Very special guest speaker coming up this Wednesday, 21st October: Steve Hallam is Managing Director of the Australian V8 Supercars team Tekno Autosports. Steve has been in car racing all his professional life, going back to Team Lotus (F1) in 1982, all the way to Chief Racing Engineer - McLaren (F1). Steve was engaged by Ian Mayberry, in concert with this week's Gold Coast 600 Car Race.
Tony Bird was at the door (for Geoff Croad), Darrell Brown was Chairman and Andy Bell was Sergeant.
We had apologies from Mitch Brown, Geoff Croad, Mario Fairlie, Peter Morgan and Ray Higgs.
President Paul Seymour welcomed all members and our guests: from Frankston Rotary Club: Ross Augustine,from Bankstown Rotary Club: Chris Anderson, our former member Evan Mita and his manager, John Duthie, and of course our charming Youth Exchange Student from Italy, Martina Missarelli. Paul ensured that all members are aware of the meeting of 28th October (e.g. this week's) will be held at the Paradox Cafe, not at the Yacht Club. He also confirmed that we have been allocated to host the GSE Team from Pensylvannia from 11th to 15th May 2016.
Now, it is a bit rich to face the Sergeant first up and early (see report under separate segment), whilst one is still busily chewing ones bacon and slurping one's scrambled eggs... But why not? If the menu doesn't vary, one might at least vary the meeting's agenda a little bit... ☺
But then, talking about varying the agenda: Surfers Sunrise had another absolute Rotary "first": our member Julian Price (also known as "Long Black" ☺) entertained us with a solo performance of 'Unchained Melody'! Howzat!! Click on this link to hear it[ok, not by the Righteous Brothers... Have you ever heard of Sam Cooke before? Ah... you must be in my age group then!]
Fundraising Director Doug Lipp reported on the results of the Race Day fundraiser which resulted in well over $4,000, including the kind donation of Mario Fairlie.
Des La Rance reported of a film he saw on Monday night by the TTM Mission people about their projects in Zambia. Surfers Sunrise Wheelchairs everywhere! Their next project is to get a 40' container transported there: because it is land locked, it is more expensive than normal: budget is $18,000.
Gerald East briefly commented on the previous Monday night's Polio Plus movie 'Bridge of Spies' by Steven Spielberg: 7 people from our club attended (one couple forgot it was on...!) Everyone agreed: it was very good indeed - and totally different to what was expected!
Graeme Isaacson is organizing the Melbourne Cup Luncheon to be held at the usual venue, Sensa Nome on Tedder Avenue.
Wheelchair Trust Chairman Daryl Sanderson is still getting results from the ABC News exposure: Rotary Clubs of Redland, Kipparing and Glen Innes are getting involved!
....it's tough to be South African by birth... President Paul Seymour was picked on for confusing members with his message about meeting at the Paradox Cafe: it is NEXT Wednesday! And what nationality was the referee who robbed Scotland of the win in the Rugby World Cup? [No prizes for guessing!]... Visitors and guests were introduced to Des La Rance as the Pope in Waiting - not George Pell! Angus Miller, can't you afford razor blades? You know, trying that "European Man" look simply doesn't work for you! Now, we seem to have a disturbing trend developing amongst us: are members turning gay? All these guys wearing Brokeback Mountain shirts: visitor Ross Augustine, Mario Fairlie, (and I think Gerald East was in the group too?)... and Mario, you ARE a Medical Marvel! Chris Thurtell's shirt is coordinated with his hair... Reports have it that our Exchange Student Martina was eating the bread crusts at the recent Bunnings Sizzle: John Franich, are you not feeding her properly?? Ian Mayberry, in your capacity of Clerk of the Course: because of your race event, it took me a solid hour to navigate through Surfers! Tony Bird, welcome back!
We all (and these days not just the men) sort of visualize ourselves driving a V8 Supercar around the circuit of Bathurst. And then, last weekend, thespectacular footage of Damian Flackspilling everything bar the frame of his car was plastered all over national TV.
Ian, in a parallel life to assessing accident damage for Insurance companies, is high up the food chain in keeping drivers to keep to the rules [I think the official title is Clerk of the Court]. He explained that, after downloading the data from the car [huh?? AFTER the crash? Same technology as they use in Airbus aircrafts?], he found that at the time Damian clocked 242 Km/hr. Have another look at the video link and think again whether you would have wanted to be inside that car, or comfortably ensconced in your favorite chair watching it on TV...
Back to the more distant past... Ian brought to us his recollections when, as a young car racing enthusiast, he desperately tried to raise $1,000 to compete as a co-driver in the 1973 Bathurst 1000 (the first time it was called the 1000 - before it was the Bathurst 500 (miles). Keep in mind that, in 1973, $1,000 would in today 's value be more like $10,000 - one could buy a very snazzy car, such as a Holden Monaro, for about $4,000. It's a long story, but he did. They had a Valiant Charger which they actually drove from Melbourne to Bathurst (yes! it was registered for road use. Amazing what you can get away with if you know the right people!). After the trial and elimination runs, Ian's team ended up... in Reserve! Yup. Not on the starting grid. Not in the race proper. However, Ian's eloquent negotiation with the Clerk of the Court convinced the powers to be to at least let them run in the Warm-up Lap, just in case. And the gods smiled upon the Charger Team: a Torana (sorry, if you don't know what this is, you were born far too late!) had broken down. So, despite being in 58th position after the trials, Ian's team got a start after all. A mad scramble to swap pits with the hapless Torana crew ensued, and, as they say, the rest is history: they completed a creditable 143 laps. The car still exists today, apparently advertised in the Trading Post, now beautifully restored. And probably priced at about 20 times its original price.
So you feel like competing in next year's Bathurst 1000? Your budget will be in the vicinity of $3 - 5 Million. Per car. Hmmm... I might still simply watch it on TV after all...
Wonderful spring weather brought the masses out to Bunnings, and they were hungry! Organizer and coordinator Tania Laird reported a very satisfactory result indeed. Great to see our Youth Exchange Student Martina coming along to help too! Besides the immediate profit well into the 4 digits, we have plenty of soft drinks left over for our next event in November, and more than sufficient sausages to run a club breakfast in the park like we had last year [hear hear! Ed.].
Superbly well organized, Tania!
Picture above (from left, taken by a happy customer): Gerald East, Simon Brook, John Franich, our Youth Exchange Student from Italy, Martina Missarelli and your editor.
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Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks his whip. But the really well trained dog is the one who turns his somersault when there is no whip. George Orwell.
Very special guest speaker coming up this Wednesday, 21st October: Steve Hallam is Managing Director of the Australian V8 Supercars team Tekno Autosports. Steve has been in car racing all his professional life, going back to Team Lotus (F1) in 1982, all the way to Chief Racing Engineer - McLaren (F1). Steve was engaged by Ian Mayberry, in concert with this week's Gold Coast 600 Car Race..jpg)
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We all (and these days not just the men) sort of visualize ourselves driving a V8 Supercar around the circuit of Bathurst. And then, last weekend, the
Wonderful spring weather brought the masses out to Bunnings, and they were hungry! Organizer and coordinator Tania Laird reported a very satisfactory result indeed. Great to see our Youth Exchange Student Martina coming along to help too! Besides the immediate profit well into the 4 digits, we have plenty of soft drinks left over for our next event in November, and more than sufficient sausages to run a club breakfast in the park like we had last year 
