the seller (from NSW) said he had purchased it from a seller who said he in turn had purchased it in South Australia. These bodies are a direct copy of the Aston Martin DB3S taken from the competition car of Tom Sulman by Nat Buchanan. In late 1957, as a teenager, I purchased body No. 6 and fitted it to an Austin A40. A great deal of modifications were necessary to adapt the Austin mechanics to the Buchanan body, but are not necessary with an MG. This one has been restored to its former glory, and would no doubt be one of the last remaining with MG running gear.”

“When I purchased this Buchanan the motor consisted of three different size engines. The block was a 1147 cc, and the head was a 1250 fitted with twin SU carbs to suit a 1500. It now has a fully rebuilt 1500 motor with a slightly modified cam plus extractors. The shock absorbers have been converted to telescopic. Traffic indicators fitted. It is now a real head-turner, and is a great car to drive.”

Don't ya love steam?

Heavy breathing.

When one supercharger isn't enough.

Shopping in Bathurst.

At least some of us have made it to the B12H and Tim's wandering around with his Visa card out.

Man and Machine.

First edition out now. Good on ya Glenn. And Rob for the first Bolwell article.

The things you find.

I think I'll canvass all the elderly widows with containers in their back yards or has Garrie H already done that?

When LifeSavers were big deal.