The Old Days

[David Hodgson]

Whilst looking for that pic of the Dato'-Ferrari, I found some pic's of the Nat's at West Wyalong that may be of interest to some that never went, and remanisant for those who did.

This one is of the parade up the main street as part of some local festival that coincided with our event. Up front is a genuine 289 roadster (to which there has been some conjecture whether it is actually a modified ACE). This shot is from WW2 or WW3.



Next one is of one of the characters that always add to the vibe of an event. Sydneysider Dale Benge, drag racer and yankee iron importer, has an Arnts replica and always had all the go fast bits on. This year he had rootes style blower with nitrous 302 W rev limited to 8K, the noise from the pipes was piercing.



He used to tell a good story about how he was booked by Goulburn cops on the freeway heading home from WWyalong, but not for speeding, noise but for vision impairment by the blower. They argued the piont for a while untill the copper did the old "how many fingers am I holding up" trick.
The following year he turned up with a centrif style blower and injection.

[Shelby400]

Dale still has that car. It sits in his backyard and hasn't moved for a few years.

[BMK]

Brings back a few memories...

Watching Mike M's. body fly off his car at 150kph....

Aircraft flying in as we did the high speed runs down the runways...

The Police on the side lines with the radars...

It certainly was great to make those early events. Does anyone remember the Wangaratta days..

[Mrs flatchat]

Good one Dave, Bernie --I was about to say, wasn't that the year Mike finished building the car in his motel room
And the run way blast -- that caught a few hard on the gas wondering where the finish line was when the asphalt (black top) ran out.
And the red dust rooster tails from the motorkhanas
The 100K poker run done in 10 minutes on some open country back roads

Yeeah!

PS Wangaratta ?? --- Mildura

[Philm]

Love the pics at West Wyalong.

I would look forward to seeing some more.


Phil

[David Hodgson]

Hi Eve, heres one of the grass motorkana, and i was in the early group before it all turned to bulldust. This was my first year there with a completed car, '97, had an absolute blast.



Next is Dennis Bedfords (first?) GT40 heading off for his runway blast.



I recall maybe John Cini's partner running out of room at the rwy end after a late braking episode. I certainly do recall myself going over the crest, through the traps at 198k with a line of Cobra's crossing the braking zone returning to the start. The start line and most of the rwy was not visible to the end controller, and all instructions were done by radio. Obviously a missinterpreted message was recieved at the rwy end, and sent the cars back early. No incident luckily but a little worrying.

Bernie, I have a shot of Mikes car, but not on the rwy and also the local constabulary not just on the side of the rwy. I'll post them up tomorrow.

[BMK]

Thanks for that.

I'm testing my memory here but there was an event that was won by an early Holden ute with a V8 fitted. One of the first National of Victoria club events.

Who was there..

Mike M. - I drove his car with no floor in it and ended spinning out between the landing lights.

Laurie B. George V.. Rob B.

It was at the Wangarratta airport I think.

We all stood around watching the gliders being pulled up by the cable on a 6 cylinder engine at the end of the runway

[David Hodgson]

Arial photo of the entrants at the first Nats at W.W. A whole 35 entries, the next year jumped to 50.



Bernie, here's the only shot of Mike Moore's Rat Cobra I had.
On a run down the runway the body work (one layer of glass? kevlar? )tore apart at high speed and hit him in the arm and helmet. very lucky not to be worse. As Mrs Flatchat said, the car was finished one night at the motel and the body was stored in his room. He also got a talking to by the law for testing it in the back streets.

Mike held the top speed record for some years at 240k's set at the first W.W with his maroon RMC



And of course the boys in blue coudn't help themselves



Bernie, I know the Vic. events you are refering to, but can't remember what they called them, and also didn't attend. Reptyl will know.

[BMK]

David Hodgson

SPLIPRY

Damn, I cannot remember if they were local events in Victoria for our club or National events.

Not to worry someone will remember....

Mike went onto build that 'Extreme Roadster' with the Gen.II motor. The late Peter Brock test drove it around Calder Park raceway and came in and told Mike it was the best drive he had in a while.

Mmmm, then Brocky went onto GMH and told them about the 'Extreme Roadster' - what a great idea they said......then the Elfin..

A great idea by Mike.

I think John C. down here is still building the Extreme roadster under another name.