Those of you who read the Burble would have noticed details on the next two runs. For those who might have missed it, run details are as follows:

Sunday 6 October – Picnic Run to Collingrove

Join us at the start or meet up along the way. Racing starts from 1000.

Starting Point: Verdun pub (Stanley Bridge Tavern), 0850 for a 0900 departure via:

• thru Balhannah (passing the oval at approx. 0905)
• thru Woodside (main street approx. 0915)
• Continuing on to Birdwood, stopping opposite the petrol station at 0925-0930
• Wait/regroup 5-10 minutes
• Depart for Birdwood for Collingrove 0935, arrive at 1000

Entry fee is $15. Pay online (>ClickHere<) before you go or at the gate.

There promises to be some amazing cars going up the hill this year so don’t be late! Canteen will be open but by all means pack a picnic or at least a thermos of coffee or tea is it might be a bit nippy out there!

Saturday 12 October Gary’s Inaugural Fish and Chip Run

Fullarton Centre (Sprite Club Rooms) in the Fullarton Road carpark, 1530 for a 1600 departure.

Please have a look at the menu (pictured) or view online (>click here<) and give your order to Gary, who will phone the orders through.

To help him out, he’d appreciate it if you could email your order through to him beforehand at gary@doddpc.com just to make things easier.

Pay when you pick the food up at the Seaview Fish and Chippy before heading to the Kingston House area to eat and get a photo of all of the cars … and eat the F&C of course!

Gary says that seating is a bit limited at the park so if you can, pack some chairs.

For people who might not make the start (like the President….), key route points are:

• Fullarton Park, up Belair Road to Blackwood and then along Main Road before heading down the hill along Black Road.
• Right into South Road and the into Seacombe Road to stop at Seaview Fish and Chips.
• From there its along Brighton Road to arrive at Kingston Park.

Hope to see you there or along the way!

Any questions about either run, please contact Gary or myself!

Please find the (new look) October edition of the Bugeye Burble below.

Some great runs coming up over the next few weeks so get the cars out and see you out on the road!

Let me know if you love or hate the new look newsletter!

A total of 52 Sprite Club Members attended the 52nd Annual Dinner, celebrating 52 years since the foundation of the Sprite Club of South Australia. This year we headed to Café Paparazzi for a beautiful three course meal that was subsided by the Sprite Club.

Members were greeted to tables decorated with Sprite Workshop Manual image placemats and advertisements. Soon a pre-dinner drink was ordered and the staff came to take our food order – steak, chicken or fish were the choice + entre and dessert.

While the members were eating they also were completing the Spritely Alphabet Quiz that asked Spridget questions and asked for information from the placemats that were arranged on the table.

After the main course it was time for the serious part of the night -the Award Winners for 2024. These perpetual trophies are for the various winners of the different categories. These included the following and the recipients for each trophy:

Club Person of the Year – Gary Dodd

Sprite of the Year – Peter Dineen – MG Spridget

Associate Car of the Year – David and Carole Tye – Lotus Elan

Tony Bennetto “Spirit of Sprites” Award – Pat Miller

President Award – Angela Wicks

Congratulations to all of these winners!

Not all were present, so President Robin phone dialled Gary Dodd to inform him of his award.

After a raffle with almost “every player wins a prize” and the results of the Spritely Alphabet Quiz were revealed – with two teams tied on 24 out of 26 points – surprising how many know that Donald Healey’s wife’s name is not Mrs Healey!

Thanks to Grant and Angela for finding the location with great food – no one went home hungry!

There was even an Italian Theme in the Car Park!

Thanks to those members who did bits and pieces to make the Annual Dinner a great success.

PS – Donald Healey’s Wife Name is Ivy Healey

Reinhard Walker has been “surfing the ‘net” and discovered links in a Facebook page the following 3D Model of a Bugeye Sprite. This image is a great view of the correct bits that make up the Bugeye monocoque body. It also shows the rust holes that can affect the Sprites, particularly where the floor covering gets wet and creates issues with the floor.

Emma Jacobs (moderator of the MG Midget Owners Facebook group) provided a link to a 3-D model of a Bugeye bodyshell on the sketchfab.com website, as detailed below.

Hawthorne High-School of Manufacturing & Engineering

(Can be downloaded free from SketchFab website.)

To access the 3D model, you can either

1. Link to Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mgmidgetowners/permalink/10163874294413625

OR 2) Link to sketchfab website:

OR 3) Search for “59 Austin Healey Sprite (3-D model)” in Google

Click and drag to navigate 3-D views. If you happen to have a VR headset you can view in stereo VR.

Note: When viewing the 3-D model, click on “Fullscreen” for maximum impact.

When viewed in full screen mode on a 4K monitor the resolution is fantastic – I can see that the bodyshell has had lots of repairs.

Cheers,
Reinhard
PS: I would love to see Chat GPT generate a 3-D image from the original drawings!

It is with sadness that I wish to inform the Sprite Club Members of the passing of Victorian Sprite Member Tony Young. Tony was aged 80 Years.

While Tony (and wife Nancy) were long term members of the Austin Healey Sprite Drivers Club (Victoria) they had a strong association and friendship with the Sprite Club of South Australia and its members.

Tony, Nancy and family were always present at the Annual Bordertown Motorkhana between the Victorian and South Australian Sprite Clubs, with Tony’s keen and clever driving of his Mk II Sprite often putting him towards the top of the competition, winning many trophies at this event over the years.

Tony and Nancy attended a number of Sprite Club of South Australia anniversaries and special events over the years including the various milestone years, as well as the Five Ferries Run in 2014.

They also formed many friendship’s with SA Members during the National Sprite Meetings and the Pre and Post-Touring Events.

Tony also served on the AHSDC Committee in various roles including President in 1980, 1999 and 2000. He was also awarded Sprite Champion in 1998 and Life Membership in 1988.

The members of the Sprite Club of South Australia would like to pass on our condolences to Nancy, and the children Bryce, Ranald, Warrick and Penelope during this time.

Images courtesy of the Sprite Club of SA and the AHSDC websites.

Thanks to the work of David and Carole Tye, the Sprite Club of South Australia was invited to display some vehicles at the September Meeting of the Classic and Modern Section of the Sporting Car Club of South Australia.

With three vehicles chosen to be on stage, last minute changes, car problems and work commitments saw the Bugeye of Gordon Boyce and the Spridget of Peter Dineen grace the stage the SCCSA Clubrooms.

The Sporting Car Club has been busy with some background research and displayed a couple of videos showing the 75th Goodwood Revival Race that featured many Sprites and Midgets, and a great clip from Shannon’s showing the history and features of the Sprite and Midgets.

After the meeting formalities President Robin Dunk was invited to the stage to talk about the Sprite Club. Robin outlined the Club’s activities and the membership cohort, and put in a plug for the upcoming Display Day and 2026 Sprite Nationals.

Peter Dineen was next to join the stage, where he talked about the ownership of his Spridget, its previous history and the fun he has had during his ownership. He also related the story of his recent trip to the 2024 Sprite Nationals and the mechanical issues he had to endure during this road trip. He also described the fridge that he fits to the passenger space for these extended interstate travels.

Then it was an opportunity for Gordon Boyce to talk about his 1958 Bugeye. Gordon outlined the history of his 42 years of ownership, the restoration, its competition history and the events that the vehicle has attended, including 1998 Bathurst, National Meetings and other events.

There were a number of previous and current Sprite and Midget Owners in the audience, so at question time there were a number of questions about the cars, the joys of ownership and the specifics of each vehicle.

Once the meeting concluded the members were free to view the cars in detail and speak with the owners about their vehicles.

Our thanks to the Tye’s and the Sporting Car Club for the invitation to join them for their meeting, and thanks to Robin, Peter and Gordon for taking the time to bring their vehicles and talk about Spridgets.

PS: The Sprite Club has been invited back for the 4th October Meeting where a new Maserati and Alfa Romeo will be on display for viewing.

Read it right here!

21 August – Midweek Run.

24 August – Pea and Pie Night

2 September – Spring General Meeting

6 September – A Night at the Sporting Car Club

21 September – SCSA Annual Dinner

And many more events still to come on the 2024 Calendar! Full calendar can be found at the bottom of this post.

Event details:

21 August Midweek Run.

We will be attempting to re-run the June Midweek run and the weather this time looks much better. David and Carole will be the run leaders.

Originally planned as the Winter Solstice Run, the run will start at Ridge Park Carpark, Barr Smith Ave, Myrtle Bank, leaving at 1015. The route will take you through the hills to the Big Rocking Horse for a late-ish morning tea and re-group, before heading on to Emma & Ivy for lunch in Lobethal, arriving around 1230.

Total run will be approx 95km. The route map can be found here by following this link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N9Wr1ELi4Qkzh7ZK7. I will endeavour to create a trip run sheet!

RSVPs would be appreciated so I can book the cafe for lunch.

Pea and Pie Night.

We currently have around 30 people coming along. This is always a great night so if you are interested, please let Don Cardonne know or contact me and I’ll make sure he has enough pies on order!

A night with the Sporting Car Club

Thanks to Carole and David, the Sprite Club have been invited to join the Sporting Car Club’s Classic and Modern Register for their monthly meeting and then a feature of our club! Three of our cars will be on stage with their owners talking about their car journeys. The night starts at 7.30pm (6.30 for the members putting their cars on stage), the bar will be open and tea&coffee will be available.

Come along for what is always a fabulous night!

21 September – Sprite Club Annual Dinner.

If you have not yet registered and paid for the annual dinner, please do so! If you need any more information please contact Grant, Angela or myself.

Where – Cafe Paparazzi, 291 Unley Road, Malvern

When – 21 September, 6.30pm for 7.00pm

Cost – $55 per head

Dietary Needs. We want to ensure that everyone in the club can come along and enjoy the night. The staff have ensured us that they can cater for all dietary needs so please let Grant and Angela (or me) know as soon as possible!

RSVP. Members to RSVP to Grant & Angela or myself by 14 September. For the computer savvy, I’ve created a shared document here to register your attendance and any dietary requirements. >Click Here to Register< or contact us directly!

Payment. Payment is required NLT 14 September 

More details can be found by clicking >here<.

Its late but it’s here! The July-August Bugeye Burble.

Please don’t critique the grammar or spelling. I know there are issues but its been done in a rush!

The position of Magazine editor continues to be open if you’d like to help out!!

A note to members that the minutes for the June and July 2024 General Meetings are now available for viewing in the Club/Members Information section of the website.

Save the date!!

Where – Cafe Paparazzi, 291 Unley Road, Malvern

When – 21 September, 6.30pm for 7.00pm

Cost – $55 per head

All members are encouraged to come along, new and not-so-new! There will be raffles ($5 per 3-tickets), a car themed Trivia Quiz and the Club perpetual awards. Its a great night to renew old friendships and make new ones and we hope to see you all there.

Dietary Needs. We want to ensure that everyone in the club can come along and enjoy the night. The staff have ensured us that they can cater for all dietary needs so please let Grant and Angela (or me) know as soon as possible!

RSVP. Members to RSVP to Grant & Angela or myself by 14 September. For the computer savvy, I’ve created a shared document here to register your attendance and any dietary requirements. >Click Here to Register<

Payment. Payment is required NLT 14 September to allow the Treasurer time to pay the restaurant! You can pay by cash at the August and September club meetings or via Direct Debit into the club accounts (please annotate with your name and ‘Annual Dinner’ to help out Kerry!).

Please note. I’m sure that you will all have noticed that a nice night out has gone up between 30 and 50% at our favourite pubs and restaurants. The annual dinner is no different unfortunately and the costs have gone up markedly even compared to this time last year. The Club has had a good year in membership wise so we are once again able to subsidize the dinner for members. We think that $55 per head for a three course meal is pretty good value! We have; however, had to make a small concession to keep costs down so we’ve decided to do away with the complimentary glass of wine or beer on arrival. We hope that you will see this as only a small inconvenience and not an unreasonable compromise. The bar will be open tho!

I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything! And I apologise to the member who says my articles are too long – I think this one is about right!

Attention all members of the Sprite Club of SA

One of our members recently had a virus or trojan infect their computer unfortunately. They have had their computer professionally cleaned and reset; however, the hackers responsible have managed to get hold of enough information to recreate more seemingly genuine emails from people it may appear that you know.

Here are the warning signs:

Title – Favour to ask

Content will include this (or something very similar):

Good Morning. Sorry to bother you. Are you available on email for a few minutes? Can’t call due to a serious throat pain caused by laryngitis (or similar ailment)

Don’t respond to the email. It is not who you think it is. Its a scam. The hacker has cloned the email address and used computer trickery to overlay that address on their own. If you do receive this, text or call the person who the message appears to be from and let them know. Or text the email to me and I’ll check the member list to see if its one of our members.

DONT forward or respond to the email.

I’ve had the club website checked and will have it checked again if the emails continue and I’ve personally re-run a virus scan on my computer to make sure it wasn’t me.

Looking to do something different in late August?

The Morris Car Club of SA, in conjunction with the Morris Register of SA have extended and open invitation to all car owners of Morris and Morris related vehicles to join their display on the Corner Blight St & Torrens Rd Ridleyton, 25 August 2024 (the day after our Pea and Pie Night!).

What’s a Morris related car you might ask? Its anything produced by what was once known as the Nuffield Corporation. In other words, Morris, Wolseley, Riley, MG, Morris Commercial, SU, Nuffield Universal (at tractor no less). The Nuffield group even designed and produced tanks and armoured cars for the British Army and licence built V12 engines, but I don’t expect to see any of these on display!

Even if you don’t own a ‘Nuffield’ car, this is always a great display with lots to look at and owners to talk to!

An interesting conundrum to consider is that all Sprites and Midgets were produced at MG’s Abingdon factory, including the CKD kits shipped to Australia for assembly. Does that make a Sprite a Nuffield car by association? I’ll leave that for you to ponder……

A pie floater. Its as South Australian as Fruchocs, Coopers and Penfold’s Grange.

When I moved from the country to Adelaide to go to uni my father told me “remember, you’re always guaranteed to get a hot meal late at night at the Pie Cart at the GPO”. That hot meal was, of course, a pie floater.

The original pie cart may now, sadly, be no more, but the tradition of the Pie Floater, in many forms and variations, lives on in pubs and pie carts throughout South Australia and, indeed Australia. Some can even be found in pubs in the UK, although, like the Kiwis and their claims on Pavlova and Phar Lap, the Brits probably claim it to be their invention!

It is, in many ways, a birth right of all South Australians to enjoy a hot pie floating on a bed of hot pea soup on a cold winters night, quite appropriate with the weather we are currently having!

I can also see look of fear and confusion on some at the idea of a Pie Floater but don’t knock it until you try it! And thanks to the efforts of Don and Elaine and now Angela and Grant, we can all sample this gastronomic delight. For some it may be your first time but for many it will be like saying hello to a long lost friend.

Where – Sprite Club clubrooms at Fullarton Park

When – 24 August, from 6.30 onwards

Cost – $10 per member

BYO Drinks and a plate of nibbles or dessert

There will be a raffle during the night ($5 for three tickets) and I’ll attempt to sort out the sound on the TV so we can have some interesting viewing running in the background!

RSVP to Don and Elaine Cardone (0411 876 067) so they can gauge the numbers for ordering please. Please also advise if you intend to bring a savoury or sweet plate so we don’t end up with too much one thing!

Visitors are most welcome, just please let me (Robin) or Don and Elaine know prior so we can cater for the right numbers!

Are you Pie Floater curious and want to know more? If you click here, this article from Aunty (ABC) might just whet your taste buds! See you on the night!

Something a bit different from the normal car related posts but something close to my family’s heart, the Cobdogla Steam Friends Society and the Cobdogla Steam and Irrigation Museum!

Those who I’ve talked over the years to know the museum has had a couple of challenging years, not least with the rising Murray River inundating the grounds and closing the museum, now for some two years. Despite their challenges, the band of men and women who are behind the Society (average age around 75!) have continued to restore and maintain their magnificent steam powered machines, not least a 27 tonne traction engine, a genuine Steam Roller (what kid didn’t love a steam roller) and a 0-4-0 Bagnall Saddle Engine!

And now they have a new challenge, a 0-6-2 tank engine called ‘Chiverton’, built by Perry Engineering here in South Australia in 1938. Built to serve the cane fields in Far North Queensland, the loco had a relatively short working life of about 19 years, being retired in 1958 (other Perry engines worked the fields until the mid 1970s!) and served the next 17 years as the feature in a kids playground.

Since the 1970s the engine has been in the care of a NSW based enthusiast however, needs must, and the loco was put up for sale, first in 2020 and, after that fell through, most recently, this year. Advertised for $25,000, the Society has quickly raised $15,000 and have secured the locomotive but they are seeking support, financial and otherwise, to bring the loco back to SA and commence the restoration. For example, they need to raise another $15,000 to finalise the purchase and transport the loco back from Junee to Loveday, on a low loader on Conditional (historic) registration no less!

The Society knows what its doing on a technical basis. With the right support and backing, the 100s of years of engineering expertise within the Society will come to the fore and the loco will come back to life … the key though is attracting the backing to pay the bills. Maybe you might be able to help.

The museum’s President and long time friend, Damien Osborne, has created a GoFundMe page as ’round 1′ of the fund raising. $5 would be appreciated, $100 would be loved or if a business might be interested in becoming a higher profile supporter, either for the restoration of the loco or the greater museum, they’d love to talk to you!

Do you secretly like steam engines? Can you help?

I’m a member of the museum, now a (small) shareholder of the loco and now its first GoFundMe supporter. Hopefully I’m not the only one! I grew up playing on their (now operational) steam engine and the traction engines when they too were kids play things.

Bring Chiverton Home to South Australia GoFundMe Link

Top left image is the loco as it current is and bottom right as a beloved childrens play thing. The other images are sister Perry Engineering locomotives working the cane fields in the early 1950s and a restored sister operating in the Illawarra.

Sorry to all for being off-line with updates for a while. Work and family commitments, which I’m sure you can all appreciate, not to mention a round of the dreaded seasonal lurgy for good measure.

Upcoming Events:

July Midweek Run. Unfortunately I’m going to have to postpone the midweek run (again, I know!!) due to (a) more potentially inclement weather and (b) I can’t find someone to be the ‘run leader’ – I’ve had to reschedule a few things and I can’t take the day off from work sorry! The run WILL happen, not not as per the calendar. Stay tuned for updates as when we can put the midweek run on.

Pie and Peas Night (Sat 24 August). Names and numbers are requested as soon as possible please for catering. Names to me (admin@spriteclub.com.au) or Don (0411 876 067). An information post will come out soon(ish) but to let you know, its BYO drinks on the night and we’d like to know if you can bring a savoury or a sweet dish to add to the evening.

To help with the cost of catering (for the pea soup and the pies, and the hall hire), a small surcharge of $10 per head is requested, payable on the night.

There will be a raffle on the night also ($5 for three tickets).

The evening will be held at the Fullarton Centre club-rooms and is always a great night to chat and have hearty hot soup. All members are welcome and new members are encouraged to come along!

An Evening At Richmonds (14 October). Thanks to Gary Dodd and Andy Morgan (from Richmonds), the October General Meeting will be held at Richmonds Classic Cars. Starting at 1930, it will be an evening to look forward to! More details to follow!

Bay to Birdwood (20th October). Entries are now over 2/3rds sold out so if you want to participate in one of the great runs in the automotive world, get in quick!

And wait, there’s more. No, not self sharpening steak knives or DemTel record selectors, but as the weather fines up there will be a slew of club organised events from a planned car-park picnic run to Collingrove, Fish and Chip runs, Display Day (with the Austin Healey Owners Club) and of course the club Annual Dinner.

Watch out on the website and the Facebook page for more news and updates on coming events!

Just a quick reminder to all members that the next Monthly Meeting (1 July 2024 … ie, tomorrow night!) is our mid winter Wine and Cheese Night.

A more informal meeting style than normal, bring a plate or a bottle of wine (or something non-alcoholic such as sparkling water), listen to the happenings of the club whilst enjoying a tipple with a nibble and a natter!

If you are stuck for what to bring, I’ve suggested ‘odd lettered surnames’ (ie, A, C, E ….. Y) bring a savoury something and ‘even lettered surnames’ (B, D, F …. Z) bring something sweet, or just bring a contribution to the cheese and cracker theme!

We will be running a raffle on the night so bring $5 for 3 tickets!

Doors will be open from 1930 (7.30pm) with the meeting running as usual from 2000 (8pm). Coffee and tea will be available as usual!

Hope to see you there.

All

Due to the predicted inclement weather and only a very few brave and hearty souls willing to commit to the run, this Months Midweek run has been postponed until next Month. Next midweek run will be on the Wednesday 17 of July.

All the same run details, just one month later.

Apologies to those who indicated they’d like to attend. Hopefully you can come along in July.

Any questions, please contact the run organiser (me).

As I type this the weather looks miserable for next Wednesday’s Midweek Run, sort of fitting really for a Winter Solstice run through the hills. There’s not mystery about the run; I’m no Russell and I can’t keep a straight face so the run sheet is attached.

Given the weather, Spridgets are not required, but if you are keen to drive yours, don’t let the weather stop you. I won’t be as mine hasn’t recovered from the last Midweek Run yet!

Like all Sprite Club runs, if you are not a member of the club, that’s ok. You are most welcome to join in and have lunch with us. Please let me know that’s all so I’ve got the right head count for the cars!

Departure Point: Ridge Park Carpark, Barr Smith Ave, Myrtle Bank

Departure Time: 1030

Stop 1 – The Big Rocking Horse

Route will be via Eagle on the Hill, Mount Lofty Summit Road, Ridge Road, Marble Hill Road, Corkscrew Road and Gorge Road, then on to Gumeracha for a stop and regroup.

ETA Gumeracha – 1130. Total distance – 52km

If you get separated on the run up we will wait until we all get there!

Estimated time of departure – 1200 or once we have all arrived!

Stop 2 – Emma and Ivy, Main Street, Lobethal

Route will be out via Birdwood to Mount Pleasant, then towards Tungkillo, then Mount Torrens and into Lobethal

ETA Lobethal – 1245. Distance – 44km

Lunch is proposed for Emma and Ivy’s. They have a great menu, great coffee and warm hot chocolates to boot!

I’d really appreciate an RSVP on numbers so I can book.

If you can’t make the run but would like to meet for lunch, that’s ok too! Just let us know for numbers.

For the technically minded, the run map can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N9Wr1ELi4Qkzh7ZK7

This means you can open it up in Google Maps and just follow the computer voice if you don’t trust the car in front!!

I’ve picked this run as I hope some of our members who live along the way can pop out and say hello and perhaps join as at one of the Stops for a natter or for lunch!

A few quick updates:

Winter Warmer Merch. I’m putting in an order later this week for long sleeve t-shirts and hoodies. If you are interested please get your detail (and payment) in so I can order. This may be the only order for new winter warmth so get in quick. Orders close Wednesday evening. Refer to the post in Spritely News (link below). The link to the order form and pricing is contained in the linked post.

June Mid-Week Run. The keen eyed amongst you might have noticed a Mid Week run scheduled for the 19th. I have not had a chance to organise something yet which might be a great opportunity for someone who hadn’t created a run before to have a go!??! No pressure and no expectation, but if you are interested in having a crack at it, please let me know! Doesn’t have to be an all singing, all dancing, just a meeting point, a destination and the route seems to take care of itself!

July General Meeting. The July monthly meeting will be a mid-year Cheese and Wine night. I’d like to make this a ‘bring a plate of something’ to share by members when they come. The eternal question is ‘shall I bring a sweet or a savoury’ – so …. if you surname is a an ‘odd letter’ (A, C, E etc), then bring a savoury. If you have an ‘even letter’ (B,D, F etc), bring a sweet. OR, just bring something. Maybe donate a bottle of red or white wine to the night if you’d prefer. Doesn’t have to be a lot, just a small plate with all the small plates going together to make a large plate! Hopefully we will have some butter tasting to go along with it.

There will be a raffle on the night so please bring along a $5 donation to go towards the costs for the night.

Cheers!

For your reading pleasure!

You may have heard a recent rumour that the Grill Badges where here and … YOU’D BE RIGHT!

The Grill Badges have landed! Yes, like Neil Armstrong finessing Apollo 11 with its last gasp of fuel, Daryl’s persistence and patience with the supplier has paid off and the new grill badges have arrived! They will be available for collection or purchase at the next Meeting or event. Seems like a really good reason to come along to the next meeting if you ask me!

If you’d like to check if you ordered or if you want to reserve on, please click and follow the following link

Club Merchandise Orders.xlsx

Now, Winter is but a few days away and so are cold necks, chilly ears and general coldness as you venture out, top up or down! Don’t forget, the club has a range of scarves, beanies (which can be ordered with pompoms!) and a new ‘hoodie’ style winter coat.

The club has some stock of beanies (without pompoms!) and scarves and we will be taking orders for the hoodie. The only difference to the jacket as pictured is it will have the traditional logo on the front and the new ‘fun’ logo on the back (or no logo on the back if you’d prefer).

We will also do a run of long-sleeved T-Shirts.

Oh, and as its likely to rain sometime soon, we will also be doing golf style umbrellas!

As for colour – you can have it in any colour at all, so long as it’s black … or navy blue or red (we haven’t checked the logo against the other colours though!).

Sizing guides below. As a ‘wet thumb in the air’, I wear an XL Hoodie Jacket and Long Sleeve.

If you’d like to order a Jacket, Long sleeve T or Umbrella , please follow the link to order. Payment is required before prior for this run.

Club Merchandise Orders.xlsx

Of course, if you’d like a traditional embroidered logo onto a shirt or jacket, Corporate Image has a wide range of good quality clothing you can select from. You can call them or look up their clothing range online. A Sprite Club embroidered badge will cost you an additional $7 to $10 dollars depending on what you’d like done! Their online catalogue can be found here: https://corporateimageonline.com.au/

Daryl has been working pretty hard to develop new merchandise lines for members to buy and support the club. Stay tuned for more details on the Spring/Summer lines including the all important Stubbie Holder!

Route details – nothing challenging, just a nice run down from Adelaide to Sellicks Beach.

• Depart Fullarton Centre 1015
• Follow freeway up to Stirling (arrive approx 1030)
• Right at the Roundabout onto Avenue Road. Feel free to wait near Steamroller Park.
• Right onto Sturt Valley Road through Upper Sturt, Iron Bark, Cherry Gardens and onto Clarendon, arriving at the Bakery at approximately 1050 for a coffee stop.
• Depart at 1115 via Range Road and The Range
• Left onto Victor Harbor Road, then right onto Pages Flat Road, heading for Pages Flat and thence Myponga.
• From Myponga its right onto Main South Road, past the Victory Hotel and right into Rogers Rd and right into Plains Rd for Elephants Door, arriving approx 1200

If its raining or your car is off the road, just come along in your everyday car!

A detailed route map can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/D8SBcmAUuMAzr1629

Regarding the meal at the Victory:

• Its a set two course menu. I need to advise the Hotel by NLT Wednesday afternoon if its going to be entrée + main or main + dessert. Left up to me it will be main + dessert but please let me know your preference and the popular vote wins!
• The menu can be found below or follow the following link: (https://victoryhotel.com.au/group-bookings/)
• The pub wont split the bill. I’ll pay and everyone will need to pay me by EFT or PayID, or you can bring cash!
• There are several spots left if you’d like to come along, just let me know please (0431247746).

Wanted to borrow – a front hub puller for wire wheels!

Does anyone in the club have one that I can borrow?

For reference, its this one (pretty sure its the 8tpi one I’m after!!).

If I can’t chase one down I’m going to look into getting one made so if anyone would like one made, also, please let me know

A quick reminder for people wishing to attend to let me know as soon as possible so I can confirm with the venue.

Email me or put you name into the list via this link: 26 May 24 – Victory Hotel Lunch Run.xlsx

Lunch cost is $60 per head for a two course meal.

I’ve got a cap at 30 and we have 19 signed up so far so don’t miss out!

Final route details will be posted later this week, including timing for anyone who wishes to join the run at the Clarendon Bakery.

Plan on about a 70km run to Sellicks. Not long, but long enough to blow out the cobwebs and everyday cars are more than fine (as I don’t think the Little Blue Car will be back on its wheels, unless some has a front hub puller for wire wheels hiding in their shed!)

First it was the Celica or the Corolla conversion, pioneered, I’m told, here in Australia and ultimately formed the basis of another well known conversion kit from Frontline, using a Ford T9 gearbox (from a Sierra I believe). Over in the Land of the Free, a mob called ‘Rivergate’ did the same thing with a 5 speed box from a Datto (not sure which one, probably the 120y or similar).

The issue with all of the conversions has be availability of the gearboxes; the ubiquitous Toyota T50 has found itself behind everything from a Sprite or Midget through to a Clubbie or a Cortina or even small block V8. And as the donor cars are no longer made, the supply has dwindled toa trickle or members who are hording two or three spares ‘just in case’ … you know who you are … !

In the UK Barrett Engineering (https://barrattengineering.co.uk/) has developed a new conversion kit for our cars using the 5 cog from none other than a Suzuki Sierra/Jimny. The Jimny has been around since about 1970 in one form or other and has been called various things in various countries, including the Sierra here in the 1990s/early 2000s and the Jimny so, in theory at least, there is a relatively good supply of the gearbox from wreckers or brand new. The box has several advantages too, in particular that it doesn’t need to have the 2nd cross member removed as in the case of the T50 and the T-9 conversion.

We already have club member, Geoff Glasson, who has ordered a conversion kit for his Mk1 (and I’m hoping that he might be able bring it in to a meeting soon for a ‘show and tell’ session); Peter (the Plumber) and Chris (the Car Dealer) are both interested in the kit and have recently contacted Barrett to enquire as to a ‘bulk deal’ and if they can fill a pallet (5 or 6 kits) there is a decent discount to be had. Peter has already sourced several gearboxes and is well on the way to having 5 or 6 boxes available so their plan is a bring in the kit without a gearbox.

From Peter and Chris:

The kit comes with engine backplate, billet flywheel, starter motor, tail shaft, gearshift to suit sprite/midget hole location. Price is GBP2400 on their website, we have arranged a price of GPB2000 pounds plus approximately 450 freight to Adelaide Port (not including duties). 5 kits will fit on a pallet (with a gearbox) or 6 kits without, therefore the freight price can be shared. Chris regularly drives to Melbourne for work so can delivery to there and delivery of kits to other locations can be arranged.

Even including freight from Adelaide to anywhere in Australia, this is going to be cheaper that an individual importing it themselves, particularly as the guys have chased up gearboxes.

The kit will fit any rear wheel drive A Series car – Morry Minor, Marina, Sprite, Midget, A30/35, A40 Farina.

If you are interested please, have a look at the website and then let Peter (0418 823 545) or Chris (0411 867 118) know as they keen to make this happen.

NB: Peter and Chris need to know which engine you are fitting this to as the kit comes specific to an engine type. IE, they need to know if you are putting it behind a 948, 1098 or a 1275.

NBB: A question has been asked about ratios. Please see the comparison table of the popular conversions below:

Wednesday, 15 May – Midweek Meander

If you are coming along to tomorrows Midweek Run please be sure to let Russell and Judy know TODAY (or me if you can’t contact them) so they can book the lunch venue.

Details:

• Starting Point – Hazelwood Park, 0930 for a 1000 departure
• Total trip distance is 150-160km – 110 out, 50 back.

Sunday 26 May – Elephants Door and Victory Hotel

Reminder to let me know who is coming along. I’ve created a spreadsheet (click here) to you can update your details.

Final run route details are being developed – we will be meeting at the Fullarton Centre (ie, the Sprite Club clubrooms) at 0945 for a 1000 departure. There will be a morning tea stop (where you can also join us), arriving at Dean King’s Elephant Door at 1200. Lunch at the Victory has been amended to 1330. I need to understand how many are coming! The booking is currently for 20; however, they can cater for more (up to 30 in the cellar or more upstairs) so please let me know ASAP!

Two great club runs coming up this month!

All members and friends of the Sprite Club of SA are welcome to join in be it in their Sprite or Midget, Clubbie or other Associate Vehicle or, if the weather is miserable, in you every day car!

Wednesday 15 May – Midweek Run #1

Starting Point – Hazelwood Park, 0930 for a 1000 departure

Please let Russell and Judy, or myself, know so Russell and Judy can make the appropriate booking at the lunch venue. RSVP by 13 May please

Total trip distance is 150-160km, with the outward journey being approximately 110km via the most circuitous route possible! And … no dirt or gravel roads.

Sunday 26 May – Winery and Lunch

Depart – TBA. Run route details yet to be decided; however, a 1000 departure is planned

Destination(s):

Elephants Door Cellar Door – 1200

Victory Hotel Cellar Lunch – 1330

RSVP for the lunch is critical! A booking for 20 has been tentatively made with the venue able to seat up to 32 in the cellar if we let them know. Preferred meal format will be a $60 two-course menu (entrée & main or main & dessert) and dietary requirements can be met.

RSVP no later than 22 May please (to me – Robin)

Over in Whyalla, our Club’s resident intrepid Spridget adventurer Adrian Faulks is currently installing a Frontline T9 5-speed gearbox kit and is running into issues that have left him, and Frontline, bemused and confused.

Has anyone in the club attempted this on their car? I know a lot of us have Dellow Toyota T50 conversion and some of us have the US sourced ‘Rivergate’ conversion using a Datsun/Nissan box and we even have on member about to commence using the newest conversion kit from Barrett (which uses a Suzuki box) however, I’m not sure who in the club, if anyone, is running the current Frontline kit. If you are, Adrian would love to hear from you.

Situation: The gear box is sitting further back in the tunnel that Frontline say it should; however, they also say that Adrian’s work seems to be spot on in terms of installation. They (and Adrian) are bemused as to why the gearshift is not sitting neatly in the extant opening (see below).

The only solution seems to be to cut away the rear of the gear shift opening; before he takes to the car with a grinder (or an axe) Adrian is keen to hear if others have had this issue please! If you have experienced this, please drop me a line and I’ll pass your information or details to Adrian to ponder!

For those of you who followed his most recent adventures and the failed clutch on the way back from Nationals, it wasn’t the brand new clutch at all … it was the equally brand new carbon thrust block that failed. Needless to say I’ve suggested that he talks to SpriteParts about a roller bearing release block instead!

This Sunday sees the annual running of the Peter Hall 6Hr at Mallala. The Sprite Club, with a significant amount of help from the Clubbies brigade, have a long history of participation, including helping the Victorians to a podium place….

It take many hands to make the teams work and Sean Power needs your help! Please see below:

Great news – the 10 day forecast says Sunday will be 10 to 21 degrees on the day and unlikely to have rain.Fabulous news at the moment. Still can be cold at Mallalla.

We have a home base of Sheds 100/101 where we have always located, next to the canteen. Parking just outside. The shed has power for tools, charging and kettles. You can place stuff there for the day.

As usual, I do not know exactly how many volunteers are turning up on the day. I do know that the young ones who ruled the pit wall (2-3 persons) cannot make it this year. They were invaluable and adaptable.

This year we have 2 teams. I will manage the ‘We’re in it for the Beer’ and Pat Miller is going to manage the other team ‘Red Heifer’.

Drivers, this year you do not have to go out in the warmup  to set a time if you don’t want to. Just give me your time …. AND THEN STICK TO IT – winning is not about posting your PB or the fastest time, its about which team can stick to their laptimes for the whole race! Don’t give me a time that you are going to struggle to meet. Give me a time that you can peel off lap after lap after lap …. AND THEN STICK TO IT!!!!!

Each team need to just operate safely and not mess up the day by being disqualified by not having a car on track … this means we need the following resources to make it all work:

• 1 person in formup to keep watching for change overs and to transfer the sleeve band from incoming driver to driver in formup
• 2-3 persons on pit wall to provide times and signals to their driver to come in, slow down, go faster, stay out, etc.
• 1/2 persons located on the hill to time and send messages to pit wall re time of their car or any emergency. They also contact others in team if they see their car crashed or disabled or other general black flag situation.
• A volunteer or volunteers to assist MSCA run the event. We are short all sorts of officials and someone from each team has been rostered on to give an hour to MSCA to take up a position – e.g. at pit start area. 
• Team Manager has to get times from Team members and rush them to the tower by 10.00am, plus try and keep an eye on things as they unfold.
• Handy to have someone at the garages to keep an eye on drivers and let them know when ready to get to start up.  Also helps when there are breakdowns with car in garage and not ready to go.

Note the numbers above do not really include extras to give people toilet and meal breaks. Drivers can help out but with 5 per team, they have to be available for their next set of driving, immediately if anything goes wrong as a car has to get out on track.

Last year we did not have enough walkie talkies for all of the groups involved. It was challenging. Phones can’t be easily used like walkie talkies for casual quick updates of timing & emergency issues. So please, if you are a volunteer, find, borrow or pinch a set of walkie talkies so we can communicate. I have two walkie talkies only plus spare batteries.

So this year I am proposing for my team anyway that we do not concentrate on times and timing if we do not have the resources to time and communicate easily. Drivers set a time they are not easily going to beat and focus on being smooth. We let them go, communicating only on the wall to stay out or come in or whatever.

I rove between positions and try to manage emergencies as they arise and try to do the volunteer position plus liaise with the Race Director if things happen

Main thing is to have fun and keep the cars going.

We are in it to have fun, give the drivers lots of track time and come back safely. See you next Sunday from 8.00am onwards

Please click below for the May edition of the Bugeye Burble

Brian Davies from the Federation of Historic Motoring Clubs is looking for a 1098cc A Series engine to suit his Morris Minor.

He is after a minimum of a short motor, i.e. block, crank & camshaft, pistons & rods but anything up to a complete closed engine would be fine.
If the engine is in need of repairs he can refurbish or overhaul it if required.

If you have a suitable engine please contact:
Brian Davey.
Mob 0400 826 969

The keen eyed amongst you may have noticed a Breakfast Run on the calendar for Easter Monday. The plan has shifted one day to become an Easter Sunday run.

If you can’t make the Sporting Car Club but would like to have breakfast, perhaps meet at Lobethal!

If you are heading along, please let me know so the guys organising can book a big enough table.

Cheers! See you out on the road

Better late than never, please find below the (now combined) March-April 2024 edition of the Bugeye Burble.

Please note the change of date and location of the next General Meeting. It will be on the 8th of April and the Sporting Car Club from 6.30pm as part of our annual Stars and their Cars meeting. The regular meeting will be held at 7.30pm with Stars and their Cars commencing at (or just after) 8pm. All welcome, including members visiting from other Clubs keen to look at some of our cars and hear the stories of their owners!

Sorry to post about membership renewals again. This message only affects a handful of people within the club who have a vehicle on Conditional Registration and who are not currently financial.

If you have your vehicle on Conditional Registration and you have not yet renewed your membership, please do so by Friday 8 March 24 as the Club Registrars must report to Services SA on the status of financial members and Conditional Registration.

The report is technically past due and Gordon & Don have held off reporting to allow several members to finalise their membership.

The Club completely understands when members chose not to renew as we know people sell their cars on or buy into a new marque and want to immerse themselves in the enthusiasts of that brand! But we do get concerned when we know people still have their prized Classic and on Conditional Registration yet you haven’t renewed. If you are in this category and your car is laid up for some reason, please contact us so we can talk through the best option for you.

However, if your car is still being used on the road, you are currently be driving unregistered if you are not a financial member. Please contact us ASAP!

The Club does not have an option and we have to report to Services SA the status of members with cars on Conditional Registration. If you are reported it will mean you have to start from scratch and go through the whole MR334 process all over again. If there are circumstances PLEASE talk to myself or the Registrars before Friday.

Each year during February the Marque Sports Car Association of SA celebrates the winners from the previous season at it’s annual Trophy Presentation Day.

This year the event was held at the Mount Barker Oval on Sunday 25th Feb. It was also a chance to celebrate 50 years since the MSCA was formed.

The Sprite Club was one of the early member clubs, including MG, Alfa Romeo, MX-5, Triumph and Hot Bricks Modified Mini club.

There were trophies for Best Display (won by the Truimph club) and Club of the Year based on competitors and officials from the club, This year Alfa Romeo was the successful club. Trophies for Sprint Driver and Sprint Champion were awarded, as well as the overall driver in each class.

This year our own Lee Kernich was the winner in Class CC – Clubman 1600 – 2000cc in his Tiger Clubman – Congratulations Lee!

Thanks to all for making up the display of Sprite vehicles.

Also note the first Supersprint of the 2024 Calendar is this Sunday 3rd March at Mallala Motorsport Park – all are welcome.

A warm Summers night, an ice cream on offer at the end of the run and suddenly there were 22 cars arriving at the Fullarton Park Community Centre for the start!

With Bugeyes (6 in total), Sprites Mk II , Mk III and Midgets plus an Aston Martin, MGF’s, MX-5, HQ Holden and Mercedes Benz the convoy was quite a sight.

After the usual briefing the cars headed along Fullarton Road to “Ring” the City arriving at Port Road – still in some sort of convoy -having been separated by various roundabouts and traffic lights.

Once on Port Road there was a regroup and the Sprites/Midgets/Assorted vehicles headed to Port Adelaide, over the Birkenhead Bridge and off to Outer Harbour before turning southward via the coast, Largs Bay and Semaphore.

A quick deviation up Grange Road had the group arriving at the Fulham Gardens Shopping Centre and 48 Flavours Ice Cream Shop!

Soon many were devouring their favourite flavours, including Helen Stephenson’s dog Wynne, who was enjoying a tub of ice cream as well.

Most had a chance to chat and compare the flavours, as well as inspect the vehicles. Once the cones were finished, most said goodbye and headed off into the twilight.

Thanks to Tiana Boyce (assisted by Mum and Dad) for setting and typing up the Run Sheet. Another great night, so keep an eye out for the next event.

A busy couple of weeks are coming up for the Sprite Club of SA with events and runs.

This Saturday evening (24 Feb) sees the return of a favourite flavour with the Ice Cream Run, followed by the MSCA Birthday event up in Mount Barker Oval on Sunday (25 Feb, all Sprite Club members are warmly welcomed, whether you have been racing or not and bring your car!!). There will be special guest speakers talking about their experiences and memories of the MSCA series over the past 50 years! There is also a prize for the best club display so bring your car for a great picnic lunch!

The following weekend we have both the annual All British Day up in Echunga, where I know quite a few members have entered their cars for the display and Round 1 of the MSCA out at Mallala where the Sprite Club have been rostered on as Flag Marshalls for the day, both events occurring on Sunday 3 March

If you are not heading to All British Day to display or spectate, and you are able to help out at the MSCA event, please let Pat Miller know (nanmiller@adam.com.au, 0421 289 706) or contact the MSCA directly (sec@mscasa.com). Flagging is a great opportunity to get close to the action with lunch provided. Any training required will also be provided.

And it doesn’t stop there, at least not yet! There are events in March and April, including the national Sprite and Midget meet in Wodonga and McLaren Vale Classics, a ‘sports car cruise, as well as another club favourite, Stars and Their Cars, being held at the Sporting Car Club on Monday the 8th of April from 6.30 at night (note the date – the Monthly Meeting falls on Easter Monday so we have been able to move it back a week – more to come!).

Summertime, Spridgets, and a Soothing Sorbet or two!

Join us for our annual Ice Cream Run on Saturday 24th February.

Meet at the Fullarton Park Community Centre Car Park (the main one off Fullarton Road) at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm departure.

We will depart from the leafy Fullarton and travel via Ring Roads past the iconic Adelaide Parklands, Botanical Gardens and North Adelaide, where we will head to The Port!

After a wander through Port Adelaide we will continue to Outer Harbour to enjoy a sunlit Costal Drive through Largs Bay, Semaphore and Grange – ending up at the Fulham Gardens Shopping Centre at around 7.00pm.

We will enjoying the produce from 48 Flavours, where we can sample one of more of the ……………………………………………48 flavours of ice cream!

The run is approx. 30 miles (45 Kilometres) and takes about one hour.

If you cannot join the run, meet us at the destination.

For more info please contact Gordon Boyce – 0417 897 905.

Grill Badges. Just a gentle reminder to get our order in for your 2024 Grill Badge if you are keen. We have a small number members who have ordered a badge at the introductory price and the order form will close on the 22nd of Feb so Darryl can get it all rolling. Get in before the introductory price offer expires!

Original Article: Sprite Club of SA 2024 Grill Badge | Sprite Club of South Australia

For the Order Form Click Here.

Individually Constructed Vehicles. Please note the vote at next Months meeting to include ICVs of less than 25 years of age for the purposes of Conditional Registration. You can vote by email (in accordance with the instructions in the email set out 12 Feb 24) or in person on the night. Please remember, you need to be a financial member to vote so …

Membership. We still have a few outstanding members (who we know still have Sprites or Midgets!) who have not renewed. If you would like to vote on the Constitution change on the 4th you need to be a financial member before hand! Also, if you have a car on Conditional Registration and you are not a financial member for 2024, you can’t drive on the road until you have (a) paid your subs and (b) had you log book stamped confirming you are a 2024 financial member!

2024 Nationals. There are still some spots available at the 2024 Nationals. If you would like to attend, please let the organisers know. You can contact me if you need their phone/email details!

Ice Cream Run. More details to follow but planning is somewhat advanced for a run on the late afternoon of the Saturday 24rd from the Club Rooms car park to a 48 Flavours somewhere in Adelaide. I suspect it might be near the organisers home! Stay tuned for more information.

MSCA Birthday Bash. All Sprite Club members are welcome! Details here: MSCA Turns 50! | Sprite Club of South Australia

Attention Motorsport Enthusiasts

Come & help celebrate the M.S.C.A 50^th Birthday on Sunday 25^th February 2024

The MSCA was formed in August 1973 with four clubs and today we have eighteen clubs regularly participating!

Show & Shine – Club Display

Come along with your picnic basket and display your car and talk to, and support, other competitors who have competed in the super sprint series for 2023 and in the years past. 

The trophy presentation for 2023 will take place during the afternoon with past & current members talking about their experiences!

WHERE:  Mount Barker Oval, Alexandrina Road, Mount Barker

WHEN:    Sunday 25th February 2024

TIMES:   

You don’t have to be a competitor to join in the celebrations. Bring you car and come along to hear the stories and support your club members!

Further information, please contact Sue Stephenson on 0408 858 046 or email comp@mscasa.com

Club member Ian Rawley has asked if someone heading across to Nationals at the end of March might have enough room to bring back a 1275 ‘short’ engine and a pair of springs for his Mk1 Sprite. Alex Robertson (of Queensland) has offered to bring the parts down as far as Wodonga when he comes down for the event.

He would be very grateful if someone can help him out! If you can, drop me a line and I’ll pass Ian’s details through.

Those who read the articles here may recall we asked for you thoughts on a new grill/badge bar badge for the car club earlier this year.

The overwhelming feedback was for the new full colour design (see below). This badge comes with two wing-nuts to fasten the badge directly to the grill.

We hope to have these available for purchase at $45 per badge (depending on order numbers we may be able to reduce this to $40) for Club members and friends soon; however, we need to order a minimum quantity of at least 25 badges, so, before we order, I’m looking to get as many pre-orders as possible, just so we know these are going to sell!

As an introductory offer, those who register for the initial order will get their badges at the discounted price of $35 (ie, $10 discount).

If you are interested in a badge from the first run, please follow the link >here< and register your details and the number of badges you wish to buy. I will leave the order list open until 22 Feb.

Payment can be via direct debit (preferred), cheque or cash. If you are using direct debit please put your name and what the payment is for in the payment details (Grill badge x 1 Fred Nerque) to make life easier for Kerry! If you want it posted out please include an extra $10 to cover postage (and tell Kerry that you’ve paid!!).

Direct Debit details:

Order to delivery is approximately 8 weeks but Daryll will try to get them quicker if we can so we can perhaps take them to Nationals.

For those who might still want the original style, please let me know as I’m talking to a local company who may be able to do a limited run for the Club.

Please find below the first Bugeye Burble for 2024.

A celebration of the life of Paul Doube will be held at 3.30pm, 3 Feb 24, at Centennial Park, 760 Goodwood Road, Pasadena.

All club members are invited to come along and celebrate the life and loves of former Sprite Club President and Clubbie tragic, the late Paul Doube. It doesn’t matter if you knew Paul well or only in passing, he touched the lives of many classic car enthusiasts.

If you can, come along in your Sprite, Midget, Clubbie or other classic and relive your memories of Paul with his friends and family. If you can’t make it, the intent is to live stream the event; follow the link here https://www.centennialpark.org/funeral-services/.

And if you are looking for an early morning run this coming Sunday, consider heading up to the ClubbiesSA traditional ‘First Sunday’ at Perfect Note Coffee Shop in Blackwood. Paul was one of the founding members of ClubbiesSA and was part of the band of Clubbies who gathered at the Perfect Note on the first Sunday of each month for a fabulous coffee before heading off for a run along one of the many roads through the Adelaide Hills. Head up, grab a brew, see who else rolls up, pick a road and head off for a run.

Perhaps this is a strange topic to be writing about on the Sprite Club of SA. Its not about an upcoming event (stay tuned for the calendar, out hopefully this weekend) or a technical missive, but its a timely reminder for us to take stock of our personal cyber security.

Recently I’ve noticed a definite ‘up-tick’ what I believe to be personal ‘data harvesting’ activity that can have no use other than for nefarious deeds. And its becoming more and more prevalent across a number of un-regulated or poorly regulated chat communities or Groups. For many of us, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, connecting us with friends, family, and the world at large. However, with the convenience and connectivity come significant risks, one of the most prevalent being personal data phishing. This silent threat poses a severe danger to users, as cybercriminals continually exploit social media platforms to harvest sensitive information for malicious purposes. In this article, I will hopefully give you some insights that I’ve learned over the past few years being involved with aspects of security and how you might consider protecting yourselves.

Why? Because about 18 months ago we were targeted with an attempt at identity theft as a result of one of the ‘high profile’ personal data spills and, even though it failed, the effort to close all the doors that were opened is considerable and time consuming.

Understanding Personal Data Phishing:

Cybercriminals often create fake profiles, impersonating trusted entities or individuals to establish a sense of trust with unsuspecting users. These profiles may mimic friends, family members, or even official organizations, making it challenging for users to discern the authenticity of the connection. How many times do you check the profile of the person in your long-standing Group who is suddenly asking you to ‘Post your ride’ for no apparent reason, yet so many people still do (or pictures of their dog etc etc!).

Phishers leverage various tactics to deceive users into divulging personal information. They may send messages, emails, or direct messages containing urgent requests, fake promotions, or seemingly innocuous links. Clicking on these links can lead users to fraudulent websites designed to capture sensitive data, such as login credentials.

Third-party applications and quizzes on social media platforms can be Trojan horses for personal data phishing. Users are often enticed to grant these applications access to their profiles, unknowingly providing cybercriminals with a gateway to extract personal information.

Even seemingly innocuous information shared on social media can be exploited by cybercriminals. Details such as birthdates, locations, and workplace information can be aggregated to create a comprehensive profile, making users vulnerable to identity theft and other cybercrimes.

And to be clear, a cybercriminal might still be a pimply 15 year old kid just trying to skim some money from your account, or it could be a state-operated phishing enterprise looking to steal money and information from large corporations or Mum and Dad next door to fund their activities.

Protecting Yourself from Personal Data Phishing:

Vigilance in Accepting Friend Requests: Be cautious when accepting friend requests, especially from individuals you do not know personally. Scrutinize profile details, mutual friends, and activity to identify potential fake accounts. If in doubt, verify the identity through alternative means before accepting the request.

Verify Messages and Links: Exercise skepticism when receiving messages or emails containing urgent requests or suspicious links. Verify the sender’s identity through a separate communication channel and refrain from clicking on links unless you are certain of their legitimacy. Social media platforms often provide features to report and block suspicious accounts.

Review App Permissions: Regularly review and audit the third-party applications connected to your social media accounts. Remove access for applications that are no longer needed or are unfamiliar. Restrict the permissions granted to apps, allowing only essential access to your profile information.

Limit Public Information: Restrict the amount of personal information shared publicly on your social media profiles. Review and adjust privacy settings to control who can view your posts, friend list, and other details. The less information available to potential phishers, the lower the risk of falling victim to personal data phishing.

Educate Yourself and Stay Informed: Stay informed about the latest phishing techniques and scams circulating on social media. Being aware of potential threats enables you to recognize and avoid falling prey to malicious activities. Follow official security guidelines provided by social media platforms and cybersecurity experts.

Personal data phishing on social media is a persistent and evolving threat that requires constant vigilance. As users we need to be proactive in protecting our online identities. By understanding the methods employed by cybercriminals and implementing best practices to safeguard our personal information, we can navigate the digital landscape with greater confidence.

Social media is a powerful tool for connectivity, but it is crucial to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps against the silent threat of personal data phishing.

If you have any questions, just ask!

It is with considerable sadness that I write to inform Club members and friends of the Sprite Club of South Australia of the passing of former Club President, Paul Doube.

Following a long battle with his health, Paul passed peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday night. He put up a great fight right to the end. Not one to let his condition slow him down, Paul travelled to Perth last year and sought the warmth of Northern Australia during our winter. Remarkably, he had just come back from a beach sojourn at Stansbury where he and the family went every year for so long. There, with family and friends he spent a last, lovely summer holiday. Just back home with Ruth, the disease took its toll and he could fight no more.

Paul and Ruth were one of the founding members of ClubbiesSA, present at the very first gathering at Kilikanoon Wines and is one of the only Clubbie owners who attended every National meeting (and, indeed, every ‘Not the Nationals’ meeting). Paul, along with Clubbie stalwarts Barry and Sean, was also instrumental in developing the long relationship that the Sprite Club has with Clubbies SA and, to the best of my knowledge, is the only non-Spridget owning President of the Club, serving three terms.

Paul didn’t let his condition slow him down. He was often seen at the wheel of his beloved Clubbie or his MGTC with the oxygen bottle attached to the roll bar (and his wheelchair on a specially made rack on the the spare wheel!). Once asked why he was so slow up over a pass on a Clubbies Run he quipped that he had to slow down to change his oxygen bottle. Such was his determination not to allow his condition to slow him down.

Associate Driver of the Year, owner of the Associate Car of the Year, as a club member Paul gave the Sprite Club and ClubbiesSA his all and we are better clubs for that. We are a better club for his association and his enthusiasm, wit, and, most of all, friendship will be sorely missed.

Our deepest condolences to Ruth and his family, and his dear friends, many of whom are members of the Sprite Club, at this time.

Details of his funeral will be announced when they are known.

My personal thanks to his dear friend Sean Power for helping me writing this article. Photo credit to Gordon Boyce or as marked.

Thongs, Pluggers, Flip Flops, Jandals, Plankies, Japanese Riding Boots or Chinese Safety Boots are all names for one of the worlds oldest forms of footwear. Worn with some minor variations across the ancient worlds of Egypt, Rome, Greece, sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Korea, Japan and some Latin American cultures, the humble thong was designed to protect the wearers foot whilst keeping the top of the foot cool … and allowing it to burn in the summer sun. Not so cool in the centuries before SPF50+ sunscreen!

As Australian’s, of course, we found other unique uses for them, including harnessing the unique aerodynamic qualities nearest the pin throwing competition. A blend of lawn bowls, darts and bouche, Thong Throwing is as Australian on Australia Day as Two Up is to Anzac Day.

What is the best throwing style I hear you ask? Do you try for the ‘Maverick’, a flat spin style where the thong rotates through the air until the aerodynamic drag of the straps slows it down and causes it to drop like a stone like an F14 that’s flown through the jetwash and suffered a flame out? Is it the Lockett, where you line up the throw about 3′ left of the bucket and lob it with a strong backspin, drop punt style and then watch it move left to right inexorably towards the target as the friction caused by the straps cause it to gracefully curve through the air? Do you just try for the random lob and hope for the best?

What ever style you think is going to be serve you best, start practicing in time for the Sprite Club’s annual Thong Throwing Competition, held once again in the picturesque setting of the Chabrel’s front yard, overlooking the backstraight of Oakbank Racecourse!

Miles, I believe, is the current keeper of the John and Judy Bowering Memorial Trophy. At least I think he is!! I should know shouldn’t I!

Its a BYO lunch and drinks (and chairs if you have some fold outs that will fit into the Spridget!) and the Chabrels will supply dessert following the competition. Its a fabulous day to come and share a picnic lunch and meet friends new and old.

Please RSVP Des and Penny or myself so we know how many to cater dessert for.

Come along for a fun day out!

What started out three years ago as three cars meeting for a New Year’s coffee in Norwood has grown into some 13 cars taking a morning drive up to Uraidla for coffee and breakfast. 13 cars at 9am on New Years day … and that doesn’t include the late withdrawals, one from illness and at least one from a suspected NYE hang-over! At this rate we will have the whole club turning out within a year or two! Wouldn’t that be an amazing sight heading up Greenhill Road!

The pictures fail to accurately show just what a glorious morning it was too. Hopefully a good omen for 2024.

Starting at the Sporting Car Club for the first photo of the year, the plan was simple enough. Get a group photo at the start, a straightforward run up Greenhill Road and coffee or tea at the Uraidla Republic Cafe. We had 12 cars at the start, picking up Don and Elaine on the way (Don gave the Midget a run for the first time in quite a while). If we do get any more cars we will have to park closer together at the Sporting Car Club or find a new start point as we just about filled the driveway! Quite a sight to behold really!

It was great to see club cars out that we don’t see all that often, cars that have left the club and have now returned with new owners, and just new cars and new members! And of course friends of the Sprite Club, the Shipards with their Mk3 Sprite and the Oliphant’s with their stunning 260z (although some of us were disappointed their ‘new’ 1960 Falcon XK didn’t come out for the day!).

Aside from one motorcyclist doing his/her best impression of a temporary road user it was a great run up the hill. Easy and straight forward, a good way to start the year I think! But I have to ask … with the number of fatalities recorded on South Australian roads last year you would think that vulnerable road users would be somewhat more circumspect on the first day of the year and show some patience. We were, after all, all doing the speed limit and not holding up the traffic! I’m not sure about the other drivers but I was mentally brushing up my first aid as I watched him/her weave in and out of the line of cars and the oncoming traffic … ok, rant over!

What’s coming up next I hear you ask?

The rest of January is fairly quiet until Australia Day and the club’s annual Thong Throwing competition, hosted again by the Chabrels. Its a fabulous day and a great way for new members to meet the Club over a BYO lunch and the heat of competition as the thongs fly, all whilst overlooking the picturesque Oakbank Racecourse. Stay tuned for more details on what is always a great day!

There was a bit of a ‘buzz’ around those at Uraidla about another breakfast run to somewhere with a few recommending the Rise Artisan Bakery at Nairne so again, stay tuned for run details to there soon.

Oh, and a personal note to self. Don’t attempt to follow a certain green Sprite through a twisting road. The driver (and probably car) are much better at going through curves than I am!

(photo credits – Gary Dodd, Paul Mitchell and some bloke with GoPros hanging off his car!)

On the last day of 2023 we have some 109 subscriptions on the book for a total of nearly 150 members, including 13 surviving Founder and Life members.

62 Club members have already renewed their membership subscription for 2024 and we hope to welcome back the 34 outstanding members back into the club fold soon.

Please note – if you are reading this and you are one of the 34 outstanding members AND you car is on Conditional Registration (ie, Club Rego), you wont be able to drive in 2024 until you are (a) financial and (b) your logbook has been stamped by the Club.

We completely understand that people sell their cars on or some of you may have your car registered with another club so this isn’t of concern to you, but for those of you who are still with the club and haven’t gotten to the paperwork, please don’t get caught out by the police driving what becomes an unregistered car as of 1 Jan 24!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on 0431 247 746 or email me at admin@spriteclub.com.au

PS: Happy New Year to everyone and for those venturing out for the run tomorrow, see you then! I’ve talked to the Café – they are open but are not taking bookings … its first in best dressed! If they run out of room we will try across the road!

A group of us have bit a New Year’s Day ‘tradition’ of a photo outside of the Sporting Car Club and then a leisurely run up to the Urailda Republic Café for breakfast.

If you’d like to get the New Year into gear and get that first entry into your 2024 logbooks, come along and join us.

The plan is to gather at the Sporting Car Club at or after 0830 for a photo and head off at 0900. Nothing technical, just straight up Greenhill Road and keep going until we get to the Café for coffee and breakfast! Home before lunch time!

I usually book a table for 12 so let me know if you are thinking of coming along to make the booking bigger!

(And a gentle reminder … if your car is on Conditional/Historic registration with the club and you have not renewed your membership yet and/or not had your logbook stamped for 2024 by Gordon or Don, you can’t drive it in 2024 until you do.)

My sincere apologies to James Lord Pierpont…

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope to you see you all safe and well in the New Year!

(photo credits to Terry Shipard, and image borrowed from the internet, John Gazerk from the Midget Owners Group on Facebook and some random Sprite Club member with a camera at Victoria Square!)

Some of you may recall I undertook to bring Sprouting Forth back this year as an annual magazine to look back over the highlights of the year and selected history of the Sprite Club of SA.

With the assistance of a number of members, including Reinhard Walker, Gordon Boyce, Grant Stephenson, Sean Power, Sue Stephenson and Daryl Otterwill, as well as Nick Phillips of the MG Car Club of South Australia, I offer to you some Christmas reading and the first of what I hope can become an annual edition, Sprouting Forth 2023 (‘The Relaunch Edition).

As I’m new to publishing magazines online, I’ve provided you two options to access the magazine. One direct from the Sprite Club website, the other from an external hosting service. The magazine is best read on a computer or tablet at full screen size. If you have difficulty accessing it please contact me!

Sprouting Forth (from the Club Website)

Sprouting Forth (external hosting)

From all those involved with creating this, we hope you enjoy!

(My apologies in advance – I’m not a professional writer nor magazine editor. Any remaining grammar errors are probably mine!!)

The keen eyed amongst you may have noticed that the Club’s regalia list includes a Grill Badge, not something we have had for for sale a while.

At the Display Day back in November, past member Doug Gordon (who, after over 40 years, still owns his Midget!) showed Daryl and I one of the original Club grill badges and it got us thinking about new grill badge for members cars. Some calls ensued and as a result we have some options to present to members to consider for new grill badge.

As always with getting something produced, we need to meet some minimum order quantities to make them affordable (25 minimum in this case) so, whilst we’d like to have both for sale, its not a realistic option, so we are seeking feedback on the design and genuine interest to buy.

Option 1: A laser engraved reproduction of the original badge. Made from stainless steel, the badge would be approximately 70mm x 70mm square with a tab on the bottom to fasten to a badge bar or wire back to the grill. For an additional cost, the reverse side could be engraved with the current badge to give members a choice of which image to display.

Option 2: A full colour modern take on the original badge. Size will be approximately the same, also with a tab to allow it to be mounted to a badge bar or wired back onto the grill.

Estimated cost to members is approximately $35 (+/-$5)

We are keen to get your thoughts! Hopefully this link will take you to a shared spreadsheet where you can vote for your preferred design! The chosen design will (hopefully) become a key ring later on also!

Looking for last minute Christmas gifts?

Need something car related for that special someone?

Look no further than the Sprite Club regalia list!

We have in stock caps, (new) wide brimmed hats, beanies and scarves and other odds and ends – prices below!

Contact regalia@spriteclub.com.au or admin@spriteclub.com.au to know more.

Or of course you might want to talk to our wonderful Club sponsors and supporters – click on their links just to the left or right of this page for more information!

As some of you may be aware, the State Government recently announced a change to the Conditional Vehicle Registration scheme in so much as what are now known as ‘Individually Constructed Vehicles’, irrespective of their age, are now eligible to be registered under the States Conditional Registration program, the same program under which members of the Sprite Club can register their cars on what we colloquially call ‘historic registration’ for a maximum of 90 days driving per year.

There is a process that we need to follow to apply if we chose to go down this path. Its not an automatic scheme that we can offer simply because we recognise and accept Clubbies with the club and the committee is currently undertaking a review of the requirements and the process that needs to be followed if we, as a Club, decide to offer this form of membership. As a club we are not current authorised (as I understand it … I may be about to be wrong here sorry!!) to offer Conditional Registration to Hot Rods or Left Hand Drive Vehicles, only ‘Historic Vehicles’, those being vehicles that are 25 or more years old. We do; however, have a strong Clubbies community with members owning vehicles both younger and older than 25 year. The Committee is reviewing this and will decide if we wish, as a club, to apply to be able to offer Conditional Registration to the ClubbiesSA members with their newer Clubman cars who are members of our club.

Please also note that if we, the Committee, believe its in the best interest of the Club, we will need to change our Constitution (again!) and any change must be voted in by the Membership with at least 2/3rds of the Members present agreeing.

So, the Committee is meeting on Monday night (11 Dec) to discuss the next steps.

Logbook Signing

So … and this is the ‘log books’ bit of the Log Books and ICVs in the title … we know that some of you are yet to have your logbook signed or replaced for 2024 and I know that you all know that if you are not a financal member before 1 Jan 2024 and your log book is not stamped as being valid for 2024, that run you had planned for New Years Day can’t go ahead.

So … as we will be holding a Committee meeting at the Clubrooms between 1915 and 2000 (Monday 11 Dec) to discuss ICVs, once the meeting has closed Don and/or Gordon will be available for a short period to sign logbooks. Please note, I can’t guarantee Kerry will be present at this meeting due to another commitment so if you are seeking to get the Logbook signed next Monday night you must have paid your 2024 subs and you need to bring proof of payment (screen shot of the bank transaction or similar). We won’t be taking cash next Monday sorry.

Please note also that we won’t be in the normal meeting room; we will be using one of the smaller board rooms so you might need to ring or hunt around.

If you can’t make it on Monday, we will be running a ‘mail in’ service. The process is as follows:

Take a copy of you logbook (photocopy) and use this to sign any drives you might undertake whilst you log book is ‘in the mail’. All travel must be recorded into the log book on its return. This process will only cover up up to 31 Dec 2023.

Send your logbook, plus a copy of your registration AND proof of 2024 membership payment, as well as a stamped, self addressed envelope for its return (the Club is not paying for your logbook to be mailed back … sorry!). Don will be clearing the mailbox regularly leading up to Christmas and will sign and return your logbook if everything is there. This way you should have it before New Years Day

If you need a new log book, please also include $5 (per new logbook required). This will take a little more time as Gordon processes all the new logbooks so we will need to get your mail across to him; however, if you act quickly to get it into the mail, you should still get your new book before New Year.

Please remember, even if we have signed your current or new book and its ‘in the mail’ on return, if you have not received it before 1 Jan 24 you can’t drive until you have it.

The postal address for the Club is Post Office Box 21, Fullarton, SA, 5063.

Please keep in mind that we are a volunteer club and we are trying to help you get your logbooks re-signed as quickly as we can so please bear with us if it takes a few more days to get your book back to you!

Just a reminder that this Monday is the final meeting of the year. Those who can make it along, we will be holding the traditional Christmas BBQ. Details of what you need to bring can be found >here<.

The evening starts at 1800 with the meeting at 2000

A quick note about the Club Magazine. I won’t be putting out a Burble this month, rather we are attempting to relaunch the Club magazine, Sprouting Forth, with what I hope can become an annual ‘Christmas’ edition (and the Burble for all the other months of the year!). With a lot of help from contributors its nearly done but I’m hoping that some of you might have some photos from years gone by that you might be able to help me with?

I’m particularly looking for photos from around 1973, 1983, 93 and 2003 – not heaps, maybe 1 or 2interesting or funny images from years gone by, with or without a few words to explain the picture or who/what it is. I’m borrowing from Sprouting Forth from years gone by with a couple articles and it would great to add to the history with a few photos from around that time. Hopefully I’ll end up with a dozen or so in total to choose from!

They don’t have to be professional scans or crisp images – in fact some ‘patina’ to the photos and some less than perfect smart phone scans can sometimes only add to the image!

If you can help out I’d be very appreciative and I’ll (try to) credit all of the suppliers of the photos! Best to send them to admin@spriteclub.com.au or spriteclubsa@gmail.com. My number is 0431 247 746 if you’d like to talk about it first!

Apologies. The Webmaster should be sacked and thanks Mr Secretary for reminding me I haven’t posted the minutes! Please see attached below.

The weather looks favourable for a pleasant summer’s evening to enjoy the Christmas Festivities with a BBQ in the Fullarton Community Centre park and the meeting to follow – hopefully I haven’t jinked the weather!

Start at 1800 (that’s 6pm for some!), followed by the final General Meeting of the year at 2000.

The Club will provide the BBQ (Miles has tested it!), meat, salads and bread. Everything else is BYO – drink, chairs, plates, cutlery, glasses etc.

Elaine and Carole have the salads under control but we’d love some help on the night to cook the meat!

This is the last official social event for the year so we’d love to see new faces and old! If its a nice evening you might even want to bring you car out!

Hope to see you all there!

(if the technology doesn’t defeat us, Grant hopes to put on some in-car ‘home movies’ from the 2023 Legend of the Lakes!)

A quick note to say the 2024 membership fee structure and the updated forms are now available under the Membership tab or follow this link

A friendly reminder for all of you with cars on Conditional Registration. If you have not renewed your membership by 1 Jan 24 you can’t drive your pride and joy out for New Years Day breakfast. You must have your subs paid and your log book stamped by either Don or Gordon BEFORE you go out on the road, not after! Both Don and Gordon will be available for log book signing at the Christmas meeting.

If necessary, we will consider a one-off log book morning/night but we’d prefer not to do this!

A short note to say thank you to the members who were able to attend the AGM last night and for 2024 Sprite Club of South Australia committee members. Your 2024 committee is:

President – Robin Dunk

Secretary – Peter Stanley

Treasurer – Kerry (we ended the year in the green!) Fisher

Club Registras – Gordon Boyce and Don Cardone

Federation Representative – Don Cardone

Motor Sport Secretary – Pat Miller

Librarian – Miles Jackson

Regalia Officer – Daryl Otterwill

Clubbies SA Rep – Sean Power

Webguru and News Editor – Robin Dunk

After a number of years on the Committee, including a period as the President and most recently at least six years as the Social Secretary/Coordinator, Michael McLaren has elected to step down from Club Committee duties. The Club is hugely indebted to Michael for his contributions and as the President I would like to thank him on behalf of all Members, past and present.

This; however, leaves us with a vacant position on the Committee for a Social coordinator and I’d like to call on all members to consider if they can spare the time to fill this role to assist the Committee to organise not only the Annual Dinner but organise or contribute to the various runs and social gatherings throughout the year that makes the Sprite Club the warm and all-inclusive club that it is. If you feel you can assist, please contact me directly to discuss. Rest assured, Michael and the whole Committee will ensure you are fully supported as you learn your way in. Please, don’t rely on me to organise the Annual Dinner as if you do we will all be a the front bar of the Goodwood Hotel for a counter meal on Trivia Night.

Just a quick reminder that Display Day is on from 0900(ish) at Wigley Reserve.

Whilst we’d prefer everyone could stay for the whole day we know that weekends are precious and we all need to juggle various commitments so if you need to leave early its not going to be a problem, just let one of us know and we will make sure you have a safe path out to the road.

Likewise, we also know there are a few competing events on tomorrow, not least Cars and Coffee at the Sporting Car Club and also Cars and Culture at Morphettville, so feel free to come down afterwards. It ok to be late – we’d just love to see you and your car if you can make it!

Remember, Associate Cars, Clubbies and invited Clubs are most welcome!

Oh, and if your car is like mine and suddenly dripping more oil than the Exxon Valdez, please bring a strip of cardboard or rags to pop under your car. The Holdfast Bay Council takes a dim view to having Wigley Reserve covered in oil!

See you there!

For all the latest news and events look no further!

Be sure to follow the link to the first of hopefully a series of historical articles from past issues of Sprouting Forth!

I look forward to seeing you at Display Day or an event in the near future!

From the archives comes the first of Reinhard Walker’s digitally recreated articles from old articles of Sprouting Forth. With the aid of digital scanning, Reinhard has been able to combine the old articles with the images he and others took at the time to really bring these fabulous memories to life.

The intent is to create a digital archive within the Members area so watch out for a new folder link in the menus in the coming days.

To attempt to control the file sizes on the web, Reinhard is experimenting with a new format called Story Maps. Rather than posting the full article here, you will find a link below that will take you to the article. It will take you away from the Sprite Club website and into the Story Maps environment.

Enjoy – this looks like it was an absolute blast of a road trip!

>Flogga ’73<

Minutes from the General Meeting held 9th of October 2023

We would like to inform the Members of the Sprite Club of South Australia of the passing of Life Member and previous Committee Member Julie Williams.

Julie became a member of the Sprite Club during early 1980 with her Red Bugeye – SNT-113 and joined her sibling Sprite Club members, Don (deceased) and Rick.

She quickly became associated with many aspects of the Sprite Club attending General Meetings and Social Events, including hosting these social events at her Fairview Park home. Soon Julie joined the Sprite Club Committee, volunteering as Social Secretary (1981 & 1991) and she held the role as Treasurer for six years (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1992 & 1993).

Julie was awarded Life Membership of the Sprite Club of SA during the 30th Birthday celebrations in 2002.

Julie also attended many Bordertown Weekends for the Annual Motorkhana vs the Victorian Sprite Club, quite often driving her Bugeye to Bordertown after work on Friday Night. During the motorkhana Julie would drive the courses setting very competitive times, often faster than many of the male drivers! She would also feature in the Ladies Team, winning for SA and also was awarded the Sprite Club Lady Driver of the Year on numerous occasions.

The other event that Julie took seriously was the Don-Doug Observation Run. This run, initially set by brother Don and fellow Club member Doug Gordon, tested your cryptic and observational skills while travelling some of the picturesque roads of the Adelaide Hills. Teaming with nephew and Sprite Club member, Dale Halling, this combination were successful in winning this event numerous times.

Julie’s Bugeye had sat idle for a number of years and is now maintained and cared for by nephew Dale who drove the Bugeye in the 2023 Bay to Birdwood last Sunday.

The members of the Sprite Club of South Australia would like to pass on their condolences to all of the William’s family at this time.

Please note that a Funeral Service is to be held in the Carr Memorial Chapel, 1 Morphett Street, Mount Barker, on Tuesday 14 November 2023, at 2-00pm.

Thanks to Reiner Walker, Robin Dunk and Gordon Boyce for the images used in this article

Despite the best efforts of the spam filters from the web-hosting company, WordPress and my own cyber security, the Sprite Club emails and website, like many sites these days, continues to get spammed and suffers attempts to hack in. Goodness knows what these hackers think they are going to find in our pages!

Cyber activity has significantly escalated in the past 12 months with the number of attempts to hack into businesses (and Clubs) more than doubling. For example, I cleared out the email spam filter at 0730 this morning and by morning tea there were half a dozen emails offering everything from website upgrades, cheap Chinese machining tools and the usual assortment of, err, medications. I’m sure you get the picture. In amongst that were unfortunately genuine emails from new members or other clubs and individuals reaching out to us so you can understand if sometimes we miss a letter or a notice to the Club.

There have also been attempts to send Committee members and general club members spam emails that appear to come from either my personal email or one of the Club emails. If it doesn’t make sense, then likely it isn’t real. If in doubt, look at the senders email address. Hackers/spammers cloak their real addresses with a fake one to make it appear real but if you look carefully you’ll see the underlying email address that isn’t one of ours. Unless you are absolutely sure of who its from, just don’t click the links in the body or the title of the email. Check the website or contact me.

As a result of the attempt to use my personal email to contact other members, I’ve changed the web settings and I’ll try to only use the ‘admin@spriteclub.com.au’ email address and will pass the details to the ‘assistant webmasters’ (Darryl and Gordon) who also need to log in or upload an article. I realise a change to the sending email will be frustrating for some as I know some of you have only just managed to de-spam the Club from your system. As always, if you are not getting emails (but are reading this online or on the BookFace site) please reach out to me on 0431 247 746 or admin@spriteclub.com.au. Don’t be shy about asking for help! Just ask!

I realise this is frustrating as, in this modern world, the emails and the website are our main, often only, forms of communications so we need to keep on top of it!

In the meantime, please keep an eye on the website for upcoming events! Hope to see you all at the Display Day in a few weeks!

Robin,

President/Webmaster, Sprite Club of South Australia

If anyone can assist with Flag Marshall duties at Mallala for the final round of 2023 on the 29th of October, please let Pat Miller know.

We are not officially on duty (that was the cancelled meet at the Bend); however, MSCA is short on flaggies and they have reached out to the Sprite Club and others from the previous meeting to see if we can help.

If you can help out please contact Pat (nanmiller@adam.com.au, 0421 289 706) or contact the MSCA Secretary directly (sec@msca.com).

For sale:

Rims. Set of Minator 13 x 5” rims, no centre caps or nuts. $600

Tyres. Set of 4 Yokohama A050 Advans. 175/60 R13 used on track once $400

Contact Chris Brine at chris.brine@gmail.com or 0419 802 163

Goodness, we haven’t gotten to the end of 2023 and the club is talking about ABD for 2024?

Well, entries are open (>click here<) and they CLOSE on 3 November, unless sold out before. Yes, that’s only about 2 weeks away. So, if you are heading out on the Climb to the Eagle and you haven’t entered, you had better do so when you get home!

In all seriousness, they are expecting to sell out quickly. The feature marque is MG celebrating 100 years and they will be a prominent feature on the day. I am in discussions with the MGCCSA who are coordinating the MG display so we are trying to be co-located on the main field so our MGs will also be ‘part of the day’, as are several other clubs with significant numbers of MGs in their ranks

If you are keen to go don’t miss out – click the link (here again) and get your entry in.

I’m entered (and so is my dad with his Ariel motorbike, another featured brand on the day!). Hope to see you all there!

Hi all

I’ve had a few comments about not receiving emails so I’m just doing a check as to who is getting their emails! I know, I know, the Webguru has lost the plot and sending out an email to see if you are getting an email …. if you are reading this on the Website or the Facebook site and you didn’t get an email from the club with this information on it, can you please email me (don’t say it…!) at admin@spriteclub.com.au or spriteclubsa@gmail.com or text me a message (0431 247 746) with your name and email address and I’ll recheck that you are in the system.

Please go into your Spam Mail history and look for emails from the club. If you need any help, please let me know and I can talk you through it.

I’d hate for people to be missing out on events like Display Day because an email has not been received.

Cheers! Robin.

Better late than never … apologies for the delay posting the minutes from the September General Meeting

A quick note for all those of the Morris Garages persuasion in our club!

The annual MG Car Club of South Australia ‘Kimber Run’ will be held again on Sunday the 12th of November.

If you own and MG, this is one of the largest annual MG-only runs in the world and the only run outside of the UK that has the official ‘Kimber Run’ title, celebrating the founder of MG, Cecil Kimber. This year its doubly important as this year marks 100 years of the MG brand.

The run is always held up though the hills with the route a lightly guarded secret until you sign on for the day. Suffice to say, there is always a well organised morning tea stop and, for the first 300 people to sign up for the lunch, a two course lunch at a great location at the end of the run. Think of it like one of Russell and Judy’s runs, just with 100+ MGs!

It really is a great day out and highly recommended! If you are not in an MG its still a great procession to follow along in your Sprite or other classic.

Run details can be found >here< or I’ve uploaded the entry form below.

Yes, its nearly that time! Display Day 2023. So get out you polishing cloths and start getting ready!

When – 5 November 23, from 0900

Where – Wigley Reserve, Glenelg

All members are encouraged to bring their Sprite, Midget or Associate Car(s) along for the day to show off your pride and joy and promote the Club! If you have more than one car and you can manage it, please bring more than one car down to really add to the diversity of cars and marques on the day.

Invitations to display are extended to all members of the Austin Healey Owners Club of South Australia and the Rover Car Club of South Australia, and of course the members of ClubbiesSA … we realise its the ‘First Sunday of the Month’ for you so we’ve arranged for a coffee van to be onsite for your coffee fix!

If you are reading this and you are not a member of the Sprite Club or one of the other mentioned clubs but you own a Sprite or Midget, Big Healey or a Classic Rover, you are also invited to come down and display your car! We would also love to see an Austin A40 Farina or two (they are basically a Sprite with a roof!) and MG1100s/Riley Elfs. If you are wondering, please drop us a line at admin@spriteclub.com.au or call on 0431 247 746.

Visitors from interstate Sprite and Austin Healey Clubs are of course welcome too!

Prizes will be awarded to the best Sprite/Midget and the best ‘Associate’ car on the day, and the Club’s Sprite of the Year will be awarded!

For Club members, we are still seeking some volunteers to help with setting up for the day. We are also looking for some specialised skills such as Fire Warden and additional First Aiders. If you can help please let myself, Don or Gordon know.

For those bringing their steeds on trailers there will be an area set aside for parking tow cars and trailers.

Hope to see you all there for what promises to be a great day!

Four Sprites and a Midget burbling up though the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley enroute to Collingrove on a beautiful crisp clear Spring morning on the club’s ‘Picnic Run’. What a fabulous sight and sound!

Setting out from The Gully Hotel for a straight run up through Birdwood and then on to Collingrove, of course someone (the President … err, me) was late to the starting point but luckily Don was patient and waited with new Sprite owner, Don Cameron (he hasn’t yet decided on joining a club but he and his lovely Mk3 are welcome to join our runs when ever he wishes!). Eventually we got there (only 20 minutes late … despite having no traffic on North East Road I still managed to get every red light!) and the three of us headed up to Birdwood where the Lows and Dean were waiting and then the run out to Collingrove. It really is nice when the 80kph limit ends and we can run up to 100 (or there abouts)! 5x 1275 A Series, all in good song!

Despite my car really not having a decent run in nearly five months it seemed in fine fettle for the run out with a muted rasp and a crackle and pop on the overrun coming down the hills. Most thought I was slightly crazy wearing a polo shirt and shorts (and Margy in a short sleeve linen top) on a 5 degree morning but as usual the heater was in fine form heating our feet and the escaping warmth keeping our ears and noses from freezing as we headed through the hills with the roof down and picnic hamper strapped firmly in place. A perfect way to start the month of October!

And what was it all about? The Sunday of the Labour Day long weekend sees the running of the Sporting Car Club of South Australia’s annual Barossa Vintage Collingrove Hillclimb and, thanks to the efforts of Sprite Club and Sporting Car Club Member Gary Dodd, we had pole position inside the pit paddock for the day, including a run up the course for those who desired to partake!

The Sutherlands joined us with their lovely Mk2 Midget (its still for sale … David … I know you’re reading this … caravan, Sprite, caravan, Sprite …) and, including Peter Stanley’s hill climb Sprite, we had seven Sprites and Midgets, as well as Pat and Gerard Miller with the Plymouth and the likes of Miles and others in more ‘normal’ cars. A great turn out really, consider it was the middle of the Long Weekend after all. Thank you to everyone who made the effort!

And what a fabulous day it was, with an amazing collection of historic South Australian and interstate cars and bikes taking on the twists and incline of the Collingrove climb. From cars built for the Australian GP in the 1950s (and in one case, driven by the 15 year old Great Grandson of the cars creator), to a hauntingly beautiful SS100, classic Speedway Sprint Cars and all manner and marques of cars and bikes in-between, there was something for everyone!

Thank you to the SCC-SA for the opportunity and thank you to all the owners and drivers of these fabulous cars who were only too happy to stop and talk and recount the history of their vehicles.

All in all, it really was a Grand Day Out! Hope to see you all soon on the road!

(photo credits to David Low and Margy Donaldson or as marked)

Its the run to the end of the year. See what the club has planned!

Its been a while since I’ve penned a President’s update and as we lead into a busier part of the year with runs and Display Days … and the AGM, I thought it was about time!

I have to apologise as I’ve been somewhat distracted of late, but the good news is the grass is now down at ‘Sherburn’ (yes, the house has a name on the façade, one of those things people did in the early 1900s!) but I’m not sure if its firm enough to get the Midget out from its hiding spot. I have mesh to lay over the grass like a WW2 temporary runway so perhaps it will get up to Collingrove this Sunday. Anyway, its proved to be a good backdrop for the latest Club purchase as a result of the State Government grant funding we received earlier this year – new signboards to advertise the Club at displays and other events. Not sure how they are going actually fit into a Spridget but where there is a will, there is always a way! Other equipment include a battery operated Public Address system, fire extinguishers and first aid kits. All a very welcome addition for a small club like ours!

Annual Dinner. I really have to apologise for not penning a report about the Annual Dinner as it was a fabulous evening, thanks largely to the hard work of Michael and Pat. The food, which was amazing, just kept coming and I don’t think anyone went home hungry!

Michael and Pat where somewhat surprised when they where awarded the Tony Benetto trophy for all of their hard work behind the scenes making the club the club that it is, but anyone who has attended any of the Annual Dinners or Ice-Cream Runs or Cheese and Wine nights would agree its long over due and recognition for their efforts! Congratulations!

I’ve only been involved with selecting and awarding trophies for this year and I hope that every year is as easy to select the winners as it was this year. When I asked the Committee for their thoughts and nominations the winners where unanimous! The award winners where (drumroll please….)

Club Person of the Year – Elaine Cardone!

Associate Car of the Year – it dawned on the Committee that there wasn’t an ‘Associate Car of the Year’ award which we all felt needed to be rectified. With several cars in contention for this category, one we felt was an absolute standout, that car being Paul and Ruth Doube’s MG TC. We don’t yet have the annual trophy but we were able to have the small keep-sake made up in time. Unfortunately, Paul continues to battle his health but the Club will organise an evening to take the trophy to them.

Sprite of the Year – well, about that. The winner wasn’t there so we have decided to hold that award over the Display Day. The winner does not know if her or his car has won. Hopefully it has been put back together and it makes Display Day! Come along then and find out who it is!

Congratulations to all the award winners on the night!

You should have just read my last email about Collingrove so no need to talk about that here, but there are a slew of runs and displays coming up in the next few weeks. Events include the Bay to Birdwood and the Climb to the Eagle (3 Nov) with the main event for the club being the Sprite Club Display Day at Wigley Reserve on the 5th of November! All cars, Sprite and non Sprites, are welcome as are non-Sprite Club members. We will be asking for volunteers to help run the day as we can’t do it without your help! There will be invites going out to our sister clubs in the very near future to come down and join in the day so get your polishing rags out and start polishing!

Finally, a quick note about the Annual General Meeting. More will information about nominations will come out in the next couple of days, but if you are interested to help the club as a member of the Committee please consider putting your hand up. Yes, it is the day after Display Day but we need you to put a mark into your diary to come along. All Committee positions will be available and anyone can nominate to help out as a committee member. We have a wonderful and hard working Committee who, I think, have put on some great events over the past 12 months but many have been on the Committee for quite a while and they may want a break! Have a think, talk to a current Committee Member. Its an undertaking and yes, it is a little bit of work but honestly, its enjoyable and hugely rewarding when you see an event or a run go off smoothly. We can only function as a club if we have a Committee to run it!

That’s enough rambling on from me. Don’t forget, there is no meeting this Monday due to the Long Weekend, with the next General Meeting held over until the following Monday (9 October).

Happy Sprite-ing

An informal ‘run to Collingrove’ will take place on Sunday 1 Oct for Sprite Club members. The run will be relaxed and very informal, with the goal to be at Collingrove by 0900(ish).

Departure point will be the carpark of ‘The Gully’ hotel (near the Thirsty Camel Bottle Shop, with a 0810 departure. From there its roughly a 60km, 60 minute run up through the hills. Look for my blue Midget or red Alfa on the day … hopefully I wake up in time!

For those who are taking a different route and perhaps want to meet us along the way, we will depart the Birdwood Mill around about 0840.

Non-Sprite Club members are most welcome to tag along, particularly if you are in a Sprite or a Midget!

Just in case its needed, my number is 0431 247 746

Don’t forget, the Sporting Car Club has generously given us free entry for the event so pack your club membership card as, although Gary Dodd assures me me knows everyone and everyone’s cars, it might pay to take your member card … just in case he doesn’t really know everyone! If you are not in a Spridget on the day then please take your membership card.

There will be catering available on the day, but pack a coffee or hot water for tea just in case.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Rick Williams is looking for a rear brake adjuster for his Midget Mk 2.

He is chasing like a genuine second hand one after buying two new ‘reproduction’ ones (pictured); however, the threads bind and cannot screw in from the front. He’s seeking one to complete his brake overhaul.

Can anyone assist?

Three weeks, four great club events!

As the days warm up so does the club event calendar. Be sure to mark the following up on the fridge so you don’t forget!

16 September – Club Annual Dinner at Hut n Soul. From 1830 for a 1900 start, it promises to be a great night for only $40 a head. Let us know if you are coming!

20 September – Mid Week Run. Arrive at Tilley Reserve at 0930 for a 1000 departure towards the north for another mystery adventure courtesy of Russell and Judy! All I can say we are heading north and there’s a great lunch destination arranged! Oh, and as always, pack morning tea! Total distance out and back is about 150km … about 100 out and 50 home! Contact Russell or Judy to let them know you are coming so they can book.

30 September – MSCA SuperSprint Round 4 . The action returns to The Bend (East Circuit) and the club is on flagging duty so if you can spare the day as a volunteer please let Pat know.

1 October – Club picnic run to the Vintage Collingwood Hillclimb. If racing at The Bend wasn’t enough the day before, 1 October sees the return of Sporting Car Club’s annual Vintage Collingwood Hillclimb for 2023.

A perfect opportunity to dust the Sprite and Midgets off, pack a picnic hamper and go and watch the likes of Gerard and club Secretary Peter take on the hill climb circuit!

Thanks to Gary Dodd, the Sporting Car Club have kindly offered Sprite Club Members free entry if they show their membership card and our Sprites and Midgets can be parked as part of the cars on display for the day, with, if time permits, a run up the course behind the pace car. Sounds like a great day out to me!! Entry is $15 for non club members with tickets purchased on line >here<.

And the events don’t just stop there. The Bay to Birdwood on soon (let the club know if you are participating, followed soon after by the annual Climb to the Eagle (click here for entry) and our annual Display Day at Wigley Reserve in Glenelg. Stay tuned for more information on Display Day as we will need some help to make this a great day!

The British Motor Corporation (BMC) always looked at various ways to promote and sell it vehicles. MG and Austin Healey used record breaking at Bonneville in the USA to help sell its vehicles in the ‘States.

Here is the video of the special streamlined Sprite breaking the 138 MPH speed on the salt flats.

At this end of the Spritely Year we have a number of gastronomic events on the Sprite Club Calendar – the Annual Dinner is one of these – have you booked your seat yet?

To start this culinary journey the Annual Pie ‘n’ Pea Night is the perfect entrée to enjoy.

Saturday Night on the 26th August saw over 30 Sprite Club members head to the Fullarton Park Community Centre for this tasting event,

Hosted by Don and Elaine Cardone, the evening started with a range of pre-dinner drinks and nibbles, while the aroma of warming pies and pea soup lingered from the kitchen.

Soon the announcement was made and there was a Spritely Line to the kitchen where members collected their pie topped with warming homemade pea soup. A dash of tomato sauce and/or vinegar to add to the flavour, and a hush fell over the room while the meal was devoured.

Seconds were available for those who were still hungry, but most found the meal fulfilling! And at $6.00 per pie it was an economical night.

After a short break, the range of desserts was displayed and enjoyed by all, with a coffee or tea.

To add to the night Gary Brock had provided a copy of his “Gary’s Quiz”, which was game mastered by Des Chabrel – with chocolates provided to the winners – Thanks to Gary and Des.

A raffle, with win prizes kindly donated by Phil and Mary-Anne Kies, added to the night.

While members chatted about Sprites, Midgets, Social Chats, and everything else – there was a small team in the kitchen cleaning up, washing dishes, and putting things back in order.

Our thanks to Don and Elaine for the co-ordination and organisation of this great evening. Also special thanks to a range of helpers who set up the venue, assisted with the food preparation and serving and the clean-up. And thanks to all for providing nibbles and sweets.

Are you coming along to the Sprite Club Annual Dinner?

16 September, 1830 for a 1900 start.

$40 per head for a 7 course meal, its hard value to beat!

Did I mention a drink on arrival and door prizes? And have I mentioned its only $40 a head to catch up with old friends and make new ones?

Come along and see who wins the Sprite of the Year and who is recognised as the Clubperson of the year for 2023. And who will win the inaugural ‘Associate Car of the Year’?

We have the whole restaurant to ourselves for the night and the chefs can cater for all dietary needs. RSVP myself or Michael McLaren, including any dietary requirements, so we can let the venue know how may to cater for. Direct Debit payment to the club before hand is preferred.

Please find the Bugeye Burble below. Hopefully it works this time as we had a website glitch when last months was saved (fixed now).

And don’t forget to RSVP if you are coming to the Annual Dinner (and pre-pay please, as we won’t be taking $$ on the night).

Contributions for the next Burble would be greatly appreciated!!

Tonight (26 Aug) – Pea and Pie Night at the Fullarton Centre Club Rooms. Hosted by Don and Elaine, this promises to be a night featuring a South Australian culinary icon, the Pie Floater. If you haven’t told the Cardones you are coming, it might not be too late! BYO and members to provide a share plates of savoury and sweet dishes!

4 September – General Meeting at the club rooms

16 September – Annual Dinner. If you haven’t RSVP’d myself or Michael, please do so as soon as possible so we can confirm numbers with the venue. The club is subsidising the meal cost and will be providing a complimentary drink on arrival too. At $40 per head for a lovely 5 or 6 course meal its hard value to beat and will be a great night. We can cater for nearly all dietary needs, be it gluten free, vegetarian or vegan as well as various allergies. Please don’t not come as you are worried we can’t cater for you! Come along and see who wins the ‘Clubman of the Year’ or the ‘Best Sprite’ (which might not be a Sprite!) or the Tony Bennetto award.

20 September – hard on the heels of the Annual Dinner is the next instalment of Russell and Judy’s mid week magical mystery meanders. Goodness only knows what they have cooked up for us this time, other than to say its off in a north by north west direction. Sounds like the name of a Hitchcock thriller!

1 October – Picnic Run to the Collingrove Hillclimb. A run not to be missed and more details to follow, suffice to say that the Sporting Car Club is recognising the Sprite Club on the day with free entry and our cars on display with the historic hill climb cars. Definitely one to put into your calendars!

More information on each event can be found on the website in the Spritely News or of course in the latest edition of the Burble

The Sprite Club of South Australia has been contacted by MSCA Member and MG Midget owner Steve Bowra, who is after some assistance.

Steve has purchased a 1969 MG Midget which has suffered some front end damage over the past years. This damage is to the beam that supports the steering rack and the front shocker mounts – due to indiscretions with pot holes and other fixed objects – these items have seen better days!

Steve is looking for a Sprite Club member who has a dismantled Spridget so he can take some measurements of the steering rack support, front shocker mounts and other front end brackets, so he can sort the geometry of his Midget.

Please contact Steve on 0417 829 864 or shbowra@bigpond.com if you can assist.

Please find the Bugeye Burble attached for your reading pleasure!

Save the date for the Annual Dinner!

When – 16 Sep 2023, starting at 1800 for pre-dinner drinks

Where – Hut-n-Soul, 310 Pultney Street, Adelaide.

Cost – $40 per head

See attached for details!

National Challenge Update from the AHSDC organising team.

A huge welcome back or welcome aboard and after such a long hiatus what a great event we have planned for you all.

Firstly, in this Bulletin No 2 you will notice a few changes. Due to popular demand we have extended the Challenge to four nights and moved Venues for a better package deal. All the accommodation has been upgraded and evening meals will be next door so as no transport needed and you can walk to and from.

Also the Post Rally Tour has been bought forward to a Pre Rally Tour so as not to collide with the Easter rush going home and will be based at Yackandandah.

We have endeavoured to keep prices at a minimum but still offering great value as we have always tried to do. There is some very exciting events planned for you which are by Invitation and or Appointment only and I believe you will find totally fabulous but we are going to keep them a surprise until you get here. So if you wish to attend the 2024 National Challenge in Wodonga please get on board and Register and pay your deposit.

We have now included a QR code on the Bulletin which will take you directly  to our AHSDC Website for all information or details.

Please find attached Bulletin No 2 which has cost details and further information. If you could distribute amongst your Club and keep the momentum going as well.

The attached Registration Form MUST be completed along with your payment details to ensure your placement and returned to me please.

For those interested in joining the PRE Rally Tour, I have attached details and information pertaining to this and you will need to contact/liaise with John Fowler directly as per his details on the attached.

Please stay tuned for further Bulletins and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Greg Corbin.

For a bit of a change, we have a guest speaker at the next Monthly General Meeting (7 August), Mr Terry Clark.

Organised by Barry Edson, Terry has offered to come in to talk about his experiences as a motorsport photographer. For a little more information about Terry please refer to the extract from the State Library below.

I’m sure it will be an interesting chat and I highly recommend members and guests to come along and listen! As usual, tea and coffee will be available.

From the State Library of South Australia:

At age 15 Terry joined the Royal Air Force as an apprentice in the trade of airborne wireless and radar fitter. With a good camera club in the RAF and some spare time, Terry’s photographic experience blossomed. The camera club had a really good quality 2 ¼ sq inch single lens reflex camera and full facilities for developing, printing, enlarging and processing the emerging technology of colour slide film.

Terry was posted to Australia to work on guided missiles in 1959. It was many miles of travel and many photographs and 8mm movie shoots before he returned for a brief spell in 1965 to the United Kingdom. Finishing his term in the RAF he migrated back to Australia to work on Jindivik a radio controlled target aircraft. On arrival in Woomera in 1967 Terry saw the opportunity to start a photographic service for the population and the local newspaper and he established Woomera Photo Services. In more than eight years as a Woomera resident he took many thousands of photographs, which unlike his wartime efforts did come out. The range of photographic assignments was extremely varied with weddings, social functions, many sporting events, local promotional postcards, ANZAC Day and 4th July celebrations, and covering visiting entertainers and sporting personalities.

Terry left Woomera after nearly nine years to live and work in Adelaide as a Prudential Insurance Company Agent. As technology progressed Terry took advantage of the growth of computer-controlled multi image slide presentations and developed a business presenting slide shows at sales conferences around the world. This led to work for CAMS at Formula 1 events and fifteen years presenting slide shows at The FIA (Federation Internationale De L’Automobile) World Rally Championship in Perth. He was also fortunate to meet many international celebrities of which the highlight was having morning tea with and photographing Nelson Mandela when he was the President of South Africa.

Terry has never been a full time professional photographer but his work has taken him around the world with presentations in nine different countries as well as every state of Australia. Terry donated all the negatives of his Woomera work to the Woomera Museum and many of his prints and 8mm movies to The State Library of South Australia.

The Marque Sports Car Association of South Australia is turning 50 and its looking to find past and present competitors to help it celebrate!

If you are or have been a competitor in one of the many many MSCA(SA) events over the years, please contact Pat Miller on 0421289706 or email him at nanmiller@adam.com.au.

You club needs you!

Our numbers have dwindled, our position now parlous.

Some have succumbed to the winter malaise and others distracted by offers of food, wine, song and free accommodation.

We stand besieged by those from the Rovers, some may be Topless and others of the Clubbie kind. And we know not what of the warriors of the MGCC or if indeed those of AHOC Clan upon the hallowed track may appear.

We need you to step forth like never before so we can stand as one, united in a single cause, bonded by a marque.

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves able to defend our club honour and set a standard of slot car team racing that will be the stories of legend.

We need you. Your club needs you…

… to come and have a Day at the Races tomorrow at Scalex World in Ridgehaven as the Sprite Club brings back an old winter favourite – slot car racing!

As advertised, the main event is a ‘Le Mans’ style teams race but that doesn’t mean you don’t come if you don’t have a team or just want to have a day reliving the joy of slot cars.

So come one, come all and see the Sprites fly around the track!

Track will open at 0900 and practice will start at 1000. The ‘race’ will kick off at 1100 and the number of rounds will depend entirely on how many teams we get on the day. We are already down a couple of people in the ‘teams’ due to a mix of the flu (and one who decided a bed and breakfast in a vineyard was better than slot car racing – seriously?) so we have some teams who may be looking for a fourth member and we have racing room for another team or two if you can find three mates or just see who is there tomorrow and join in with the fun.

And, for those who love a good coffee, head out to the Rezz for a coffee or breakfast with the Clubbies crew at 0900 before we head across to Scalex World for 10am!

$20 per head gets you track hire, a car and a controller!

Don’t forget these dates!

16 Jul – Le Mans Slot Car Challenge. We have a few teams on the books already but we can always use a few more!! And if you just want to have fun, come along anyway! We will be meeting at The Rezz at 9 for those who want a coffee first before heading over to Scalex World at 10. Come along for some mid-winter racing fun!

26 Aug – Pie and Peas Night. Nothing like a good pie floater to warm you up on a cold winters night. Please RSVP to Don or Elaine with numbers and if you can bring a Sweet or a Savoury

16 Sep – 51st Annual Dinner – details to follow!

20 Sep – Mid Week Mystery Meander – its a run to the North but I’m not sure if that’s going to be Cary Grant-esque North by North West adventure or more John Wayne North to Alaska. You’d better come along to find out!

1 Oct – Picnic Run to Collingrove Historic Hillclimb where our Sprites and Midgets will be on display thanks to the Sporting Car Club!

Please note also the club is on Flagging Duty on the 30th of Sep at The Bend so volunteers are requested to let Pat know. Perhaps if you are not planning on coming up to Collingrove on Sunday you might be able to help out on Saturday (or both!)?

Better late than never! Please see below for this months Burble, including upcoming events

Just a reminder to members of the Cancer Care Centre Fundraiser, tomorrow at the Capri Cinema in Goodwood.

Refer below for details. If you are at a loose end and love a good movie, this surely is worth considering but pre-booking is a must, so please follow the link below OR just click here to go straight to the TryBooking website.

Please find minutes from the General Meeting and Special Meeting below.

As many of you will know, Paul Doube, club member and ex President of the Sprite Club ,and stalwart of the ClubbiesSA movement is having a running battle with his health at the moment. A few weeks ago, to help me piece together some of my father’s recollections of his trips to Mallala, I asked Paul if he’d mind writing down some memories from his youth, a time when you could find him happily sweeping the floors at Garrie Cooper’s workshop, just soaking in the early days of Elfin Cars. Within the hour the following came bouncing back. Enjoy!

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The Workshop Rat, by Paul Doube

… I did indeed ‘haunt’ the Elfin factory on Conmurra Avenue, Edwardstown when I was a kid. I had developed a bit of an interest in racing and race cars, as my older brother used to bring home magazines about cars and racing, though these were usually English magazines, such as Auto Sport. In one of the Australian magazines, was an advertisement for Elfin Sports Cars, and I realised that the workshop/factory was not far away from my home at Clarence Gardens.

After school one afternoon, I hopped on my trusty treadley, and cycled down to Conmurra Avenue, where I found an unlikely looking Besserblock workshop set back a little from the street, and which was next to a firm called Cooper Motor Bodies, run by Cliff Cooper (Garrie’s father), and where Garry and Elfin Sports Cars started out. I won’t detail the history of Elfin as that is easily available elsewhere.

In any case, I saw the sliding door at the front of the workshop was slightly open, and so I peered in, trying all the while to remain out of sight of the occupants of the workshop in case I was seen to be doing something wrong. It was an amazing sight to see a couple of racing cars under construction as well as one or two being either repaired, serviced or prepared for racing, and though it was a fantastic sight, I was desperate to find a way to get inside and have a really good look.

I can’t recall for sure but this must have happened a few times over the ensuing weeks, and on a few occasions I was sure I had been sprung, but there was a big bush growing in the carpark next to the office door and workshop entrance, and I figured if anybody saw me, I could hide in the bush. I only had to do that once when a car pulled in to the carpark area (not really a carpark, just an entrance way to the premises), and as the car parked, I hid in the bush to avoid having to fess up. I have often wondered what that person must have thought, as they clearly saw me peering around the workshop door, but that I had disappeared by the time they got out of their ute.

Not long after that incident, it was school holidays, and of course, I had again cycled down to Conmurra Avenue, probably secretly hoping I would be invited in for a tour. All of sudden the garage door slid back, and this older bloke grabbed me by the front of my jumper, making me think I was going to be in trouble and have the police called (a real fear as my father was a policeman). It turned out it was Cliff Cooper, and he had a broom in his hand, again making me think I was about to get a hiding.

His words still ring clear to me when he said “instead of looking in, you might as well make yourself useful, and come in and sweep up“!

That was my ‘in’ to Elfin Sports Cars, and from that day on, I used to go down as often as I could, and simply walk in and grab a broom, and pretend to sweep up, in reality never doing much sweeping at all, and as much as possible, hanging around close to those working on the cars or talking about what they were doing. It was probably just as well, as many of the basic layouts of chassis were simply drawn in chalk on the workshop floor, and if I had swept those chalk lines up, I’m sure I would have been given a hiding.

It was a case of almost being in a live ‘Boys Own’ comic, as while many school mates were interested in racing cars, I was actually getting inside the factory, and talking to the people who designed and built them. Garry was a quieter bloke but very interesting to listen to, while Cliff was louder and I thought at the time, a bit of an ogre, but nothing could be further from the truth. Others were John Webb, the genius alloy body builder, Dale Koennecke who looked after the engines and built engines, and a smaller Italian guy named Ernest Littera, who seemed to me to be able to do absolutely anything, as well as Cliff and Garry, A younger guy was there at the time doing his apprenticeship as a fabricator, named Gregg Mobbs, and it was Greg who owned and raced an Elfin Clubman, and later designed and built the first seven of the seventeen Kestrel Clubmans, plus others who came in to do things, such a Bruce Wendt, a PMG Technician by day, but who also wired every Elfin to leave the factory. 

As an aside, there are a few later connections from that period, Bruce also wired my Kestrel Clubman and of course Greg welded up the basic chassis for my Kestrel (No 7) before I took over the build with great assistance from Tim Rees, and I later used Dale Koennecke as an expert witness in a case I was appearing as counsel in. When I had  Dale in chambers to proof him as a witness, he kept saying he thought I was familiar, to which I detailed my time going to the Elfin factory as a child. On hearing that, Dale roared laughing and said  “of course, the workshop rat”! Apparently that was how I was explained to people who came to the Elfin factory on a legitimate basis.

I continued to do this for a couple of years, but schooling at St. Ignatius at Norwood got in the way, as I was never home early enough to get down to Conmurra Avenue, though I did drop in on a few occasions when I was on school holidays. From memory this would probably have been in about 1963, as I recall being about ten years of age at the time, and that would fit in with getting a bike for Christmas just before my tenth birthday. I recall that I probably did this for two years or perhaps slightly longer, as that would also fit with my going to St. Ignatius, so probably between 1963 and 1966. This would also fit with the cars I recall seeing, which were the Catalina/Formula Junior, Elfin Mono open wheelers, the first of the Elfin Formula vee cars, and Elfin Mallala sports car.

________________________________________________________

… I’m sure many of us would give anything to experience first hand the sights, sounds and smell of 1960s motorsport, even just for five minutes. Paul, after being caught hiding in the bushes, got to spend his holidays and weekends in his formative years being small part of Australian motorsport history. We are all glad he didn’t sweep the floors too well!

Nothing says South Australia more than a hot meat pie surrounded by peas and once again the Sprite Club is bringing this culinary delicacy back with its annual Pea n Pie night!

Known to most as a ‘Pie Floater’ I can see the quizzical look on some readers faces as you read this but don’t knock it until you actually try it! Known universally as a Pie Floater, its literally a meat pie (traditionally a Pork Pie but any quality pie is good) submerged (originally upside) down in a bowl of hot pea soup! Believed to have been created in Port Pirie in the 1890s it became a late night staple of Pie Carts across Adelaide and Australia after a long night or just a great mid winter warmer tummy.

Sadly all of the original Adelaide Pie Carts have disappeared but the tradition still carries on and, thanks to the efforts of Don and Elaine, the Sprite Club will be putting on its own take on the ubiquitous Pea and Pie combination.

Where – Fullarton Park Clubrooms

When – 26 August (time TBC)

Cost -TBC but somewhere around $10 per member

BYO Drinks and a plate of nibbles or dessert

RSVP to Don and Elaine Cardone (0411 876 067) so they can gauge the numbers for ordering please. Please also advise if you intend to bring a savoury or sweet plate so we don’t end up with too much one thing!

Visitors are most welcome, just please let us know prior so we can cater for the right numbers!

Please find the Minutes from the June 23 General Meeting below.

(updated 25 Jun 23)

A friendly reminder that there will be a Midweek Meander this week (Wed 21st), lead by Pat Miller.

Gather at Windy Point Upper Car Park at 0930 for a 1000 departure.

Route will be a scenic roll through the Adelaide’s southern hills, via Clarendon and Kangarilla enroute to Collectable and Classics at Strathalbyn for a late morning tea and to look at the cars on display and for sale there. From there its a run up the picturesque Strath Road to Echunga for lunch at the Hagen Arms.

Pat and Nan have checked the route and despite the miserable weather it was a great drive! Lets hope for nice weather on Wednesday!

Look out for Pat’s Falcon Ute at Windy Point.

If you haven’t already, please let him know you are coming on 0421 289 706.

Earlier this year we lost one of our club stalwarts, Don Williams, to the effects of cancer and we have other club members who are or have been engaged with their own battles with this insidious disease.

This July Don’s nephew and fellow club member, Dale Halling, will be raising a non-alcoholic glass to Don and through the Dry July initiative to a better life for all people affected by cancer.

By taking part in Dry July, Dale, an many others like him, will be going alcohol-free and raising funds to help make a difficult time a little easier for cancer patients, their families and carers. If you are able he would be very appreciative if you could make a small donation to this most worthy of causes.

Your donation will help fund services such as a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment.

To donate please head to https://www.dryjuly.com/users/dale-halling. The size of the donation does not matter, its the thought that counts and every small thought contributes to the cause.

Otherwise known as … the Mid Week Run for next week is ON!

Thanks to Pat offering to run the day, the June ‘Winter Solstice‘ mid-week run is go!

Date – 21 June 23

Time – 0930 for a 1000 off

Starting Point – Windy Point Car Park (uphill car park)

Route – Pat is planning an easy run through the southern hills to Strathalbyn where we will stop for a late morning cup of tea or coffee and a wander through Ben Finnis’s Collectable and Classic Cars. Ben has asked for a $2 per person donation that will go to his Charity of the Month. BYO coffee/tea or support one of the local coffee shops!

Lunch – following Collectable and Classics tables have been reserved at the Hagen Arms in Echunga for 1230, just a quick trip up the road from Strath.

Please let Pat or Robin know if you are going so we can adjust the table numbers for the Hagen Arms (currently booked for 16).

Fingers crossed for reasonable weather!

Greetings all. Just a quick update on planned and unplanned activities that are coming up in the next couple of weeks!

17 June – Army Vehicles Open Day. Looking for something different to do this Saturday? Ever wanted to get up close to the latest in Army trucks? The Royal Australian Corps of Transport is holding an open day at Keswick Barracks from 1100 until 1400. Come and see some of the oldest and latest Army vehicles and listen to the Army Band play from 1200. Numbers are limited to 500 and bookings are essential via Eventbrite for this free event.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/army-transport-open-day-at-keswick-barracks-tickets-636969381567

21 Jun – Winter Solstice Lunch Run. We’ve combined several run themes into one and created a mid-week Winter Lunch Run to celebrate the shortest day of the year (a day or so early) with a run out to Strath and Echunga but I need a ‘Run Captain’ to run the day, record attendance, marshal troops, give directions and generally keep law and order. Should be easy right? Unfortunately Russell and Judy are indisposed and most of the Committee are tied up so I’m calling on a volunteer … and an idea of numbers so I can book an appropriate venue for lunch! Please let me know at spriteclubsa@gmail.com or call/text me on 0431 247 746 if you can help out!

Run details to follow once we know we can run the run (so to speak!)

Finally ….

25 June – Breakfast Run to Murray Bridge with the MG Car Club. Departing Veale Gardens at 0900 for a run out along the ‘old road’ to Murray Bridge. Details can be found here, here and here! All welcome to tag along!

Oh – and don’t forget to get your Slot Car teams together for the event of the year at Scalex World on the 16th of July. Should be a great day and we can’t let the first winners not be the Sprite Club!

Save the date – Sunday, 16 July 2023. A day that may go down in the annuals of motor sport history as the day the Sprite Car Club (SA) Slot Car Cup burst onto the racing calendar. Yes, that’s right, its the world famous SCCSCC. I’m not sure its really world famous and to be honest, I’m not 100% sure we will have a Cup to award to the winning team, but it will be a great day of fun competition at Clive Spreadbury’s Scalex World slot car complex!

The race. The main event is a ‘Le Mans’ style race with six teams of four drivers per team. Each driver will get to race for a set time and its a simple formula … the team with the most laps at the end of the race time wins!

And the cars? You will be racing identical Austin Healey Sprites of course! No traction or aerodynamic aids, just pure hand-eye-throttle coordination to keep your car on the circuit! These are no ordinary slot cars. You wont find these in a shop as they have been custom built by Clive using the best steel chassis and motors covered by hand built bodies.

Now you can’t have a competition without having challengers so we will be issuing a challenge, laying down an electronic gauntlet if you like, to some like minded car groups in Adelaide to stir up some competition and possibly create an annual event. Who will we challenge and who will have the courage to attempt to become the inaugural winners of the SCCSCC? You will have to come along on the day to find out! And of course if you are from an interstate Sprite/Midget club and visiting Adelaide we’d love to see you on the day too!

All three tracks will be running on the day with the the main event hosted on the competition track. The other two tracks will open to those looking to practice their skill or just relive your youth and have a go at racing a slot car! Dust off your old Slot Cars (1:24th and 1:32nd scale) or hire a car on the day and relive your childhood. A warning though … its highly highly addictive!

For those teams chasing Cup glory bonus points will be awarded for each ‘marque representative’ slot car you bring along. I know one member of the Sprite Club has two in build already so best get cracking!

When – Sunday 16 July.

Where – Scalex World (3 Paul St, Ridgehaven).

Cost – $20 per person which includes a car, track hire and a controller.

Practice from 1000 with racing starting at 1100 until 1300

Getting there. Every third Sunday of the month the ladies and gents of ClubbiesSA meet at the Rezz for breakfast. Sean assures me we are all welcome to join them so to really make a day of it, head to the Rezz for a coffee and from there its just a hop, step and a jump over to Scalex World!

Afterwards. If the weather is kind it’s a BBQ lunch in the park across the road afterwards so pack a BBQ picnic, otherwise we will head to a local pub!

And if you are really keen, Clive is also a Scalextric retailer so if (or when) the slot car bug(eye) bites he can satisfy your competition adrenaline rush with all the equipment you might need!

Daryl, our Regalia Officer brought to my attention what I think is a really good cause that the Sprite Car Club might want to support.

His wife (and Sprite Club member) Ruth is on the Board of the Cancer Care Centre and is seeking to raise further funds to support people living with cancer. They have partnered with the Capri Cinema (Goodwood Road, Goodwood) and together are hosting a charity screening of the new Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

When and where: Capri Cinema in Goodwood, Sunday 9 July at 2.30pm. The movie will screen from 3.30 with all monies raised going to the Cancer Care Centre.

This is an exceptionally worthy charity. Sadly 1 in 2 people are affected by cancer at some point in their lives, be it directly or as a family member. The Cancer Care Centre is there to support not only those suffering but their affected families.

To book tickets for this event, please click the link >here< and follow the prompts.

In the words of Daryl and Ruth, please bring your Spritely selves and support a very worthy cause!

Please find the latest (updated) edition of the Bugeye Burble here!

Please find the Minutes of the May General Meeting below for your review.

Please note, the proposed 28 May Winery Lunch as been postponed and will be combined with a run to Pub in late June (details to follow). In its stead will be the opportunity to join in the MCGG(SA) Breakfast Run. Refer to Spritely News for more information. Please let Robin know if you are attending and he will advise the MGCC of potential numbers.

For the eagle eyed amongst us you will note a Midweek Run and a proposed Winery Run this month. I have to admit, I haven’t had a spare moment to organise them (sorry) and that’s pretty much the same for all of the Committee BUT, in their stead, we’ve been invited to join in the next MG Car Club (South Australia) Breakfast Run on Sunday the 28th of May.

Not a lunch surrounded by a vineyard (again … sorry!!), but a nice run up through One Tree Hill and back down to Carisbrooke Park for a BYO brunch picnic and a natter with like minded car enthusiasts and then off home to start the rest of the day!

General details can be found on the MGCC(SA) website (click here for the link) with the specifics for the day found here, including directions and a route map. The overview of the morning is as follows:

Sunday, 28 May, arrive Veale Gardens (South Terrace) for a 0900 departure

This month’s route is up North East Road to Golden Grove Road, thence on to One Tree Hill, prior to looping back onto Black Top Road for the run back into the city and on to Carisbrooke Park (just past the Old Spot).

Pack a thermos of hot coffee or tea and bring some morning tea and meet some like minded car enthusiasts.

Here’s hoping for a dry day – I can handle the cold as the heater in the Midget works but I’d prefer not driving in the rain as the windscreen leaks!

Words and Photo by Sean Power, borrowed from ClubbiesSA with Sean’s permission

A sad but happy event happened the other day. Paul and Ruth Doube, stalwarts of both the Sprite Club of South Australia and ClubbieSA, asked me to drive their Kestrel Clubbie to the transport company at Wingfield so it could be sent to Perth for their son Michael to use. Paul can no longer drive it so this was the best option. I was proud to do this.

Paul and Ruth were at the first ClubbiesSA lunch meeting start up of the group in 2000 at Skillogalee Winery. Paul drove my Kestrel home that day and wanted one and then built Kestrel 117 and raced and drove it everywhere – about 115,00kms so far. It still goes well. We all had a tear once we signed off the paperwork, just check the photos. End of an era but with the car staying in the family, its the start of a new one … or maybe its just an extension of the same story as I’m sure we will see the Kestrel, with Doube at the wheel again soon!

(words by Sean Power. Photos from Pat and myself)

Sunday’s 6 Hour event at Mallala was quite a day. The weather Gods did smile on us in some ways – it did not rain and although the morning was freezing, there was bright sun for the main part of the day. It was cold if you did not prepare well, and I was grateful for lots of walking around and winter woollies underneath the jeans.

What a day – 2 composite teams entered for the first time in 10 or 12 years for a team of 5 (Red Heiffer) and 4 (We’re in it for the Beer) cars respectively. Red Heiffer originally had 6 cars but we gave Rob van Wageningen in his Nissan 370Z to a Victorian Sprite Car ClubTeam to help bring them over for the event. This kind act would rebound on us later!

Red Heiffer Driver Gerard Miller had problems from the start of the day with his beautiful old Buick race car. Usually faultless, it play up from the start and ended with a cannibalised battery from Dean King’s car and another devious electrical capacitor to keep it running, but only for short times. Eventual withdrawal in the final moments of the day. The rest of Red Heiffer just kept circulating. Dean’s car would be further cannibalised to keep on of the Victorian Spridgets racing. Hopefully he can piece it all back together again!

Most of the drama was with the “Beer” team. One of Dave Tye’s Lotus was not entered, blown engine from the Historics a few weeks ago. This left a starting pool of 4 cars. Things started well, then late in the day, Pat Mullins in the Tye’s Lotus Cortina, lost 2nd gear and had to retire. The gear is yet to be found! Shortly after, the Clubbie of John Coker lost a fan belt somewhere out on the track and he had to retire. Bugger! Rod Hammond (Puma) and Davin Umlauf, Kestrel Twin Charge), were left to continue and finish off the day. Lots of laps and close calls for this small team but we made it in the end.

I wish to thank the great volunteer group from both Clubbies and Sprite clubs, their partners and their friends and some other people I had press-ganged into helping on the day. It was a huge, long, tiring day but we managed to complete the day safely. On behalf of all the drivers, I thank all those who helped make the day such a success. Our club members really stepped in and ran the teams so well, from the Hill, timing, to managing the pit wall and form-up. With two teams entered, there is a lot of work managing the day. Next year, I will buy more two way radios, as the lack of comms equipment this year really showed.

Now to Rob! The Victorian Sprite team (Team Goblin) he was given to had, with him included, 4 cars in total. Rob had replaced both discs and front brake pads of the 370Z two weeks before yesterday. A warmup up stint and then an extended drive and he was back in the pits having had a total loss of brakes. Examination revealed complete wear of pads but no serious damage to rotors. Car withdrawn.

Today, a call to Rob found that his Victorian Sprite team (Team Goblin) had come third and he had been given a trophy. He was so proud. That hurt. In all the 20 years we have entered, our teams have never won anything, in fact we have always figured down towards the bottom end of each table. Even when we had entered 4 teams many years ago, we got nowhere. We have had fun with most drivers content with having fun and not always sticking to their stated times.

In my role as the President of the Sprite Club, I announced last night a Special Meeting to discuss and ratify an update to the Club Constitution, to be held following the General Meeting, 3 Jul 23.

A draft of the update has been emailed to all surviving Founding, Life and current Financial Members of the Sprite Club of South Australia. If you have not received an email and believe you should have or are aware of a Founding or Life member who we have not emailed, please contact me in my role as the Webmaster and I’ll endeavour to get the draft out. I’d also ask you to check your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ email folders.

Please find below the Sprite Club Bugeye Burble where you will find the latest club information.

Please note the call for volunteers to support the Clubs two teams entered into the Peter Hall Memorial Six Hour at Mallala on the 7th. Many hands make light work of the day so if you can help out, even just for a few hours, Sean and Pat would be very grateful!

I’ve put in two ‘place holder’ events listed in June. A Midweek Run on the 17th of May, and a Sunday Lunch run on the 28 May. If you have a great idea for these events please contact the Committee and we will see if we can pull one or all of these events off, otherwise we will slide the Midweek run into perhaps Jul.

I will be calling some Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale pubs for the Winter Solstice Run to make a booking this week. If you have ‘must visit pub’ please let me know and I’ll add them to the list.

Finally, please note the ‘Special Meeting’ called on 3 Jul 2023 to discuss and (hopefully) ratify an update to the Club Constitution. The amendments are necessary to bring it in line with the current Conditional Registration requirements and the opportunity is being taken to help the club survive and thrive over the next 10+ years. There will be more information emailed out to all current members later this week; however, in accordance with the Constitution the Committee needs to provide two clear months notice of a Special Meeting. That was provided last night at the monthly General meeting. We need at least 20 members present on the night to vote on any change to Constitution.

Don’t forget the Monthly General Meeting tonight at the Fullarton Community Centre! Hope to see you there. To help you while away the time between now and 8pm tonight I found this article in the MG Car Club of SA magazine. I can’t vouch for its accuracy but it made for an interesting read…

A Brief History of a Brief Competition History

The original M-Type Midget helped bring motor racing to the masses and its competition history in the hands of both factory and privateer racers is well documented with tales of daring do from Brooklands to Lands’ End Speed Trials and even Le Mans. Yet try and research the competition history of the later Midget, you largely draw a blank. Type into Google something obvious like ‘BMC Motorsport History MG Midget’ and you get pages of hits about Minis conquering Monte Carlo or Bathurst, and Healeys (big and small), MGAs, MGBs and MGCs at Le Mans, Sebring, Targa Florio and rallies everywhere, yet you almost must hire a private detective, or at least scroll to the 6^th or 7^th page of Google search results to discover anything about the Midget! You could easily conclude that Works backed ‘Spridget’ racing was the sole domain of the Austin Healey Sprite but dig a little deeper and a rich and colourful competition history of Midget begins to emerge.

In terms of factory backed cars, the likes of the Big Healeys, the Sprite, MGA/B/C and of course the Minis feature heavily in the results sheets of many of the ‘big’ road and rally events across Europe and America. Drivers that were, or about to become, household names often filled their seats, including the likes of Stirling and Pat Moss, Paddy Hopkirk and movie star Steve McQueen. Formula One and Le Mans starts such as Innes Ireland, Pedro Rodriquez, Graham Hill and Bruce McLaren also all raced a Sprite or Midget at different stages of their careers.

Ever mindful of the advertising and publicity that success on Sunday brought, in 1961 the (then) new Midget was thrust into the rally program with three factory backed Midgets competing in 1961 and 62, before being withdrawn from rally events (but not before one was rebadged a Sprite and continued to compete in the hands of Works and privateer drivers for several years as both a Sprite or a Midget). The symbiotic relationship between Sprites and Midgets is something that rears its head again and again in the racing career of the Midget.

As a Works backed rally car, the Midget might not have lasted all that long; however, as a road racing car, the pages of its history were only beginning to be written. Inspired by the outline of the Aston Martin DB4, Dick Jacobs (of Jacobs Racing Team fame) took a racing coupe concept to Albingdon where it came to the attention of Syd Enver and, after some modifications, it became the ‘Jacobs Midget’. The new body was more aerodynamic (a huge advantage when you consider the output of the humble A Series engine) and when completed tipped the scales some 150 kg lighter than the production car. Again, a huge advantage given the powerplant. Three coupes were produced, two of which were raced by Jacobs Racing who found class success in events such as the Nurburgring 500 and 1000 and one to a privateer racer.

Such was the success of the Jacobs team with their two humble Midgets, the cars were returned to the Albingdon where the Works team took over their running (under Dick Jacob’s guidance) for a number of events in 1965 including Sebring and the Targa Florio, with Paddy Hopkirk returning to steer the Midget at that event. All three exist to this day and, like its sibling, the ‘Sebring Sprite’ has spawned a number of replicas.

Two production Midgets then were taken racing in 1965 for the ‘World Championship of Makes’, held in Bridgehampton in the US. Lightened with some aluminium panels and mildly tuned 1293cc engines one went on to place third in class before being used by MG USA in 1966 to promote the launch of the Mk3 Midget and its ‘new’ 1275cc engine. These cars then passed into private hands to race on in events throughout the US for a number of years. One car has disappeared but one survives to this day, the only one of the five ‘works Midgets’ (not counting the Jacobs cars) believed to survive to this day (the other three being the Mk1 Midget rally cars, all of which have been lost to history).

When you talk to a Spridget aficionado about racing, the Sebring and Le Mans Sprites are never far from their lips. And nor they should be. Donald Healey’s team won or placed in their category at Sebring on a number of occasions and the Le Mans Sprite was ultimately developed into a car capable of 150mph on the Mulsane Straight for hour after gruelling hour (albeit using a highly modified MGB gearbox!). A far cry from the humble showroom car! Healey, always mindful that sales were always a must to justify the racing program, particularly in the US, a far more standard Midget would be entered in the Production categories at Sebring, although with no lesser drivers than those steering the Sprites (Graham Hill for example). The irony (ignominy perhaps?) was that these MG Midgets were all, in fact, re-badged Sprites and after the events were returned to being a Sprite and subsequently sold on! The Midget does get almost the last laugh though … the final of the Healey built ‘Works Sprites’, was completed in 1969 for the Targa Florio just as BMC withdrew its backing from Healey Racing. Sold off to a privateer it was raced extensively in the US, including Sebring, often recorded in the record books as …. a Midget!  

No article about racing Midgets would be complete without a doff of the hat towards John Spritzel, the BMC tuning wizard and his entry into the somewhat controversial 1968 London to Sydney Marathon (won by Andrew Cowan in a Hillman Hunter). Not only did he help organise the event, but he entered it in an MG Midget and was holding well into the Top 10 cars until the Australian outback beat the Midget’s suspension, ending his race!

As the basis of many a race car in marque sports car events, Midgets continue to grace tracks across the country. Easy to work on and still relatively cheap, add the mandatory safety equipment even to a standard car and you have bags of competition fun and they are simple enough that any mug spanner turner can easily find 25-50% more power and handling with little effort or outlay before you really get silly!

Sue Stephenson, our great MSCA 6 Hour event organiser & Sprite Club member, has an urgent appeal for help.

One of the two Vic Sprite teams has a member who has had to pull out and they are reduced to only three cars.

CAN YOU HELP??

Is someone willing to effectively pull on the Big V, become an honorary Victorian for six hours and help get two Vic Sprite teams across the border and to the start line?

Sue has asked Sean’s Red Heiffers, as they have six cars entered, if one of them can switch sides for the day, and they will, but Sean has offered the spot to another Sprite Club member if they might like to go racing for the day. You just have to become a Victorian (for a few hours) … and that’s ok as its for a good cause!

And no, if they are well placed you can’t speed up or slow down to put them off the podium!

If you have your license (don’t quote me, but I think ‘all’ you need is a Speed Licence … Sue will quickly correct this I’m sure!!) and your car needs to be appropriately equipped for the day, then please contact Sue Stephenson (comp@mscasa.com) as soon as possible. If you’d prefer to talk to her in person and you don’t have her number, contact me (Robin) or another club member and we will pass you the number.

First in, best dressed.

Hot on the heels of our own Stars and their Cars evening, the Sporting Car Club of South Australia invited us and the Austin Healey Owners Club to their Classic & Modern section evening to celebrate all things Austin Healey night, where Don’s stunning Sprite was one of the feature attractions!

Three amazing cars featured on stage, a genuine 100S with an incredibly well documented history and pedigree, a beautiful 3000 MkIII (BJ8) and, of course, Don’s 1960 MkI Sprite.

If I a dollar for each time I heard ‘I had one of these’ from people pouring over the Sprite! I genuinely think people were stunned at the lengths Don had to go to to restore the Sprite. The effort required to just restore the bonnet I think left many amazed, a story made even more interesting as he’d sourced the bonnet from another ex Sprite owner and Sporting Car Club member (Doug Gordon) who was present on the night …. I don’t think even he realised how much work had to go into just the bonnet!

For those who don’t know, to straighten the Sprite’s bonnet it was completely unstitched (unwelded), each panel was individually straightened and re-shaped, before it was all rewelded, lead wiped and repainted in Carnation Red as we all know it today!

A big thank you must go to Sprite Club member (and outgoing SCCSA Classic & Modern section president) Gary Dodd who’s brainchild it was to bring together the Sporting Car Club, the AHOC and the Sprite Club. A great night with some fabulous stories about the history of some amazing cars!

Thank you to also to Gordon for the photos from the event!

The April General meeting of the Sprite Club of South Australia sees the members head to the Sporting Car Club clubrooms for the Stars and Their Cars night. This annual event is a chance for the members to showcase their vehicles and allow us to enjoy the benefits of automobilism.

This year President Robin had chosen Non-Sprite and Midget vehicles as an opportunity to view other vehicles from members garages.

The vehicles on display this year included:

• Grant Stephenson’s Ford Capri GT 3 litre V6
• Don Cardone’s Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
• Phil Kies Triumph TR4A
• Paul Mitchell’s Mini Jem

The meeting commenced with pizza and drinks to start the night, then some general meeting items before the opportunity for the “Stars” to talk about their “Cars”.

Gordon Boyce interviewed each member about their involvement with the Sprite Club and some details of their ownership of their cars. Each of these vehicles had been through some form of restoration from minor to major and these stories were discussed during the talks.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Grant’s Capri has had a number of engine rebuilds over his 40 years of ownership, the latest providing a very sweet sounding and driving package…and no he will not sell the car!

• Don and son Joe described the simple “lets just tidy up the engine bay Dad!” that ended up with a full repaint, retrim and subtle upgrades to the Alfa…another vehicle that will remain in the family for years to come!

• Paul’s Mini Jem – based on a fibreglass kit from Taylors of Medindie plus Mini Cooper S running gear has transformed from a road to track use vehicle and back to road use vehicle – Paul even drove the vehicle to Mackay, QLD!

• Phil’s’ TR4A also started a a few cosmetic repairs at Member Gerald Miller’s Marque Restorations and has ended up as the beautiful vehicle we see today – winning Associate People’s Choice at the 50th Anniversary Display Day in 2022.

Members were then free to mingle with the “Cars” and talk with the “Stars” about their vehicles.

The Sprite Club would like to thank Grant, Don and Joe, Phil and Paul for bringing their vehicles along and sharing them with our members.

Also like to thank Michael and Pat for organising the pizzas, drinks and the venue.

If you think March was mad, have a read of what’s in store for April!

And don’t forget, for those of us of the MG persuasion, the MG National Concours will be at Wigley Reserve on Easter Saturday!

Oh, that rain……

If there was a direct route from Balhannah to Hindmarsh Island, that was most definitely the route not travelled today. Rather, today we first headed east then south west along some of the some of lovely driving roads that wind their ways through the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsular regions until we reached the mystery lunch destination of the Island Café on Hindmarsh Island.

Only the weather tried to throw a spanner in the works with intermittent rain up until the morning tea stop at the Callington Oval. Perhaps it was the rain that kept the final numbers down but we still had eight cars out for some exercise. My excuse for not driving the Little Blue Car is that it can’t get out of its garage due to a rather large (and growing) mount of soil in front of the garage doors and not the rain, but the intermittent showers still didn’t stop several of the Spridgets going sans roof, with Judy and Russell keeping the faith in their Midget, as did the Schubert’s in their Bugeye!

A great run it was, along some great winding backroads, a lovely lunch and, with the sun quite finally ensconced in the sky by lunch, a fabulous vista … from inside the restaurant!

Can’t wait until Russell and Judy dream up their next run!

Thank you Judy for the photos!

I saw this post on Facebook last night and thought it worthy of reposting here for those who don’t have Facebook. Her name is Steph, she lives in the UK and she has a Facebook page called @idriveaclassic which for those with social media is well worth a read.

I think her post encapsulates what Classic Car ownership is all about. It doesn’t have to be the biggest, the fastest or rarest to win your heart. Nor does a perceived lack of technical skill need to stop you from participating. They have a way of teaching you how to care for them.

I read all to often negative comments towards people who have recently bought a classic car and ask what some might consider ‘basic’ question and are then questioned if they really should own a classic car. It only takes one or two comments like that to turn a new owner away from the movement when all they need is some guidance as to where to find information and some advice on some simple techniques.

——————————————

Today I picked up my Morris Minor, Nancy. My favourite car, the reason I love classics and the car I will *never* sell.

When I was 25 I purchased this car for £500 with my first two weeks wages after uni burning a hole in my pocket

The car hadn’t been on the road since the very early 1990s and it was 2012. Quite frankly, it was a bloody reckless thing to do for somebody with zero mechanical knowledge.

She passed MOT first time with zero work and I just started driving her. She was more than a bit scruffy with drainpipe bumpers and painted in boat paint and I regularly got laughed at. However, she never let me down (well, once in France, which I still get teased about) and I loved her so much.

I said right from the get go she’d get restored and nobody believed me because I had zero mechanical knowledge and no decent capital behind me. I mean if I’m honest, I didn’t know how I’d do it but I’d got quite far on blind ignorance so far, so just thought I’d crack on.

Anyway, took her off the road in 2015 and today, after extensive work by a talented restorer, she comes home.

I’ve got a video coming but first I need to get her MOT’d! It’s booked for Tuesday

If you’re interested in seeing her, she’ll be on display at the Practical Classics Resto Show in Hall 5 this coming weekend and if you can’t make it, don’t miss the upcoming video!

Ps. Some advice: If you’re balls deep in a resto with no forward plan, if your project car is on hold due to finances or if you’re just winging it in a scruffy car until you can afford the respray, it’s all good. You WILL get there.

Pps. I bought E5, I know somebody will ask this

Member in Adelaide seeking assistance with body work for a Mk1 Sprite. Refer here for more details.

A beautiful autumnal evening was laid on for the first of the Sprite Club ‘Sports Car Cruises’ for 2023. A slightly smaller gathering than recent events, but a great bunch of classis cars and their owners non the less wended their way up Old Belair Road, round past the Belair National Park and then across the hills via Upper Sturt Road and then up and over Mount Lofty before a sunset run down Greenhill Road back into Adelaide.

With road lit up by the magic of Lucas lighting and the procession greeted with colours of a spectacular sunset over the Gulf, a more picture perfect backdrop could not have been asked.

Our motley crew of Sprites, Midgets, MGTC, MGBs, MGFs and other classics, including Don’s achingly beautiful Alfa Spider (a car that appears on everyone’s list of the 10 most beautiful cars), Zane’s now award winning Datsun 260Z and Frank’s amazingly original HQ Kingswood (that brought back many a memory of long trips and bench seats), we seemed to attract the attention of many a walker as we rolled through the foothills! Even Chris put in an appearance with his delightful VW Beetle which did its best to test his mechanical ability on the run! The hills were certainly alive to the sound of music, or at least the burble of a couple of Bugeyes and friends!

And only on a Sprite Car run would you find a TC needing to stop so its driver could switch over his oxygen bottles! Paul’s health may not be what it was, but his mind and ability as sharp as ever so it was lovely to have him and Ruth along with their MGTC for the run. So much so we broke a ‘club rule’ and awarded him the prize for the Best Patina for the second run in a row! Now they have matching coffee mugs so they don’t have to fight over who gets to use the trophy for their morning brew!! The TC is always so well turned out and the effort they go to to enjoy a run is worthy of more than just a coffee mug as a prize!

If you are reading this from another club and wondering if you are welcome to join us for a run, or indeed any of our events, then the answer is yes! We welcome members from other clubs with other classic cars! If you are a past member, don’t be shy and just join in too! We regularly have members from other car clubs from across Adelaide and indeed the State.

Upcoming events

Members (and friends), don’t forget the next two upcoming social events:

29 March – Russell and Judy’s Mid Week Meander “A Southern Sojourn“.  Meet at the Balhannah Oval Tennis Club Carpark at 0930 for a briefing before we get under way at 1000 and saunter off in a generally southerly direction. If you’d like to join us for lunch you NEED to talk contact Russell or Judy (or me) as numbers at the lunch venue are limited; however, if you are not inclined or can’t stay for lunch, come along (just ensure you’ve got petrol for about 160km in the tank!!)

3 April – Stars and their Cars. The next monthly meeting is at the Sporting Car Club where we will celebrate the classic car journeys of four of our members and take a closer look at some of their cars! Other clubs are most welcome to join us. Its free for Sprite Club members and only $5 per head for non members.

For those fans of motor racing, the next couple of weeks are action packed also, with the Adelaide Motorsport Festival this coming weekend and the hill climb season officially kicking off on the weekend of 1/2 April at Collingrove.

Basically, there is something for everyone over the next couple of weeks!!

Happy Spridgetting!

Photo Credits to Kathie Leane and Margy Donaldson

Did someone say ‘hill climb’?

For all those of the hill climbing persuasion or just those curious to understand the attraction of racing up a steep and twisty track, circle the weekend of 1/2 April!

Why I hear you ask?

Well, because the Sporting Car Club is hosting its first of two ‘Come and Try’ days at the Collingrove Hill Climb track on Saturday the 1st of April (and that’s not April Fools day joke) and then the first full competition event on Sunday the 2nd with Round 1 of the Collingrove Challenge Trophy.

I’ll admit it, I am ‘hill climb curious’ but I also have a very good understanding of my driving ability, (or lack there of) and a morbid fear of failure, but I may venture out there, even just to watch and ponder what if??!

Please find below the minutes for the March General Meeting.

Next General Meeting will be combined with our Stars and their Cars night at the Sporting Car Club of SA, 3 April, from 6.40pm. Hope to see you all there.

If you are getting my emails (some aren’t!!) you might have seen the Sprite Clubs are garnering interest around bringing back the National Challenge for 2024. If you are like me and new to the world of National Challenges or just reminiscing about events past, Gordon sent the following Flashback from 2001!

What is a National Challenge?

The National Challenge started as an interstate motorkhana between the NSW, ACT (this club closed soon after) and Victorian Sprite Clubs. This was at Wagga Wagga in April 1970. The venue was moved between Sydney and Wagga Wagga over the next few years, and in 1973 it was held during August. Some of the SA Sprite Club members ventured over for a look.

In 1974 the venue moved to Hay, as it was more central for the SA members. SA won the event outright, thanks to the driving skills of Founder Member, Joe Walker!! During 1975 Queensland had some representation and SA had 36 members present. 1976 was the final motorkhana at Hay, with discussion held towards making the weekend a “National Challenge”.

1977 saw Hume Weir race track the venue for the Sprint event, with standing and flying laps, a motorkhana on the banks of the Murray River, Ladies Teams and a winery visit on the way home. This event was held on the ANZAC Day long weekend with over 70 competitors from NSW, SA
and VIC. It also marked the first wheel turn, on what is now Don Taylor’s “Super Sprite”, which took fastest time of the day in the sprints, beating John Moore (VIC) in his 327 Chevy powered panel van.

For 1978 the event moved to the longer Easter Weekend, but doubts over the Hume Weir circuit caused the event to move to Winton (VIC) for 1979. This proved popular with the inclusion of driver training, private practice and concours d’elegance, for 170 participated with 90 competing, with 9 from Queensland.

1980 was also held at Winton, and then in 1981 it moved to Oran Park near Sydney. By now the format of Good Friday – Private Practice and Driver Training at the circuit, Easter Saturday – Sprints (later becoming Super Sprints), Sunday – Concours (am) and Motorkhana (pm). During the evenings there would be many Social Activities including dinners, dances, trivia quiz’s, Sprite Olympics, theatre sports, spark plug changing competitions and the famous “Fluffy Bunnies” (see how many marshmallows you can stuff in your mouth and still say “Fluffy Bunny”).

Over the next 10 years the National Challenge moved between VIC and NSW using many race circuits. 1982 was back at Winton, 1983 Catalina Park (NSW), 1984 Winton, 1985 Oran Park, 1986 Winton, 1987 Oran Park, 1988 Winton, 1989 Oran Park, with 1990 being a highlight at Phillip Island (VIC). This was one fantastic, but quick racetrack.

Cost of running the event and having a central venue for most Clubs led to Winton hosting the National Challenge for 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Members wanted a change of venue, so it moved to the newly opened club track at Wakefield Park near Goulburn (NSW) for 1995. The
Sprites returned to Winton for 1996, and headed north to Wakefield Park for 1997, 1998 and 1999.

The 30th National Challenge was held at Winton during 2000, with a revised format (due to track bookings) of Friday practice and sprints at Winton, Saturday motorkhana at the Driver Education Centre at Shepparton and a concours and navigation run on Sunday.

Two things were included over the past 10 years, a regularity event on the Friday for those Sprite drivers who cherished their cars more than abused them and more social events, including a theme party on Saturday Night (so you did not compete or drive home with a sore head!!), social drives to surrounding points of interest (wineries!!!), so members could make the Challenge a holiday as well.

As you will notice SA has yet to host a Challenge (although interstate members have been asking for over 20 years to have one here!!) The committee has been busy over the past 18 months fundraising, investigating accommodation and motorkhana venues and planning this event.

I think you will agree it has been well worth the wait.

A Sprite Odyssey National Meeting, Gordon B, 2001

Members, please find the updated copy of the Bugeye Burble below, now including details of the first Mid Week Meander (sorry Russell and Judy!).

Happy reading and I hope to see you at an event soon!

Upcoming events to keep in your diaries!

12 March – MSCA SuperSprint (Round 1, including the MSCA Come and Try Day)

18 March – Sports Car Cruise. Departing Claremont Avenue (Netherby) at 1845 for a 50km evening run through the hills and back into Adelaide – all invited so bring a friend from another club along with her/his classic!

29 March – Midweek Meander #1. Meet at the Balhannah Oval Tennis Club Carpark at 0930 for a briefing before we get under way at 1000 and saunter off in a generally southerly direction on one of Russell and Judy’s magical mystery tours! Hopefully it doesn’t rain!! You’ll need petrol for at least 160km of driving!!!

1/2 April – Collingrove Hill Climb Come & Try (Sat) then Round 1 of the Collingrove Challenge Trophy (Sun)

3 April – STARS & THEIR CARS at the Sporting Car Club – not to be missed and it already comes with a twist … every good plan needs a back up right? Come along and find out what I’m talking about!!!

14 April – Sporting Car Club Healey Night. Come and listen to Don discuss his car along with some other equally delicious Big Healeys. Our quota is nearly full so if you want to come along contact Robin or Peter ASAP

23 April – McLaren Vale Vintage and Classic. The Sprite Car Club is being hosted for the lunch at Bec Hardy Wines this year, along with our friends at the Sporting Car Club of South Australia, so I’m sure our Spridgets will be in good company this year!! Entry details here

7 May – Peter Hall Memorial 6 Hour Regularity Relay

7 May – British Classics Tour (McLaren Vale to Victor Habour). Entry details here

I don’t think the last two Sprite Club of SA outings could have been more different. A warm barmy night, perfect for ice-cream and a summer evening cruise, followed by the overcast, wind and rains of All British Day!

Ice Cream Run

A perfect night for sampling the offerings from one of the newest ice creameries in town greeted the club. After a short interlude to reflect on the passing of Don and the passing out of Michael’s near cryptic clues for the route, it was ‘wagons ho’ for a scenic tour of the inner southern suburbs and the mandatory evening run through the city (although it was foiled by the road closures for the Fringe Festival).

One of us got a bit confused and had a bit of a detour on the way to the event but despite this, we had approximately 15 cars of all descriptions, including Gordon and his daughter Tiana who took the majority of the images of the run (thank you Tiana!).

With traffic lights and the road closures we were bound to have the group split up along the way yet we all managed to arrive safe and sound back in Unley to sample the offerings of 48 Flavours (some sooner than others – some people will do anything to be first in line for ice cream!).

I figure I’m one flavour down and only 47 left to sample now…! Just don’t tell Margy!

A huge thank you to all who organised the run with a special mention to Michael McLaren for pulling this together.

All British Day

The weather could not have been more different to the Ice Cream Run. Chance of light rains said the BoM. Phooey. Starting with a heavy-ish sprinkle of rain at 0800 as the cars came out of their sheds (and at least one un-named member considering pushing it back into the shed right then and there … two hours of washing and polishing the car too mind you!), the sun briefly came out in Echunga and, for an even briefer moment, it started to feel quite warm, until it didn’t. At times it bucketed down, followed by all to brief interludes of sunshine and then the wind would pick up as the next front moved through with yet another burst of rain.

Unlike Chris who said ‘rain, what rain?’ as he drove home in his Bugeye sans roof, most of us put up the top and tested out the weather sealing on the way home. For those interested, it rained just as heavily inside my Midget as it did outside so I’m not sure why I bothered to put the roof up at all!

With a few late withdraws, the Sprite Club had 14 cars on display in the club area and at least one member displaying his Sprite with another club as well as a few other Sprites and Midgets scattered through out, including Steve Kent’s mum and dad with their Sprite. Dean’s race car attracted a wealth of attention throughout the day (and decided it needed a jump start in the pouring rain), as did Clive’s Bugeye which is also currently for sale.

We also had a visit from a new member, Kelly Bannon (from Greenock) who came down with her partner Mark to finalise the paperwork for her BRG MkIII Sprite. From the lengthy discussions he was having with Dean and Chris, Kelly’s lovely Sprite might be on an upgrade path very soon if she doesn’t keep an eye on it! It was also fabulous to see Adrian and his partner up from Whyalla and Rick Williams and his son Sam out with Don’s car which now in their care.

Despite the forecast, a mouth watering display of cars congregated in Echunga, from the ubiquitous Morris Minor and the humble Austin A30, through Rileys, Jensens, Triumphs, Land Rovers and Aston Martins, not to mention more Jaguars that you could count! Nearly every British marque was on display, including an equally delectable range of motor bikes.

All in all a great day despite the rain, with lots of interest around our cars and we may end up with two more members which is never a bad thing!

The Sprite Club was well represented in the logistics of the day, with Chris, Michael, Gordon and Don all helping with the traffic control on the day and Darryl for bringing up all of the display gear. Thank you all for your efforts. For a small club we certainly hold our own on days like this.

Also, thank you to Gordon, Tiana and Gary Dodd for their photos! I’m always happy to receive photographic contributions!

Yes, its back on and this time with a twist (and not like you did last summer either)!

The launch pad for the first Sports Car Cruise of 2023 is a little different, starting off in Netherby, alongside the Waite Arboretum (northern side of the road).

Date: Saturday, 18th of March

When: 1815 for an 1845 departure

Location: Claremont Avenue (click the link for a map of where to head and look for Pat’s ute on arrival!)

Pat has planned a route just short of 50km and a scenic early autumn run, taking in Belair, Mount Lofty and back down Greenhill Road, before finishing in the K Mart carpark for a short presentation.

Expected run time of about an hour and there will be a stop/re-group and photo opportunity at the start of Mount Lofty Road. Departure has been timed so the run down Greenhill Road should be just after sunset to avoid the sun glare.

Route maps will be provided prior to departure and Pat recommends bringing a navigator!

Invite a friend with a Sports Car or Classic Car and lets make a night of it! If you classic isn’t on the road, bring your daily and just join in with the evening!

Everyone is reminded that they are responsible for their car’s roadworthiness – a timely reminder as some may be heading home in the fading light or the dark so be kind to your Lucas electrics!

With sadness I would like to inform the Members of the Sprite Club of South Australia of the passing of previous member and past President Don Williams.

Don joined the Sprite Club of South Australia during the mid 1970’s with his MG Midget. Don enjoyed all aspects of the Club from the Social side to the various competition events at Mallala and Collingrove Hillclimb.

Don then purchased an early 1958 Bugeye Sprite, which he used for a number of years, then restored for use at Collingrove hill climb. This vehicle is still in the Sprite Club under the ownership of Jim Schubert. Don’s wife Christine was also a Sprite owner with a nice BRG MkIII Sprite.

Don and fellow Technical Studies Teacher and MG Midget owner Doug Gordon schemed and planned the famous Don-Doug Observation Runs. These events used many cryptic and complicated clues for drivers and navigators to find various items, answers and route to get to the finish point. Questions like “What’s the number on a Dobie Dico?” and “How many CC’s and hoops at the Community Centre?” kept many couples driving in circles looking for the answers.

Don held many Sprite Club Committee positions including President during 1978, 1981, and 1983, Secretary, Editor, and Competition Secretary.

While Don and Christine were active members, so were Don’s brother Rick and Life Member Sister Julie. All were Sprite owners at various stages. Julie’s Bugeye is still in the Sprite Club being cared for by nephew Dale Halling.

Don purchased a 1966 MG Midget during the 2016 and enjoyed the vehicle on various club runs and displays. The MG Midget was a feature car at the 2019 Stars and Their Cars meeting.

The members of the Sprite Club of South Australia would like to pass on their condolences to Christine, daughter Sally, and the William’s family.

Just a short reminder of upcoming Sprite Club events and club runs.

This Saturday (18 Feb) – Sprite Club Ice Cream Run.

Who doesn’t like ice cream!

Depart Fullarton Community Centre at 1800 sharp!

5 March – All British Day.

We won’t be doing an official club run to the display but feel free to organise small groups and arrive in style. For those just visiting, we are on Oval 1 towards the centre, near the Shannon’s Tent, the Jensen. Morris Register and Austin 7 Clubs. Fingers crossed for great weather!

18th March – Sports Car Cruise. Details to be promulgated!

29th March – Mid Week Meander #1.

Yes, Russell and Judy are back and they will be messing with our minds and sense of direction as they take us on another mystery mid week run!

All I can say (in fact, all I know) is we will be meeting at Balhannah Oval Tennis Club Carpark at 0930 for a briefing before we get under way at 1000 and saunter off in a generally southerly direction. As always, its a BYO morning tea in a lovely locale, followed by a lunch at a location that is every bit equal to the SA Company Store.

What else do I know about the run … not much, other than, as always it will twice the distance out as it is back, all the roads are sealed (he promises!!) and we won’t be going over seas. If you can figure it out from there, you are doing better than me!

RSVPs are a must as there is limited capacity for lunch. Is that a hint?? Not sure!

3rd April – Stars and Their Cars

14th April – Sporting Car Club Healey Night. RSVP essential due limited numbers and $5 per head (payment to the Sprite Club please).

Meeting of the first meeting for 2023 attached.

THE ICE CREAM RUN IS BACK!!!

When – Saturday 18th of Feb

Starting Point – Fullarton Park Community Centre (ie, the Club Rooms)

Time – Any time you like but we hit the road at 1800 (6pm)

What – Michaels Magical Mystery Tour around parts of Adelaide for about an hour before we descend on one of Adelaide’s newer ice creameries!

So tighten up your wheel nuts and work up an appetite by polishing the car! No dessert for a week so you can indulge on Saturday Night!

And remember …. “Its a food, not a fad”

With the year kicking off on the 1st Jan with a breaky run to Uraidla, the social runs have continued on apace with the annual Thong Throwing contest on Australia Day and this morning, another breakfast run out to Uraidla, this time from Blackwood (to say hello to our ClubbieSA friends but alas, no Clubbies … except the chap heading down Goodies Road whist we were on the way up!).

Annual Throwing on the Thong

20+ members and family gathered in the Chabrel’s front garden overlooking the picturesque Oakbank Racecourse for the annual contest against the aerodynamic vagaries of the humble Australian thong (that’s a flip-flop to any non-Australian readers). Getting into the spirit 6 club members came along in their Spridgets although it was noted by many that the newly anointed President drove up in an Alfa and he was late (he promptly blamed his beautiful partner but she would have none of that!)

After the first round it was clear people had been out in the backyard practicing, with two contestants immediately putting their thongs in the hallowed bucket, however, after repeated rounds to split the contestants to find a winner, all contestants once again tested the sneaky wind conditions (5-10 knots, blowing off the racecourse for those keen statisticians) with a variety of styles on display to lob the ceremonial thong, resplendent in the Australian Flag, into the prize winning bucket. After this second round 4 clear experts emerged, with several lobbing both thongs in for good measure, with Miles eventually putting on a masterful display with a double header to take the converted John and Judy Bowering Memorial Trophy for the year. For Miles this was especially humbling as he revealed in his acceptance speech that on his first Sprite Club outing he had a mechanical issue and John Bowering came to his aide and he was off and running again.

Thanks must be given to Des and Penny again for a lovely afternoon and amazing dessert. Penny took great delight in showing off the photos of her airborne adventure and I will be forever jealous!

First Sunday Breakfast Run

This month the breakfast run was from the Perfect Note in Blackwood, a short blast through the hills and onto Uraidla again for breakfast. Why Urailda – well, if you’ve had one of their breakfasts or coffee you’ll know why!

What a great morning for a blast through the hills with no less than eight Spridgets along for the run as well as beautifully original HQ Kingswood and Datsun 1600 to round out the run. Even Jez was there and we have a photo to prove it!

Sadly, the Clubbies were not to be seen; however, we took a photo at the Perfect Note to prove we really were there!

Next Month’s 1st Sunday run coincides with All British Day. It has been suggested it might be a great idea to meet and drive out there enmasse – any takers to organise??

For the early risers, there is an informal run planned this Sunday morning (5th Feb) across to the Uraidla Bakery.

Meet at the Perfect Note Cafe (168/170 Main Road, Blackwood), grab a coffee and say hello to the guys and girls of ClubbiesSA, before heading off around 0830 across to Uraidla, via Upper Sturt Road, Stirling and Carey Gully to Uraidla, arriving at approx 0900.

Stay and have coffee and a fabulous breakfast or just grab a great coffee and head off to start you Sunday. I’ll probably doing later as we have a market stall to run (if you need dog couture, you know who to ask!).

Bring your Spridget or another car and enjoy a short run through the hills. Hope to see you there!

With a few 36^oC+ already behind us and quite a few surely yet to come, some tips on maintaining your cool and an Ice Cream run might really hit the spot!

The January edition of the Events Calendar can be found here. I really hope this works this time – its my 5th attempt!

The website events bulletin will be updated in due course when I figure out how to without crashing the whole website … again

Jan edition of the Bugeye Burble will be released in the next day or so.

Its Summer, its hot, the flies are thick and there’s that constant faint hit of sausages cooking on a BBQ where ever you do. It can mean only one thing …. its the annual Australia Day Picnic and Thong Throwing Competition.

Where? Its back at its rightful home at the Chabrel’s, 2 Dorset Lane, Oakbank

When? Thursday, 26th of Jan, from 1200 onwards

What do I bring? Chairs, a picnic lunch and drink. The Penny and Des will provide dessert!

As always, the highly coveted John and Judy Bowering Memorial Trophy is up for grabs. Can Fay take it two years in a row? Will Jez wake up in time to sneak in and steal it out from under everyone with a masterful lob? Maybe the youthful eye and skill of Chris will steal it away (so long as he doesn’t sell it!). You wont know if you don’t come along!

What is the John and Judy Bowering Memorial Trophy and why is it so important? If you don’t know, shame on you! It is more hotly contested than the Ashes and more history than the America’s Cup. Have you ever wondered where Ben Lexan got the idea for the winged keel from? There’s no mistaking the similarity between the keel and the thong strap, which gives the Aussie Thong such unique aerodynamic qualities. I’m told John Bertrand, on hearing about our thong throwing activities tried to come over from Perth to head hunt club members for the crew of Australia II but, not being a member, was turned away unceremoniously at the door. Even the Spin King, the late great Shane Warne tried to come along to get some new wrist flick ideas of a killer curve ball, such is the skill required to win.

Hope to see you all there. As always, if you are feeling off for any reason, please consider staying home as there is yet another wave of blasted CVOID and a good dose of mid-summer flu doing the rounds.

Please RSVP to me or Peter and we will let Des and Penny know how many to expect!

president@spriteclub.com.au , rsdunk@gmail.com or 0431 247 746, Secretary@spriteclub.com.au, spolst@bigpond.net.au

With the current flooding of the River Murray and the impact to the communities and infrastructure supporting these people, it is timely for the first “Flashback Friday” of 2023 to remind ourselves of when the Sprite Club was involved with the Riverland district and particularly the River Murray Ferries.

This is important at this point in time as most of these ferries cannot be used due to the current flood flow rates and high water either stopping the ferries from landing or cutting access roads to the ferry crossings.

During 2012 it was planned to celebrate the Sprite Club’s 40th Anniversary with a tour of the key areas of the State. Starting in Adelaide the “Five Ferries Run” toured the Barossa Valley, Clare and Burra – with stop overs at each site, and enjoying the various produce of each of these regions – mainly wine!

Then the convoy of approx. 21 Sprites, Midgets and Associate vehicles from SA, Vic and NSW headed to the river port of Morgan. Here the “Five Ferries” part of the tour started. The plan was to cross the River Murray on five different ferries. Like all plans this changed along the way and a total of 10 ferries were used to transverse the River Murray.

These included the Cadell ferry – upstream from Morgan – as this was under pressure to be closed in 2012, due to minimal use – ironically the Cadell is currently the only ferry in the Riverland area that is still in operation – all the others having been closed due to the flood conditions. Cadell was the last ferry to close in the famed 1956 flood!

The other highlight was the mass loading of Sprites and Midgets – three-abreast, on the Swan Reach Ferry. This provided an ideal photo and video opportunity – refer to the YouTube clip below.

The run continued downstream crossing the river at Walker Flat, Purnong, Mannum, Jervois (Tailem Bend), and Wellington ferries. The bridges at Blanchetown, Murray Bridge and Goolwa were also used.

The convoy finished off staying at Goolwa for a few days before returning to Adelaide for the 40th Anniversary Dinner and associated celebrations.

The Sprite Club’s thoughts are with those impacted by the current floods and we hope to be able to journey to these areas in the near future to support the local businesses – as we did after the bushfires a number of years ago.

For more details of the “Five Ferries Run” here is the link to the detailed article on the Sprite Club web site and also the You Tube clip of the Swan Reach ferry crossing.

Ever wondered what happened in 2022? There’s already been a very comprehensive wrap up of the year by Gordon, posted only a few weeks ago so I won’t recap the recap! Instead, knowing how much people love numbers and statistics (secretly we all do), I thought a look at the year by numbers might pique some interest!

So, may I present, as best I can guess it, 2022…!

Cars

Always a good place to start. We are a car club, right? And we identify our cars by numbers – Mk1, Mk2. Mk3, 948, 1098, 1275, 1310, 1380 and so on and so forth! Here are some numbers you might be interested in!

82 – Historic Log Books on the books for the club in 2022 including:

37 – Sprites

14 – Midgets (come on Midget owners! We can do better!!)

Total Spridgets in the club for 2022? Somewhere between ‘not sure’ and ‘I don’t quite know’! I do know its more than 51 cars listed above! There are cars on normal registration, some are laid up being rebuilt, some are tucked away almost forgotten in the back of sheds and others are for racing.

More fascinating car numbers….

31 – the number of associate cars, including…

3 Minis plus a Moke

1 Mini Gem

4 Clubbies (and 4 different brands!)

5 MGB/MGB GT

1 MG Magnette

7 MG T series (yes, seven, so I’m told!)

3 Jags

1 Triumph

I’m sure the keen eyed amongst you will have added up the numbers and noticed numbers don’t quite balance! Clearly there needs to be a bit of an audit!

33 – Sprites and Midgets at the annual Display Day

Oh, and 24 – the number of cars sold by the club’s own Arthur Daily, otherwise known as the entrepreneurial Chris M this year (and 20 is the number of cars he still has – would you buy a used car from this man?)

Membership

Like any club, we live and die on money in and money out and there is no bigger source of our yearly revenues than our memberships. We had a pretty good year and nearly cracked 100 memberships for the year. A fantastic result! So consider the following numbers…..

50 – for $50. That’s…

$50 annual membership, and

$50 for the once off joining fee.

We have to have one of the best value membership schemes in the State don’t we?

96 – memberships. Lets crack the 100 for 2023!

13 – life members

151 – members and their partners. Did I mention the amazing value for SCSA membership?

Looking forward into 2023:

53 – members currently financial for 2023 (get your subs in – remember, if you are on historic registration and you are not financial, you are unregistered in the eyes of PC Plod!!)

Oh, and if you have a new log book for 2023, don’t do what I almost did, and record your first run in the old book!

Social

As we all came to grips with COVId and the nation started up again, we also did our upmost to get back into the swing of social events. 2023 will hopefully build on what we did this last year and hopefully we will see more people out and about enjoying their cars, but I think we did pretty well all things considered when you consider the following:

25 – attendees at the 2022 Australia Day BBQ and Thong Throwing contest. That’s 25 on the 26^th (don’t you love number sequences, I do!). Lets aim for at least 27 at this years event – more on that soon!

30+ – at the Pie and Peas night. Sadly I can’t report on the number of pies or peas consumed on the night but from my own experiences at Pie Carts around Australia I can only guess it was quite a few!

40 – members who attended Stars and their Cars

45 – members at the Spritely Adventure wine and cheese night

50 – The years the Sprite Club celebrated

(50 is also about the number of times Jez or Chris M slept in and missed a run!)

75 – at the 50^th Anniversary dinner at the pub

80+ – cars attending the Sports Car Cruises

750-1000 – kilometres Russell and Judy (and co.) have meandered to and from the secret locations!

Competition

0.2% – the overall winning margin in the Ray Pank Hill Climb series between 1^st and Peter Stanley (in 3^rd  place – could it get any closer??!)

2 – the number of teams competing at the Peter Hall 6 Hour regularity event (can we field 3 in 2023?)

3 – members regularly contesting the Hill Climb events

10 – SCSA members active in the Super Sprint series (in 6 different makes of car!)

599 – laps completed of Mallala and The Bend by the afore mentioned 10 members racing!

So, there you go. The year in review by the numbers. I’m sure I’ve missed many vital statistics and gotten some horribly wrong, so feel free set me straight throughout the year!

Hope you all had a Happy and Safe Year and I look forward to catching up with you all throughout the year!

(Oh – and 1 – the number of hang overs I’m sure several have probably had for 2023 already (not me!!)!)

For those who are not recovering from NYE celebrations, there is a very informal run up to the Uraidla Republic Cafe and Bakery for those keen.

Meet at the Sporting Car Club at 0745 for a photo and a 0800 head off.

The route is up the freeway, via Eagle on the Hill and then across from Crafers to Uraidla, arriving at around 0830 for a coffee, breakfast if you are hungry, and a natter.

Meet outside of the Sporting Car Club, join in anywhere along the drive or just turn up at the bakery around 0830.

I’ve booked a table (under Robin) but they said they didn’t expect to be busy that early! I’ve booked the table for 8 as I don’t expect too many to be up and about but I think we will be ok if a flash mob of Spridgets turns up!

Its going to be a warm start to 2023 (37C currently forecast) so off home by 0930(ish) to all be back before the heat of the day really kicks in.

(The run has been organised by the South Australian Sprite and Midget Owners Facebook group. Its a non-club based group for enthusiasts and owners of Spridgets and similar vehicle. If you have a FB account and are not a member, drop us a line and join. Its for SA owners (or regular interstate visitors) only and we have group members from a range of clubs , mostly Sprite Club, but also the MGCC(SA) and a few other non-Sprite related clubs. Even one from the Rolls Royce club!)

Just a reminder that if you have not renewed your club membership and you have your car on Club Rego, and if your log book has not been signed off as you being financial, then you are not registered as of New Years Day! Contact one of us and renew now!!

And, if you are like me and its a new year and a new log book – don’t forget to sign your first drive for 2023 in the NEW book, not the old one!!

Don’t let 2023 be spoiled with a fine!

Minutes from the Christmas Meeting attached.

Click to access Sprite-Club-of-SA-Minutes-Dec-2022.pdf

With the ClubbiesSA members being such an integral part of the Sprite Club, I felt this report, unceremoniously lifted from the ClubbiesSA facebook pages (with Sean’s consent of course!) would be of interest to whole club.

______

Clubbie Nationals

(all words and images credit to Sean Power)

We’re all home (mostly) from the Nationals.

What a great trip 25 cars and 36 entrants completed to the 2022 Clubbie National in Jindabyne.

We planned for the worst, packing all sorts of snow gear, gloves and jackets and so on, and ended up using just some of it. We were sure it was going to be rainy.

Our first set of roads and accommodation was to Deniliquin on the first night – then that had to be cancelled due to flood evacuations introduced. Another route was considered, then that could not the achieved, so the third option, staying at Bernalla overnight, was selected.

The weather leaving The Bend was great for driving but as we progressed into Victoria and NSW, the roads turned challenging, particularly on some of the rural backroads heading directly to the waypoints we had chosen. At many points the procession of cars and trailers looked like a processions of V8 Supercars warming their tyres up at Victoria Park or The Bend. There were extensive periods of deep ruts, pot holes and washaways that you had to be constantly on the alert for. All of us got caught out at one time or another. Luckily for most of us, we got through unscathed. Barry, one of our Northern brethren had a moment of excitement when his trailer broke. Luckily Andrew Keen, in his always competent manner pulled a welder from his car, borrowed some electricity from a pub and temporally welded the frame so they could continue. He later did a major professional fix up at Jindabyne.

The continuous rain has left a legacy of billions of dollars of road work repairs that will take years to address at both local government and federal levels. The flip side, particularly coming from a traditionally dry state like SA, was the visual delight of seeing the amount of standing water at various roadside locations. Stunning sights of local small reservoirs, the enormous capacity of the Hume Lake storage, running water in creeks and rivers were some great memories. But the vast amount of greenery, grass, trees, crops and ripening fields of grain will stay in the memory for a long time. It was very much like New Zealand I thought, a comment backed up by NZ’ers, the Tyes and others. It is rare to see central parts of Australia so lush.

Jindabyne accommodation at The Station (remote from the centre of Jindy, but a great safe, place to stay) provided space to park cars and trailers comfortably and the huts are well set up, clean and spacious and economic.

The weather for the 4 days was perfect for lounging around in Clubbie Alley or for clubbie driving. Bright, clear and sunny, though you did need gloves and jacket when you were driving, as the altitude, mountains with snow still present and speed cooled a body down quickly. Coffee and wee stops were regular items.

About 80 cars and around 130 individuals attended the event. Interestingly, half the attendees were new to a Clubbie National. As usual, SA provided around 30% of the attendees. There were two runs able to be completed, one short of around 200km and the other near enough to 340kms with other opportunities to drive to places like Charlotte’s Pass, Cooma, Wild Brumby Distillery and so on. These runs were like some of the northern Sunday runs except magnified on a scale of 10. Big distances, great roads (potholes included), wide open spaces, brilliant clubbie weather, deserted and wide open roads and the ability to see for miles ahead mostly. There were few vehicles meandering to hinder a rather wholesome pace! There were a few breakdowns across the group (minor front guard issue for the Tyes, others outside SA group had troubles with electrics) but overall nothing hugely serious or dangerous or costly.

Catching up with friends and acquaintances from previous Nationals or recognising names and vehicles from those who participate regularly on the OzClubbies Forums could be easily done in Clubbie Alley, a regular feature of the Nationals. Many of the vehicles were spectacularly presented, but all had some feature or idea worth capturing.

The final dinner on the Wednesday night was memorable for several reasons. Firstly, three of the seven awards presented on the night went to South Australians. Firstly, Simon Gigney was fittingly awarded the Best in Show Peoples Choice award for his Honda powered Swift. Barry Schults got the Wank Factor Award for his implementation of his in-car phone system with remote activation (cleverly done). His table (his friends of course!) then jeeringly acknowledged him as a real wanker!

The last award was to Paul Doube (and in truth, Ruth as well), and this was the perpetual Kym Ninnes Award for the Longest Distance Travelled. Perhaps this time it was fittingly for the longest and hardest trip, as Paul is now and has been, permanently on oxygen. The elevation above sea level of our accommodation at Jindabyne was a further challenge he had to face during time at The Station, as the thinner air reduced available oxygen with bad effects. In accepting his award, Paul, a person never lost to words, one of the few there to have been to every Nationals and Not the Nationals, eloquently summed up what the Nationals meant to him, the friendships made and the supports given to him and Ruth by many people at the event. Paul was overwhelmed by the recognition and that the award meant so much to him at this time. Suffice to say, with the emotion in his voice and the challenges he faces, there were more than a few tears in people’s eyes at the end of his entreaty to make sure people come to the next Nationals.

I have included a photo of the only remaining people who have been to every National and Not the National events since they began. Simon, Barry, Paul & Ruth, all SA and Les & Brenda (Vic). Well done folks. And speaking of the next Nationals, Les Bone from Victoria was able to announce that Victoria will host the next Nationals in 2024, place and details to be confirmed at a later stage. I will keep you posted.

I have added a few photos of the event to this monologue, more of which may also be seen on the ClubbiesSA Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/clubbiessa

A great thank you to all the people from SA who made the long journey – a round trip of some 4,500kms, and especially to Tim & Mark Jolly for their long, long trip in their own Clubbies. No trailers for them! They are tough and resourceful. The whole SA team of Clubbie enthusiasts were great and I was proud to be with them. Special thanks to people behind the scenes who helped herd us in the right direction (most of the time) and keep on top of bookings and other arrangements. These were Andrew Keen, Phil & Jenny Coates, Simon & Cheryl Gigney & Barry Edson.

Third Sunday 18th December, 2022 & Father Christmas

In 2 weeks it is the final Third Sunday for the year. Come along in your cars if the weather allows. Am talking to Fred about parking in the front of the Rezz on the grass this week to see if possible. As usual, I am Father Christmas Grinch, handing out little gifts to everyone. The Rezz is going to look at supporting us as usual with giveaways of wine, hats and small gifts. A bit of fun for everyone to end another big year.

Annual Donation to support ClubbiesSA – third Sunday 2022

As you should know, I run ClubbiesSA on a donation basis, with the first donation going towards paying for the keyring and then each year, any money raised goes to support costs such as website registrations & other costs, general thank you gifts and support if we have activities, the 6 Hour hire costs, Christmas give aways and so on.

So this year is the same – if you can afford it, $20 would be appreciated. Just grab me on the day.

Your Sprite Club of SA membership expires on the 31st December 2022.

If you have a Club Registered Vehicle or a vehicle that is eligible for Club Registration, the requirements for this registration system are:

• You must be a Financial Member of a recognised Car Club. EG Sprite Club of SA
• You must have your Log Book signed and stamped to show you are a Financial Member.
• You must have had your vehicle inspected within the past three years
• You must have the current Registration Paper Signed and Stamped to state that you have a Log Book and you are a Financial Member.
• If the vehicle has extensive modifications an DPTI Exemption Certificate is required
• Without these completed you are deemed to be driving an Unregistered and Uninsured Vehicle.

The Current Fine for this offence is $750.00.

Logbooks can be signed at Monthly meetings by either Gordon Boyce or Don Cardone.

Please Bring the Following Items:

• Membership Subscription and completed membership forms
• Current Log Book
• Current Registration Papers
• $5.00 for the New Log Book (If required)
• Subs can be paid at the meeting or alternatively you can EFT your Subs to the Club’s Bank account.

Bank Details

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to read Grant’s article about the Legend of the Lake hill climb at Mount Gambier detailing the preparation and the thought processes of competing a 200hp Mk1 Escort (200hp – in an Escort…??!) up a temporary hill climb circuit so I thought I’d offer you a perspective from the other end – under prepared, under done and a complete novice! Remember those days? I do, like it was yesterday – oh, that’s right, it almost was!

Its fair to say I’m a nervous passenger at best. Doesn’t matter if its sitting in the passenger seat of my car whilst my beautiful partner is driving (and its fair to say she drives better than me), sitting in the back of an Air Force PC9 whilst one of the Roulettes was turning my stomach inside out or just sitting on the train, I just like to be in control of my own destiny, even if I know I can’t do it any better.

Which pretty much sums up my weekend at the 2022 Adelaide Rally. No control over my destiny! And that was before the front left-hand tried to escape the rest of the car (it didn’t like us and protested its displeasure in various ways all weekend) … don’t start me on trusting other people’s mechanical abilities! The only person who can do a job right is me (maybe I have control issues…)!

So, what on earth am I writing about? Well, an old Navy mate, whom I hadn’t seen for over 20 years, and I ran into each other on a job a few years ago and, like anyone ex-military person will know, you just pick up the conversation pretty much where it left off all those years ago. Then, out of the blue came an invite to be the navigator in the Rally Adelaide in a car he’d just bought. Trust me – its’ going to be fun! Now, John likes his toys. He used to race a Ducatti in one of the feeder production superbike classes until two accidents, the second very serious (for him and the bike) left him unable to race on two wheels. This lead him down an all too familiar path – pick up a track day car which leads to another – sound familiar at all? Anyway, his current track weapon (a highly modified current spec Nissan GTR) was a bit excessive for events like Rally Adelaide, so, he set out to buy a good tarmac rally prepared Porsche 944 to have some fun in and somehow ended up with this crazy track special Maserati Grand Sport. Gutted of all semblances of luxury, two racing seats bolted to the floor, a Ferrari derived 4.2l V8 complete with race spec engine management, an exhaust system that will wake the recently departed and a custom-built race suspension. Sounds crazy right? Nearly 500 brake horsepower all going through a standard Selespeed gearbox that smelled like it was constantly 30 seconds away from melting due to the crawling along at each starting special stage line up. Now you might start to understand my nervousness!

Day One was interesting for both of us in many ways. I’d never sat in the car for any more than 30 seconds (loose weight Robin, loose some weight) and John causally mentioned he had only really driven the car in earnest once, not including the trips to and from the suspension shop, the tyre fitter and the run to Parc Ferme at the Show Grounds. He did warn me that it was loud, but even after the first day, neither of us yet understood quite how loud a 4.2 litre Ferrari V8 with a full race exhaust system was on the rev limiter. Oh, and don’t kick that box right where you want to put your left foot – that’s one half of the ECU.

The first few stages were interesting to say the least. Officially there was an 80kph or 100 kph speed limit on all the stages as a risk mitigation strategy post the tragic accidents in Tasmania earlier this year, but it became obvious that not everyone was obeying the imposed limits, mostly legitimately by accident on the first day. I have in-car footage of some of the stages that, honestly, I’m too ashamed to show anyone as I was either (a) scared witless as John man-handled what is in reality a very heavy Grand Tourer through the hairpins and winding roads (“for god’s sake mate, slow down or we are going to be thrown out of the event…”) or (b) holding my breakfast down as we descended the Cork Screw like I’ve never done it before … (“nah mate, that was slow – you should come down it in the GTR one day with me”… err, no thanks John, but thanks for the offer!). I don’t think I’ve ever been up to Eagle on the Hill quite as quick until then either (“mate, that was only half throttle – wait until tomorrow…”). So you get the idea. Not exactly the place for a nervous passenger with control issues….!

So, anyway, back to Day One and somewhere around lunch I sensed something wasn’t quite right. Me and vibrations have a kind of symbiotic relationship and as I get to know a car/ship/helicopter, I kind of get in tune with it on a spiritual level and can sense changes before others do. A 10rpm change in the main diesel on my last ship would have me instantly awake wondering why we had sped up/slowed down. The car was grinding every time we had a slow, hard right turn with the body work and the front left rubbing (never thought I’d be taking to a Maserati with an Ozito grinder, but I did – lots of firsts for me last weekend!!), but I had a nagging sense of a vibration in the front. “Its fine mate – its steering fine” says John repeatedly. The thought of jacking it up to check the tyres was quickly quashed, simply because we, err, didn’t have a jack. So, on we pressed. Each stage a little bit faster, a few more revs, later and later on the brakes into corners and harder on the throttle out. As John’s confidence with the car built (and my confidence in his driving increased) I had this nagging feeling that something just was not quite right. Then to the final stage on day one, up Lower North East Road. Those who know this stretch of road know that, with the exception of one double apex left hander, it’s a series of fast flowing corners. Confidence high, John really started pushing it, closer to the rev limiter, and, after being told to shut up about speeding (!), I finally sat back to enjoy the rush (or at least tried to!). Through the finish, hard on the brakes to make the sharp left back onto North East road for the trip back to Gouger St (and beers) all heck broke loose. We had been listening to the grinding of tyre on body work all day, but this was different and the steering wheel was shaking like a leaf in a storm. And, of course, there was nowhere to pull off. When we finally could, without a jack of course we couldn’t see anything wrong either. A very sedate drive down into the city but by the time we got to Gillies Plains it was almost undrivable so, no Gouger St beers for me. I’m told it was a good night!!

I have to admit there was a small prayer offered to the Motor Sport gods to release me from this rolling nightmare with a catastrophic failure of some sort. As it was, the bolts securing the spacers to the hubs had come loose. Two were completely out and the other three were hanging in by about half a thread. “I knew they were a bit short” says John. Needless to say, once ‘Frank’ from RAA had it sorted enough to get home, my first job of the next morning was to take all the wheels off and check the torque on all of the spacer bolts. We might have missed the first stage as a result, but I had a little more confidence in the Italian engineering, and after a check (tear down) at Urailda, all I had to worry about was the noise (oh my goodness it was loud – louder than front row tickets to a Guns and Roses concert) and attempting to keep John under control with the speed.

The Urailda lunch stop was interesting. Intent to checking the wheel spacers for security, I set about finding timbers to stop the trolley jack from sinking into the wet grass and proceeded to remove the fronts. This was of considerable amusement to the assembled masses, many of whom observed my progress from under the shelter of a large gum tree (yes, it was raining) and offered advice, but only one person (other than John) actually came and helped! An interesting window into the minds of some of the participants in the event! Mind you, we also knew each other and I think up until then he thought my stories of being a walking talking vibration sensor where probably somewhat exaggerated.

By this time I’ve just given up. Mentally I’ve rechecked my will, chastised myself for not handing the signed executor form back to the lawyers (Margy will find it I’m sure I think). As John’s confidence in the car grew and the wet roads dried out, the deeper into corners we plunged and the harder the shove in the back on the exit became as the car literally roared down the quiet Adelaide Hills back roads. A short sharp hill climb stage, followed by a crazy (to me) descent down Eagle on the Hill and then a run up Belair Road like I’ve never experienced, ever. I don’t think the Midget will go as fast on a straight downhill road with the wind behind as we went up it. Never, have I ever, been up that road so quickly (I swear it was 80kph Officer…). We thought the rev limiter kicked in at 7500. We were about 500rpm early and when it kicks in it creates a staccato sound akin to an AK47.

My final hope to surviving is we will be removed from the event Sunday morning for repeated speed transgressions on Saturday. The Rally Safe Lite app kept going off (and off and off) and, well, I saw the speeds we hit on the final three stages so I was sure (prayed) we were going to be thrown out. Then we stopped for fuel at the OTR at the top of the Belair Road run (it drinks fuel at a rate not unlike I was drinking Scotch each evening to calm my nerves) and all the other drivers in our packet had manic grins on their faces. The cars in front of us, an Audi RS3, a WRX Station Wagon and a vintage 911 RS had all distanced us on the ascent and the follow car (a Yaris GR4) had been up our quadrophonic tailpipes all the way up the hill with the navigator laughing all the way at the mechanical din we were making – damn. Oh well, I guess we are all out tomorrow (I hoped)….

…Alas – no. Despite my desperate desire to make it stop, armed with a deep understanding of how military grade GPS tracking systems work I was now strangely ready to defend our honour against the Rally Safe app and the GPS capabilities of an iPhone, but it was not needed. There was stern warning about keeping the speed under control and we had a private audience with the Chief Steward for an alleged transgression (a burn out coming out of Uraidla which we vehemently denied – we honestly didn’t but I guess someone complained about the noise of the car – there was a Maserati guy watching us go so maybe we made a little too much noise as we left, but no burn out – the clutch couldn’t have coped for starters!).

As for Day Three itself, its amazing how different the roads are only a few km to the south. Gone where the tight switch backs to fast flowing roads … and the tour speed limits that were, in the most part, well obeyed. Still, if you have massive Brembo brakes and warm semi slick tyres you can plunge deeper into a corner than any sane person would and there was the homicidal roar of that glorious flat plane crank V8 as it provided enough kick to probably launch NASA’s next moon mission as you exited the bend. We might have been warned about driving quietly in the built up areas but not on the road, much to the amusement of the many young boys and girls who lined the roads.

So, what did all this prove? As a navigator I’m completely useless. Most of the time I had no idea where I was or honestly, which way we were going! And clearly I have trust issues but I think at least some of those were justified. It probably also proved that I have addiction issues as I’ve now been browsing the Sprite Parts and PME online shop sites with the thought of putting the Little Blue Car into the event next year. Pretty sure it’s quick enough for the Main Tour (and can be made to go a little quicker through the bends with some minor adjustments…), the question is, can the nut behind the steering wheel be taught how to drive quickly, instead of being a candidate for Miss Daisy’s driver? Stay tuned – oh, and don’t tell Margy what I’m thinking about…she says I’m too impulsive!

The weather looks favourable for a pleasant summer’s evening to enjoy the Christmas Festivities with a BBQ in the park and the meeting to follow – hopefully I haven’t jinked the weather!

Hope to see you all there!

(PS – if its nice, bring you cars out for an evening run!)

For the last 8 years I have been going to Mt Gambier for the Legend of the Lakes hill climb as part of the Goolwa Ford crew . This year it was my turn to drag out the Escort, after it had a major up grade . We arrived at the track on Thursday afternoon , well its not the usual track . Most of the year it is a public road down to a beautiful  grassed picnic area next to Valley Lake, with approximately 150 cars entering the three day event .

Friday –  is classic day so entries are down to about 80, so plenty of runs;  which is a good thing as the only track time I have had before this stage was in the passenger seat of a 30 year old Landcruiser. Scrutineering went well as the car was all new and clean . The first run I had a bunch of nerves, so easy does it on he accelerator.  New car, New track made it to the top in 1.47 , nothing to be proud of, but the car ran well . Only four runs for the day, but I was happy  and finished with a 1.32 .

Saturday – after a few tips and a rev up by the team, and I was ready to go again . Still no tyre warm ups as the axles , diff , gearbox are a bit fragile I don’t think they will take 200 HP . My times kept getting quicker with each run, with Saturday finishing with a 1.29 . Unfortunately an oil spill on half of the track from another driver and rain put an end to the day two hours early . Our accommodation was at the caravan pk at the top of the track, so nice and close a the end of the day.

Sunday – back down to the track again at 7.00, soggy wet grass due to the over night rain, so no service crew vehicles in the pits . A quick check of the car and a run to scrutineering, all good to go. So its day three I haven’t broken the car yet, and all the parts I need to make the Escort bullet proof are on order. Still couldn’t bring myself to a burnout [ tyre warm up ].  My confidence is growing, so on day 3 I am looking for a 1.20, but the rest of the team said NO, aim for the teens so I had better pull my finger out.  On the start line and the Green light means go.  1^st gear – 2^nd  gear, hit the rev limiter and pushed the car, only two runs to pull this off, left hand into the bus stop turn, then right hand down jabbed the hand brake perfect slide on the rear [ all those hand brake turns at Border Town paid off ]  power slide out, hit the rev limiter again and across the finish line 1.17-32. Made it one and a half seconds quicker and my fastest time for the weekend . I’m happy, the team is happy, but still one more run to go for the weekend.  Final green light, GO nothing to loose, hit the rev limiter even harder this time using most of the 200 HP. Don’t bin it Grant, a little voice in my head said. Left hand into the bus stop, right hand down jabbed the hand brake [ you guessed it, over committed]  only supposed to be 180 degrees, I went at least 220 degrees. Damn it, by the time I got myself sorted there goes a second or two finished the day on a 1.19-90.

What a fantastic three days of motor sport with a new car, and all I did was turn the key and put fuel in it, didn’t even put a spanner on the car . I can not recommend this event enough, and will be back next year . The South Eastern Auto Club  do an amazing job every year.

Now, I’m sure that our friends from Clubbies SA are thinking this is an odd question, but it was posed to me by my lovely sister when discussing the possibility of getting my father down as a guest speaker at the club one night. I’m keen to re-instate the tradition of a guest speaker talking about something topical, be it technical, history or just a good interesting yarn, all over a glass of wine and a cheese platter and to do that, I need to find people willing to come in and, as we would have said in the navy, spin a dit.

“Dad? What on earth would he talk about” she asked

“Anything he wants”, I replied.

“Like?” she queried?

“Anything! Tell a yarn. Talk about something topical from a point of history. Anything – you know how he likes to talk! Could be growing up on the River in the 1930s and the seeing last of commercial paddle steamers, the 1956 and 1974 floods, that’s certainly topical, or riding a motorbike with no clutch and no gearbox up to Birdwood. Even the countless trips to Mallala, Rowley Park or the local Speedway as a time keeper in the 1960s, anything really …  I’m sure the owners of the Clubbies in the club would be interested to hear his recollections of Garrie Cooper and his earliest cars. Anything really – he’s never short of a bloody good story!”

That lead to the obvious “what’s a clubbie” and then my attempting to explain what a Clubman Car was and it got me thinking; what, really, is a clubman?

That source of truth and accuracy (the internet) has as its #1 answer with the somewhat scandalous definition…’ A man who is a member of a gentleman’s club’. I’m not really sure that is the right answer in this case but was that the whole story? No, it seems. Like everything on the internet, its only very small part of the full story story and intimates somewhere the Bentley Boys might have gone post race!

Dive a bit deeper, and you’ll find a definition a bit closer to the mark ‘… an amateur enthusiast, someone willing to partake in their sport without necessarily being a winner, for the love of the sport.’ If the competition reports are to be believed, this is much closer to the mark, although I do get the sense of strong rivalry between drivers at time!!

Perhaps the best definition actually builds on the ‘gentleman’s club’ theme, which further defined these purported ‘gentleman’s clubs’ (which Google may leave you thinking were just private boys’ clubs and dens of iniquity and defined them as being formed after World War 1 and where sporting clubs where former soldiers could escape the daily nightmares of the horrors they witnessed. We hear every week on the news about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the suicide rate amongst ex-service people, police, nurses and paramedics and the current Royal Commission. With people suffering with all the benefits of modern medicine and phycological support, how returned servicemen and nurses from the horrors of WW1 coped is beyond me. My father talks of how his dad would rarely talk about his experiences and emersed himself in his farming but always looked forward to visiting his local RSL where he could be with his mates, no doubt exactly what the term Clubman actually refers to. Club level participation in something as a type of therapy and a way to escape the horrors of their recent past whilst having ‘jolly good fun’.

Many clubs today still award a Clubman Award. Its not to the best player/driver/scorer, but it’s the award for the person who turns up, gets involved, doesn’t moan. In many sporting clubs, the ‘Clubman Award’ was THE award to win as it meant you’d earned the respect of your peers.

‘The Clubman’ has, as we all know, spilled over into motorsport, not least the ‘Clubbies’ that form such an integral part of our club as we look towards 2023. Motorsport history of the 1940s and 50s is littered with ‘Clubman’ events on two wheels and four. Even the Isle of Man had a Junior and Senior Clubman TT category for production bikes that could be bought on the high-street one day and raced the next. I’m really not sure that is all that different to the daring-do racers at Brooklands or a local Hillclimb whom might have bought an MG Midget, Austin 7 or similar with sporting intent in the 1920s or 30s and gone racing without any notion of ever actually winning!

Is that all that different to most of the entrants in the Adelaide Rally that starts next week, or indeed the Peter Hall Memorial 6 Hour or any round of the MSCA or Collingrove Hillcimbs?

Then of course, there are the Clubbies. With their direct link to Colin Chapman’s game changing Lotus 7, when the motor racing technology advanced, people realised what the 7 offered amateur motor sport and an entire community developed around a class of car know affectionately as ‘a clubman’.

So, what, really, is a clubman? Whilst the term is a little outdated (clubperson maybe?), its someone who participates simply for the joy of participating and the bonds of friendship it brings. Today I took an hour out of my day to help young Chris get his Mini (yes, it’s a Clubman) running so he can, hopefully, come out and enjoy some of the events for next year. He tried to pay me and I’m not sure he understands why I politely refused (he can buy me a coffee one day), as hopefully he can tag along and start to understand what is meant to be a ‘clubman’.

Perhaps one day soon we might even get his actual Sprite or Midget up and running for club runs, but that might result in another story for here!

Some journalist for Wheels thought these might be a bit of a hit.

Don’t know what he was talking about – with only reasonable support from the seats they will never sell!

Here is the 2022 President’s Annual Report that was tabled by out-going President Gordon Boyce at the Annual General Meeting.

Here is the November Bugeye Burble and Coming Events for the next few months as the weather starts to warm and on opportunity to withdrawal your Spridget from the shed………………………

Keep an eye on the Sprite Club Website, Email Postings and Sprite Club Facebook Page for more information…………

11th/13st Nov            Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb – Mount Gambier – Entries have Sold Out!

20th November         Collingrove 70th Anniversary Hillclimb – Barossa Valley

Another change to the enjoy the Barossa Valley and the iconic Collingrove hillclimb

24th/27th Nov           Shannon’s Adelaide Rally

The Adelaide Rally is back with a revised format and course and open for Classic and Modern Vehicles.

A variety of Adelaide Hills roads will be used for the Rally.

Street Party on Friday 25th Nov in Gouger Street and Finale Party at the Victoria Park – Adelaide 500 circuit on Sunday 27th Nov.

27th November         Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron “Back to the Squadron” Car Display – From 10.00am

The RSAYS is pleased to invite all South Australians who have a connection to the past, or an interest in the future to the “Back to the Squadron” day on Sunday 27 November.

Owners of Classic Cars are invited to display their vehicles and to have them parked on the eastern lawn overlooking the Squadron pool to add to the nostalgic atmosphere of the “Back to the Squadron” day.  Any vehicle manufactured prior to 1997 will be eligible to participate in the display.  The cars can arrive and depart at any time during the day between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

To register your interest in being part of the Classic Cars display please contact Libby Ottaway on M: 0408 672 444

5th December            Christmas General Meeting – BBQ in the Park – From 6.00pm – Meeting from 8.00pm.

Fullarton Park Community Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton Park.

To celebrate the end of another Sprite Club year and the festive season we will be having our BBQ in the Park prior to the General Meeting, starting from 6.00pm.

The Sprite Club will be supplying the meat, salads, and bread – as well as an assortment of wine and soft drinks.

Members will need to provide chairs, glasses and picnicware, etc.

Plus, the Committee has booked the perfect, early-summer evening: not too hot, not too cold and no flies or mozzies!

The General meeting will commence at the usual time of 8.00pm

The extraordinary weather event that cut a swathe through many parts of greater Adelaide on Saturday has left a lot of us without power, trees in driveways and in some unfortunate cases, through cars and houses. I hope everyone in the Sprite Club has fared ok and all are safe and well and, like me, the worst of it is just no power for 48 hours.

If anyone in the club is aware club-mate in need of assistance, be it clearing debris, running a chainsaw or just taking a thermos of coffee, then please say so we can try to coordinate some help and support. I’m sure we can rustle up equipment if needs be.

It might seem incongruous to be posting online when people maybe without power and internet but I hope the tribal drums have been beating and people have been checking in with each other. If you know of someone in need or distress, please say and let’s see who and how we can help!

Robin and Margy

(Hopefully this posts – we are still learning out way with posting notices etc here!)

Please find attached the minutes for November, or via the website menus

Please find the 2023 membership form attached, if possible, please pay by EFT and forward the form and payment details to treasurer@spriteclub.com.au

thanks!

The Sprite Club 50th Anniversary Car Badges have arrived!

If you have ordered and paid for a badge (or two) they can be collected at the Annual General Meeting on Monday 7th November.

If you would like one for your Sprite or Midget you can purchase these at the Meeting – Cost is $30 – either cash or EFT to the Club Account.

For those who attended the 50th Anniversary Dinner there is a special lapel badge version that has been made as a memento of this event.

These will also be available for collection on the night.

Reminder. Classic sports car cruise this Saturday 4pm for a 4:30 start from the western side car park of the Brighton railway station. An approximately one hour cruise along the Adelaide shore line. Route sheets will be available at the departure point. Finish at North haven where there will be a presentation for the most appealing car and the car with the best Patina.

Monday 7th November, 8.00pm at the Fullarton Park Community Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton Park

The Annual General Meeting is soon upon us and a time for the members to decide the 2023 Committee for the Sprite Club of SA.

The current Committee has been together for five years and has maintained and run the Sprite Club through a number of major events and challenges. These include working through bushfires in the Adelaide Hills, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated cleaning, social distancing and lockdowns.

Therefore some of the Committee members have elected not to stand once again for their positions. This provides an opportunity to join the Committee and help with the running of the Sprite Club for the next 12 months.

The positions that will be vacating are:

• President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Web Master

So if you would like to be involved with running the Club, planning events and helping to Promote, Foster and Preserve Sprites and Midgets here is you opportunity.

Please contact one of the Committee to discuss further or if you have any questions, etc

Having entered the Lycoming Indy in the historic section of a big league race meeting at The Bend this weekend. We of course tested the monster out prior to the big day. Despite many hours of trying, we were unable to get the Lycoming engine to run. From having the exhausts glow red hot after mere seconds of starting to no spark at all. Friends at Parafield tested the magnetos which were both caput. Two more found tested and eagerly fitted only to have yet another failure. having fitted magneto no 3 the engine finally burst into life sounding better than ever. Our joy was short lived when we found the just replaced transmission input coupling had sheared off. A call to the event promoters enabled us to swap cars and enter the Irukandji in instead. We were unable to attend Friday practice session so our first run was in the heat of super sprint combat on Saturday morning where I had a good dice with an amazingly quick Lola sports car which was 1 second faster than the Irukandji. Round 2 saw the two of us locked in combat at the head of the field were the Irukandji proved just quick enough to pass the Lola and post a tine 1 second faster. The spectators seemed to really appreciate the spectacle. Sunday was different, rivers af water flowing through the pits, the whole place was awash races were being canceled or delayed, eventually they let us on the track in just a mild cloudburst. Within 2 laps I was saturated. on the edge of one corner there was water so deep it was literally like having a bucket of water thrown over the dash panel. Motor sport is very character building.

Daryl Ottewill is looking for a set of 3.7 diff gears, contact 0477130629

With the Internet and the digital age there is a fantastic opportunity to capture, store and share images, pictures and videos that would have previously been sitting idle on the shelf in a back room cupboard, cardboard box or lost in the shed!

A few of these videos popped up on an Facebook feed this week so thought it would be good to share them with you. These movies/videos were posted to YouTube by previous Sprite Club member Kerry Sarandis.

During the early years of the Sprite Club of SA the club was involved in motor racing, motorkhanas and generally driving the life out of these Sprites and Midgets. This was described at the recent 50th Anniversary Annual Dinner by Richard Stokes and Reiner Walker – well here is some more proof of those early days……….

In 1974 the Sprite Clubs Nationals between SA, NSW and Victoria Sprite Clubs was a motorkhana that was held at Hay, Victoria. There were 16 SA Sprite Club members attending this event. This video features many of the SA contingent that won this event outright!

Vehicles and members include Richard Stokes with his green Bugeye, Kerry Sarandis’s Red Mk III Sprite, Dean King’s Purple LC Torana XU-1, Phil Brown’s orange Bugeye, Doug Gordon’s Renault TS16 and the white MG Midget of Jill Gouck. It also shows how manoeuvrable a Spridget can be in an motokhana with use of the handbrake and the throttle.

In 1977 the Sprite Club’s Nationals headed to Hume Weir circuit, once again in Victoria. In this video feature a “racecam” lap of the circuit, showing the differecen in track safety to todays, motor racing circuits. It shows a number of interstate Sprite Club members vehicles, including Mike Dore’s (VIC) white Bugeye, Ray English’s (VIC) red Mk III Sprite Lenham Coupe and the SA Super Sprite (Datsun 1600 powered) of Simon Aram.

In the second Hume Weir video it features the first outing of the Datsun 1600cc powered “Super Sprite” that was built by SA Members Simon Aram and Mark Chown. This vehicle was later owned by SA Club Members, Dean King (then Toyota 2-litre powered), Rob Peckett and Don Taylor (Mazda Rotary Turbo – powered).

And the last video is the start of a Sports Car Race at Adelaide International Raceway with the famed Glen Dix dropping the National Flag to start the race.

Many interesting sports cars feature including the Boral Ford, Elfin 360, numerous racing clubman’s and the Bugeye Sprites of Richard Stokes (Green) and Dean King (Blue SUS-600). It is interesting to see the speed difference between all of these various vehicles. also great to see a good crowd standing on the mound under the Control Tower.

Thanks to Kerry for posting these to You Tubefor all to see, and for NSW member Scotty Gibbs for locating them.

Here is the October Bugeye Burble and Coming Events for the next few months as the weather starts to warm and on opportunity to withdrawal your Spridget from the shed………………………

Keep an eye on the Sprite Club Website, Email Postings and Sprite Club Facebook Page for more information…………

16th October – Bay to Birdwood – Starting at Barrett Reserve, West Beach.
The Bay to Birdwood is one of the world’s great historic motoring events and has been an iconic fixture on the South Australian events calendar since 1980. Entrant vehicles will depart Barratt Reserve, West Beach from early morning (8.15am) and arrive at Birdwood anytime from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

23rd October – MSCA Supersprint – Round 5 – Mallala Motorsport Park
The final round of the MSCA Super Sprint is back at Mallala Motorsport Park
Please support our competing Sprite and Clubman driving members – On track from 10.00am

29th October – Classic Sports Car Cruise – Twilight Beach Run – 4.00pm for a 4.30pm departure
Our stating point will be the Brighton Railway Station car park, western side off Cedar Ave. The drive will be basically following the coastline all the way through to the marina off Lady Gowrie drive. While it is great if you can come in a sports car or clubman don’t be afraid to roll up in your daily driver and enjoy the comradery.

28th/30st Oct – South Australian Hillclimb Championships – Collingrove Hillclimb.

4th November – John Blanden’s Climb to the Eagle
The tradition continues! Gathering in Victoria Park in front of the grandstand and the run will be Climbing to the Eagle, then the tour will head to morning tea with a guest speaker at the Blackwood Football Club oval. Entries and information: https://www.sportingcarclub.com.au/

7th November – Annual General Meeting – 8.00pm
Fullarton Park Community Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton Park.
All committee positions will be declared vacant, so if you would like to assist with the running of the Sprite Club, please contact a committee person now!

Please find the October Minutes here or via the website menu

Following the successful cruise of February last, this run will be a rerun of that event. Gathering in the western side car park of the Brighton railway station car park at 4 pm for a 4:30 departure. The rout will follow the Adelaide cost as much as possible. There will be a short regrouping on Military road adjacent to the west beach caravan park and playground. The run will finish at North Haven café and restaurant centre on Lady Gowerie Drive. The run should take approximately one hour. Not that much time and not that much petrol. Route instruction sheets will be available at the starting point. There will be a short presentation at the conclusion of the drive. Any questions please contact Pat Miller on 0421289706 or email nanmiller@adam.com.au

During the 50th Anniversary Display Day at Wigley Reserve you may have noticed Sprite Club member and Bugeye owner Malcolm Ludgate wandering around with with a selection of camera equipment.

Malcolm has put together a video of the day – providing a great overview of the day – Thanks for you efforts Malcolm!

Here is the link to the video:

https://www.facebook.com/malcolm.ludgate/videos/1126856691266533

Malcolm and wife Mylene have been involved with cinematography for many years specialising in underwater and nature documentaries, plus a number of other interesting projects – check out their web site for more information:

http://seafilms.com.au/

Due to the Long Weekend the October General Meeting will be held on Monday 10th October at 8.00pm at the Fullarton Park Community Centre, 411 Fullarton Road.

if you have ordered a 50th Anniversary Car Badge the have arrived and will be available for collection on the night.

See you there!

Roll Hoops from a 1971 Midget

$150 each or $275 the pair

Brenton Schaumloffel 0412985186

From the MSCA SA

Good evening all

I am in desperate need of flag marshals for our next super sprint, coming up on September 25^th at The Bend East circuit. Could you please ask your members for assistance at this event, and get back to me ASAP.  Thank you. Your help with this matter is appreciated. 

Regards

Michelle Edwards

MSCA Secretary 

All flag marshals will receive a free lunch and get to have a parade lap around the Bend east circuit and that is something to experience. If you can help please notify Michele or Pat Miller nanmiller@adam.com.au or 0421289706.

Regards 

Pat Miller

Please find attached the Club minutes for September 2022, also available via the website menus

To finish off the 50th Anniversary events, Club members Russell and Judy Schmarr planned a Mid-Week Meander – Northern Celebratory Ramble, providing members a chance to drive a range of roads to the North of Adelaide.

I will let Russell and Judy inform you of the day of Spritely Motoring….

“Starting out in the rain from Tilley Reserve at Surrey Downs, the 11 cars assembled faced a damp start to the 120kms Northern Meander.

Progress was a little slower than the last time we drove on the One Tree Hill Road, along the pot holed Humbug Scrub Road to cross the South Para River Ford and into Williamstown.

Looking out to the west we could see a glimmer of light in the otherwise grey skies as we drove through the Barossa Valley to our morning tea destination at Bethany by 11am. The shelter was welcome but still cold enough to just have time for a warm up tea or coffee before taking to the roads again.

We wandered up the Valley avoiding the large towns and traffic, turning off to enjoy the well loved Seppeltsfield Drive, then on to the little town of Greenock where we seemed to have come out of the rainy grey to see patches of blue sky.

In the rolling paddocks to Kapunda, Tarlee and Stockport the gaudy golden canola crops offered bright contrasts to the other staid green oats, beans and wheat plantings.