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Wide Open Road 2010 - - 1893 - 2010 - ABC TV Invites Viewers to Submit Their Car Stories

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Wide Open Road 2010 - - 1893 - 2010 - ABC TV Invites Viewers to Submit Their Car Stories Wide Open Road 2010 - - 1893 - 2010 - ABC TV invites viewers to submit their car stories Australians love their cars and to help celebrate ABC TV is making a documentary series Wide Open Road about our obsession with automobiles. Cars have changed everything since their arrival a century ago and ABC TV wants your assistance to tell the story of how our humble Holdens, Fords and Hyundais helped shape a nation. Researchers for the documentary series are seeking stories, photos and footage of key eras and experiences that framed our social history and drove popular culture. People with interesting stories about their car and fascinating images to boot are encouraged to contact the ABC website abc.net.au/tv/wideopenroad Resources: 2001 - Monaro is resurrected - part modern hell car, part nostalgic revisiting. Monaro is resurrected - part modern hell car, part nostalgic revisiting Resources: 1986 - Unleaded petrol is legally mandated for Australian petrol stations. Unleaded petrol is legally mandated for Australian petrol stations. Resources: 1982 - Falcon outsells Commodore. Falcon outsells Commodore. Resources: 1982 - Hans Tholstrup tows a caravan across Australia. Hans Tholstrup tows a caravan across Australia, from Steep Point WA to Byron Bay, behind a Daihatsu 4WD - extreme holidaymaking. Resources: 1980 - GM-H closes its assembly line in Pagewood. GM-H closes its assembly line in Pagewood. Resources: 1979 - Petrol prices rise by 50% through the year. Petrol prices rise by 50% through the year. Resources: 1979 - The Monaro lapses out of production. The Monaro lapses out of production. Resources: 1977 - The Australian dollar is devalued; this plus inflation causes a massive price rise in cars. The Australian dollar is devalued; this plus inflation causes a massive price rise in cars. A new Holden doubles in price in three years. Resources: 1976 - The car is under threat in Sydney The car is under threat in Sydney; both Liberal then the Wran Labor Governments favouring public transport over private. Liberal Minister John Fuller calls the car the "real villain" of Sydneys air pollution problem: "The day may not be too far distant when we will have to say to residents of suburbia...You have every right to come into the city whenever you choose, but you don't necessarily have the right to bring with you a tonne or more of pollution-producing machinery". Wran threatens to abandon Sydney's freeway plan. Car organizations like the NRMA are incensed. Resources: 1976 - GMH managing director Charles "Chuck" Chapman brings Larry Hartnett back into the Holden fold GMH managing director Charles "Chuck" Chapman brings Larry Hartnett back into the Holden fold where he's re-christened Father of the Holden. Resources: 1973 - Government drops imported-car tariff by 25% Government drops imported-car tariff by 25%, part of "rationalising "the industry and opening it to overseas competition. Resources: 1973 - The ABC-TV show "Torque" premieres, with host Peter Wherrett; it runs off and on until 1980. The ABC-TV show "Torque" premieres, with host Peter Wherrett; it runs off and on until 1980. Resources: 1973 - The P76 Leyland is released. The P76 Leyland is released; demand is high...too high. The company can't meet its production obligations and collapses as a result. Resources: 1972 - Small cars begin eating away at the big cars Small cars begin eating away at the big cars; 4-cylinder Japanese imports gain 38% of the market. Resources: 1970 - Number of new male driving licence holders increases by 186%; the delayed onset of the baby boom. Number of new male driving licence holders increases by 186%; the delayed onset of the baby boom. Resources: 1968 - The Monaro HK is let loose upon the nation. The Monaro HK is let loose upon the nation. It is followed by a muscle car explosion. Resources: 1967 - Peter Wherrett starts Australias first advanced driver training school. A racing driver and motoring journalist, Peter Wherrett, starts Australias first advanced driver training school. Resources: 1963 - The Armstrong 500 is run on Bathurst's Mount Panorama circuit. The Armstrong 500 is run on Bathurst's Mount Panorama circuit, beginning the Mountain's October Labour Day reign. Resources: 1962 - The millionth Holden is made, a bronze EJ station wagon. The millionth Holden is made, a bronze EJ station wagon. Resources: 1962 - Toyota begins making cars in Australia via AMI. Toyota begins making cars in Australia via AMI. Resources: 1962 - Rail gauges between Vic and NSW are finally standardised. Rail gauges between Vic and NSW are finally standardised; the Southern Aurora runs between Sydney and Melbourne without a border stop. Its far too late to make a difference. Resources: 1961 - Breathalysing and follow-up blood testing is made law in Victoria. Breathalysing and follow-up blood testing is made law in Victoria. Resources: 1960 - Government imposes a 40% sales tax on new cars. Government imposes a 40% sales tax on new cars, producing a sales slump and radical discounting; eventually the tax is wound back to 30%. Resources: 1960 - Jack Brabham, the strong silent type, wins the world F1 championship. Jack Brabham, the strong silent type, wins the world F1 championship. Goes on to win two more in 1965 and 1966. Resources: 1960 - Inaugural Australian Touring Car championship. Inaugural Australian Touring Car championship. Resources: 1960 - Ford finally makes an Australian family car, the Falcon. Ford finally makes an Australian family car, the Falcon. But its a piece of crap - too low slung and fragile for Australian roads. Ford is able to recover quickly and make a good car to challenge Holdens market dominance. Resources: 1957 - Ted Grey breaks the Australian land speed record. Ted Grey, driving a Chevrolet Special, breaks the Australian land speed record on a public road: 157.5 mph. Resources: 1956 - Sydney's first traffic jam. A giant traffic jam in Sydney's inner west and north on the Queens Birthday weekend (June 1) is the first big sign of motor mayhem to come. Resources: 1956 - Government restricts imported cars by 25% and kit cars by 12.5%. Government restricts imported cars by 25% and kit cars by 12.5%, driving local assembly plants to be set up by BMC, VW ("Beetlemania") and Australian Motor Industries (Standard/Triumph). Resources: 1955 - The first parking meters appear in Australian city streets. The first parking meters appear in Australian city streets. Resources: 1955 - The deserts are opened for transport. The deserts are opened for transport. Len Beadell, "the last explorer", surveys the Gunbarrel Highway and around 5500km of other inland roads through the Gibson, Great Sandy and Great Victorian deserts, often travelling with his young family. Amazingly he's doing this because of Australia's weird involvement in the Atomic Age - the highways are built primarily to provide access to Woomera, Maralinga, and the outback rocket range. But Lens just interested in surveying and camping. The desert is now graced with 700 kilometre roads named after Len's wife and daughter, Anne and Connie Sue. Resources: 1954 - The first "motel", the American Motel in Bathurst, opens. The first "motel", the American Motel in Bathurst, opens. Also the first Australian drive-in theatre, at Burwood in Victoria. Resources: 1953 - The FJ Holden Special is launched. The FJ Holden Special is launched. Resources: 1953 - First REDeX trial round Australia held. First REDeX trial round Australia held. 187 cars set off from Sydney Showground, including Gelignite Jack Murray in a Plymouth and an elderly woman, "Granny" Conway in an Austin A40. The course goes through Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide and back to Sydney. It turns into a madhouse on the road from Townsville to Mt Isa, when the trial descends into a no-holds-barred road race and cars crash all over the shop. "I had no trouble finding my way here", says the last driver in, I just followed the hubcaps. Another declares: "Only a madman would continue". 140 of them do so. Its eventually won by a...Peugeot. Resources: 1953 - "Joyriding" - stealing cars for fun - becomes a major issue. "Joyriding" - stealing cars for fun - becomes a major issue. Between 1953 and 1963 the number of vehicles illegally used doubles. The crime is seen as distinct from stealing the car for real - more a sort of unauthorised loan. Over half the joyridden cars are FX and FJ Holdens - very easy to break into and start. Resources: 1950 - Petrol rationing ended by the incoming Menzies Liberal government. Petrol rationing ended by the incoming Menzies Liberal government, who dangled it before the public like the ultimate carrot. It is enough to get him in the door. Car culture's about to go national...but it wont look like anything Chifley or Menzies imagined. Resources: 1948 - The Holden FX is launched. The Holden FX is launched. The name "Holden" is actually fifth on the GMH name list behind such gems as "Canbra" and "Lion". The FX, with a fuel economy of 30 mpg and a top speed of 80 mph, goes on retail sale for a bit over 700 pounds in February 1949, among the buyers is Harley Tarrant. Demand exceeds supply for two years. It will be followed by the FJ model in 1953. By then, 120,000 Holdens will have been sold. Resources: 1946 - Larry Hartnett replaced as GM-H managing director Larry Hartnett replaced as GM-H managing director after US Head Office comes to see him as a bit off the leash - too interested in Australia, not enough of a company man. Hartnett leaves GM in 1947. Resources: 1946 - Australia is "car-starved" by US currency limitations Australia is "car-starved" by US currency limitations which send US vehicles into the luxury class. Small British cars make up 72% of the market..
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