Research from the 60s..Brisbane based!

For a long time, I've been thinking of trying to put together something, somehow, on the birth of hot rodding in South East Queensland, and decided it was best to categorise it into the 1960s, as we all believe the formation was loosely based around Roadstars,(1962)....Rods Inc.(1964), and Cheetahs, (1965)..........now without getting into the politics, lets say this is sort of correct, as some Cheetahs members were in Roadstars at first anyway, and R'stars & Ch'rs had cars....Rodsinc only had push bikes....haha....but we didn't lack for enthusiasm, and are always grateful to the older rodders in helping us young kids get established.....A couple of years back, I wrote a very detailed list on this, but with my age...I've lost the F*#k'n thing..(cancel that, just found it and added more names)...but wouldn't it be good to try to collect names...photos..stories anyway..
 Even later 60s clubs figure in this history...Eliminators, Bay Area, Lively Set, Gladiators, Northern Suburbs, Hornets, Colonials, Hustlers, Wheels Inc., Rebels..Southside, Then the drag offshoots, Performance Associates, Queensport ,Drag City, United Drag Team....how many more do you know of???

This is what I can remember of Roadstars...George Watson..Clint Rose..Keith Cunnington..John Cowling..Neil Duncan..John Anderson..Vic Blommer..Ron Drysdale..Barry Covington..Ron Barker..Gary Wright..John & Mick Murray..Norm & Phil Dean..Bill Tozer..Bruce Welsh..Phillips Family..Mike Clarke..Bob Hilton..Bob Maxted..Ralph Donahue..John Loxton..Don Seaward..Dave Gardner..Gordon McManus..Rod Foote..Keith Draper..Doug Pepper..Jeff Amos..Jim Dragona..Barry Mclennan..Ken Stewart..Bruce Panton..Barry Taylor..Bill Smith..Grant Cox

From Cheetahs..Evan, Ken & John Isaacs..John Davies..Mick Dillon..Ron Solomon..Trevor Sweetman..Craig Pearce..John Naggs..John Philpot..Wally Deskins..Jim Rose..Ken Sherwood..Kevin Devenney?

Of course, I have a detailed list of Rods Inc...from 64 to now, but the earlies were Tom Fulton..Peter Crain..Greg Thomsen..Graham Burling..Gary Aumann..John Guerin..Ken Brown..Graham North..Geoff Hayes..Hans Zandbergen..Danny Morrissey..Bob Shewan..Rod & Gary Ward..Gavin & Callum Edwards..Klem Keller..Elwyn Bess..Trevor Minehan..Kevin Kennedy..Frank Nolan..Tony Castles..Graham Hubsher..Des Skenner..Sid Dixon..Gary Muller..Tom Mellors..Herb Jensen..Ken Stewart..Ian Wallace..Russell Nagle..Gary Dryden..Kev Myers..Eric Elhers..Phil Ketter..Bill Sowerby..Peter Milton..Maurice Cane..G Cotterell?..and many many more..This should jog quite a few memories......so who above did I miss, or get wrong, let me know at greg@comstar.com.au

Fridays forgotten & found fotos

Last week, I mentioned the big snake, and it got me thinking of where all the photos got to from the old computer....so thanks to my son Danny....in his words.."get away from the computer...see..click here..then here...there they are...how hard was that!"

So now I have about another 1000 photos to choose from, and this one of the big carpet snake that ate my last chook is a reminder about them being on the move this summer, I find skins in my shed regularly....and sometimes, some live ones!!!

Found the pic of Glenn and Sues 53 convertible when he first bought it...it looks not too bad, but it was a challenge to bring it up to the finished product you have seen on this blog....can't wait to post pics of the new project 5 window 34.

Also in this lost file was another file just on my son Chris, when he used to do freestyle Motocross.....can you imagine how scary this would be up 20 to 30 feet in the air...and hope you can grab hold again?

Found the pic of our Deuce sedan, the day it arrived from USA. Full credit to Warren Wilkie and Ashley Sokel in Toowoomba for being able to transform this rough body into the car I have now...mammoth effort required! Have a go at the wheel arch in the Camoro....I sold this to old time Melbourne rodder, Russ Humphreys, who now lives in Cleveland. Russ is remembered for lots of things...including his supercharged 34, and his '50 Merc sled at Albury Nats...

Someone asked me how I got the 10 x 15 Halibrands with 285 tyres under my old roadster...here's the photo that shows how good it looked and sat with them on. The frame had been stepped by 50mm straight before the rear fender, therefore Kiwi Pete was able to build the body for me with flat inner fenders, and with the 52 inch wide  Nine inch and 3 1/2" back spacing..."Hello....that's how you do it!"....Nowadays, a floating hub would also be reqd. for Qld. TAC approval.

mid week musing

RIP, Johnny Walker...he made a big effort to get to Yamba rod run, and I had the pleasure to take him for a lap around the Blue Dolphin in the 'ol Model A...this is when we reflect on how life is so precious, as 6 days later, he had passed away.

Another timely reminder for those going to the Street Rod Natsd next Easter, is the closing date for the cheapest entry cost is fast approaching...1st December is the cut-off!  After that, the entry fees go up about 30%, and for those of you trying to get a car finished, rember that the TAC will be snowed under, seeing as there is only approx. 128 days before the event....Well...4 months anyway!!

You probably already know that the McMullen roadster recently went up for auction, and sold for..............reportedly...$700,000 plus commission!!..W.T.F.......who has money like that to throw around....but then it was pointed out to me that to win the Grand National Roadster Show, or the Riddler trophy, most cars are now costing between $500,000 and  a million upwards to build....where will it stop?

 

Last weekend in Sydney was the combined Rocket open day, Nostalgia racers hall of fame night, and Nostalgia drags on the Sunday...was a great weekend from what I hear...here's some snaps from Les Winter...This flattie powered time warp belongs to Charlie Falzon.

More flatheads are turning up in hot rods these days, even though  the telephone number costs to rebuild them....one photo I recently saw was of a fresh supercharged big inch H&H engine on it's way over to repower a 32 here in Aus....cost?....lets say some rodders build complete cars for the same!!, And it's not Ardun headed.  

This primered Brookville bodied highboy belongs to Warren Goodall....Some newby rodders should take a long look at cars like this and realise what rodding is all about....no trick paint or billet, no wrong way opening doors, no weird size tyres and wheels, no out of place billet bling!...hmmm, maybe I should step off my soap-box!

In case anyone needs a Hemi in their future, I still have one spare. It's a basically a long motor with some spares, I have checked and it is std. bore, but has had water sitting in one cylinder. I initially listed it on e buy with a reasonable reserve, close to the buy it now of $1900, so try me at greg@comstar.com.au  or 0437 32 31 33 with a price, It needs to go a new home......go on...you know you want it!!

Sundays end of week wrap-up

Got the call to go help with a forensic search on Macleay Island this week....we couldn't resist seeing how many we can cram in the back of a paddywagon!

Chassis is just about done, but I needed to duplicate where the drive-shaft goes...hence the home made galvo fence post fitted the job requirement! Also, I needed to install the body to frame webbing, to ensure dimensions for final body fit work out.

Here's a sight I haven't seen in a while, body about to be re-united with the frame.

Even the HEI distributor cleared, thanks to my cake-tin baking dish addition in the firewall...at this point, it's looking good again!

Ever tried to fit a 4 piece assembled hood on your own...it was like being on my first date...didn't know where to put my hand first...what to hold next... when to wriggle... but a few grunts and ten minutes later.......it sort of fitted where it should!!

Had to jack the radiator up a bit to get the swedge line somewhere near ok...but have a bit of a gap between the frame and hood side, so need to experiment with the shimming of the body during final assembly to get it a bit closer.

Just a reminder to be careful when driving....don't want accidents like these to happen.

 

All you Brissy followers know that we got hit with our first big storm in a while on Saturday...lots of cleaning up for people, probably might even get SES callouts today, so decided not to go to the QHRP swapmeet as planned. I do hope it is a success anyway, even though the weather today is not good...the QHRP need to be supported.

wednesday.....total eclipse day!

Sad day on Monday....I said goodbye to my Model A coupe....guess the laps I did around Yamba with some Castor Oil in the fuel prompted good friends Darren & Vicky Silich to add this beauty to their collection.....looks like the Hemi powered A tudor will take a back seat, along with the Charger......it couldn't have gone to nicer people!!

Also at Yamba, in the "dare to be different" category was this so- cool Commer Knocker, now repowered with a 502 BB Chev....air bagged, alloys, patina, it had it all, loved the flip over frame with a pallet attached, that covers the top of the 502!

Funny how some cars (or should I say builders) just know how to do something "spot on". I'm always impressed with what the Townsend family come up with, and this latest toy of Peters is one of my favourites........some hot rodders would look at this as a blank canvas..but to me, it's finished...don't change anything.

Finally got back to work on the roadster, as you can see, we're snakin' the exhaust thru the frame....I quite often come across these skins inside my shed, up in the mezzanine floor, and sometimes, the snake is still in its skin...gives you a bit of a fright, but I'm a big brave ses man, so I know what to do....."Anita! Help!!"....(I will see if I can find the pic of the big one I got out ten years ago, it was about 10 foot long....I put it in a sack and let it go down at Wello Point...scare some of the locals there for a change)

The original shock bracket didn't allow the pipe to go thru the gap without touching, so I extended the mount about 30mm over, now it clears fine. I had the two bolt holes available, so a scrap of 25mm plate was bolted on and it picks up a std exhaust insulator one end, and a much modded piece of box tubing welded to the pipe.....it holds everything in place very well, but I might just also add a tab and insulator somewhere on the rear frame horn to be sure. I have to re-locate the tab for the brake hose next. The tailshaft can be done later, and the loop is finished now.

Very simple exhaust in the end, I still need to slit the mufflers to get some clamp pressure, and flip the muffler clamps, but it's just about done, ready for the body again. This would have been Thursdays job, but I have to do an S E S /Police Forensic search all day tomorrow, (which is hard yakka, usually on your hands and knees thru all sorts of terrain looking for the smallest shred of evidence)..so I guess the job on the frame will just have to be done on Friday.....Luv my retirement, when you can pick and choose when, how and why your day will progress.

Yamba Rodrun 2012..live life to the fullest!

So we got to Yamba Monday morning, and eldest son Danny came along with wife Vickie, and grandson Ryan...this is his first trip to Yamba rod run since the 90's...both loved the slide obviously!

Glen Watts came around to take them for a drive....Ryan cracked me up..."no GD...hot rod hot rod".....we finally convinced him it was also cool to ride in a 53 Ford!!   (GD is his nickname for me..GrandDad)

Sure glad Doud and Robyns 33 was polished so nice for his sons wedding a week ago...it made for some trick photography of Niftys deuce pickup....Ken and Julies sedan is sparkling clean as well.

Changed out sons mid week...Danny had to go back to Brissy, so Chris came down with wife Emma and 3 month old Eli...love the Thomsen coat of arms tattoo.....can see a movember moment as well!!

Leanne......what can I say about the legs.....I told you they would be on the blog!!

Just a few of our Deuces Limited members taking over the grassy area in front of our rooms......tall tales, B.S., and beer every year.....love it!!

What a man......Johnnie Walker made the painful effort to get to the run on the sunday morning, thanks to his family and friends...I took him for a lap around the park, just so he could see all his mates....he loved the old Model A......He is one of a kind!!...........I'm sure I speak for all rodders and friends in passing on our best wishes to you, mate!.....

45 days to go!...gotta get some work done!

Yeah...Dec 21st is nearly here, and that's when the world stops...according to the MAYAN calender....but I've got lots to do before that, so better "get er done".

I do like my mid day distractions, and Glenn Watts came around to check on the roadster progress...this neat convert he built 2 years ago is a stunner....uses 1990 Fairlane injected 302/4 speed auto, and the install is superb. Glenn managed to use the Fairlanes stock steering column and r&p steering, factory headers without modification essentially, along with many more bits from it...check out this car, it's cool!

Malcolm Case was down for Gary and Amanda Moles wedding, so we spent the morning washing and cleaning.....check my new look for Yamba with Halibrands, Moon tank, and no bumpers.....I will run like this for a while, then change it all back when I try it with the steelies I bought recently though.

Brisbane readers will identify with the name "Barnes Auto"...check out this wild rig I found in "google images"...I remember when I first got my licence in 1967 that the only place open to get fuel after hours was their depot in the city...who remembers going there?....or when the 20c coin slot after hours pumps came in a few years later!

Congratulations must go to the Mole family, seen here with newly weds Gary and Amanda, along with bridesmaid Penny, and proud parents Doug and Robyn.

No blog for a week....the wagon train is ready to roll to Yamba, as soon as the house-sitters arrive...always look forward to this hot-rod holiday at the Blue Dolphin.