Page 1 of 22 British & European Automobile Club (Southern Highlands NSW) Inc. PO Box 1020, Bowral NSW 2576 Website http://beac.org.au/ Email info@beac.org.au Photostream https://www.flickr.com/photos/beacshnsw/ BEACon Newsletter October 2017 President: Bob Payne, email: president@beac.org.au mobile: 0417 043 940 Secretary: Tom Currie, email: secretary@beac.org.au mobile: 0412 140 339 Treasurer: Fred Edney, email: treasurer@beac.org.au mobile: 0400 040 088 Membership Registrar: Rob Turner, email: webmaster@beac.org.au Historic Plates Registrar: Bob Payne, email: historicplatesregistrar@beac.org.au mobile: 0417 043 940 Webmaster: Rob Turner, email: webmaster@beac.org.au mobile: 0404 463 489 BEACon Editor: Philip O Regan, email: editor@beac.org.au mobile: 0400 829 599 Runs Co-ordinator & Information: Peter Carpenter, email: events@beac.org.au mobile: 0410 617 946 Bistro 146, Kangaroo Valley 13/09/2017 This run marked a welcome return for the club to Bistro 146 in the Kangaroo Valley. As they did last year, the Bistro opened their doors solely for our party. For its part the weather put on a mini blast of summer conditions, though a strong wind made the conditions a little less than optimal. As happens regularly these days, there were some excellent new cars joining the line-up for the first time.
Page 2 of 22 Richard Lewis s 1960 TR3A really looked the part and is a very welcome addition to the Triumph ranks within the club. New member on the day, Michael Kelly brought us his gorgeous 1963 Alfa Giulia Spider. It seems that over the last two months there has been an immediate response to my musing in BEACon as to how come we don t have more Italian cars in the club. Bring it on!
Page 3 of 22 Some of the starters at Burradoo. The Jarretts MGB is ready for the run. We set off across country to join the Nowra Road for the plunge down the hairpins and sometimes blind corners of Barrengarry (great fun in a Mini), followed by the run through the scenic valley to the village, squeezing into whatever parking spot you could find and arrive into the welcoming atmosphere of the BIstro.
Page 4 of 22 The Bistro opened just for us. Once again, the food was top notch. I had been waiting a year to sample again the Bistro s Crème Brulee dessert, and I m pleased to say it fully lived up to my fond memory. As well as thanking our hostess, we also thanked the guys in the kitchen for their efforts. A happy bunch of people at the end of the visit. Thank you to Bob and Pam Payne for putting this one on again for our enjoyment. Phil O
Page 5 of 22 Milton Park with Jaguar Drivers Club Canberra 15/09/2017 As part of the Tulip Time Festival in Bowral, the Jaguar Drivers Club drove up from Canberra and asked to meet BEAC at Milton Park for Devonshire Tea. I was unable to go, but Carol Carpenter thoughtfully provided me with a few photos of the gathering. A nice line-up. Fine cars in fine surroundings.
Page 6 of 22 The stately Milton Park was a great venue for the meeting. Carol commented It was a lovely day and very friendly people. There were 28 people 12 Jaguar Club members and 16 of us. I can see us doing more of this type of event meeting with other clubs at an attractive venue and a time (possibly weekend) suitable to both parties. Phil O Common Ground Café & Bakery 27/09/2017 Almost everything seemed to click just right on this outing to Common Ground. The weather was good. Organisers Peter and Carol Carpenter (thanks to you both) had planned an enjoyable drive through some very scenic countryside to get there. The venue easily accommodated us and the food was good. The only negative was the slow service that is evident there most of the time, but it was more than compensated for by the pleasure of good company throughout. We had a terrific variety of cars turn out for the run, all looking very attractive in the bright sunlight. So rather than me blathering on about it, I ll let the photos themselves convey the joie de vivre of the day.
Page 7 of 22 Geoff Wood s gorgeous Morrie Traveller at the end of the line-up. The Alfa GTV6 looking the business as usual. Alan Edwards must surely have one of the most attractive Magnettes around.
Page 8 of 22 The Thomas Sprite is as nice an example as you could wish to see. Intending club member Peter Pyett brought his newly acquired MGB GT. Two of England s best known sporties ready to go.
Page 9 of 22 Scenes in the Razorback Inn s car park. Scenes during our occupation of the Bakery s function room. Phil O
Page 10 of 22 Glenn and Millie Atkinson Blue 1971 MG Midget My first MG Midget was a sky blue 1968 model bought in 1972. I had been commuting to UNSW on a motorbike but once engaged to Millie, realised that I needed a car. Although only 4 years old it had the usual body rust which I set about repairing and then fitting essential go-fast bits like extractors and sports air filters. My friends Bill and David soon caught the Midget bug and bought restored examples. Can you believe these days that they were having to restore cars only 5 years after production! We enjoyed a number of summer picnics as couples in our Midgets. Bill once asked how come mine was faster than his. I gave his a drive and instead of short shifting like he did, showed him what the tacho was for. Turned out his was just as fast as mine. Millie learnt to drive on the Midget. One day on her Ls I told her to turn left: I didn t mean very hard left as she swung it into a road through about 140 degrees. Only a Midget would have stayed on 4 wheels. My 1 st 68 Midget with Millie on the Hay Plain We took the car on a trip to Adelaide across the Hay plain in summer, a run that I would never contemplate now. We also took our son Rowen in a bassinet in the space behind the seats. Again not very PC these days. As the family grew the Midget was replaced with sensible cars until our boys were in their teens when a restored red 1968 Midget caught my eye. The red 68 Midget was a great daily runabout in the country
Page 11 of 22 We were living near Wauchope at the time, commuting along country roads to Kempsey for work. Both boys learnt to drive in that car which I think was great grounding in road craft. When the boys got their licences they got a 998 Mini Cooper and 1275 Cooper S. I kept the Midget and added a nicely rebuilt yellow 1100 Mini Clubman to the garage as a commuter car. We were all in a Mini car club in the Hastings and went on some great club runs, the most memorable being up the mountain from Long Flat to Gingers Creek, a popular motorbike ride these days. It was like a 60km hill-climb with Coopers and Midgets fighting it out to the top. My next 68 Midget plus our fleet of Minis I bought a 1500 Midget with the intention of doing it up but was very disappointed with the sluggish performance nobbled by all the American pollution gear. I sold it to a friend who did the right thing by it stripping all the pollution rubbish and giving it a full make over. The American 1500 rubber nose Midget was a bit of a disappointment
Page 12 of 22 The next sports car to catch my eye was a nice red 1967 MGB. Not realising that Bs in those days did not have easy-fold soft tops like the Midgets, the roof just stayed off all year. If it rained I just had to drive faster down the Pacific Highway and not stop. One frosty winter morning beat me however and I had to stop and put the roof up. It took over 20 minutes with frozen fingers to stretch that frozen roof over the hoops. The 67 MGB rarely had the roof on After a commuting accident, the fact that the steering column on an MGB ran from the front of the car to the centre of my chest, began to worry me so I replaced the B with a white MX5 NB2. I fitted red Connolly leather seats making that car very distinctive locally. Millie loved the MX5, the best car she had driven since the Midgets. So in 2004 we upgraded the MX5 to a new velocity red MX5 SE turbo. Now that is one car I wish I had kept. Zoom Zoom.
Page 13 of 22 The two MX5s during the change over Millie s knee was causing a lot of trouble at this stage and she was in a wheelchair some of the time. She could no longer drive a manual so we reluctantly traded the MX5 SE for a sporty hatch that could take a wheelchair in the back was the spec. Turned out a Hyundai V6 Tiburon fitted that bill nicely and was a surprisingly good car to drive. After a while even that had to go as she couldn t open the vast driver s door when parked on a slope. Another period of ordinary cars, oh there was a Saab 93, we first joined the club with that, and then about 2 years ago I saw a blue midget for sale in Albury. I decided to buy it if it was still for sale after a holiday cruise, but on return it was gone. But low and behold, there it was back on sale 3 months later in Sydney. The bloke had bought it for his wife as a 40 th birthday present and she couldn t drive it. She said she would have preferred a diamond ring. Anyway her loss was our gain and we picked it up $1000 cheaper and no transport costs.
Page 14 of 22 Living at Wilton the MG seemed a better toy than a boat. It has been great to have a Midget again and go on club runs but since it has been on club plates Millie had been hankering for a regular drive sports car. Once Peter Carpenter turned up in his SLK, a car like that was squarely on the shopping list. We found a nice one with red and black leather seats in Melbourne so flew down and drove it home. The electric hardtop and heated seats are definitely the go in winter but the Midget will be back out once the weather warms up. A four post hoist is going to solve the garaging problem with the Midget above and the SLK below. SLK interior at night
Page 15 of 22 CLUB CALENDAR October and November 2017 Runs start at 10 am at Cnr. Osborne Road & Moss Vale Road, Burradoo unless otherwise noted. Please Note: all PDF files and links are available on the club s Events Web Page OCTOBER 2017 Wednesday 11 October 2017 Lunch Run to Bargo Hotel Venue address 225 Great Southern Rd, Bargo Meet at 10 am, Osborne Road, Burradoo Organisers Phil & Jenny O Regan Download Run Sheet BEAC Bargo Hotel Run PDF Wednesday 25 October 2017 Lunch Run to McVitty Grove Winery Venue address 434 Wombeyan Caves Rd, High Range Meet at 10 am, Osborne Road, Burradoo Organisers Phil & Jenny O Regan Download Run Sheet BEAC High Range McVitty Grove Winery Run PDF NOVEMBER 2017 Saturday 4 November 2017 Invitation Event Classic Yass Display Day & More Venue Banjo Paterson Park & River Bank Park, Yass Organisers Yass Antique Motor Club Inc. Download full details & entry form: Classic Yass 2017 Information & Entry Form PDF Enquiries contact Kieren Laurant email k.laurent@bigpond.com
Page 16 of 22 Saturday 4 November 2017 Invitation Event Canberra French Car Day Venue Telopea Park High School, New South Wales Crescent, Barton, ACT. Time 2.30pm to 7pm Car Club Organisers Peugeot Association of Canberra, Renault Owners Club of Canberra, Citroen Club of Canberra Download Flyer Canberra French Car Day 2017 PDF Wednesday 8 November 2017 Lunch Run Meet at 10 am, Osborne Road, Burradoo Sunday 12 November 2017 Invitation Event Kiama Car & Bike Show Venue Kiama Showground, Bong Bong Street, Kiama Organisers Rotary Clubs of Gerringong & Kiama Download information flyer Kiama Car & Bike Show PDF Saturday 18 November 2017 Invitation Event Iris Country Fair Venue address Frensham School, Range Road, Mittagong Please advise BEAC President Bob Payne if you are attending,email president@beac.org.au Mobile 0417 043 940 Download flyer Iris Country Fair 2017 PDF Wednesday 22 November 2017 Lunch Run Meet at 10 am, Osborne Road, Burradoo Welcome to New Members - September 2017 Mark Schnebli Michael Kelly 1956 Morris Minor Utility 1963 Alfa Giulia Spider We look forward to your company on all our future runs. More Car Shows We have received notification of several more car shows in both near and far locations. (Details of the first two are also on our website). Rotary Clubs of Gerringong and Kiama Rotary Clubs
Page 17 of 22 PO Box 202 Gerringong 2534 Hi car enthusiasts The Gerringong and Kiama Rotary Clubs are holding their annual Kiama Car & Bike Spectacular on the 12 November 2017 at the Kiama Showground. Last years event was a huge success with 210 cars on display and over 30 stall sites resulting in lots of funds raised for local charities. This year our fund raising will again go towards Melanoma Research supporting a PhD Student whose research is related to finding a cure for Melanoma. In addition there will be free skin checks on the day carried out by two doctors. We are again planning on having a large display of Vintage- Classic- Veteran-Hot Rod & Motor Bikes together with a large number of stalls. If you belong to a car club we would love to have your members and their cars attend please put our event on your calendar for a run or cruise to the beautiful Kiama on Sunday 12 November 2017. The cost for displaying/showing your car is free. On entry we will be asking for $5.00 donation per person in support of Melanoma Research. There is no donation payable for children 14 years of age and under. General Information: - Car Parking is free - Stall sites from $50 - Enclosed is a flyer explaining all the details - Enquires Ph Bob on 02 42341336 - Email : kiamacarspectacular@gmail.com
Page 18 of 22 Yass Antique Motor Club Inc. P.O. Box 307 Yass NSW 2582 Email: k.laurent@bigpond.com Dear fellow motoring enthusiasts, On behalf of the Yass Antique Motor Club, I would like to invite you to Classic Yass, which will be held on Saturday November 4th, 2017. Entries are invited for pre 1980 vehicles, including cars, motor cycles, commercials, historic racing cars and Old School (using pre 1970 components) Hot-rods. Parking arrangements for each vehicle will be worked out prior to the day so all entrants are required to complete and return the enclosed Entry Form for each vehicle at your earliest convenience; it will assist us greatly if all entries don't arrive at the last minute! You will receive final instructions and details the week before the event. During the main part of the event on Saturday in Banjo Paterson Park, while you stroll amongst our "Motor Show" style display of heritage vehicles, we will again be featuring the fabulous Sydney band "The Hips" (with Rockpile Jones and Paul McCann of Ol 55 fame) to entertain you throughout the morning and early afternoon. As in previous years, entry is free for entrants who complete and return their entry form before the closing date. We are however seeking your help this year, and we ask that entrants would consider purchasing $20 worth of tickets in our annual raffle. Your support would greatly assist us meeting the ongoing expense of hosting such a premium event. This year sees the running of the 8th Rotary Billy Cart Derby in conjunction with our display. Following the amazing success of this event over the years, we are expecting a bigger than ever field of Billy Carts in many shapes and sizes! Vintage fashion will again be a big part of Classic Yass, and is being well promoted. We expect many of the general public that come to the event to be wearing vintage fashion. We would like to urge all drivers and passengers of vehicles to dress in period costume to go with their vehicle, this will not only put you in the running for the major prize, but more importantly, it adds to the heritage atmosphere of the day. Morning tea again will be served in the Memorial Hall adjoining Banjo Paterson Park where there will also be Art, Craft and Hobby displays hosted by the Yass Masons. The Rotary Farmers Market and Scouts Markets will also be in the vicinity. At lunch time we would love you to be involved in the vintage fashion parade, with lots of great prizes to be presented. Bring your own picnic or partake in the B-B-Q and Food Stalls that will be available at lunch time or enjoy a meal at one of the many Cafes, pubs or Soldiers Club in the centre of Yass. For those wishing to make a full weekend of the event, on Saturday night we have a Sergeant Peppers Dance Party at the Yass Soldiers Club with music again from "The Hips". Entry is $10 per person pre booked during Classic Yass on Saturday or $15 at the door with profits going to our wonderful local charity, CanAssist. On Sunday, you can explore our local wineries. Entries for this year s event close with last mail on Friday 13 October. Details and entry forms for Classic Yass and the Rotary Billy Cart Derby are available on our Classic Yass website at: www.classicyass.com We look forward to welcoming you on November 4th! Greg Snape. President Yass Antique Motor Club
Page 19 of 22 SAVE THE DATE! Devonport Motor show 2018 is set for Sunday March 25th Interstaters - we would love to have you join us All you have to do is get in touch with Tanya at Austrips now! Come over on the Spirit of Tasmania on Friday 23rd March 2018 and return Sunday 25th March 2018 with accommodation on Saturday night. OR Get Tanya to put an accommodation and travel package together with your chosen dates. Concessions apply for both the travel and accommodation. Call Austrips 1800 777 726 or email office@austrips.com.au Maybe a group travel option is of interest? - Tanya can handle that as well.
Page 20 of 22 2017 - it was a record! Sunshine, crowds and entertainment dominated the 2017 Devonport Motor Show held on Sunday, 26th March 2017. A whopping 660 vehicles were displayed and 10,000 people came through the gate. That is more than we have ever had. It was a terrific day for families and car enthusiasts. MG - is the feature Marque for 2018
Page 21 of 22 but we offer prizes in each of the following categories Veteran and Vintage up to 1948 Early Classic 1949 to 1964 Mid Classic 1965 to 1975 Late Classic 1976 to 1985 Early Modern 1986 to 2000 Modern 2001 to 2017 Hot Rods Utes Bike pre-1976 Bike post-1975 Best Vehicle entered in the Show Best Feature Marque - Best MG Entries for 2018 With 660 entries in 2017, it would be wise to get your entries in early for the 2018 Devonport Motor Show. Free entry for vehicle, driver and one passenger to those who pre-register. Entrants on the day will pay $12 per person. Use the link below to pre-register your car. Enter your vehicle here HISTORIC VEHICLE SCHEME For members with BEAC Primary Historic Vehicle Registration, please notify the Historic Plates Registrar, email historicplatesregistrar@beac.org.au or text message to mobile 0417 043 940 to record club runs in the BEAC Conditional Registration Movements Register. You must keep either a Club BEACon Newsletter or BEAC Events Web Page print-out in the car to justify the use. Additional information covering the Historic Vehicle Registration 60 Day Log Book Trial can be found on the BEAC website http://beac.org.au/historic-vehicle-scheme/historic-vehiclescheme-60-day-log-book-trial/
Page 22 of 22 BEACon is the Official Newsletter of the British & European Automobile Club (Southern Highlands NSW) Inc. Photos of BEAC runs now appear on the new BEAC Flickr Photostream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/beacshnsw/. MOTORING MIRTH With the royalties from the Lord of The Rings movies, the Hobbits have been able to buy specially made Ferraris! Thank you to all contributors to this edition.