Issue No. 12 January 1998
Issue No. 12 January 1998
The '97 Hot Rod & Street Machine Spectacular was Perth's first State Title Show in nearly a decade, so the ten member committee pulled out all stops to produce a memorable event. Features of the Show included some outstanding club & individual displays, a full colour programme featuring every car in the Show, rock 'n' roll dance demo's, an enormous model car display (with over 400 miniature rods & customs), a Junior Rodders display, low-rider bicycles and a very professionally presented ASRF booth. However, the real winner, as far as the public was concerned, was the free hot rod rides. An assortment of local rods kept up a virtually non-stop shuttle around local streets, in one of the best P.R. exercises that ever occurred in Perth. Looking at rods is one thing, going for a ride in one is a totally different experience! Jeff Ewence's roadster did something like 500 k's, with nearly as many drivers at the wheel as it had passengers! The smiles on faces, the long queues and the positive feedback said it all.
On the Show floor, hot rods dominated, with the highest number of rods ever gathered under one roof in W.A. A significant number were debut cars, and the selection of unfinished cars helped to educate the public on the rod-building process. Local rodders were looking forward to the first head-to-head showdown between Ray Towel's '35 Coupe and Charlie Blogna's '32 Coupe. These two mega-award winners are owned by two friends, partners in the the highly respected R&M Restorations rod shop, but they had never appeared at the same show. However, from out of the blue came the stunning magenta 'A' Tudor of Rob Tuia. Registered with barely hours to spare, it proceeded to take home the seven most prestigious trophies in Hot Rod class. R&M still did feature though when the amazing '70 Barracuda of Domenic Cicchino took the four top trophies for Street Machine class. Long time rodder Brian French debuted his gorgeous aqua '57 Chevy hardtop, and cleaned up in Custom Classic.
One other feature of the Show was the historical displays. Perth's oldest custom, a recently discovered '50 Chevy, sat alongside the longest registered rod in WA, Vince Berriman's '32 roadster, surrounded by display cabinets featuring memorabillia from eight periods of hot rodding history. No doubt about it, there was something for everyone, and the only dissappointment was that an unexpected number of major public events over the weekend severely impacted on attendance. With many of these events moving on the '98 calendar, WAHRP are looking forward to a more rewarding show next year.
Rob Tuia's stunning new magenta Tudor took "Top Street Rod", and just about everything else besides!
Steve Houlahan's '47 Convertible sports a host of subtle details, won "Top Roadster".
Big Al's Tub will be great when it's 99th rebuild is finally completed!
Just some of the 400+ models in the model show.
Tony Princi's Deuce Customs bodied '34 took out "Top Coupe".
Brand new coupe of Steve Hunt's greeted patrons as they entered the show.
'97 Nationals "Long Distance" award winner, Peter & Valmae Simpson's channelled '34 Chev Tourer, with full Jag suspension & LPG.
Neville Anderson's blown '34 Coupe has been on the road for nearly 25 years, but still looks great.
Alan Well's super low-buck A.J.W. special. Totaly hand built, and won "Top Pick-up" with a total cost under $6000.
Denham Delmore, West Coast Street Rods, owns this '28 Roadster, runs 350 Chev, BW diff & HG Holden f/end, finished in Dulux Bright Red.
Wayne Guileman's very tough '29 Hiboy on the Conrodder's 'Drive-In' club display
Alan Barton and his crew from Kelmscott Senior High School had the '35 Phaeton in Unfinished class.
