PO Box 65 LITTLEHAMPTON SA 5250
Web: http://www.ahmrc.org Email: pop@ahmrc.org
ABN 74998518
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Adelaide Hills Motor Restorers Club Inc PO Box 65 LITTLEHAMPTON SA 5250 Web: http://www.ahmrc.org Email: pop@ahmrc.org ABN 74998518 |
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A Brief History of the Adelaide Hills Motor Restorers Club THE ADELAIDE HILLS MOTOR RESTORERS CLUB IS SET UP A steering committee was formed which comprised: Malcolm Wicks, Ken Butler, Bob Upton, Rex Cameron, Jim Clarke and Steve Bowes. The committee met on 1st March and established the name of the club and its goal of catering for vehicles, motor cycles and stationary engines of any age, or make or model. The decision to keep the club open to engine and machinery collectors was influenced by Kevin Woolard and by other engine enthusiasts. The steering committee even got to consider a constitution which shows how advanced they were! The inaugural club meeting was held on 22 March 1984 and a committee to organise club affairs was elected. The inaugural club run was to Malcolm Wicks’ property a Balhannah and that took place on Sunday 29th April. Members brought BYO picnics and the Museum and Historic Car Club Collection were inspected followed by a visit to the nursery. It is hoped that the club can re-enact this run during the twentieth anniversary year in 2004. Club affairs soon settled down with meetings held on the third Thursday of each month at the Littlehampton Hall initially and later at the Littlehampton School. A competition was held for the design of a newsletter cover/logo and the prize went to Ron Luck although the ultimate logo, which we are all familiar with, was devised by Malcolm Wicks late in 1984. In January 1985 the newsletter first bore the logo and also its new name of “Tappet Chatter”. This journal has played an important role in the club and has kept members up to date with events and amused us with articles that reflect its name! The first “Power of the Past” was held in March 1986 and was judged to be a huge success. Over 1,500 people attended. After analysing the event it was decided to hold a rerun in 1987 and to invite participation by other engine and car clubs. This approach contributed significantly to the development of “Power of the Past”as a major event in the calendars of both vehicle and engine enthusiasts. The second “Power of the Past” in 1987 was also a success but ran at a small financial loss. The third “Power Of the Past” was held in January in conjunction with the Hahndorf Founder’s Day Celebrations. We were tucked away on an oval some distance from the main street and we didn’t get many visitors through the gate. The weather did’nt help as it was cold and wet. We probably did not have a positive financial return but it certainly resolved that in the future “Power of the Past” would be held on our home turf at the Mt Barker Oval! “Power of the Past” 1989 set a new standard in the quality of exhibits and exhibitors were invited to vote for their selection of the best of Vehicle, Stationary Engine General exhibit and Kaesler Product. We now have categories for about twenty awards! “Power of the Past” has grown from a modest display of cars and engines to a major exhibit of many hundreds of items including vehicles, engines, tractors, engine driven machinery, agricultural equipment, and collectible items such as spark plugs, tools and so on. In the early days of the club there were lots of good ideas circulating, for example members were asked to compile a list of their engines and cars and submit it to the secretary for compilation into a list. Another was the idea of a perpetual trophy to acknowledge the efforts of an outstanding member to be chosen by the club by ballot at the club’s Annual General Meeting. The trophy was made by Malcolm Wicks and features the timing gear from an Amilcar. For the first ten years, the club held its monthly meeting in the Littlehampton Primary School and owned one cupboard in which to house its fledgling library. There was a lot of talk about finding a new home and finding somewhere to store restoration projects, whether owned by the club or by members. One option which was considered seriously was the Chocolate Factory at Woodside which had some spare space that could have been rented and made into a museum/clubhouse. Other sites included: Then came the news in November 1992 that the old von Doussa Clubhouse was to be demolished because it was unsightly and in danger of falling down. Michael Sheehan asked Mt Barker Council to postpone demolition pending inspection by the club and following this inspection, negotiations for the club to rent the building from the council commenced. By the way, the Gardener’s Depot idea fell through but we managed to erect a new shed on the oval in October 1994 and to enlarge it later on. The search for bigger storage and/or museum site has continued over the years. Sites considerd have included: SteamRanger; Museums Alive proposed for the old Woodside Power House site (we nearly tendered for a hanger from Woomera to go on this site), and Platform 1 Heritage Farm Railway. A survey of members in September 1998 showed that a majority of members wanted the club to acquire permanent display facilities for the club and member restorations. Perhaps it may happen one day… In mid 1992 Bob Heath announced that his brother had found an old Blackstone (on a transporter) in a shearing shed at Pt Wakefield and that the owner was prepared to sell it provided that it went to a club who wouldn’t just “up the price” and sell it again. The membership of the day was unwilling to cough up the asking price ($1000) until two stalwarts promised to chip in $200 each. This clinched the vote. A few months later in November a merry band of clubbers headed to Pt Wakefield to extricate the beast and take it by low loader to Brian Bart’s for temporary storage. Restoration went ahead quickly, ably lead by Stephen Paech and Peter Bernhardt, and since then the engine has taken pride of place at many club displays. The previous owners, Don and Heather Beare, have visited “Power of the Past” to see the Blackstone in its new job of pleasing the public rather than just pleasing a bunch of shearers. About a year later (April 1993) ex-member David Bradley heard through the grapevine that TWO big Blackstone engines were no longer in use at the Hesso pumping station which is located on the Morgan to Woomera water pipeline. Eventually a deal was struck whereby the AHMRC could have one engine (plus spares) provided that the engine would eventually go on public show and that the OTHER be removed and transported to Woomera to be set up as an historic monument. The problem was: How could the club dismantle the Hesso pumphouse and move in excess of twenty tonnes of cast iron from one end of the state to the other? Dismantling the shed was not too difficult and moving the engines was made easy by inviting the Army to do the job! The Army Engineers jumped at the chance to practise their skills, try out their heavy lifting gear and contribute to a worthwhile cause. The Hesso engine was delivered to David Bradley’s workshop in 1996. Some more years lapsed but eventually the engine was relocated to Trevor Kelley’s yard for restoration. A lifting platform was purchased and the vendor generously halved the price when he learnt of the club’s plans. The platform had previously been used to support a drilling rig and now comfortably raises and lowers the “Hesso”. The restoration is a huge credit to Trevor Kelley, Neville Baughan, Des Kotz and other willing members who have put many hundred of hours into the task. It’s thumping 154HP is due to be heard at “Power of the Past” 2004. Other engines and machinery acquired by the club over the years include: There are also many other items which have been donated by members which go toward the successful staging of “Power of the Past”. Included is the Heath Robinson machine which winds up the rolls of fencing after each rally! The strength of the Adelaide Hills Motor Restorers Club is in its members. The majority of members live in the Adelaide Hills although membership is open to all, irrespective of place of residence. Each member contributes individually and many benefits are obtained simply by the exchange of ideas and of course, the opportunity to swap parts. The club organises regular club runs in addition each month. The club has grown from small beginnings and now has membership in excess of 120. Naturally, there have been many members over the last twenty years who have left the club due to moving away from the district or due to having other interests. Some members have also passed away and it is appropriate to conclude this short history of The Adelaide Hills Motor Restores Club by recording their names and remembering the significant contribution made by them over the years: John Viney (Austin A40 collector) Horrie Aspinall (master fitter and Executive Officer of Engineering Training Advisory Board Brian Schiller (avid Jowett restorer and collector) To all club members and supporters CONGRATULATIONS on achieving twenty years of club activity and growth. Our hobby of restoring vehicles, engines and machinery is well served by the interaction (technical and social) that happens between members at club meetings and rallies. The opportunity to “show off” our restoration projects is also well served by club activities where displays can be organised and controlled. Let’s hope that the AHMRC continues to develop in the future as it has done in the past. Mark Randell, June 2004.
Well, it all started over a couple of beers in the Great Eastern Hotel early in 1984.Talk about starting a new club spread amongst a few car enthusiasts and Steve Bowes(The Publican) placed an advertisement in the
local paper, “The Courier” inviting members of the public to meet at the Car Park of the Littlehampton Hall for an inaugural meeting to be held on 23rd February 1984. Hey! The result was pretty good and 29 people attended. The attendance list includes the following current members: Malcolm Wicks, Bob Weidenhofer, Ron Luck, and Michael Sheehan
“POWER OF THE PAST’’ ATTRACTS PUBLIC ATTENDANCE.
THE CLUB FINDS A HOME
Naturally the council stipulated conditions on the lease including recladding the walls and roof with new galvanised iron. Eventually the lease was signed ( with a “peppercorn” rent ) and many working bees were held to replace rotted windows, repair flooring, renew ironwork, replace electrical wiring and modify interior fittings.
The official opening was held on 15th June 1995 and it was performed by Mr. John von Doussa who outlined the history of the building and showed off a ceremonial key which was presented to Louis von Doussa after he donated the Clubrooms to the youth of Mt Barker in 1927. It was used for many years as a gymnasium and boxing ring until it became derelict in the 1960’s. Over recent years the clubrooms have been further improved with the upgrading of the toilets and expansion of the library area. Perhaps the ultimate goal of lining and insulation of the interior walls will be achieved soon! The clubrooms have become a major focus for the club activity. It would have been impossible to grow at our current rate if we had needed to fund a new building from scratch.
THE CLUB BUILDS A COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ENGINES AND MACHINERY.
AHMRC IS A LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP
Reg Fountain (his family donated the Reg Fountain Memorial Trophy for the Best Tappet Chatter article each year)
Keith Plush (known to us as “The Village Blacksmith” with many amusing and informative articles in the club magazine as well as being our librarian
Rod Eckerman (staunch supporter and vintage Ford enthusiast)
Ted Sheehan (sponsored the Junior Entry Trophy at Power of the Past each year as well as exhibiting and donating machinery to the club)
Errol Collins (retired cabinet maker with a passion for Austin and Morris vehicles)
Roy Paterson (enthusiastic supporter who provided a wealth of local history to fellow members).
We participate in many public functions and, most importantly, in our own “Power of the Past” annual display.
Who knows what will transpire in the next twenty years!