BBACKFIREA C K F I R E Volume 53 No 10 February 2020

PO Box 200 Newcomb VIC 3219 www.wdhvcgeelong.com

Club meetings: 7.30pm 2nd Tues each month. Clubroom: Geelong Showgrounds, 79 Breakwater Rd East Geelong.

Backfire is the monthly newsletter of the Western District Historic Vehicle Club (Reg No A00011857H). Member of the Federation of Victorian Veteran, Vintage & Classic Vehicle Clubs.

CONTENTS HONORARY OFFICE BEARERS AND COMMITTEE - 2018/2019 …………………….. 2 CONTENTS & PRESIDENT’ S PIECE ……………………………………………………………………... 3 GENERAL MEETING MINUTES ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4 GENERAL MEETING MINUTES, MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL ……………………………... 5 THE BLOWER ………………………………………………………………………………………...… 6 BENTLEY BLOWER (ctd) GOODBYE GRANDDAD ………………………………………….... 7 CALENDAR OF EVENTS …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 CALENDAR OF EVENTS ctd ……………………………………………………………………………………... 9 RALLIES & RUNS (Truck & Machinery Show)…………………………………………………... 10 RALLIES & RUNS (Celebrating 600) ……………………………………………………………….... 11 MOTOR CAR RACING POSTER ……………………………………………………………………………….. 12 RALLIES & RUNS (Waterfront on Australia Day)…………………………………………... 13 MEMBER PROFILE and MARS BAR COMPETITION .………………………………………….. 14 FOR SALES, WANTED & CLUES ……………………………………………………………………………... 15 CALENDAR ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 16 President’s Piece What a wonderful turn out of both members and The trading table was kicked off with great club vehicles at our 600th meeting last month. The success. Pretty much everything that was for sale count was 49 cars and 2 motorcycles plus a went and the overalls were practically flying out the number of modern cars. The men worked tirelessly door! Thanks to Rod for being there to on the BBQ and the ladies worked even harder on organise the sales. For future reference, those the supper. Also a few runs back and forth to the putting items for sale are reminded that the seller’s supermarket to keep up the food supply. Thank you name and the price should be on each item. That to those members that worked so hard to make the way poor Rod doesn’t have to run around trying to evening a success. The lighthearted atmosphere of find out who is selling what and for how much! the evening flowed on to the meeting and there On the home front my five year resto is moving were a lot of laughs had during proceedings. Yet along nicely. This month there has been lots of cut- more examples of why this club is so successful. ting and banging and grinding and welding and So many events on through this time of year. I was then more of the same again. The result being that browsing the calendar of events and felt spoiled for the car is back on wheels, something that it hasn’t choice, made the more difficult when needing to be been in at least 30 years that I know of, and in two places when one event clashes with another. probably more like 50+ if truth be known. Still Let’s hope you manage to get along to something haven’t been able to trace its origins or this month. provenance but I’ll keep trying. The Australia Day gathering on the waterfront was A reminder that the annual fees are coming due very well attended with 26 cars and one ring-in. and are payable from this month. You will see that The weather was absolutely perfect and lots of the committee has again decided to leave the fees people admiring our cars. A big thank you to those as they are this year. At $45/yr it represents very who threw a few quid into the Bushfire donations good value to be a member of a very good club. bucket. This has now gone to the relief fund via the Pay early and pay often I reckon! Also note that as Bendigo bank. Every bit helps. There is much talk this club year is rolling towards its end, you need to about the loss of homes, livestock and wildlife, and have a good think about if you would like to be on the human loss has been terrible, these fires are on the committee and help steer this wonderful club, a scale never seen before. My heart goes out to all or perhaps nominate someone who you think would those affected by the fires. Relating this to our do a good job. hobby, I think time will tell how many historic vehi- As I say, get out in your car or out in your shed. cles have been lost as well, a tragedy all in its own. I wonder how many clubs have been decimated Dallas and lost their meeting places and facilities? Perhaps in time we will find out and may be able to lend a hand in some way to see them get back on their feet. 3 B A C K F I R E - Volume 53, No 10 – February 2020

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES MINUTES OF GENERAL MEEETING No 600 OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT HISTORIC VEHICLE CLUB INC. HELD AT THE CLUBROOMS ON TUESDAY 14th JANUARY 2020

PRESIDING x Djerriwarrh Health Services - invitation to President Dallas Jones opened the meeting and attend their David Calleja Memorial Car Show at welcomed the 108 members (including new Maddingley Park Bacchus Marsh 2nd Feb 2020. member Darryn Tucker) to the Club’s 600th OUTWARD meeting. He also thanked the kitchen and BBQ Letters Out volunteers for their support. Get Well card - sent to Bernie Ellson on his recent APOLOGIES hospital visit. Bryce Matthews, Cheryl Elliot, Nancy & Duncan McIntosh, Peter & Jan Urquart, Les Harrison, Emails Out Jennie Green, Tony & Miriam Brincat, Nick Neeson, Nil

Tim Booley, Alex Booley, Alan Pung, Graham Moved: Libby Booley Pretlove, Brian & Jan Clissold, Len Miller, Steve Seconded: Ken Batson Carried Funston, Debbie Christie, Ken Shepherd, Ken Parry, John Smith, Drew Millard, Garry Wallace, TREASURER’S REPORT (Maurice) Ron Jackson. The Treasurer reported on receipts and payments since the previous meeting and submitted Moved: Roger Sykes Seconded: Jim Coates Carried accounts to be passed for payment.

SICK LIST Moved: Maurice Healy Frank McKenzie. Seconded: Graham Cameron Carried

Our thoughts are with the Anderson family on PROGRAM DIRECTOR (John) To be confirmed. Watch the Backfire for details. Frank’s recent passing. LIBRARY (Gary) MINUTES Gary recommended books on post war Buicks and The minutes of the previous general meeting as the RACV this month. published in the Backfire confirmed as a correct record. DINE OUT (Gary) Fish and chips at Queenscliff this month. Moved: Damien Giustini Seconded: Graham Baldock Carried EDITOR (Jon) No report. CORRESPONDENCE (Fred)

WEBSITE (Damien) INWARD Site updated with the Extreme Weather event Letters In policy. x Australian Historic Vehicle Interest Group - seeking support to remove tax. FEDERATION REPORT (David P) x Bendigo Bank - club cheque book. No report this month. x Bendigo Bank - 2 reinvestment statements. COMMITTEE REPORT (David M) x Vic Roads - registration renewal for BBQ trailer. At the recent meeting the Committee discussed: x Vic Roads - requesting an update of our current x Purchase of a new line marking machine for the club office bearers and scrutineers. Swap; x Thank you card - from Robyn Anderson and x Support for the All British Rally on March 8th; family for our thoughts on the passing of Frank. x Purchase of new tables for the club rooms; x Thank you card - from John Smith for our kind x Purchase of disposable overalls for resale to thoughts on his recent operation. members; x Thank you card - from Bernie Ellson for our kind x Extreme Weather Policy (see December thoughts on his recent illness. Backfire) x Membership application - from Nikita Donavan. x Request to support the removal of the Luxury Emails In Car Tax declined. x Historic Winton - invitation to attend their 44th MERCHANDISE (David M) annual event 29th - 31st May 2020. Disposable overalls for sale x RACV - invitation to attend the Florence Thomson Tour 16th May starting in Torquay for TINKER DAY (Ray) lady drivers only. No Tinker Day this month.

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GENERAL MEETING MINUTES ctd

MARS BAR AWARD (Dallas for Ray) Next meeting: to be held on Sandra Schneider correctly guessed Simon 11th February 2020 in the clubrooms Anderson and took home the Mars bar this month. - Leigh Dwyer VEHICLE PERMITS (Gus) Three cars added to the permit scheme this month.

CRAFT NIGHT With this edition … No report this month Your 2020 Membership RALLY REPORTS/EVENTS (Rod ) Renewal Application Club members reported on the following events: x Lindsay Alford reported the Machinery Show was & Committee Member Nomination Form. a very good event, with several members supporting his comments; WDHVC membership fees are due by x Fred Dosser attended the Drysdale car display 31 March 2020. and reported that about 200 cars were on display despite the threatened bad weather; Bring your completed membership forms and x Barb van Galen attended the December Tinker money to the February or March meeting. Day at the Shepherds and reported that once again it was an excellent event. Monies will be collected between 6:30pm and x Upcoming events: 7:30pm before the meetings. ¡ Australia Day Display at the Waterfront; ¡ Shelford Duck Races; No money will be accepted without a ¡ Avoca Rally; and completed membership renewal form.

¡ Coffee Run. Nominations for the committee and office

LONG DISTANCE RALLY (Sharyn) bearers must be must be in the hands of the No report. Secretary by the conclusion of the general meeting of 10 March 2020. TECH NIGHT (Peter)

January’s topic will be toys. NO LATE NOMINATIONS

SWAP MEET (Fred) WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Site line marker purchased. The Annual General Meeting will be held in KITCHEN (Rhonda) No report this month. the clubrooms on Tuesday, 14 April 2020, immediately after the monthly general GENERAL BUSINESS meeting, which commences at 7:30pm. x President Dallas reminded members to read the Extreme Weather Day event policy published on the December Backfire. He also reminded Members that Committee nominations close in April and that they should consider if they could Trading Table take on a more active role in the Club. Starts Off Well x Prompted by Karl Lorenz’s report on the As President Dallas said in his American La France fire engine in Geelong President’s Piece, the Trading Table several members recounted stories about the in the workshop started out well device and its history in Ballarat and Geelong. last meeting, with most of the FOR SALES, WANTED & CONFESSIONS items for sale going to a new home. x Harold Newton has piano to give away and a Anyone who has small items for sale can bring 1990 VW to sell. them along on meeting night and put them on the x Robin Evans has a friend with a 1986 Mercedes table in the workshop. for sale. IMPORTANT. Please mark each item Meeting closed at 8.42pm. clearly with a price and your name. This will avoid confusion and make the sale easier. Interested buyers can speak to the seller directly and work out a transaction.

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A Look at the Bentley Blower In the ongoing celebrations for their centenary year, a look at the “Blower” Bentley - the Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharger. Automobiles don't come much bigger than this, in both sheer size and legendary status. With a rich racing history, it has come to be known by the popular name for its supercharger- the “Blower” Bentley. It holds a very special place in the history of the famous British company. This is partly due to its size and sheer presence, but it also reflects Bentley's golden period at the end of the Roaring Twenties when it was the king of the track and its road cars bathed in the reflected glory.

Bentley's run of victories at Europe's prestigious With help from supercharger specialist Amherst Villiers Le Mans 24 hour race in the latter half of the 1920s and financial backing, Birkin rebuilt the car, adding a established the company's racing cars as the best huge supercharger in front of the radiator, driven endurance racers in the world. And the men who straight from the crankshaft. The Blower Bentley was raced them became just as famous as the cars born, with the prominent supercharger giving the front themselves. A select group of rich and glamorous end a uniquely purposeful and aggressive look. Not playboys, who combined their passion for racing with only that, but the modification gave a huge boost to a champagne lifestyle, they become known as the the 4.5-litre engine, hiking its power rating to 242bhp. “”. The car certainly needed all the power it could get, as One of the Bentley Boys had even brought the it was a massive beast with a wheel base of ten feet company when it looked to be on the brink of financial and weighing in at a monstrous 4000 pounds-plus. disaster in 1926. , heir to the Kimberley Bentley's big racing rival of the time was Bugatti, Diamond Mine fortune, had not long before received whose lightweight, elegant, but fragile creations his inheritance, and to celebrate, had brought a 3 litre contrasted with the Bentley's rugged reliability and Bentley to race at Brooklands, Britain’s first racing durability. Company boss Ettori Bugatti mocked the circuit. When he learned that the Bentley was on the Bentley's size when he disdainfully referred to them as brink of going bust and supplies of his favorite sports “the world's fastest trucks.” car could well dry up, he brought the company to secure its immediate future. The first Blower appeared at the Essex 6-hour race at Brooklands in June 1929, but to qualify to race at Le The following year saw the introduction of the new Mans, 50 street-legal examples of the car would have 4½ litre model, a development of the earlier 3 litre. to be built. Birkin once again exerted his influence on The supercharged car was a further development of the company to get this done. In the end, 55 Blowers this, produced with the aim of continuing Bentleys were built: the 50 road cars at Bentley's HQ in winning streak at Le Mans 24-hour race which started Cricklewood, north London, and 5 cars built for racing with victory in 1927. at Birkin's workshops. It was another Bentley Boy who was the driving force Three “Birkin Blowers” competed against, among behind the car's creation. Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin others, the larger capacity Bentley Speed Sixes at the proposed the idea of fitting a supercharger, a 1930 Le Mans. But while the Blower was very mechanical device which boosts power by forcing powerful, its Achilles heel was its fragile chassis and it more fuel into the engine, in order to increase its was not expected to last the race. Up against the racing performance. Commonly called a “blower” the odds, Birkin pushed Bentley's arch-rival, the Mercedes addition of this supercharger would give the car its SSK, so hard it had to retire. Despite only finishing nickname-the Blower Bentley. fifth himself, Birkin's selfless strategy paved the way Birken, a glamorous and celebrated character, first for a Bentley Speed Six to take victory. raced and won at Le Mans in 1928 as co-driver to Sadly, a Blower Bentley never did win at Le Mans. But Woolf Barnato, and his close relationship with his that hasn't stopped the car becoming one of the most fellow Bentley Boy [and company chairman] obviously legendary cars the company has ever built. Maybe helped to convince Barnato that the Blower was a that is because of the British love of a heroic failure, good idea. This flew in the face of the opinion of but whatever the reason, if it wasn't for ’s company founder W.O. Bentley. He was opposed to initiative the car would never have been built. The adding a supercharger to the car, claiming that Blower is an undoubted colossus in the history of “there is no substitution for cubic inches” and that to English sporting automobiles. supercharge a Bentley was “to pervert the design and “The Blower has become one of the most legendary corrupt the performance.” Despite this resistance, cars that Bentley ever built.” Birkin set up his own workshops in Welwyn Garden City, north of London, with the aim of creating the - Ultimate by M Holmes ultimate racing Bentley.

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BENTLEY TO RECREATE 'BLOWER' RACER G o o d b ye Bentley has announced they will produce copies of their 'blower' 4.5-litre supercharged endurance G r a n d d a d racer from 1929, with each unit to be hand built by

Mulliner; Bentley's in-house division for coachbuilding and bespoke projects. A total of 12 copies will be built, in honour of the 12 races in which the original

factory 'Blower Poor old Granddad's passed away, cut off in his prime, Bentleys' He never had a day off crook - gone before his time. were entered. We found him in the dunny, collapsed there on the seat, A startled look upon his face, his trousers around his feet. “As we continue to commemorate 100 years of Bentley, we are combining a look to our past with The doctor said his heart was good - fit as any trout, the very latest digital technologies and techniques The Constable he had his say: 'foul play' was not ruled to create something truly extraordinary,” said out. Bentley's Chairman Adrian Hallmark. The four Team Blowers are the most valuable Bentleys in There were theories at the inquest of snakebite without a the world, the model's desirability has been trace, reflected at auction too, with Tim Birken's personal Of Redbacks quietly creeping and death from outer space. Blower Bentley selling for £4.5 million [AU$6.9 No-one had a clue at all - the judge was in some doubt, million approx.] in 2012. Other original Blowers have sold for [AU$5.91M approx.] in 2015. When Dad was called to have his say as to how it came about. Mulliner will conduct the build of the 12 cars, which will take about two years to complete, but given 'I reckon I can clear it up,' said Dad with trembling breath these are essentially new cars, road legality is 'You see it's quite a story - but it could explain his death.' unlikely as they carry no modern safety features or impact protection. 'This here exploration mob had been looking at our soil, And they reckoned that our farm was just the place for oil. Bentley have not announced any details on the cost or availability of each unit, only stating that So they came and put a bore down and said they'd make pricing will be available on application, but a some trials, multi-million-dollar price is certain. They drilled a hole as deep as hell, they said about three Just Cars. Oct 2019. miles. - compiled by Graham Pretlove. Well, they never found a trace of oil and off they went, post haste, And I couldn't see a hole like that go to flamin' waste. So I moved the dunny over it - real smart move I thought, I'd never have to dig again - I'd never be 'caught short'. The day I moved the dunny, it looked a proper sight, But I didn't dream poor Granddad would pass away that night. Now I reckon what has happened - poor Granddad didn't know, The dunny was re-located when that night he had to go. And you'll probably be wondering how poor Granddad did his dash Well, he always used to hold his breath until he heard the splash!!

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS WDHVC EVENTS

31 JANUARY - FRIDAY BACKFIRE FOLDING MORNING 9am Clubrooms Contact: Peter Telfer 0427 526 938

6 FEBRUARY - THURSDAY MORNING COFFEE RUN Meet at clubrooms at 9.45am sharp. Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 989

9 FEBRUARY - SUNDAY A DAY ON THE WATER FRONT . Meet at entrance to Cunningham Pier 10am. Cars to be escorted onto pavilion lawn area for parking. Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 982)

11 FEBRUARY - TUESDAY GENERAL MEETING 7pm Clubrooms.

12 FEBRUARY - WEDNESDAY DINE OUT 6.15pm Great Western Hotel. Stick your hand under the passenger seat and find a few dollars, and come and join us. Contact: Gary McCredden 5275 2544

15 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY SMELL THE ROSES DAY. 10am start from the club rooms. OK, so the tourists are mostly back at work and their children are too exhausted to be out and about on a Saturday morning after filling their heads with facts, or fiction at school all week. I got the OK from the doctor to ride my Honda again. I thought we could do another motorbike run to that good café at Deans Marsh. They seemed pretty good last year, so why not give them another go? Cars are welcome, so come along and have some fun. Ray van Galen 5278 9368. Mob. 0411 954 865

18 FEBRUARY - TUESDAY COMMITTEE MEETING 7.30pm. Clubrooms.

20 FEBRUARY – THURSDAY TINKER DAY. We have some good news for February: the Portarlington Flour Mill Museum will open its doors for us to have a look back at the history of the mill and other interesting things in the museum. It has been up- dated since we were there last time, so it will be great to see. The entry fee is $4 each for pensioners, so it won’t break the bank either. We can start our trip to Portarlington from our clubrooms at 10am, and those who live close to the mill can meet us there at 10.45 ish. After the visit we can have our BYO everything picnic under the big trees on the beach front. There is plenty of shaded parking for us all. P.S. Please let me know of any venues that we can visit in the future. Contact: Ray van Galen 5278 9368. Mob. 0411 954 865. Barb’s Mob. 0408 664 537

23 FEBRUARY - SUNDAY SHELFORD DUCK RACES CAR DISPLAY Meet on site at Shelford Reserve at 10.30am Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 989

24 FEBRUARY - MONDAY FEBRUARY BACKFIRE DEADLINE By 5pm please. Contact: Jon Breedveld 0417 311 441

25 FEBRUARY - TUESDAY CRAFT/TECH NIGHT Contact: Peter Telfer 0427 526 938

28 FEBRUARY - FRIDAY BACKFIRE FOLDING MORNING 9am Clubrooms Contact: Peter Telfer 0427 526 938

5 MARCH - THURSDAY MORNING COFFEE RUN Meet at clubrooms at 9.45am sharp. Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 989

6-9 MARCH - FRI to MON 27TH ANNUAL AVOCA RALLY Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 989

8 MARCH - SUNDAY GEELONG ALL BRITISH VEHICLE DISPLAY on the Waterfront.

10am—3.30pm Contact: David Mitchell 0409 099 716

9 MARCH - MONDAY LABOUR DAY WATERFRONT DISPLAY Meet at entrance to Cunningham Pier 10am. Cars to be escorted onto pavilion lawn area for parking. Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 982)

15 MARCH - SUNDAY HIGHLAND GATHERING CAR DISPLAY Goldsworthy Reserve. 8 older/English cars required please. More info later. Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 982)

22 MARCH - SUNDAY FEDERATION PICNIC AT MORTLAKE. Meet in Inverleigh at 9.30am Contact: Rod Booley 5281 5340 (0417 021 982)

N e w M a s t h e a d If you are wondering about the new Backfire masthead on the front cover, an upgrade to my computer has meant reloading everything and the programs no longer recognise the old font. So I have had to change it! - Ed 8 B A C K F I R E - Volume 53, No 10 – February 2020

CALENDAR OF EVENTS OTHER EVENTS 2 FEBRUARY 2020 - SUNDAY SWANPOOL MOTOR FESTIVAL 2426 Midland Highway, Swanpool. Contact: Ross Coles 0417 351 304 [email protected] 8 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY GREAT OCEAN ROAD CRUISE Lorne Jetty to Torquay Esplanade. Free event. Details: https://torquaymotorshow.com.au/cruise

9 FEBRUARY - SUNDAY TORQUAY MOTOR SHOW. Rotary Club event on Torquay foreshore. (Elephant Walk btwn Zeally Bay Rd & Anderson St. Details & entries: https:// torquaymotorshow.com.au/

16TH FEBRUARY - SUNDAY ALL FORD DAY 9am to 3pm. Sutcliffe Reserve 240-268 Plantation Road, Corio. Details: https://www.allfordday.org.au/#home

29 FEBRUARY 2020 - SATURDAY COLAC SHOW ‘N SHINE Memorial Square, Colac.

Details: [email protected] Ph. 0427 821 435 or 0467 762 036

5 MARCH 2020 SUNDAY WERRIBEE & DISTRICT SHOW ’N SHINE Wyndham Civic Centre carpark,45 Prices Highway, Werribee. Details : https://www.facebook.com/pg/WDCVC/events/?ref=page_internal

15TH MARCH - SUNDAY GEELONG MOTOR SHOW Geelong Showgrounds. Organised by Road Kings . Proceeds to Beyond Blue. https://cartorque.co/car-shows/geelong-motorshow-2020-hosted-by-road-kings-vic-3175

18 APRIL 2020 SUNDAY ECHUCA SWAP MEET Rotary Park, Rose St.

Enquiries: 0456 010 665

28 MARCH - 3 APRIL, 2020 AHMF NATIONAL MOTORING FESTIVAL Albury-Wodonga. Details : https://www.ahmf.org.au/2020Tour/index.php

29 to 31 MAY 2020 HISTORIC WINTON

LAST SUN EVERY MONTH Werribee & District Collectable Vehicle Club Inc meet. 9am to noon (weather permitting) car park cnr. Cherry St & Kelly St Werribee. Free entry. Have a bite to eat and a coffee. Talk car stuff with car-minded people. https://www.facebook.com/pg/WDCVC/events/?ref=page_internal John 0407 546 235.

- Rod Booley

The Echuca & District Historic Vehicle Club Inc. Echuca Swap Meet Rotary Park, Rose St Echuca Saturday, 18th April, 2020. Automotive parts & collectables welcome. Show & Shine open section &

200 plus sites available at $20/site. n site catering. Entry $5 ea: under 15 free. Gates Open: Sellers: 5am. Buyers: 7am. Enquiries: 0456 010 665 $500 donated to a local charity. 9 B A C K F I R E - Volume 53, No 10 – February 2020

RALLIES & RUNS

Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show Although this is not a club event many of our member support it over the years by bringing historic cars, bikes, stationary engines and motorbikes. There were heaps of trucks and tractors. Red was the favourite colour for tractors. The International Harvester Club is a co-sponsor of the event. The tractor pull was heading south this year instead of to the north in the previous year, not sure of the reason for this. The B24 Liberator radial bomber engine was fired up each year. Robin & Pat Evans’ collection of vintage bikes were on display again and they rode the vintage bikes and penny farthing bikes around the display. Geelong Military Re-enactment Group put on a mock battle. They had cannons and guns firing blanks at each other. After the artillery gunfire, a ball of flame erupted near the other side. A great display.

After the event, I spoke to some of the actors who told me that some of the guns are operated with propane and oxygen cylinders and ignited with electronics to produce the sound and smoke. An American Civil War muzzle-loading cannon was fired and the crew explained the Melbourne connection to the war. In 1865 the Confederate (south) warship 'Shenandoah' arrived in Melbourne for repairs and enlisted 42 local citizens. After leaving Melbourne it to went on to attack the Union (north) shipping. It later surrendered to England. People showed their collections, including a man who restores and collects Victa lawnmowers. Now for the ladies, a woman is restoring vintage prams, with a lot on display. It required painting and sewing fabric and other skill similar to restoring a car body. An interesting working display on harvesting wheat operated during the day. A stationary thrashing machine was feed with sheaves of wheaten hay. It separates the straw and husks from the grain. The grain is put into bags, the straw coming out the other end. Later the straw was put through a stationary bailer. Blocks of wood were used to separate the bales and used to manually thread and tie the twine around the bales. Both machines were powered by stationary steam engines. These machines were before my time: we had agricultural machines on our farm that were towed around the paddock by a tractor. Most of it was originally pulled by horses. It is good to see a lot of people are preserving Australian living history. Most of the displays are restored and working. It is getting better each year: this is the fourth time I have been and I will be marking it in my calendar for next year. - Lindsay Alford

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RALLIES & RUNS Celebrating 600! Our 600th general meeting effectively became a “stay at home” rally, with 51 vehicles of different ages and types brought along. While it was a bit smoky, the weather was mild and still - perfect for a relaxed natter and close inspection of some of the cars and bikes on display. Thanks to the hard work of those on the BBQ and in the kitchen, both the light meal before the meeting and supper afterwards added to a very relaxed and happy occasion. A fitting way to mark a significant milestone meeting. - Ed

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Evelyn Hill brought this glimpse into a bygone era along to a recent meeting. Imagine how the horses would have reacted! We are confined to the likes of the Rob Roy Hillclimb for this sort of shenanigans nowadays!

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RALLIES & RUNS

Australia Day on the Waterfront Some 26 club cars were on display at the Geelong waterfront on Monday 27 January. Club members joined the throngs who took advantage of the beautiful weather to enjoy all the activities provided along the foreshore, as part of the Australia Day/Festival of Sails celebrations. Below are a few of the club cars on display. (Photos: Damien Giustini).

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Great Mars Bar Competition WDHVC MEMBER The February Competition PROFILE

Name? Harold

Ray is again without a baby photo for Where were you born? inclusion in this column, so please send him Bendigo yours, if you haven’t already contributed! Family? Meanwhile here is a “fill in” photo of a mystery Wife Pauline, 2 sons & 1 grandchild vehicle for you to puzzle over. Number of years in the WDHVC? Last time I badly underestimated your knowledge 25 years and we had about 10 hands up immediately. Other interests? (There may have to be supplementary questions Restoring cars and oil lamps, banquet lamps, this time.) caravanning and dogs Tell us the name, year and country of origin of this What was your first vehicle? early two-wheeler to earn a Mars Bar. It is rare Push bike, 1952 Ford Anglia Tourer soft top and known for being extremely finely built and ahead of its time. What vehicle would you love to own ? - Ed Bugatti Royale, Schlumpf Collection France 15/30

What vehicles do you have now? 1924 Dodge Bros Tourer, 3 x 1926 Crossley Motors Photos URGENTLY needed Tourers Please sneak in your photo Profession? submissions to: Project Engineer, test and development 45 years with Ray van Galen International Harvester/Iveco Ph 52789 368, or Skills? email [email protected] Maintaining and restoring cars and rebuilding engines What bugs you the most? Nothing much What makes you happy? The views/comments expressed in the publication of this newsletter are those of the individual contributor and are Completing a run in the old cars without any problems not necessarily endorsed by the current Committee of the - Libby Club. Whilst every care is taken to determine the safety of any technical information provided and the accuracy of the Quotes About Cars

information supplied for inclusion in this newsletter, it is Road sense is the offspring of courtesy and the printed in good faith and neither the Committee nor the parent of safety. Club accept any responsibility for any loss or injury ~ Australian Traffic Rules incurred by any application of such information.

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Keeping Things FOR SALES, WANTED & CLUES Straight and True For Sale The club’s major fund-raiser, the Bay City Swap 1986 Mercedes fuel injected 300 SE. Meet, is coming up again in May.

The trusty volunteers who set up the stall holder sites on the oval will this year have the benefit of a new line marker, which should make the job of keeping the lines “straight and true” easier.

The committee bought the new machine last month. Low kilometres and excellent presentation. Engine no. 103981.22023316. Very nice gold duco. Interior like new. On club plates. With roadworthy. $10,000. Call Peter 0423 400 471. 1/20 Nissan Pulsar. 2000 Grey. Tidy, w ith RWC. $2500. Reg 1MD-1DE VIN jnibcan15a0009267 Reg’d till 22/01/2020 Call Ray 5278 9368 or Barb 0408 664 537. 12/19

Wanted: Pair of boot hinges like fitted to an English vehicle. Top part of the hinge will need to be about 75mm long and the lower part about 150mm long. Call Dallas 0432 172 171. 12/19 Clues:

Copying Service. Those wanting old movies, tapes, records or cassettes copied. $10-$15 ea. The following automotive snippets are taken Call 0417 430 263. from a book called “I Love Old Cars and Transport Stories” (a car lover’s book of For sale/wanted ads are free to Members and appear fascinating facts and stories) for two issues of Backfire. To remove advertisements - by Frank Rodwell OBE* (*over bloody eighty) from the newsletter earlier ,email [email protected] (Ph 0417 311 441). SOME AUTOMOTIVE FIRSTS Reminder: All vehicles in the “For Sales” must have The first parking meter, known then as a Park-O-Meter, VIN number & Price or Registration Number & Price, was installed on the corner of First Street and Robinson otherwise they will be listed under “Clues”. Ads for the Avenue, Oklahoma City, on 16th July 1935. The first ‘Clues’ section must not refer to any payment that parking meters in Australia appeared in Hobart in 1960. may take place by mentioning an amount or ‘best offer’, etc. The first wrap-around windscreen was claimed to have been fitted to a Kissel in 1913. The Buick Le Sabre, a one All ads for cars also appear on the club web site where off 1951 special , had a curved front greater detail and photos (where supplied) can be windscreen; in addition, it had a unique sensor which viewed. To see ads, go to http://www.wdhvcgeelong.com/wdsale.html raised the hood when it detected rain. All ads remain on the website until you request The first car to reach the summit of Mount Wellington, in their removal. To remove an ad from the Tasmania, was a 1909 De Dion-Bouton, owned and driven website, email [email protected] (Ph by Dr F Morton of Melbourne. 0418 587 415).

The late Cyril O‘Hair, grazier of Delegate on southern Monaro, N.S.W., told me back in the 1960s that he drove Another Australian vehicle, the Caldwell-Vale of 1913, had his French Donnet-et-Zedel to the summit of Mt full 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering and 4-wheel brakes. Kosciuszko, claiming he was the first to do so. These cars Unfortunately it did not go into production due to the lack were made from 1925-1933. of finance. Felix Caldwell, before Henry Vale joined the The American Christie racing cars had east-west motors partnership, claimed to have invented the tipping body for and front wheel drive in 1904. The American Badger from trucks in 1910. In addition he produced the first 4-wheel- Columbus, Wisconsin, had 4 wheel drive cars in 1908. drive trucks with power assisted steering prior to WW1. They went on to produce FWD trucks. - supplied by Fred Harris 15 B A C K F I R E - Volume 53, No 10 – February 2020

If undeliverable return to:

WDHVC POSTAGE PO Box 200 PRINT Newcomb VIC 3219 PAID

Backfire POST

February 2020 1950 V8 Pilot

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

25 26 27 28 30 31 January 1 Backfire EXTREME WEATHER (including Total Fire Bans) A club event may be cancelled on folding morning extreme weather days. If an extreme weather day is predicted members should either: 9am Clubrooms check the club website; check their emails; or contact the event organiser.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Morning Coffee Run 9.45am

9 A Day on the 10 11 12 Dine Out 13 14 15 Waterfront. 10am General Meeting 6.15pm Smell the Roses 7.30pm Great Western 10am Clubrooms Clubrooms

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Committee Tinker Day Meeting P/Arlington Mill 10am Clubrooms

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Shelford Duck Feb 2020 Craft/Tech Night. Backfire Races.10.30am Backfire Deadline 7pm folding morning Shelford Reserve 9am Clubrooms

1 March 2 3 4 5 Morning 6 7 Coffee Run 9.45am

AVOCA RALLY 6 –9 MARCH