revs - fx-fj holden club · welcome to the march edition of revs, ... doug finch, john gager, tony...
TRANSCRIPT
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March 2014
REVS
Official newsletter of the:
FX – FJ HOLDEN CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC. Est. 1976
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2014 COMMITTEE
Position Name Contact PRESIDENT: SHANE KRUEGER 07 38801792 0408 076834
VICE PRESIDENT: WILLY HINDS 07 32855491 0400 515841
SECRETARY: To be filled To be filled
ASSISTANT SECRETARY: DAVE CLARK 0408 085755
TREASURER: DONNA HINDS 07 3285 5491 0412 763996
RUN COORDINATOR:
PETER WHALLEY
07 33983723 0437 821 652
SOCIAL COORDINATOR:
BOB SCOFIELD 07 38013480 0499 992451
[email protected] ASSISTANT RUN / SOCIAL
COORDINATER
KEL TOWERTON 073803 1686 0474 741 189
MEMBERSHIP: JOHN GAGER 07 33434551
TECHNICAL ADVISER: TONY MANGANARO 07 3245 3631
PUBLICATION EDITOR: DOUG FINCH 07 54962483 0427 962 483
WEB SITE: SHANE KRUEGER
DOUG FINCH
As above
A.E.H.F. DELEGATE: DUDLEY MONEMENT 07 5546 1403 0418 763886
Q.H.M.C REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL NOTT 07 3341 5619
MAJOR EVENTS COORDINATOR:
ASSISTANTS:
SHANE KRUEGER
BOB SCHOFIELD
DUDLEY MONEMENT
As above
Club Website: www.fxfjholdenclub.com
Club Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3523
South Brisbane, Qld, 4101
Club Bank Details: Westpac; BSB 034077; Acc. No. 203004 (use your name as reference).
Meetings: Held 2nd Monday of each month in the FX FJ Club of Qld Clubrooms at
Rocklea Show Grounds; enter via Ipswich Service Road, Rocklea.
Meetings start 7.30 pm sharp, all members and guests are welcome to attend.
Merchandise: Club T shirts and Caps available; ask Donna Hinds (treasurer) for current details.
Concessional Registration: Concession registrations are to be ratified by the Dating Officer, as per the rules
of the club. New members please indicate if seeking concessional registration.
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From the Editor’s Desk by Doug Finch Welcome to the March edition of REVS, my apologies for it being a little late but sometimes life gets in the way … can’t complain though it’s been a busy but great month. Your editor has been jet setting about the place taking in the Whangamata Beach Hop in New Zealand, a great event and well worth the effort. It did strike me that there were very few early Holdens and large numbers of US cars in attendance, I only counted two FJ sedans and a couple of Utes. They were very nice cars though; the Ute was a national champion (NZ) in about 2005 from memory according to the owner, still an excellent example. So with that and that horrible institution called work getting in the way, time has been a little short around here … oh, and a little trip away to Stanthorpe for the apple and grape festival also was in there, it’s only on every second year but again well worth it – as some already know!
Thanks to everyone that has contributed articles, stories and photos. Without you there would be no REV’S, but we are always looking for more interesting stories and/or articles for REVS. We will endeavour to reproduce all submissions faithfully, but might need to edit if required. Please let us know if there are any errors in articles or on address labels, apologies in advance if this occurs. Articles / ads are not necessarily pre sanctioned by the Executive Committee.
Closing date for submission of articles for April Revs by 20th April 2014.
Email submissions to: [email protected], or post to P.O. Box 3523, South Brisbane, Qld, 4101
Happy Cruising!
President’s Report March 2014 by Shane Krueger This month’s meeting was well attended and we had the pleasure of Brad and Caron from the RACQ to give a
presentation on the benefits of being a member Queensland’s largest club. Turns out that 95% of those present
are members, and we even have a Gold member. It doesn’t take much to work out who that would be as you
need to be a member for 50 years. A very informative evening with all taking something out of the information
afforded us.
At the next meeting shall be another information presentation from
RACQ Careflight. We are now supporting this worthwhile
organization and Angle flight as they rely on donations to keep afloat.
We are still in quite a predicament with no Secretary at this time and
the situation has to be finalized at the next meeting. So if you are able
to take up this role all assistance will be given by the committee.
All in attendance at the meeting celebrated life member Jim’s 88th
birthday with a cake supplied by Sue Ross. Many happy returns mate.
Wheels to the ground.
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CLUB MEETINGS 2014 – put these in your calendar now
March Club Meeting by Donna Hinds
Minutes of Meeting: held 10th
March 2014 Meeting opened 7:35pm Chaired by Shane Krueger.
Shane opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and then asked members to turn around and enjoy a
presentation from Brad and Caron from RACQ. A very informative presentation was given and lots of
members questions answered. Shane thanked Brad and Caron, and also asked members to thank them in the
usual way.
Members present: 26
Apologies: ,Dudley & Robert Monement, Alan Parkinson, Doug Finch, John Gager, Tony Manganaro, Bob
Scofield, Peter Dofter, Tony Seitz.
Guests: Brad and Caron from RACQ
Secretary: Previous meetings minutes, two corrections for Peter Whalley’s mobile 0437 821 652 and Kel’s
0474 741 189. Sue Ross moved that the minutes be accepted, seconded by Kel and passed by meeting.
Shane tabled correspondence inwards.
Treasury: Donna advised of bank balance and income and expenditure for January and February. Les Ross
moved that the treasurer’s report be accepted, seconded by Peter Whalley, passed by the meeting. Donna
also advised the bank was moving towards three monthly statements, more investigations required, and
then Donna would report back.
Social: Peter advised the March club run had gone well with members enjoying themselves; a few hot braking
systems were experienced. Shane said the run to Tineke’s was very good, with lots of bargains purchased.
He also told members there would be a further sale down the track, to finally clear everything away,
anything members wanted in the mean time to ring Bruce and Nathan on Home 5497 8508 or Mobile
0414 782 970.
Peter talked about the next run this coming Sunday, meeting at the Shell south side meeting point at 8am
for 8.30 cruise to NSW, lunching at Kingscliff.
Peter also reminded members that the April run would be on Sunday April 13th
, before the April meeting,
meeting Northside, yes Northside, at the BP Northbound at 8am for 8.30 departures, please phone Peter.
Bob or Shane advising if you are going. (Check upcoming events)
Shane advised members that there would be a guest at the next club meeting from Care flight, with a run
to the Care flight depot in June.
14th
April Rocklea Showgrounds
12th
May Rocklea Showgrounds
9th
June Rocklea Showgrounds
14th
July Rocklea Showgrounds
11th
August Rocklea Showgrounds
15th
September Rocklea Showgrounds
13th
October Rocklea Showgrounds
10th
November Rocklea Showgrounds
8th
December Rocklea Showgrounds
and
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Technical: Tony was absent from this meeting.
Membership: John Gager was absent, Shane read out John’s email advising we have 103 Members of
which 7 are life members. Shane welcomed Maurice Saccu, new member, to his first meeting, also nice
to see everyone else as well!
Publications & Website: Shane advised Revs articles are due now. Please could we have some more
member profiles?
A.E.H.F: Dudley absent, no report
GM Roundup: No information as yet
QHMC: Cheryl advised no meeting this month as yet.
Please remember to take a club newsletter with you when on SIV rego, on a club run.
Wanted, Swap & Sell Published later in Revs
General Business: Dave Clark has made and donated a memorial board, Shane to take to printer and get it set for names etc.
Donna advised we are still waiting for the new agreement from the show society, Shane to phone their secretary
and find out reason for delay.
Dave advised we could not put the bolt successfully onto the door and will devise another, more simple system
for the next meeting.
Dudley’s board to be used in the club rooms.
Shane is still taking orders for the key rings with the club logo on, he will shortly place an order for the first lot.
Shane advised Penrite has written to the club offering sponsorship, he would check into it and advise members
shortly.
Shane reminded members we still have no secretary, this position must be filled as
soon as possible, for legal reasons as well as the successful running of the club. Please
give it some thought. With Jim Killalea turning 88 this month, members sang “Happy Birthday” and shared a cake, many
thanks to Les and Sue for organizing the cake and card. Congratulations’ Jim.
Raffle drawn and won, 1
st Peter Whalley, 2
nd Ron Vines, 3
rd Dave Clark, 4
th Tanya Allen, 5
th Ron Morrison, 6
th John Entjes, 7
th
Shane Kruger, 8th Craig Collins
Meeting Closed: 9.05 pm, next meeting 14 April.
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Kingscliff Run by Kel Towerton Sunday, Saturday the 16 March 2014, turned out to be a beautiful day, if some-what warm, which meant it was
refreshing to know that we would soon be heading over the McPherson Range to NSW.
There were six club cars (all FJs) as Les Ross was on-call for work, meant Sue’s FX stayed in the garage. Three
modern machines also joined the run for varied and different reasons, and some that, like Bob Schofield, would
rather not discuss. Peter Whalley (run coordinator)
gave us a map and briefing before leading us on a convoluted route through the back of Jacob’s Well to
Coomera along roads that I had no idea existed previously. Regular stops for catch-ups at the rear ensured the
convoy stayed together as we travelled through Nerang to our morning tea stop at Hinze Dam. While the
regular chit-chat/banter was engaged over morning tea, while we enjoyed the scenery including a visit by a
Goanna who wanted scraps (but none were forthcoming) so he scampered away be before anyone could get a
good photograph of him.
After morning tea we transversed through the
magnificent Numinbah Valley and it was hard to
believe that area was in drought, having received less
than half of its’ average annual rainfall; as it was still
so green. I was following Peter and was wondering
why he kept making rude gestures at me from his
window, before realizing he was just indicating his
intention to turn (no indicators).
Several temporary Australians (motorcyclists) roared
passed our convoy as if they were at Phillip Island
raceway on the final lap, narrowing missing cars
coming the other way. One even overtook Peter on a
one-way bridge, causing me, who was just behind
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him, to slam on the brakes prior to coming onto the bridge, (if only knew the FJ’s braking potential, he might
have rethought the manoeuvre).
The road over the top of the range gave a splendid view to NSW-side-of-the-range territory; a lthough the road
surface was atrocious and required careful negotiation, using the full (two-inch) limit of my FJ’s suspension.
The Tweed River and associated verges looked really
picturesque and tranquil as we meandered along beside it
and across the Pacific Highway towards Kingscliff.
Peter had definitely put a lot of time and effort into the
run reconnaissance to ensure that it was interesting and
scenic, to which he achieved a magnificent result!
Our lunch-stop Kingscliff proved a bit blustery, but that
was ok, as it was getting a little warm by this stage and it
brought the temperature down a bit. I saved a spot for
Chucky to set up, in an otherwise shade-less car park.
A surprise visitor was Dave Noble (making it seven cars
for the run) with his immaculate blue Ute who arrived
after we had just set up; having tried to find us along
route, but missed us in the numerous twists and turns
that Peter had lead the convoy on. I was a little
dismayed, as up until then I had the best Ute on the run. Thanks to, to that person who pointed out it was also
the only Ute on the run!
I got a shot of Allan Stretton has he surveyed the beach, but the cyclone off the coast meant that swimming was
definitely out of the question. After lunch, Peter gave a summary of the next run to Redcliffe on the 13th April
2014, starting from BP Morayfield, and thanked us all for coming. It goes without saying that we all
appreciated and thanked him for the well-thought run that he organised; and also to his wife Noelene, Shane for
towing Chucky, and the not to forget the sausage/burger buyer (Bob Schofield) for a great day!
Upcoming Outings
APRIL: April Run Sunday 13th April. (CHANGED) Run to still start at Morayfield but will be a run to Redcliffe markets and Bee Gees Way for morning tea at the markets and car display and wives to go to markets. Then we will head to Clontarf for lunch at the park opposite the Groovy Groper Fish and Chip shop.
MAY: Sunday 18th May
May Mini Humpy Run Meet at Groupon Park Mini St Redbank. Exit 31 Redbank Plaza Exit Ipswich Toowoomba Highway. 8.30 for 9 am departure. Morning Tea at Laidley and Finishing Point at Wivenhoe Dam for Lunch.
JUNE: Sunday 15th
June.
Proposed run to Careflight Gold Coast to inspect the operation. Run will start from the Rocklea Clubrooms with
morning Tea at Tamborine and then to Southport for Lunch. Further details to follow.
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Recipe (for Club Runs!!!) by Mira Parkinson
VANILLA SLICE 2 pkts lattice biscuits 1 pkt cottees instant vanilla pudding 300 mls cream 300 mls milk A little icing sugar for dusting Place one layer of biscuits (20) in a tray that will fit them you can use smaller trays but this will make 20 In a bowl pour milk and cream and sprinkle pudding powder in and beat until thick Spread over biscuits then put top layer of biscuits and refrigerate for about ten minutes take out of fridge and with a small strainer sprinkle icing over top. ENJOY
Driven By A Cowboy Indian? By Dr Keith Tronc
“Number 4 stopping point, please”, said the airport taxi marshal, pointing to a station sedan, skidding to a
stop.
Out leaped the young Indian driver, bowing and offering fulsome greetings: “Welcome to Brisbane, Sir”, he
said, “and to what destination am I having the honour to transport you?”
“Wishart, over the Gateway”, I said.
“Ah no, Sir, I am having the disappointment to be telling you that there is no locality in Brisbane being of the
name Fishheart, to which you are instructing me.”
“No, Wishart, over the Gateway”, I replied.
“Sir, I will just be checking my roadways atlas”.
“No need”, I repeated, Wishart, over the Gateway.”
“No sir”, he said, “no place is being shown in the index under the name of Fishheart. Are you being certain
that you are in the correct city?”
I tried again. “Wishart, (spelling it out this time), over the Gateway, which elicited the response, “Would you
do me the inestimable honour Sir, of sitting beside me and acting as my navigation advisor?”
“Thank you, no”, I said, “I’ll sit in the back, but yes, I’ll be willing to direct you where to go. So please, let’s
be on our way now, head for the Gateway.”
“I am thinking sir, what is the Gateway, to which you are referring, on many occasions?”
Which response prompted the question which I should have asked at the beginning, I suppose – “how long have
you been driving taxis?”
“I am having the pleasure, sir to be now informing you, that you are my very first illustrious customer.”
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What Our Bush Balladist Thought Of Veteran Motor Vehicles By Dr Keith Tronc Motor cars, at the turn of the twentieth century, were not universally admired. Some writers, like poet Banjo
Patterson, expressed a very strong distaste for the new invention. Here, he sums up the irresponsible attitudes
shown by some of the early motoring fraternity, dangerous and selfish attitudes which are still all too common,
among the idiot drivers of today:
Lay of the Motor Car
We're away! and the wind whistles shrewd In our whiskers and teeth; And the granite-like grey of the road Seems to slide underneath. As an eagle might sweep through the sky, So we sweep through the land; And the pallid pedestrians fly, When they hear us at hand. We outpace, we outlast, we outstrip! Not the fast-fleeing hare, Nor the racehorses under the whip, Nor the birds of the air Can compete with our swiftness sublime, Our ease and our grace. We annihilate chickens and time, And policemen and space. Do you mind that fat grocer who crossed? How he dropped down to pray In the road when he saw he was lost; How he melted away Underneath, and there rang through the fog His earsplitting squeal As he went – Is that he or a dog, That stuff on the wheel?
Funny Signs Dept
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For all your automotive,
mechanical, Upholstery,
Insurance, parts, Accounting,
new cars etc.
Please consider using our
GM Roundup partners who
support us.
Major Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
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General Information for Club Runs
Runs to meet at 8:00 a.m. and depart 8:30 a.m. unless otherwise specified. Runs will usually be the first
Sunday after the Monday Meeting unless otherwise specified.
Runs will meet at the designated points as listed below of North, South and West; unless otherwise specified.
Fish and Chip runs will be decided at each meeting with someone to organize the run, venue and booking.
Meet at Meadowlands Park, Carina, on the last Saturday of the month, 5 pm meet for 5:30 p.m. departure
(unless otherwise stated).
Meeting Points
North side BP Morayfield (Caravan Parking Bay) on the Bruce Highway, Morayfield, approximately 5Km
past Burpengary on the left UBD Map 58 K18.
Southside The Shell Service Station, on Distillery Road, just past the Beenleigh Rum Distillery, on M1 to
Gold Coast, Exit 35 second exit from roundabout on service road. If missed take the Jacobs Well (Exit 38)
and take the first, sharp left to service road and back to the Shell Service Station UBD Map 284 N6.
Westside Truck rest stop at Dinmore. Take the Gatton - Toowoomba (Left) exit off the Ipswich
Motorway at Dinmore onto the Warrego Highway (A2) and follow up over rail-bridge and down to truck
stop on left, approximately 200 m before the Bremer River Bridge; UBD Map 214 M3.
Run Policies and Etiquette….. by Donna Hinds / Les Ross
Run participants are:
1. To ensure that their vehicle has adequate fuel to reach the destination or the next planned fuel stop. Run
departures will not be delayed for those vehicles needing last minute fuel; there is always ample time
before departure time to refuel.
2. Urged to be on time for the commencement of the run, 8am for 8.30 means be there at 8am, have a chat,
refuel, go the toilet, get a coffee and be ready for the run coordinators instructions. Should a member be
running behind, or wishing to join the run en-route please contact the run coordinator long before run
commencement time.
3. Urged to keep together wherever possible, particularly in built up areas. The leader will pull over where
safe and wait for everyone to get through lights etc.
4. To keep a eye out for the vehicle behind and shall slow down or stop so they can catch up before taking
the next turn, if this is done then the Run Coordinator would slow, and if required stop.
5. Not permitted to overtake the designated run leader. However members may move about in the group,
overtaking when safe and legal.
6. To keep to approximately 50 meters behind the vehicle in front where safe and practical, this allows
other traffic room to pass and lets the driver in front know that you are having no problems.
7. Encouraged to remain with the group until the agreed point at the end of the event. This also applies to
static displays such as car shows etc.
8. Encouraged to carry a small portable UHF CB radio and set it to Channel 20. Such radios are relatively
inexpensive, and have ranges varying from around one to five kilometers. Have a spare set of batteries
in the glove box. They are invaluable and a medium by which to keep informed about what is going on,
and to let the group know if you have become separated or broken down. They are also very good in
areas where mobile phones do not work.
Run coordinators are:
1. To provide a drivers briefing prior to departure for the run.
2. To lead the run, keeping to approximately 10km/h under the speed limit where possible (slowing down
if vehicle behind is out of sight).
3. Provide the address of each stopping point, to allow those that may get lost the chance to catch up.
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Up Coming Swap Meets & Shows
2nd
– 4th May Garterbelts and Gasolene Tamborine Ph: 0428 887522
17th – 18
th May Qld Hot Rod & Street Mach Brisbane Ph: 0419 711379
17th May Tivolli Drive in (from 3pm) Chuwar Ph: 0421 918 484
30th May – 9
th Jun Cooly Rocks On Coolangatta Ph: 07 55992081
21st Jun Cab Regional Swap & Show Caboolture Ph: 07 54953312
20th Jul Original Gold Coast Swap Mudgeeraba Ph: 07 55637541
30th Aug Jimboomba Auto Ex & Swap MacLean Bridge Ph: 07 33419618
14th Sep Beaudesert Swap Beaudesert Ph: 07 55449230
28th Sep Rocklea Roundup Rocklea Ph: 07 38801792
19th Oct Corey Lawson Memorial Car Show Tewantin Ph: 0417 843227
For Sale / Wanted
Please ensure all WANTED and FOR SALE ads are placed by email to [email protected] before the
deadline for each issue of REVS. All current lister’s of items for sale / wanted PLEASE CONFIRM BY
EMAIL BEFORE THE 20TH
OF EACH MONTH THAT YOU WANT YOU AD TO REMAIN FOR
THE FOLLOWING MONTH. If I don’t hear anything, I will assume you want your ad removed! This is
to try and keep the ads listing manageable, thanks for your cooperation in this.
A price must be given for items for sale if it is to go on the Club Website. Please ensure you include current
contact details when placing an Ad.
For Sale:
1955 FJ Sedan, Comprehensive information available contact Gordon Glough, [email protected], Mob
0410 565 729, Home 0738035499, asking $24000.
Various Items, from John Whitten’s shed contact Bruce and Nathan on Home 5497 8508 or Mobile 0414
782970.
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FJS 56 and 53 FXH, Two personalised number plates for sale. $450 each set, phone Tineke on 5498 5106 or
0410 505 947
55 FJ sedan, super charged V6, contact Peter Lawrence phone 0407 165 513
Wanted:
Widened FJ Rims, or standard to modify. Phone Rick 0408 006 324
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Holden Stuff from the internet!
Image: Holden Car
Source: Museum Victoria
Popularly known as the FX, the Holden 48-215 was the first motor car to be mass-produced in Australia and has come to represent the
growing confidence of Australia in the post-1945 world where the new consumer driven economy led to massive changes for
Australians and their urban environment as rising prosperity and car ownership allowed new housing, shopping, leisure and working
opportunities.
The appointment of Englishman, Laurence Hartnett as Managing Director of General Motors subsidiary General Motors-Holden's in
Australia in 1934 was an important first step in the project to build a complete car in Australia. The local motor industry at this time only
built bodies for imported engine and chassis units, but under Hartnett, GM-H began to develop its own design expertise and introduced
the locally invented 'All-Enclosed Coupe' or Sloper body in 1935 and the US-style all-steel body in 1937.
Hartnett became a tireless advocate for an all-Australian car and lobbied political and business leaders as part of a general trend
towards the growth of 'secondary industries' in Australia as a means of overcoming Australia's dependency on agricultural produce.
GM-H even took a 10% shareholding in the new Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation established in 1936 by a consortium of leading
Australian mining interests to build military aircraft in Australia for the RAAF. The selection of a US design (Wirraway) caused a
considerable backlash from political and industrial interests tied to Britain. By 1939 the UAP government had taken the first step
towards making an all-Australian car a part of national policy by introducing the Motor Vehicles Bounty Act under which in 1940 it
curiously handed the right to develop an Australian car to Australian Consolidated Industries which had no experience in vehicle
manufacturing. Under Hartnett, GM-H had already begun preliminary design work on an Australian car project.
The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 provided an opportunity for local manufacturers to introduce new machinery
and production methods to make munitions. GM-H produced vehicles, guns and aircraft components as well as its first engine, the
130hp Gipsy Major for the Tiger Moth trainer. By 1945, the Curtin ALP government had abandoned the Motor Vehicles Bounty Act and
GM-H had put forward their own proposal based on a pre-war US design for a small Chevrolet sedan. A GM-H project team travelled to
the USA to work with General Motors on design and development and three prototypes were shipped to Australia in December 1946.
After considerable testing on Melbourne roads, the first six-cylinder 48-215 was unveiled by Prime Minister Ben Chifley at the GM-H
factory at Fishermans Bend on 29 November 1948. Hartnett had resigned from the company in 1947 to remain in Australia following a
disagreement with GM which saw him replaced with US executive Harold Bettle. Just over 100,000 48-215 cars were completed before
the FJ replaced it in production in late 1953.