A Blast From The Past

The Last Session - Oran Park 1982

So I finally got around to sorting my old photo's the other day and I came across some pictures I took at Mt Panorama (Bathurst - 1982) and at other former racetracks at Oran Park Raceway (Cobbity, NSW - 1972 & 1982) and Warwick Farm, International Raceway (Warwick Farm NSW - 1972). 

Allan Moffat - Warwick Farm 1972 

These photo's, which were taken on my old 35mm and 128mm film camera's bought back some wonderful memories for me. Memories such as when I was a skinny 12 year old catching the train down to Warwick Farm on a winters Saturday just to watch the practice session of the ATCC (Australian Touring Car Championship), walking around the pit area looking at the cars and talking to my heroes, legends such as Bob Jane and Colin Bond. Or the photo's I took at the last practice session of the day at Oran Park while hanging over the pit wall in 1982, which was also the only time I got to personally meet the late legend of Australian motor sport, Peter Brock. These days there are thousands of fans that follow their idols and there is no way a fan these days could just wander up to the pit wall and take a photo without the ever present security guards whisking you away before you got anywhere near the pit apron! 

Ian 'Pete' Geoghegan - Oran Park 1972

 Also included in the old photo's were pictures from my first trip to the Bathurst 1000 in 1982. The race itself is held  at 'The Mountain' on the first weekend in October,  and this year the iconic track celebrated it's 50th year of hosting the Bathurst 500/1000 race, which was the impetus for me to go looking through my old photo's. Actually, my first trip to 'The Mountain' wasn't in 1982, but a decade earlier in 1972, for the now defunct Easter meeting, which included a round of the Australian Touring Car Championship. This race is considered by many to be the best sedan race held on the 'The Mountain' and was eventually  won by Ian 'Pete' Geoghegan in his highly  modified Ford Phase III GTHO over everyone's arch nemesis, Allan Moffat in his Boss 302 Mustang ... great days indeed!    

Bob Jane - Oran Park  1972

When going back through the old pics, it was a reminder of how basic the conditions were in the pit area during those days, there were no concrete pads, no fixed structures, no connected services, just a tent (if they were a major team) and a bit of grass. The Bob Jane Racing Team was one of the first to drag motor racing into the modern age and if you look closely behind the picture of Bob Jane and his Monaro, you'll see the transporter he was using in 1972 to bring his racing team to events, setting a trend that all professional race teams quickly adopted.         

Peter Brock - Bathurst 1982

Motor racing has changed considerably over the past 40 years, it has become ultra professional and the once undisputed king of Australian motor racing scene in the 70's and 80's, the Australian Touring Car Championship, has now been surpassed by the V8 Supercar Series. The old racetracks such as Warwick Farm and Oran Park (along with Amaroo & Catalina) have disappeared over the years taking with them my memories. All the old drivers, household names of Australian motor racing in the 70's, names such as Bond, Moffat, Grice, Jane, Geoghegan, Johnson have long since retired and now watch their sons and the new generation of drivers do battle on tracks. 

However the biggest loss of all to the Australian motor racing scene was the death of the Aussie legend ... Peter Brock in 2006. Brockie was a truly great guy, he was one of those sportsmen that dominated his sport so much that everyone in Australia could recognise his name and his fame will endure over time, joining other sporting notables like the mighty Phar Lap (horse racing) and 'The Don', Don Bradman (cricket). I consider myself lucky enough to go to Bathurst in 1982 and see Brockie win his 6th 1000 klm race at 'The Mountain', two mighty icons of Australian sport, The King and The Mountain.

These days I don't go to watch motor racing, it is too accessible on the TV and races that were basically gatherings, have now turned into major events ... perhaps one day the skinny kid that still lurks inside me may make me pick up the camera and head back out to relive the sight and smells of my youth, maybe in 2022!         

Brockie At BP - Oran Park 1982

Sharing Weekends

After our dismal summer, it has been great to actually get out and about, doing things that make the week at work bearable.


What is even better when you get to share those moments with people you love.


Saturday dawned to a fine and warm early autumn day, not scorching hot, but still warm enough to visit Nobbys Beach. It was made even better because my grand-daughter was visiting and so we headed down to make the most of the last of the sun, surf and sand. The temperature was still around 25 deg. and the water temperature was still around the low 20's, which made a late, late season swim quite pleasant experience ..... something I missed out on during our summer of sorrows.


Sunday was also a copy of Saturday, fine and mild. So it was off to a community planting day, organised by the local council to help stabilise a local creek that has recently been reclaimed from invasive non native plants. So for two hours, we dug, planted, mulched and watered new plants to help our local environment and our local community.


After our free breakfast, it was then off to Kurri Kurri and to wander around the 9th Annual Nostalgia Festival. Rock 'n' Roll music, classic cars, Rock 'n' Roll music, hot rods, Rock 'n' Roll music, market stalls, Rock 'n' Roll music ... all combined to make the day a wonderful adventure, a real step back in time to the 50's and 60's era ... oh and did I mention the Rock 'n' Roll music?

Sometimes it is great to get some 'me' time on the weekends, however it is better when you can share your weekends with family, community .... and Rock 'n' Roll music.   

 

Achtung, deutsche Autos und Newcastle die besten

In most countries when you think Germany you think beer, sauerkraut, sausages and Oom Pah Pah music ... but not here in Newcastle. In Newcastle when we think German, we think cars and not just any car, but the iconic Volkswagen  Kombi. 

Borgward 1500cc Coupe

The Volkswagen Kombi became synonymous with the Australian outdoor lifestyle and  throughout the 60's and 70's, they were the campervan of choice as young hippies followed the surf around Australia's coastline. These days however the Kombis have, like their owners, aged gracefully and reflect a certain timeless beauty. However, the petrol powered Kombi slowly and quietly dropped out of favour with today's modern back packers  and 'grey nomads' for the newer flashier diesel models from Europe, 


The Kombi itself came in other variants other than the camper, with crew cab utes, panel vans and micro buses also figuring in the model line up, quite a versatile vehicle. On display down at the Foreshore today were all the examples of these quaint VW's from the 'day to day' commuter types, right through to the fully restored version and all were proudly displayed by their fastidious owners.

Lloyd Alexander TS 

To be fair, it wasn't just a KombiFest, nearly every type of German automotive heritage was on display, with Beetles, Porshe's, BMW's and Mercedes-Benz, all proudly being represented. The were even a couple of oddities like the NSU Prinz 30 (with a 2 cylinder 600cc engine producing 15kW), a Lloyd Alexander TS (a 2 cylinder 600cc, producing 18kW), two Borgward Isabella coupes and a Borgward Isabella saloon (all had a 1500cc engine, producing 45kW).

NSU Prinz 30

Also on display were the ubiquitous Beetles, as well as a beautifully restored Karmann Ghia that almost stole the show from the Kombis, with its timeless classic lines and flawless presentation, she was a real stunner. Another rarity, although not of German heritage, was a Lancia Delta HF Turbo, a model which dominated the WRC in the late 80's, early 90's and one I haven't seen for years.


Nearly every make and model of modern German motoring history was there, from the latest Mercs and Bimmers, nearly every variant of the Kombis, Beetles by the dozens and rare compacts, however one make was conspicuously absent ... the Audi's, which was disappointing.  

VW Karmann Ghia

Once again the Newcastle Foreshore park proved to be a wonderful place to wander around the exhibits in near perfect weather and talk to the enthusiasts in a relaxed atmosphere, but more importantly, being able to capture some of these wonderful cars using my Sanyo S1275 camera 

So if you are ever visiting Newcastle, although we might not have flashy theme parks, a stroll around our Foreshore can always bring something wonderful to look at and a place to relax for a few hours without paying a lot of dollars. A rarity in this day and age.


And make sure you bring a camera!

P.S. Although not typically German, the NRMA also had a wonderful display of some of their former vehicles, including 3 NRMA, the iconic HD Holden panel van (pictured above)