Issue No. 14 July 1998
Issue No. 14 July 1998
The 14th ASRF Street Rod Nationals are less than 12 months away, and already over 250 entries are in. Of special note is the large number of entries received from Tasmania. In the past the huge cost of getting cars across the water had always made it nearly impossible for the majority of Tasmanians to attend the Nationals, but that has changed now with funding for the ferries reducing the cost of the trip to rodders by approx. $800. This cost reduction has meant that the 14th Nats will have the biggest contingent of Tassie Rods & Customs ever to attend a Nationals.
If you believe you have heaps of time left to organize accommodation for yourself, or your club, please reconsider�.Much of our prime accommodation in Geelong has already been pre-booked, therefore we strongly recommend that you secure yours as soon as possible. To have information sent to you on what accommodation is still available in the Geelong area, ring this toll free number � 1800 620 888. And, if you are planning to camp at the Nationals venue, please remember that camping is only available to those who have officially entered. So, to avoid missing out, get your entries in soon please, and we will send you a camping form with more details.
National�s Trade Site Coordinator, Peter Raines, has been kept very busy processing the many requests for trade sites that have been flooding in. These trade sites already booked by astute Rodding and related businesses, eager to take advantage of one of the best opportunities available to promote their businesses and services first hand to a large proportion of the Rodding community. If you haven�t booked your trade site as yet, please call Peter on (03) 5253 2660.
The list of the official sponsors of the event is growing, so again we wish to acknowledge those who have thrown their support behind the 14th ASRF Street Rod Nationals, Geelong 1999. They are the VHRA, Cooper Automotive (Champion), Select Auto Imports, Graffiti Publications, ICI Auto Colour, IDIDIT, Select Automatics, Deuce Customs, Aussie Desert Coolers, Valvoline/Pyroil, Howard Instruments (VDO), Just Magazines, Castlemaine Rod Shop.
We have our basic itinerary worked out, which in some facets is similar to previous Nationals, with some of the details to be fine-tuned yet.
Thursday Entrants Arrive, and settle in after the long drive.
Friday Registration
Proposed Tours of the Geelong area
Cruizing the Showgrounds (trader�s alley)
Sausage Sizzle (refreshments supplied)
Saturday More Registration (no surprises there!)
Kids Area to hang out at (Carnival & Games area)
Car Games. (We would like to hear from as many clubs as possible re:
Who would help out with running their favourite car games)
Mini Rods Cruize Time. (Special time slot for mini rods to cruize)
Ladies Afternoon. (No husbands, boyfriends, kids)
Rocker Cover Racing.
Cruizing the Showgrounds.
Dinner Dance & live band (meal provided)
Sunday Breakfast supplied (subject to sponsorship dollars)
Cruizing the Showgrounds
Show �n Shine, Mini Rods Show �n Shine & Cruize Time
Car Games plus Horse Power Heroes
Presentations/Rock �n Roll Dance
On-site Drive-In Theatre.
Monday Pancake Breakfast
Cruize ( a BYO BBQ-destination to be decided)
STOP PRESS
BIG NEWS FROM THE NATIONALS COMMITTEE!!!!!!
Get your entry in early to be in the draw to win this magnificent LILOW front end, total value approximately $3,600 donated by IDIDIT. The front end will feature the very popular 2" dropped spindles kindly donated by Castlemaine Rod Shop.
Ididit Aluminium & Automotive Fabrications
The 14th ASRF Street Rod Nationals committee are proud to introduce you to one of our generous sponsors, Ididit Aluminium Fabrications, and its proprietor, well known Shepparton (Vic) rodder, Ian Eliason.
It was in 1987 that "Ididit" was established to cater for the specialised welding and fabrication market. With Ian�s considerable knowledge, and previous experience in the automotive field, he felt he was able to offer new, high quality, Australian designed and produced "after market" products, specifically made to cater for our road conditions. This led to the design, fabrication and marketing of the �lilow� front suspension system. Now that more and more cars fitted with this remarkable front suspension system have made their way onto the roads, �lilow� front ends are making their mark.
And, the good news is�that Ian has generously offered one of his magnificent �lilow� front ends to us (with engineer�s report), to be used as one of our give-away�s at the Nationals. And, to be in the running to take this wonderful front end home with you, all you need to do is to get your 14th Nationals entry in before the 1st of September, 1998.
IAN ELIASON-ididit Proprietor
Ian�s first initiation into hot rodding was an afternoon matinee movie, back in 1962 (at age 9), that featured channelled roadsters, T buckets and land speed records on the salt. From that moment he developed a passion for modified vehicles. In 1966 Ian bought his first Australian rodding magazine, �Australian Hot Rodding Review�. His next initiation was at a Rotary Motor Show in Shepparton, where Rod Hadfield�s black Y block �34 channelled coupe and Chester Turvey�s Dodge sedan were on display. This, at the tender age of approx. 16 meant that young apprentice mechanic, Ian, covered about 80 miles in round trips (15 times) on his �deadly treadly�, just to take a look.
In 1973, Ian dragged home a �29 �A� model Ford Roadster, and proceeded to Hot Rod it. (This roadster was the first ever Australian Hot Rod to be featured on a front cover of �Street Rodder� (USA) magazine.) The roadster had taken 2 � years to complete, and in 1976 Ian drove it to Queensland on a working holiday which lasted 3 years. The �A� subsequently traveled 65,000 miles, and then was sold to allow Ian to update to a �30 model roadster. Later Ian sold the �30 to finance a trip to the USA, where he was �blown away� by what is known as "HELLIARC" welding.
Since his return, Ian has been involved in fabricating chassis and components for many award winning Hot Rods in Australia. Parts for these, and dozens of other cars Ian had a hand in included full chassis rebuilds, fabricated independent front suspensions, alloy sumps, fuel tanks, duel blower manifolds, roll cages, stainless steel axles, rear 4 links, sheet metal diff housings, stainless headers and exhaust systems etc.
DON�T FORGET�TO BE IN THE DRAW TO WIN THIS lilow FRONT END, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR 14TH NATS ENTRY IN BEFORE THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER!
