A GLEAMING display of automotive heaven assembled at Leongatha Recreation Reserve on Wednesday as the Austin Healey National Rally hit town, with models dating from the earliest produced to the last.
While about 70 cars are part of this year’s rally, others joined for the day.
Most of the vehicles on show at Leongatha are based in Victoria but some were driven from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.
Owners were happy to chat about their cars during the Leongatha lunch stop.
Rally and track racing cars were among those brought along for the day.
Austin Healey Owners Club of Victoria hosted this year’s rally, one of its members Brian Aitken chatting to the Sentinel-Times about the event and his stunning red BN2 100-4, which dated to 1956, the model having only been produced for six months.
He explained that the 100 referred to the car’s ability to break through the 100-mile-an-hour barrier, while the four denotes the number of cylinders, the earlier BN1 being the original Austin Healey.
Brian pointed out a streamlined white 100S, an aluminium-bodied racing car of which 55 were produced, the S standing for Sebring, a Florida racetrack.
He noted the model is valued at half a million dollars and upwards, the exact price influenced by the race history of each car.
Cute bug-eyed Sprites, also known as ‘frogs’ were on display, Sprites being smaller and lighter but zippy.
Those who visited Leongatha Recreation Reserve to check out the Austin Healeys were pleasantly surprised to find so many and such a diverse range.
Coral Jones of Wonthaggi was among Wednesday’s admirers, declaring all the cars beautiful.
“I’d have any one of them, even the bug eyes,” she declared.
Leongatha locals Andy Grayden and Kevin Allen were delighted to have come for a look, both being car enthusiasts.
“We didn’t think there were so many around,” Andy said of the Austin Healeys.
Leongatha’s Eileen and Noel Johnson were also delighted to have come, the sporty vehicles present bringing back memories for Noel of his 1945 MGTC.
David Lawrence has owned five Austin Healeys, one of those his first car when he was aged just 20.
He arrived at Leongatha in his 1959 3000 BN7, featuring a full alloy 4.4L Healey engine.
Greg and Phyl Howe happily posed alongside their Ferrari red 1962 Austin Healey that showed no sign of the “rusted hulk” Greg said it was prior to restoration.
David and Brenda Lyons of Geelong brought their 1959 3000 BN7, originally red but looking magnificent in Ford GT blue with a white racing stripe, the car originally sold in Oregan USA, later being raced by Steve Pike in Australia.
The current owners bought the car for touring purposes, with road-friendly alterations made such as replacing the stiff racing suspension that wouldn’t handle Victorian roads well.
Rally participants stayed at the RACV Resort in Inverloch for four nights, offering plenty of opportunity to socialise and chat about the merits of their various vehicles.
On Thursday, most headed to Port Albert to check out the Maritime Museum, while a smaller group ventured to Lang Lang then Gurneys Cidery in Foster.
Queensland has the good fortune to host the next Austin Healey National Rally, an event that will continue to attract admirers everywhere it goes.
