Official Magazine of the Rootes Group Car Club Inc No. 367, July 2021 ROOTES GROUP CAR CLUB INCORPORATED CONTACT US Address: P.O. Box 932 GLEN WAVERLEY, VIC 3150 Note that post box is only checked fortnightly – allow plenty of time for response Note new phone number: (03) 9005 0083 (AH) Email: [email protected] REG # A14412X Web Site: vic.rootesgroup.org.au MAIN OFFICE BEARERS 2020-21 PRESIDENT: Bernard Keating VICE PRESIDENT: Murray Brown 0422 550 449 (AH) (03) 5626 6340 (AH) [email protected] [email protected] SECRETARY: Thomas Clayton TREASURER: Bernie Meehan 0414 953 481 (AH) 0412 392 470 [email protected] [email protected] SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICER: Jodie Brown WEB SITE: Alex Chinnick (03) 5626 6340 (AH) [email protected] [email protected] SOCIAL COORDINATOR: Tim Christie MAGAZINE EDITOR: John Howell (03) 9741 6530 (AH) or 0409 966 942 0434 319 910 (AH) [email protected] [email protected] LIBRARIAN: Matthew Lambert REGALIA OFFICER: Kristi Lambert (03) 9570 5584 (After 8pm) (03) 9570 5584 (AH) [email protected] [email protected] SPARE PARTS OFFICER: Murray Brown CLUB PERMIT OFFICERS: (03) 5626 6340 (AH) Neil Yeomans: 0429 295 774 [email protected] Mick Lindsay: (03) 5860 8650 (AH) AOMC Reps: John Howell or 0417 304 616 Federation Reps: Neil Yeomans CLUB PERMITS For club permit applications & renewals, call one of the above Club Permit Officers who will tell you what needs to be done, and where to send your paperwork. Include a stamped envelope and don’t forget to sign the form! Fees: 1. Lodging an application (Post 1931 vehicle): $30 Don’t post renewals to the 2. Lodging an application (Pre 1931 vehicle): $POA Club PO Box! 3. Renewal: $10 4. Provision of paperwork to support the applicant (e.g. loss of logbook): $30 Note it is the permit holder’s responsibility to ensure that the renewal gets to VicRoads on time MEMBERS’ MEETINGS Meeting times and locations vary each month – see the Calendar for details, which is an effort to give more members a chance to attend meetings. New members and visitors always welcome Rootes Group Car Club website hosted by: www.qcsgroup.com.au This month’s cover – A Gazelle in a picturesque autumnal setting (was for sale on Gumtree) THE INVERTED COMMER – July 2021 3 RGCC Calendar Check events are still on before attending – more are being cancelled, for example the Bendigo Swap Meet Until Aug 31 “Dream Factory: GMH Design at Fishermans Bend 1964-2020”, Melbourne Town Hall - City Gallery. Open Mon-Fri 9-5 (closed public holidays) JULY 2021 Sunday 11 Maldon QB Swap Meet, Racecourse Reserve, Lewis Rd, from 7am Wednesday 14 Member’s Meeting – Hoppers Club, Hoppers Club, 180 Pannam Drive, Hoppers Crossing (Mel 202 G11), Dinner from 6:30, meeting from 8:00pm Sunday 18 Wangaratta Historic Motor Show and Fly-in. AOMC Club Management seminar postponed AUGUST 2021 Fri 6-Sun 8 Winton Festival of Speed, Winton Motor Raceway, Fox Street, Winton. Run by the Victorian Historic Racing Register on the long track, this year also featuring a motorkhana. Wednesday 11 Member’s Meeting – TBC looking at a venue in central/eastern Melbourne – open to suggestions!, Dinner from 6:30, meeting from 8:00pm Sunday 22 Maling Road AutoClassico, Maling Rd Canterbury. A close-the-street-off car show SEPTEMBER 2021 Sunday 5 Mid State Mopars, Bendigo Town Hall Precinct 8-4, trophy presentation at 2pm. Entry $35 per car or $5 adult spectators – need to book tickets at www.bendigoregion.com.au (link) Wednesday 8 Member’s Meeting – TBC, Dinner from 6:30, meeting from 8:00pm Sunday 12 Corowa and District Car Club Car & Bike Show 'n' Shine, RSL Park Sunday 12 Peter Turner Memorial Show and Shine, John Powell Reserve Midland Hwy Guildford. Sunday 12 Gippsland Vehicle Collection Swap Meet, 1A Maffra-Sale Rd, Maffra, $5 entry from 7am. Camping available (must book) Fri 17-Sun 19 Baskerville Historic Races Sunday 19 3rd Birchip Mallee Bull Show 'n' Shine and Swap Meet, Birchip Leisure Centre, Morrison St. Raising money for local hospital. Sunday 26 Finley Show & Shine, Finley Showgrounds, NSW OCTOBER 2021 Fri 6-Sun 8 Winton Festival of Speed, Winton Motor Raceway, Fox Street, Winton. Run by the Victorian Historic Racing Register on the long track, this year also featuring a motorkhana. Wednesday 13 Member’s Meeting – TBC, Dinner from 6:30, meeting from 8:00pm Sunday 17 Best of Ballarat Rally, entry $5. Sunday 24 Akoonah Park Men’s Shed Car Show, Berwick Showgrounds, 2 Cardinia St (cnr Princes Hwy) Berwick, Mel 111 H10. 8-2, stands, music, with Sunday market. Sunday 29 Chryslers on the Murray – Albury/Wodonga 16th Hillman National Rally ‐ Warrnambool Victoria - October 7th - 12th 2022 Expressions of Interest are now open 4 THE INVERTED COMMER – July 2021 President’s Report Hello Fellow Members I haven’t written for a while as there has not been much to do or say due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Club has had one face to face meeting this year at the Hoppers Club in Hoppers Crossing, back in May which was exceptionally well attended. This Wednesday the 14th of July, we will be having another Club Meeting starting with diner at 6pm. The Meeting will begin at the usual time of 8pm. Please attend if at all possible as we are starting to forget people’s happy faces and your good sense of humour. With Covid-19 restrictions being eased, it is my hope that the Committee and attending members at this 14th of July meeting can organise some “immediate” outdoor activities so that we all can enjoy our cars and each other’s company once more. Please bring yourselves and any ideas that you may have for activities. Look forward to seeing as many members at the next meeting Keep Safe, Keep Well Bernie Keating Imp Photo of the Month Editor’s Report Hi everyone, Sorry I have struggled to make time to put the magazine together before now, but here we are finally, I hope you enjoy. John Last time I asked can anyone identify the military plane with the Humber Sceptre Mark III – A Hillman Imp Sonic convertible from Eiffel Tower Motors only Colin Gunn helpfully advised that the plane was the one with the wings… Tim sent in this photo from a book on Hardie Ferodo history of a Singer Gazelle driven by Harry Firth and John Raeburn in the 1960 Armstrong 500 at Phillip Island. You’d think it was a rally and not a race track! July Birthdays • Kristi Lambert on 2 Jul • Nicholas Aspinall on 8 Jul • Margaret Gee on 8 Jul • Lou Mallia on 17 Jul • Robin Walter on 31 Jul THE INVERTED COMMER – July 2021 5 Put a little Sunbeam in your life with Petula Clark! Petula did a “Sunbeam” version of the song that the radio refused to play! 6 THE INVERTED COMMER – July 2021 Introducing a family size hatchback with an unmistakable style that stands out from all others around today. But as well as its unique looks it brings you many other exciting benefits. Here are just a few. Once a year servicing. All Sunbeams need major servicing only once a year or at 10,000 mile intervals, with an intermediate oil change and brake check every 5,000 miles or six months. That’s nearly twice as good as most other hatchbacks. Amazing fuel economy. The Sunbeam ‘930’ gives you up to 50, yes 50 mpg*. The ‘1500’ engine gives up to 41.5*, and even the sporty ‘1600’ still returns up to 40.0 mpg*. That’s a real money saving feature. Unbeatable versatility. The huge, almost totally glass hatchback on the Sunbeam lifts up (by itself) to give a massive 42.7 cu.ft. of luggage space with the rear seat folded. But the seat in the GL and S models also divides in two, so you can take large or delicate loads and still have a passenger in the back. Whichever Sunbeam you choose, you’ll find it superbly equipped. Even the lowest priced model has electronic ignition, inertia reel seat-belts, dual- circuit servo assisted brakes, reclining front seats, and much, much more. Whilst the top-of-the-line Sunbeam S has a features list as good or better than any other car in its class. See the Sunbeam at your Chrysler showroom soon. Note that the press initially thought it would be called the Scamp with this scoop artists impression. THE INVERTED COMMER – July 2021 7 North Sydney, 1951… This heavy traffic photographed on 20 December 1951 was the result of a tram and bus strike. It originally appeared in PIX magazine and comes from the State Library of NSW via Facebook. It is tricky to identify most of the cars from the shape of the windscreen only, and I’m not sure how many more Hillmans there are than the one in the foreground – what do you think? Another interesting point is there doesn’t seem to be a lot of Holdens; which actually makes sense because while they were very popular GM was still building the production capacity needed to get to the top of the sales charts. Some other comments on Facebook included the observation that against the hundreds of cars there were only four heading the other way – waiting for a policeman on point duty to let them turn right. Also strangely for a bus strike there is one in the photo, possibly a Bedford OB. Joe Kenwright added that post- WWII petrol rationing would have only just ended at this point.