Anything but Average
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Anything But Average November/December 2017 VOL 34 ISSUE 6 Official Publication of the P76 Owners Club Of Victoria and Tasmania Inc. P76 Nationals only 4 months to go!! Once again it is with great sadness that I inform our club members about the loss of one of our own amongst the P76 fraternity. Victorian P76 club member who contributed greatly to the club over the years Mike Chadwick passed away recently. It is at these times we realise how precious life is. Our thoughts and support go out to both Mike’s Family at this time of loss. -----------------As one door closes another opens ----------------- The Club would like to welcome a new member. Congratulations Ryan and Kate Ford on the birth of your daughter Charlotte Kate I believe Charlotte along with mum and dad are doing well. Editorial Fellow Pnuts We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy P76. I know, that didn’t work. Have you ever tried to find something that rhymes with P76? I think not. Anyway, that might be the best I can do, now that is a bit sad. So, what’s on your Christmas list this year readers? Yeah, yeah keep it clean, this is a family magazine thank you. Now everybody’s needs are different, ok let me explain something here. I’m talking about your Christmas list of P76 parts, of course. So, what do you reckon, anything you want, how about something like the following. New gas struts to keep the front end happy. Already got some, so how about a pair of strut pivot bushes. New boot mat or carpet to give that enormous area in the rear end a lift. Under bonnet decals lacking a little lustre, get a new set and brighten up the engine bay. Sick of the tired old steel rims but still want to look authentic, source a set of targa rims and wow! Sports steering wheel in mind. You either love or hate em, yep the targa steering wheel, one to get. But there is so much more to get for your P76. You just need to have a look round, check out the club stocks, ebay store, ask fellow club members or have a read of yours or another club magazine to see what’s out there. Now, is anyone out there a member of RACV? Come on hands up please. If you are, you already know what I’m about to talk about, if not, read on, this is good. Let me open with the introduction paragraph from a recent RACV article. “Car makers have usually figured out what people want in a vehicle and how to put them together properly and make them safe too. This hasn’t always been the case — over the last 50 years, Australian car buyers have been treated to some real lemon cars. RACV Senior Vehicle Engineer, Nicholas Platt, gives his opinion on the 15 worst cars ever sold in Australia.” Now you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know what’s in the rest of the article. This guy has picket out 15 cars and literally bagged the shit out of them, big time. If you want to read the article, and believe me who wouldn’t, just copy and paste the following into your web browser. https://www.racv.com.au/membership/member-benefits/royalauto/motoring/information- and-advice/australias-worst-cars.html?cmpid=social%3Afacebook Of course, the p76 features prominently in this article. While the P76 didn’t receive any more of a bagging then the others I feel it was particularly hated by this RACV engineer through his choice of words. Let me quote “A lot of people look back at these wistfully, pointing out all the avant-garde features and the 44-gallon drum-consuming boot. Piffle, all of it — they were rubbish, both conceptually and in execution.” On top of this, it was the only car out of the 15 featured that was pictured as a wreck, and a bad one at that. Fair dinkum this guy is a grossly misinformed t#@&*%!r. Thankfully we as a club have an excellent president. On reading this article our present John Ernst promptly contacted the RACV to voice his disgust of the article on behalf of its members. The outcome of discussions between John and the RACV has been nothing short of brilliant for our club and the p76 marque. To put it simply the RACV is now going out of it way to appease us and promote the P76 favourably. This has been a great outcome for our club and one we must all thank our president John Ernst. Well done John!! Note: The opinions expressed in this editorial do not necessarily represent the views of the management! Association of Motoring Clubs Inc. (AOMC) ______________________________________________________________________________________________ PRESIDENT'S REPORT Twelve months down Greetings all I was going to open this report by saying the warmer weather is with as and that's a great excuse to get those cars, bikes and trucks out and about, but as I was writing this the heavens opened, and a large deposit of rain ensued. Then I looked at the forecast for the next week and the warmth wasn't to be a feature. Well I guess we need to look at the bright side, we need the rain and our vehicles won't overheat if we take them out. Victoria is full of variety in so many ways Writing this I was reflecting on the year just gone, it has just flown, and you always feel that you have fallen short on your initial agenda. However, I then started just listing the things we have done and its actually quite staggering: • Relocation of our office from Moorabbin to Springvale • Fit out and set up of the office facility • Making safe and restacking our Engine number records • Recruitment of the Administrators position • Redeveloping the organisations website • Shannon's American Day at Flemington • RACV Classic Showcase at Flemington • National Motoring Heritage Day at Bellarine • New arrangements for 2018 Shows • Restoration seminar • Club Management seminar • Delegates meetings, one regionally Significant progress on completing the organisations strategic plan for the next 5 years • Partner: organisation in the Luxury Car Tax working group • Following up on information re CPS with VicRoads, anything from questions on the scheme 3to alleged inappropriate vehicles and usage • And many more day to day occurrences All of this is done by a dedicated committee of volunteers, yes, we have some part time paid support but much of this work is done by us on a voluntary. basis and done for the whole motoring community. So, as we approach the Annual General Meeting of the association we all need to acknowledge that work that has been put in. It is never easy to single people out, but I would specifically like to acknowledge lain and Maureen Ross, Philip Johnstone, Angelo D'Ambrosio and Daryl McMahon for the work they have put in for the last 12 months. In addition, I would like to acknowledge Kevin Churchill and more recently Howard Billing for their support in the office, one could say the heart and soul of the association. I also acknowledge the support of our sponsors be that for our shows or in giving up their time to present at seminars. However, it is our member clubs that are our foundation and without the support of you and your members this organisation would not exist — so thank you. But that thanks also comes with a sting in its tail, we need some diversity and new energy on board the committee, many of the members have served in their roles for many years and are ready to step back. i want to see more representation from all the flavours within our clubs and also more assistance when it comes to putting on shows and making things happen for the motoring community. Ask not what your association can do for you rather what can you do for the association that represents you. Happy and safe motoring, whichever way you travel. Keith Mortimer President Article from the latest AOMC magazine Why Australian car manufacturing died — and what it means for our motoring future Written by Joshua Dowling, National Motoring Editor, News Corp Australia Network, February 3, 2017. The doors have now closed on these three car making plants. BY this time next year, the doors will have closed on the Australian car manufacturing industry forever after almost a century of car making. Holden will be last to turn out the lights after Toyota announced this week it would close its Camry factory in Altona on October 3 two weeks and three days before General: Motors* shuts its Australian outpost in Elizabeth. Toyota has a largely Japanese image, but it has: been making cars in Australia since 1963, the same year the iconic EH Holden was released. Over the past 10 years, Toyota has been Australia's biggest vehicle manufacturer. It will also go down in history as our biggest automotive exporter; Toyota shipped more cars in 16 years than Holden did over 63 years. Australia was the first country outside Japan where Toyota made vehicles, which is why it fought so hard to keep Altona running. Above - The last Ford Falcon rolls off the production line Above – The last Toyota Camry produced at Altona The reality is, ail three brands have a deep history in and helped build — Australia, and had a lead role in shaping its culture.