 |
| |
|
|
| |
Club
History |
|
| |
Recollections
by John Woollard
The idea for the club was formed when a couple of Sunbeam drivers
met at the MG Concours d’Elegance in 1972. The first meeting
was advertised in the Used Cars section of the Saturday Age
in I think Feb 1973, or maybe earlier. An interim committee
was set up. I have Newsletter No. 1 which says ‘Next meeting
is
23rd March to finalise constitution and arrange first outing.’
Members were encouraged to "Stop a Sunbeam Today".
Most of our cars were daily drivers in those days and we tried,
not terribly successfully, to encourage owners to join the club.
The
first outing as I remember was a Picnic/BBQ somewhere in the
Dandenongs. Many members were young singles or families with
kids so events were usually inexpensive....bbqs, treasure hunts,
wine bottling (excellent reds around 1980!), or motorkhanas.
People did not mind getting their cars dirty then. Trophies
were often handmade by members. At one MG Concours d’Elegance
we were able to take the Le Mans Tiger that had been imported,
I think, for Ern Abbott, to use in our display. It had just
come off the boat, had cracked wheels, so we had to trailer
it there.
The first interstate run was to Mt Gambier to meet with the
South Australian club, not sure of the year, possibly 1978.
A common and reassuring sight on the longer trips was a yellow
Holden with a boot full of tools, bits and towrope driven by
one of our keener members whose Sunbeam was not going at the
time. Monthly meetings were held at the Light Car Club where
we had use of the Rob Roy Room, with a projector, pool tables,
and the bar. It was free, but we probably paid a very generous
rent through the bar! Attendance was around 20, but I have an
early membership list with 40 or so names on it.
Early on we tried to establish a library and make some provision
to store spare parts which were comparatively common in those
days. Unfortunately the latter didn't eventuate. We did start
a photo album and 8mm films of events, and also sold badges
and jackets; the newsletter came out monthly and we had an annual
publication called the Crowned Hound.
|
|
|
|
