Chapter 7 meeting.” There was also a brief also there were 6 Victorian A7s history of the Club’s achievements racing in Historic Groups J and K. to date. Since our 21st celebrations, the 1983-1987 A fund had been organised by expertis e and ex pe rience in the Club to establish a memorial in organising Club displays had grown 30 years old and our own Garrie Cooper’s name, to be raced markedly, so that the 30th Birthday for at A7C race meetings. This was Rally was planned for the Birdwood Clubrooms; the AGP comes well supported by many of his Mill Motor Museum on 22/23 to town and Adelaide’s friends and fellow competitors and October 1983. For two months prior Alive! the 1983 meeting was the first one to the rally, six A7s were displayed at which it would be awarded, as in the museum’s foyer. The By way of introduction to the Austin 7 Journals 79 reported. weekend’s celebrations began with Club’s 30th year activities, the an informal gathering at the The features of the meeting were a Clubrooms on Saturday, where President’s Piece in Austin 7 return of vintage and historic vehicles to Journals 78 January 1983, appealed Mallala, many of which had raced their interstate visitors were welcomed to “for members’ support at all Club in their heyday, a commemorative race the rally by a display of cars. That events, particularly general for A7s, the Denis Dix memorial and a night was the Rally Dinner at the new memorial in honour of Garrie Sportsman’s Association and then meetings, which had diminished to Cooper. an all time low at the end of 1982. A small hitch in the works occurred the big day was Sunday, with all As a record of our 30 years of when Channel 7 announced the members’ cars eligible. existence and achievements, special cancellation of the 1983 Good Friday The rally magazine contained a m e m e nt os ha ve been m a de Appeal. However, the publicity, which brief history of the Club, written by the event would have received from this Tony Grove, and a welcoming available and special events have appeal was replaced by a lengthy been planned”. segment on State Affair, which featured message from the President, Barry T h e f i r s t o f t h e s e David Grear’s A7 among other cars. Frost, which said, in part: commemorative events was the The Denis Dix memorial trophy was Easter race meeting, planning for raced with a depleted Sports Sedan On behalf of the members of the field and Mick Monterosso was an easy Austin 7 Club of SA Inc., I welcome you which had begun in the previous winner from Ken Leigh and James to ou r ra ll y and display wh ich October, and it was previewed in Rosenberg. commemorates the 30th year of our Austin 7 Journals 78. The next event was the A7 Club Club. 30th Anniversary Trophy, which was In the past 30 years, interest in the won by Bryan Sellick in a Ford Special; The Easter race meeting in 1983 is A7 by club members has never wavered second and first A7 was taken by John at Mallala and is jointly organised and and at the present time the number of Ould. It was on the first lap of this race promoted by the A7 Club and the restored and running cars is at its that the only serious accident occurred. Historic Racing Register of the SCC and highest and you will see some of them Coming out of Magnum Corner, towards will be on Saturday 2 April. A full today. You will also see cars still in the S/F line, Max Foster’s A7 tripped program of racing has been planned various stages of restoration, which will and rolled sideways, finishing on its with special emphasis on A7s, as the help you to appreciate the hours of work wheels on the edge of the track. Max’s meeting will commemorate our 30th and the dedication required to return helmet was worn from hitting the track, anniversary. some vehicles to “as new” condition. while the roll bar was almost worn Not only racing Austins – which Also during the last 30 years, many through as it scraped along the bitumen. have a special event – but also sedans, members have built A7s for speed The inaugural Garrie Cooper tourers etc are catered for in two events and, having had a taste of Memorial was for historic Group M cars Regularity runs. We are hoping for competition, have then built and and 16 cars faced the starter. John plenty of support from A7 owners, both competed in cars designed for racing. Ampt, Brabham BT14 won fairly easily here and interstate. So, included in today’s display are from D a v i d Ma drers and Tony racing and sports cars and some of Armstrong, both in Elfin Monos. After Australia’s top Sports Sedans, which The race meeting programme the event, Bruce Went then introduced belong to our Sports Sedans Register. noted, “This meeting is significant Mrs Lorraine Cooper to present the for a number of reasons. Firstly, it trophy. On the day, 68 members entered heralds the return of historic motor D u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n o u r Commemorative Port and glasses were 87 cars in 13 categories for display; sport to one of Australia’s greatest on sale. Thanks to Davids Grear and but unfortunately no racing cars circuits of the 60s and once again Searles and friends and Lyn Masters, in appeared. the SA Historic Tourist Trophy will excess of $700 worth was sold. The winning entrants were: Regularity run entrants included be run. Secondly, it coincides with Vintage A7 – Elegance: the 30th anniversary of the A7 Club Merv Perry, David Searles, David Grear and Dean Qualmann, all of whom George Bell 1926 chummy SA and we are confident of great thoroughly enjoyed the outing. Post-vintage A7 – Elegance: support from A7 owners, both in Jean Gilbert 1935 tourer regularity and race events. Thirdly, The organiser’s hopes of A7 best interstate – Colin Masterson we are delighted to have the support support from A7 drivers was 1929 meteor of Channel 7 and BP Outward A7 specials – Elegance: Colin justified as out of the 18 cars in the Masterson 1929 meteor Bound as spons ors for the Regularity events, four were A7s; 75 A7 unassembled units – when a set of objectives and Most optimistic – guidelines, as proposed by David David Grear, special 1983 COMMITTEE Searles, was adopted with the aim Best attempt – of ensuring that the issuing of Club Malcolm Lake 1928 tourer President – Barry Frost plates under this scheme was Other vintage cars - Elegance: Vice President – Bob Frost Max Dillon 1928 managed efficiently. However, Treasurer – Greg Heinjus Oakland tourer despite these new rules, at several Secretary – Mark Williamson Other post-vintage cars - Elegance: meetings concern was expressed Comp. Secretary – David Poole Harry Hewson 1934 A10 that some of these plates were lost Committee – Bob Frost, Classic cars – Elegance: when a vehicle changed hands to a Steve Furlong, Brian Caire 1948 A8 non-Club member. The continual Tim Williams, Sports Sedans under 2000 cc – turnover of ownerships, (see the David Searles, Dan Wilkinson Corolla table below), meant that by July Sports Sedans over 2000 cc – Tony Saddington 1987 the 120th plate was issued. Steve Smith Escort During 1985 there was an A7 Owners – Merv Perry, Stan Gaf- Club competition cars: - Brenton ney, Kevin Caire, David Searles, Jones 1965 Holden HD unconfirmed report from the David Grear, Rose Caire, Jean Gilbert Registered cars – Paul Sochor 1962 Federation hinting that the current Social – Bruce Went Chrysler Valiant S system of registration permits may Popular Choice A7 – Ian Sweetman be changed. Sports Sedan Register – Peter Popular Choice competition – Of more immediate concern was Finch, Wayne Sutton, George Carter, Tony Saddington. Graham Masters a p r op os a l by th e Fe de r a l Popular Choice other cars – Government to change the tax Delegates: Harry Hewson applied to spare parts; a petition CAMS – Bruce Went; Memorabilia produced during FVCC – David Searles against this was organised and in the year for members included T- September 1985 it was reported Life membership to shirts and windcheaters, two styles “that apparently the petition has met Merv and Ruth Perry of wine glasses, bar mirrors and a with some success”. The end result tawny port; sales of these netted was that a spare parts impost of $650 profit. 56% was applied to all spares for while the 1986 run saw 1802 And so the Club’s 30th year vehicles under 30 years old: A7s vehicles make the trip. Bryant celebrations were successfully thus escaped the tax. Lawson’s report on this run for concluded, and at the November A7 The Federation had its own Austin 7 Journals 97 noted, in part: own er ’ s m eet ing “I t was problems. In January 1987, the wholeheartedly agreed that the current President wrote to all Clubs Well the “Big One” is over once Birthday Rally was a tremendous advising of a proposal to include again and this time it was really BIG! I success”. historic motor vehicles in the never appreciated just how many cars The Club car saga also came to were involved until we neared Glenelg, Registration system. David Searles with cars converging on the Bay Road conclusion in 1983.