20 replies to this topic

[cooper997]

I can't say how long this archive has been online, as I just stumbled upon its existance yesterday.

 

K G Murray began publishing WHEELS in 1953, covering all sorts of motoring and motor sport here in Australia. Then it spent quite a time as part of Kerry Packer's Australian Consolidated Press, However it's now under Bauer Media control.

 

Someone has spent a considerable amount of time scanning many years worth of copy. Not a complete run, but handy for us enthuisasts with incomplete sets. So worth looking through if you've got spare time!

 

https://bauer-archiv...?year=1953

 

Stephen

 

 

[Michael Ferner]

Thanks! Very interesting!

[Ian G]

Yeah,great find,that will keep me going on wet Sundays,i met several of the Wheels Journo's at the Catholic Club(ACP Friday Night drinks) in Castlereagh St. Sydney and later the Journo's Club but as far as i can recall never came across Bill Tuckey in person. 

[GMACKIE]

Perhaps it was Romsey Quints...

[MarkBisset]

Great find Stephen,
Must admit I was more of a Modern Motor and Sports Car World kid in the day for the road car stuff but a wonderful resource, all they need to do now is create an index and I am all set!
Mark

[cooper997]

Mark, Modern Motor, or Motor as it has been known since the Barry Lake editorship days, is also part of Bauer. I had a quick scratch to see if their back catalogue exist too. But failed to find if there was, in the short time I spent.

 

I guess technically Bauer also own the rights to SCW. but it's nearly 30 years since publication.

 

Early issues of WHEELS have Bob Pritchett and Peter Burden motor sport related pieces.

 

Stephen

[Terry Walker]

If only this sort of thing was available back when I was starting work on "Around the Houses". (1970s!!)

[rudi]

Thanks Stephen.

So interesting and well done.

[cooper997]

rudi, you should find a few Maserati snippets in that lot. Without spoiling the fun for you, the May 1953 issue has a bit about Tom Sulman running the 4C in the Gnoo Blas report and April 1955 has a bit on Reg Hunt's new toy.

 

There's also a Kodak advert featuring Bob Jane's restored 300S in the January 1981 issue.

 

Stephen

[rudi]

rudi, you should find a few Maserati snippets in that lot. Without spoiling the fun for you, the May 1953 issue has a bit about Tom Sulman running the 4C in the Gnoo Blas report and April 1955 has a bit on Reg Hunt's new toy.

 

There's also a Kodak advert featuring Bob Jane's restored 300S in the January 1981 issue.

 

Stephen

There is so much...

The Tony Sulman story is the most interesting account that can be found on the 1955 Hyères 12 Hours.

There is a big photo of the Tom Meyer special Aston Martin DB3 at the 1954 Mille Miglia, also interesting images of the 1953 and 1954 Tourist Trophy...

Not forgetting Doug Whiteford and his so successfull Talbot. (I am just beginning 1958...).

[brucemoxon]

Ohmygod! Dirty Wheels!

I never forgave Ewen Page for getting rid of Noel Tuck-er-George Ambrose.

 

 

BRM

[brucemoxon]

And here's the story of Dirty Wheels. And of how it was finished, which is effing disgraceful, in my view.

 

 

https://www.whichcar...-george-ambrose

 

 

 

BRM

Edited by brucemoxon, 27 January 2020 - 08:36.

[cooper997]

There is so much...

The Tony Sulman story is the most interesting account that can be found on the 1955 Hyères 12 Hours.

There is a big photo of the Tom Meyer special Aston Martin DB3 at the 1954 Mille Miglia, also interesting images of the 1953 and 1954 Tourist Trophy...

Not forgetting Doug Whiteford and his so successfull Talbot. (I am just beginning 1958...).

Sounds like one very happy, rudi. Unearthing some 'fresh' old material from the land down under.in the ease of home comforts. 

 

Hopefully a few others will enjoy what's to be had, for their particular interest.

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

I was messing around yesterday trying to sort some mags and as usual got sidetracked as I was reminded of some gems that appeared in 1980s /90s WHEELS issues. Often penned by Graham Howard or Michael Stahl.

 

For those without access to the hardcopy, here's one for the Lotus tragics, May 1988 issue has a 6 page spread starting on page 128 with Colin Bond in the Dawson-Damer Lotus 79 by Graham...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then for the Elfin tragics this is Michael Stahl's great piece on the old Elfin works in Edwardstown, Adelaide. August 1992 issue beginning page 66...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then in the February 1990 issue Graham's piece on the demise of Pat Burke's Modena collection in Sydney that Peter Molloy and Ian Pope had nutured. Mouth watering in what it shows even though some of the cars had already been sold via London auction or into private hands during late 1989. Scroll through to page 108 for 6 pages worth...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

 

Stephen

[MarkBisset]

Thanks Stephen, 

 

not seen any of them, looking forward to the next couple of hours !

 

m

[cooper997]

Mark, when you've recovered from those you can try a retrospective Evan Green. January 1993 - 25 years on from the 1968 London to Sydney part 1 page 96

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

part 2 is in the Feb issue starting page 86

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then Evan's 1993 London to Sydney adventure is in the July issue page 72 part 1

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

part 2 in August page 80

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Stephen

[Lee Nicolle]

I was messing around yesterday trying to sort some mags and as usual got sidetracked as I was reminded of some gems that appeared in 1980s /90s WHEELS issues. Often penned by Graham Howard or Michael Stahl.

 

For those without access to the hardcopy, here's one for the Lotus tragics, May 1988 issue has a 6 page spread starting on page 128 with Colin Bond in the Dawson-Damer Lotus 79 by Graham...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then for the Elfin tragics this is Michael Stahl's great piece on the old Elfin works in Edwardstown, Adelaide. August 1992 issue beginning page 66...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then in the February 1990 issue Graham's piece on the demise of Pat Burke's Modena collection in Sydney that Peter Molloy and Ian Pope had nutured. Mouth watering in what it shows even though some of the cars had already been sold via London auction or into private hands during late 1989. Scroll through to page 108 for 6 pages worth...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

 

Stephen

The Elfin story with Fulvio and Cliff is one literally close to me. I live about 3 streets north and I knew Garrie and Fulvio to talk too. Run across them at Motor Traders next door. They did a couple of small jobs for me for my then HR Holden Sports Sedan. As did some of the other names below,, and I did work for others also

And Garrie was a Austin 7 club member  as well. As was Bruce Went who built the Ausford with Garrie.

In those days Edwardstown was a hive of motorsport, Elfin, John McCormack, Clem Smith & at times son Brenton and son in law John Cook and now grandson. Stan Keen and at times sons David,Bill and John, Jeff Grandsen, Morrells,and a bit later K&A at Marion. Plus Lee Dillon with speedway stuff. Keith and now Mark Poole literally next door, Bob Strawbridge with Southern Cross Off road. Trevor Ellis across the road with the wireworks. All in about a 3km radius. Plus Mark Peacocks Sascar Engineering at Somerton. As was Peter Nightingale.

And Ken Leigh for a while,Then Graham Hawke, myself, Peter Whitbread and a few other low buck racers in tin tops.

Most of the above gone now or not playing very hard or often.

Yet when it was happening noone thought it unusual.

And yes the factory is still there, both that and the Motor Traders building owned by Barry Caddle. Not changed much but I feel the office has disapeared.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 26 May 2020 - 10:10.

[Paul Newby]

I was messing around yesterday trying to sort some mags and as usual got sidetracked as I was reminded of some gems that appeared in 1980s /90s WHEELS issues. Often penned by Graham Howard or Michael Stahl.

 

For those without access to the hardcopy, here's one for the Lotus tragics, May 1988 issue has a 6 page spread starting on page 128 with Colin Bond in the Dawson-Damer Lotus 79 by Graham...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then for the Elfin tragics this is Michael Stahl's great piece on the old Elfin works in Edwardstown, Adelaide. August 1992 issue beginning page 66...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Then in the February 1990 issue Graham's piece on the demise of Pat Burke's Modena collection in Sydney that Peter Molloy and Ian Pope had nutured. Mouth watering in what it shows even though some of the cars had already been sold via London auction or into private hands during late 1989. Scroll through to page 108 for 6 pages worth...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

Stephen

 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't really used the archive, though I should, even though I've been a Wheels subscriber for 30 plus years.

 

I agree that stories by Evan Green, Graham Howard and Michael Stahl are hard to put down, even if in a lot of cases the stories go over 4,000 words, which rarely happens these days. Another great storyteller is Phil Scott.

 

Talking of Evan Green, probably his best story was on Donald Campbell, told over two editions: November 81 starting p94 and December 81 starting p78:

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

I heard some time ago that his son Gavin Green was contemplating writing a biography on his father. I think it would make an interesting read as he achieved a lot in his relatively short life time.

 

Paul

Edited by Paul Newby, 28 May 2020 - 01:27.

[cooper997]

Nice finds Paul.

 

Be good if Gavin's biography of Evan is published.

 

If any others have any finds then share the link (or at least the issue's date) here with fellow enthusiasts.

 

This is one I've previously scanned and added to the TNF Lotus 39 thread (before I knew of this archive)

John Dawson-Damer's Lotus collection by Geoffrey Bewley...

https://bauer-archiv...TUS-LOVER.html?

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

 

Then in the February 1990 issue Graham's piece on the demise of Pat Burke's Modena collection in Sydney that Peter Molloy and Ian Pope had nutured. Mouth watering in what it shows even though some of the cars had already been sold via London auction or into private hands during late 1989. Scroll through to page 108 for 6 pages worth...

https://bauer-archiv...&pub=WHL&dp=WHL

 

 

On Tuesday I showed the Pat Burke feature to good friend of Tony Johns and myself. Reason being is that Phil purchased the white 356 Carrera shown in this splitting up of the Modena collection feature. He quickly mentioned how he'd taken the car to Pebble Beach in 1998 and ultimately sold it to the Bowden's in Qld. But what had really caught Phil's focus was the Bentley shown in the feature.

 

Reason being is that both Phil & Tony were the driving force behind the Bentley Drivers Club of Australia 'Vintage Bentley's in Australia' published in March 2019. This limited edition book has the car in the Wheels magazine feature on page 317. It remains unknown as to where it went after Pat Burke. 

 

So two things, if you know where chassis DN1726 is please let Tony know and if you would like a copy of the less than 30 remaining copies of Vintage Bentley's in Australia then also contact Tony via treasurer@vintagebentley.org 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Tony Johns has brought to my attention the November 1956 issue that has a 6.5 litre Bentley gracing the cover.

 

https://bauer-archiv...01-001-19561101

 

Tony wrote...

"Looking at the Wheels thread we could add the 6.5 litre Bentley on the front cover of November 1956.  The feature story was about Rex Turner who opened the first motor museum in Sydney.

The same car chassis WK2658 is on page 366 in the VBA book was also written up in AMS September 1950. Not sure if there is a thread for Jack Jeffries but he owned it for some time."

 

 

The same issue has features on

Argentine racing drivers

Early Bugatti

Phil Irving's Repco Hi-power Holden cylinder head

 

Stephen