Shannon's Classic Car Show 18 March 2018

Following on from the successful move to Ascot Racecourse in 2017, the Shannon's Classic Car Show returned to Ascot in 2018. Because I had been the principal organizer of the 2017 I was nominated by the Council of Motoring Clubs committee to organize this year's show. For a number of reasons I ended up organizing the show basically single handed. Paul Blank of Automotive Event Management (and SIVA) provided invaluable support with the maps, space planning and marking out. http://www.classicrally.com.au/

In 2017 we struggled to gain any traction with the media. There was only a single article in The West Australian the Saturday before the show. Lack of coverage and the threat of thunderstorms on the Sunday conspired to drive both exhibitors and visitors away.  The show only barely covered its costs.

This year we managed to attract a significant amount of media attention. Kalamunda Community Radio KCR 102.5 FM invited me to speak on their 'Round the Bend' classic motoring show (Saturday mornings at 9.30am) on two occasions. They also ran regular promotional spots for the show and, even more importantly, attended and broadcast their Sunday program from the show itself. https://www.kcr-fm.org.au/

Curtin Radio 100.1 FM also ran regular promotional spots for the show.  In exchange, we included a flyer for the Curtin Radio Classic Car Spectacular in the program flyer. https://curtinfm.com.au/

Have A Go News, a newspaper for senior citizens featured an article on the show as well as the flyer and an online banner. https://www.haveagonews.com.au/


The Southern Gazette, part of the Community News Group, ran a local interest story about Reg Blewett's collection of Model A Fords, attending the show as part of the 90th anniversary celebrations put on by the Model A Ford Club. This was a front page feature which undoubtedly helped us promote the show. https://www.communitynews.com.au/southern-gazette/?select-publication=19



Channel Seven's Today Tonight current affairs show probably picked up the story from Southern Gazette and asked to do a feature. It was a really well put together segment and ran in prime time on Friday 16th March and did no end of good for the show. I have been stopped by people on the street who recognize me from the feature. I now have a catchphrase, "No shed is ever big enough."




You can watch the feature on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TodayTonight/videos/1734511463254969/

On Saturday 17th March The West Australian motoring section ran a story by motoring editor Alex Forrest which covered the show. https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/motoring/time-for-big-0-celebrations-ng-b88769920z


By good fortune the weather on the 18th was glorious - you couldn't have asked for better car show weather. We had a record attendance by 66 motoring clubs, showcasing slightly under 1000 cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles.  Approximately 8500 people filed through the show - another record. This year we were successful in our fund raising, turning a real profit for the first time in almost a decade.  It was a very satisfying outcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/1896150347373925/

My photographs of day are here: https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2018/03/shannons-classic-car-show-2018.html

 

1951 Tatraplan review in Motor Manual

Australian Monthly Motor Manual was a technical magazine from the 1940s through to the 60s. Occasionally, new vehicles were reviewed or premiered, as with this February 1951 edition, which announced the imminent arrival of the Tatraplan on the Australian market. One Tatraplan was displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show that year, but the expected vehicles were delayed and did not arrive until late in 1952. It is believed that 12 Tatraplans were shipped to Australia. By the time they had arrived the Tatraplan had stopped production, which did nothing to encourage sales. As noted in the Motor Manual below, the Tatraplan was quite expensive at 1475 pounds (in Melbourne. It was 25 pounds cheaper in Sydney). At least one of the Tatraplans made it to Perth, but it's certain that it went east in the 1990s as a restoration project. My Tatraplan was one of the original 12 cars and lived most of its life in Melbourne.



For more of Tatra posts check out my dedicated Tatra blog: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/

DKW Meisterklasse restoration update

Following the importation and asbestos saga in March 2017 (see story here:  http://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/personal-vehicle-import-warning-new.html )  I have made only slow progress with the DKW Meisterklasse. I gave the car a quick once over when the car was port-side and realised that it was in worse condition than I had been led to believe. It was a disappointment but that's the luck of the draw when you're importing a car.

We had to pull the head off the engine at the port. That was a hard enough task. The engine itself is seized and will need to rebuilt. I already expected it to need rebuilding but it being seized just makes it a little worse. I've had diesel sitting in the cylinders since April and the engine is still stuck fast.The water channels were blocked with calcium build up. These have been flushed. The gearbox and radiator seem fine. All the pipes and all the electrics were rotten. I've got replacements for all rubber and tubing from  http://autokultur.eshop.t-online.de

There is rust in the boot which was covered by a layer of mastic. I assume the rust has come from an internal leak as the rust goes from the inside out. There are several patch welds over earlier rust holes. The condition of the boot floor is pretty bad and will probably need to be entirely replaced.

I have spent several weekends working up a sweat with a wire brush, scraper and Goof-off to remove the mastic. It's pretty much down to the bare metal now.

The front sills and floor where it meets the firewall are badly rusted. The floor had previously been cut and welded earlier - and then lathered in mastic (my word they loved their mastic!). The drivers side sill is not too bad but will need to be replaced.

The passenger side floor and sills are worse than the drivers side.

You can see here the passenger sill has lost its structural integrity and begun to collapse. I have a quote for the floor rust work and it's very reasonable. After the Tatra is finished (and the bills paid) I'll get this sorted out. Very pleasingly the BODY is extremely sound. There is no rust in any of the doors, panels or wheel arches.

The chrome bumper trim is extremely poor condition. The metal is very poor quality pot metal, not like the stainless steel trims of the later F93. The difference in build quality and quality of the materials between 1953 and 1959 is striking.

The headlight trim had lots of marks and pocks.

But a couple of hours with WD40 and aluminum foil and they look pretty damned good. Yes, the aluminum foil trick does work.

The upholstery is in very good nick. It was one of the selling points of the car. There was minor surface rust under the rear seat and on the rear floor.

After sanding down and treating with a rust converter.



This is how I envisage the car will look when finished.

Classic Motoring Events in Perth in 2018

Sunday, 28th January 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday, 18th February 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday, 18th February 2018 - Northam Vintage Swap Meet and Run


Sunday, 11th March 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday, 18th March 2018 - Classic Car Show


Sunday 15th April 2018 - Curtin Classic Car Spectacular


Sunday 15th April 2018 - York Motorcycle Festival


Sunday, 29th April 2018 – Classic Cars and Coffee
Due to the City to Surf run, CCC was moved to Claremont Showgrounds in the afternoon.

Sunday, 27th May 2018- Classic Cars and Coffee


Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June 2018 - WA Hot Rod Show


Sunday, 17th June 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday, 29th July 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday, 19th August 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee on the road


Sunday, 26th August 2018 - York Motor Show


Sunday, 9th September 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday 7th October 2018 - Rotary Club Car Show

The Rotary Club of Como will be holding our 7th classic car show at Wesley College, South Perth on Sunday 7 October 2018. We hope you will enter your much loved vehicle again this year and join in a fun day. Please note the date in your event diary and pass it on to your Club Secretary. Register on the website to book your space: http://comorotarycarshow.com/

13th October 2018 - French Car Display

https://www.bonjourperth.com.au/portfolio/french-cars/

Sunday, 14th October 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday, 21st October 2018 - Waroona Vintage Machinery Rally

http://www.waroonavintagemachineryrally.com.au/

Sunday, 28th October 2018 - German Car Day


Sunday, 28th October 2018 - Inaugural Billy Cart Festival

Mount Helena, a historic saw milling village in the picturesque Perth hills is hosting the inaugural Hills Billy Cart Festival on Sunday 28th of October. The main feature of this event is a race of Billy Carts down the Main Street supported by a host of vintage themed attractions. This is an event for all the family, for young and old. It will be a day for creating happy memories – bring the whole family along and experience pure nostalgia in this glorious, historic hills timber milling village. https://hillsbillycartfestival.com/

Sunday 11 November 2018 - Remembrance Day Scooter Run

https://www.facebook.com/events/1693222940795607/

Sunday, 11th November 2018 - Italian Car Day


Sunday, 11th November 2018 - Brockwell Memorial Museum Run


Sunday, 18th November 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee


Sunday 18th November 2018 - West Coast Dream Machines


Sunday 18th November 2018 - GM Owners Day

The GM Owners' Day is happening again on Sunday, 18 November 2018 at Steel Blue Oval in Bassendean from 9.30am to 4pm with all proceeds once again benefiting the Association for the Advancement of Brain Injured Children (WA) Inc. Entry forms are available from the website http://www.gmownersday.com.au where you can download a or fill out the online version by selecting “Entry” on the left side. Please note that entries close 2nd November 2018. In addition, you can keep up to date by following our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/GMOwnersDayWA. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you on the day.

Sunday 25th November 2018 - Celebration of the Motorcar

https://celebration.org.au/

Sunday 2 December 2018 - Day of the Volkswagen

https://vwclubwa.com/join-now/51-dovw

Sunday 2 December 2018 - Moto Italiano Expo

An exotic display of Italian Automobiles from Ferrari to Ducati's, Classics to Cutting Edge Modern Super Cars & Super Bikes https://www.facebook.com/events/629870337407223/

Sunday, 30th December 2018 - Classic Cars and Coffee

The last event of the year. Viva la coffee!