A 50 YEAR CHRONICLE of the AUSTIN 7REGISTER of QLD. Inc
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A 50 YEAR CHRONICLE of the AUSTIN 7 REGISTER of QLD. Inc. 1967 - 2017 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 1967 – 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to Peter and Gail Cahalane for a loan of Peter’s collection of Register Newsletters, Eddie Ford of Restored cars for permission to reproduce some pages and material from the early issues of Restored Cars Magazine. Also thank you to Joe Wilson of the Vintage Car Club of Queensland to allow me to use photos from the VCCQ 25th Anniversary Book. Thanks to Valda McDowall for letting me scan her Dad's, the late Roy Ducat's, photos Also thanks to Robyn Clark for loan of the Club Attendance Books. And contributions from Peter Baker, Graham Cogzell, Rhonda Guthrie, Mike Hawthorne, Colin Jones, Barry Neville and Especially Greg Riddel. 2 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 1967 – 2017 A 50 YEAR CHRONICLE of the AUSTIN 7 REGISTER of QLD. Inc. 1967 - 2017 Compiled by Tim Braby, with the help of present and former Committee and Members of the Austin 7 Register of Qld Inc. INDEX Chapter 1 - A Club Is Born Page 5 Chapter 2 - Presidential Memories Page 9 Chapter 3 - A Time Line Page 20 Chapter 4 - The Facts Page 23 Chapter 5 - Meeting Places Page 25 Chapter 6 –The Early Annual Static Displays Page 26 Chapter 7 - The Epic Journeys Page 30 Chapter 8 - Other Memorable Journeys Page 119 Chapter 9 - Celebration of The Years Page 120 Chapter 10 - The Club Newsletter Page 126 Chapter 11 - Going Spare Page 127 Chapter 12 - Mike Hawthorne's Memories Page 129 Chapter 13 - Some Memorable Members Page 130 Chapter 14 - In Memory of Our Friends Page 134 Appendix - A List of ID Numbers of Cars in the A7RQ Page 136 3 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 1967 – 2017 BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION A few months ago, last year, I spoke to John Que, present Treasurer and a former Past President of the Austin 7 Register of Queensland about the format for a 50th anniversary book. We discussed the project and had a very similar idea of how to approach it, using a slightly more academic historical approach than Rhonda's wonderful 40th anniversary Book which had an emphasis about the members and spirit of the Register. The concept of a historical Chronicle Scrapbook came to me as I started compiling information from old newsletters, magazines and photos. I am not able to go back to those earlier days as I only joined the Register in 1975, but can remember when I first began working in the City, and became aware of the number of old cars that were still used as everyday transport. I can remember when my Dad and I were stopped at the Valley Five Ways as the points policeman let a cheeky little green Austin Seven roadster slip through the intersection, and late I saw the same car parked in Fortescue Street, Spring Hill, outside an Architect's office. This was Chris Hills (Pym's son) and his 1933 Roadster. Then when I started going to the QIT I would regularly see Chocolate Monty parked next to the gatekeeper's Hut, when Jack Guymar was conducting lectures to spotty young would be architects. I even think I may have once or twice spotted Ernie Turner in his brown Chummy in the city. These certainly made "Rock and Roll" George's cream FX Holden look brand new! Ours is one of the few clubs that has survived 50 years retaining its core values, we still own, restore, drive and enjoy our Austin sevens, without the need to compromise like other clubs and accept later model Austins and other makes to survive. To others we may seem a funny old sort of a club, but that is the character of our little Austins. So here is to the Mighty Atom!!!!!!, Tim Braby - Compiler A Watercolour and Ink sketch of my 1929 Wasp, in the years before it was bought and repainted blue by the Boatwrights in the Sydney Club. 4 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 1967 – 2017 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 50th Anniversary President's Message Congratulations to all members of the Austin Seven Register of Queensland on reaching the amazing milestone of 50 years. Who would have thought that such a strong and active club could have grown from those early meetings of a just few enthusiasts in their private homes and result in the many restored Austin Sevens that we now have on the Register. During the last 50 years members have maintained the club's focus of showing their marvellous cars in public as often as possible and have driven their Austin Sevens to places far and wide - further than Lord Austin could ever have imagined. There have been many long-distance trips to places like Canberra, Mudgee, Adelaide, Longreach, Rockhampton and even Cape York. Some Austin Sevens have flown the Tasman to allow their owners cheap and reliable transport around New Zealand. All this with few breakdowns and an abundance of wonderful stories to tell the grandchildren (or any member of the public who innocently asks). But while the cars are the reason for the club, the friendship and camaraderie of members have provided the important ties that have bound it together for so long. The Austin Seven Register of Qld has undergone the test of time and has proved to be a vital and adaptable club and as President I congratulate all past and present members on reaching this important 50-year milestone and wish the club another happy and healthy 50 years to come. Lindsay JordanPresident 5 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 1967 – 2017 CHAPTER 1 - A CLUB IS BORN The Austin 7 Register of Queensland would not exist at all except for the efforts of two young men, one barely out of his teens in 1966-67. Greg Riddel could be described as the Father of the A7 RQ, whilst Peter Baker was its Godfather, guiding it all the way!....... Back in the Beginning in 1966.............. News is at last? (for some) filtering through of an Austin Seven Register in Queensland. This is intended to be an active club with many ardent Austin enthusiasts (we Hope) participating in various runs, possibly concourse and naturally gymkhanas. The main aim of the Register is to be responsible for the resurrection of as many Austin Sevens as possible in Queensland, although enthusiasts will probably be mostly limited to the Brisbane area. The Register would, after it became known, be able to make sure that none of "Herbert's "babies" went astray. The Register would be open to all Sevens, maybe even "Alice*", but pre 31's are naturally preferred. This Register will need SUPPORT especially in its initial stages and undoubtedly there are many V.C.C.Q. members who have Sevens ~ but most of which are not taken out! This is one club which can, with small effort, place much emphasis on having pure fun with their cars - they are easy to restore, drive and cheap to run with no fancy radiator caps to be pinched - it is a natural! Written by Greg Riddel First Published in "The Vintage Car" Vol. Five Autumn. 1966 and later the 25th Anniversary Rally Book, August 1992 - Reprinted with kind permission of Greg An early history of the Austin Seven Register of Queensland by Greg Riddel "I bought my Austin, a 1928 Roadster, on Good Friday 1965. It was in a sad state, mostly dismantled, but we were able to tie the body on to the chassis, add the wheels, and tow it home. With no seats but an old fruit box, holey floors, no doors, windscreen, bonnet, or any other body 6 Austin 7 Register of Queensland Inc. 1967 – 2017 accessories, it was towed behind the family Falcon from Kenmore to Tennyson. On crossing the Indooroopilly Bridge, the toll master said "Where y'takin that - the tip?!!! The tip was in fact, close by, and was the grave of at least one other vintage Seven that I know of. Shortly after, I joined the Vintage Car Club of Queensland and tried to absorb as much Austin Seven information as was possible. Guy Freeman and David Potts were members at that time, but prominent, at least in my eyes, were one Peter Baker, and one Barry Neville. Peter had a car very similar to mine, a Charles Hope roadster, except his was 1930 and complete and running, and I was absolutely chuffed when he told me to take it for a drive around the Sherwood arboretum during a VCCQ Concours Day. I still wasn't old enough to get a license, but it was a drive I'll never forget. It gave me firm resolve to get my car running, even though mine never seemed to run as well as "Kooka" in the whole time I've had it! Barry was also a legend. With his car also in use as daily transport, "Alice" (Photo left) could be seen parked outside Toowong's Royal Exchange, with umbrella firmly attached to the scuttle, on a regular basis. I even drew the car from memory and took it to a meeting to show Barry. He asked me to name my price, which took me back somewhat. I remember that he drove me home in "Alice", and left with the drawing. I don't remember the price, but it was probably far too much for the modest work. I wonder if he still has it. And there was Ron Toy, in his red 'Meteor' boat tail, who used to come and visit me and let me drive his car often, even before I had a license.