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On 19th January
1950, a group interested in the setting up an
Austin 7 Club met to discuss details of its
formation.
These eleven Austin Seven enthusiasts
came together and formed an interim committee, immediately
embarking on an active and varied motor
sport career with a series of club runs, treasure
hunts, hill climbs, border runs and observed
section trials.
Before the middle of 1950 a club
badge was designed, and in July the constitution
was adopted and a committee elected.
In the early days
many of the competitors drove their Austin Sevens as
everyday transport and quite often 'improved' them
to suit their requirements, as the Austin Seven was
very adaptable to the 'Special' builder. The
various sections of the sport developed and
competition rules and trophies evolved, together
with formulae devised to regulate the construction
of vehicles used in circuit racing and mud trials which later
became observed
section trials.
These formulae were later modified
to obviate the necessity of using many Austin
components, as their increasing scarcity put them
at a premium for those wishing to restore Austin Sevens
for the road. The 750 formula withered to a
sprinkling of cars, but thankfully the genesis of
the historic racing movement in the 1970s
regenerated interest. Nowadays we see regular
appearances by many original cars, augmented by
more recently created examples.
The observed
section trials cars, whilst no longer of Austin Seven origin,
continue to be competed under the aegis of the
club, with occasional international competitions
being fostered by the group, along with New Zealand
and English interest.
The club's
credentials in motor race officiating and
organisation were established from the mid 50's,
when we were seconded at short notice to provide
trackside communications at the memorable Albert
Park races. Thence followed similar appointments at
Phillip Island, Sandown Park and Calder. Club member
Fred Darling continued his involvement as chief communications official through all the Australian Grands
Prix until his retirement after the 1999
event.
We moved into race promotion with the introduction to
Australia of the 'Six Hour Relay'. Run initially at
Fisherman's Bend, the meeting moved to Calder
and later to Winton over a period of about ten
years through the 60's. After a few years'
break, we returned in 1976 with Historic
Winton - still going strong 40 years on.
In 1968, CAMS called upon us to
conduct an open motorkhana at our Mickleham venue,
which was the progenitor of the Victorian
Motorkhana Championships.
A growing need
for replacement parts to maintain the Austin Sevens was
recognised with the establishment of the Spares
Garage, which has grown in range and quality to the
stage where an Austin Seven can now be refettled and
maintained better than at any time since production
ceased, and usually with better than original
parts.
After meeting in rented
premises the club took a
big step in the early 1990s and
purchased a factory unit in Cheltenham that, with substantial
modifications, became the clubrooms
that we enjoy today. Opened in early 1995, this provided a purpose-built auditorium, a properly set up
spare parts department, committee room and library
- something of which club members were justifiably proud.
Later we purchased the next door unit 9 and in 2013 commenced joining the two
buildings, including setting up a new
greatly enlarged spares department which was completed in 2015. The
commodious extension to the clubrooms with a large new
kitchen will be finished and officially
opened in 2017.
The club is still
as diversified as ever and, while the types of
events conducted may have changed over the decades,
we now have a border run, other extended runs, day
outings and concours for the road cars. There is
also a full calendar of racing, sprints and
hill-climbs for the racers, a season of twelve
trials for the observed section trials cars and the organisation of
the prestigious Historic Winton race meeting and historic car
display which celebrated 40 years in 2016, together with the long standing Myrniong
Historic Car Sprint which goes from strength to strength.
In 2015 the Club
commissioned well known motor sport author Bob Watson to
write a complete history of the Club titled 'Going Strong', which
was introduced by Bob at the Club Christmas Luncheon
11th December 2016 with signed copies provided free to all 2016 Club members here and at the Christmas Pudding and Awards
night on the 21st December 2016.
"Going Strong" A history of the Austin Seven Club
in Victoria.
Bob Watson
How to get a copy
First copies were released at the Club's Christmas Luncheon
2016, and copies will be
available at future club events.
All Life Members, Full Members, Associate Members, Remote
Members and Club
Associates will be eligible to receive a FREE copy, with a
limit of one per household,
provided they are financial members for 2016. Likewise, all
financial members who
were not eligible to receive a free copy will be able to buy
ONE copy for $20. Any extra copies will be $25.
Posted copies will be plus cost of Postage and Packaging.
Postage and packaging will
cost $13.30 (for single copies for members in Australia).
For a limited number of
Metro Melbourne members the postage is less, but contact us.
You can order your copy by contacting:-
Janne or Robert Humphreys
(03) 95836316 or
treasurer@austin7club.org
PAYMENT WILL BE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE
Tony Press, March
2017
Historic Articles from the archives-
Recent Historic Articles-
Events Run by the Club-
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