June 2010 No. 196

RAT RODS NO LONGER TO BE LICENSED IN WACarlisle WA, April 2010 . Zulu 1200 hrs..Just kidding! Just not much else happening out there! Rat rods were/are a breath of fresh air, world wide, in the hot rodding movement. They were a welcome relief from the almost out of control evolution of big dollar show cars, that were joining the humble hot rodder ranks. They too served their purpose and birthed many high quality rod shops and aftermarket rod parts manufacturing businesses, but they created a sense of unreachability to the average new hot rodding aspirant.. Have rat rods now “lost the plot”? Having shown that rods could be built, licensed and driven for lesser dollars than historically shown or thought, have they gone too far? Besides the value of saving some mis-matched vintage panels from the scrap metal dealer, are they now just a lazy way to build a hot rod or are they the bee’s knees? Have your say!

HEADLINESTwo rat rods at WinterSun

RODDERS POLL. Do you like rat rods? Email “yes” or “no” to klaxon@cyberhotrodders.com. Results in the next Klaxon.

Please contact us using the details below.

Address: Unit 1, 12 Cusack Rd, MALAGA. WA. Ph (08)9249 9632General meetings: 3rd Sunday of each month at 7.30pm. Visitors wel-come.President: Kevan Best Ph. 9571 0025.. Vice Presidents: Brian French 9377 7837 Alan Barton 9448 0110 . Secretary: Mel Broun 9447 1975 Treasurer: Brian FrenchASRF Delegate: Jeff Ewence 9339 4337TAC Delegate: Ken MyersWAHRP Delegate: vacantManagement Committee: Executive committee (above) and Ian Swinbourne, Dave Krause. All members welcome to meetings. Get involved or get left behind. First Tuesday of each month. @ 7.00pmSocial Committee: D. Krause, Ian Swinbourne, Jim CandidoStrata Committee: Neil Gibb, Jeff Ewence, Eric Warren Klaxon Editor: Eric Warren mob: 0400-1939-09 or email on rodder@tpg.com.au Deadline is 7 days before the monthly meeting. Klaxon Distribution: Peter Hunter 9445 2493.Contributors: Mel Broun, Bill Jansen, Andrew Hall, Phil Luyer (photos) John Harney (photos)Cover: .A couple of rat rods at WinterSun 2010 in Coolangatta.Club Merchandise. Phone 0402 622 513 (Mike)

MIKE FLETT

Get Fletted!!Member’s Outfitters

Call Mike for your club clobber needs.

Hello fellow Klaxon-reading winter haters.Winter loving, Summer haters, I hope you are happy at last. I hope you are enjoying your frostbite while reading this.The cold mornings and evenings is one thing, but getting dark at 5:30pm is another, especially when there are outdoor activities waiting for some attention. Bring in daylight saving for Winter, it couldn't get any colder in the mornings and it's dark anyway!I am half way through a patio project that I want to get out of my hair (?) and if I could get an hour or two's work done after work, it would be near finished. Now I have to squeeze it in with other weekend activities, like not building patios and hot rodding.The said patio project, is going well, but not without its testing moments. I may elaborate further later, if time and space allows.

By now, with the Klaxon a week later than usual, the club's AGM will have just passed. A chance to change the guard and blood some new executive talent, has just taken place (I hope so for the accuracy of this text)These days, the running of the club is child's play, compared with the building days and other eras in the club's past. Get involved and share the little club jobs around. It does not require much time each month and is a good social outlet. After all, what else are you going to do at 7.00pm on one week night each month?.Learn to cook from the TV? Think about it. I also encourage new members to attend the monthly management meetings and to get more involved with the club and its members.To meet members and to get known, a small committee environment, like the management meetings, is a quick way to slot into the club comfortably.Give it a crack.Then of course, the Klaxon editor position is always up for grabs. Air all of the creative skills bottled up inside of you, once a month. It’s a bargain..

If not as editor, a monthly segment writer. There is an endless list of top-

ics to write about, as long as they are humorous, or educational, it doesn't matter. I was writing cooking articles from the "Hole In The Hedge Bistro" for the Klaxon, thirty years ago. The story about the mouse footprints in the pan full of hard dripping was my favourite. Shake off the invisible chains and pick up your pen. On behalf of the club, I want to thank the executive committee for the work done over the past twelve months. Likewise for participants on the Management committee.Thanks to Dave Krause and helpers of the Social committee and to all of our delegates participating in ASRF and TAC activities. Thanks to Frenchie for picking up plenty of the day to day slack left by Allan Rossi's departure.Thanks to Peter Hunter for folding and mailing the Klaxons not taken at the meetings. It should get easier over Winter when the Klaxon usually gets thinner with less events to report upon etc.Lastly thanks to all members for the great meeting participation over the last 12 months. The more the merrier on a Sunday evening. The June long weekend has passed again without being utilised for a rod run. I used the time hanging garage doors and the like at the southern country manner, enjoying the company of my siblings and our families.Maybe we are all catching up with tasks that were sidelined over a busy summer of rodding events. (that's another reason to like Summer)Will a brand new rodding event pop up next year for this time slot? The entry forms are out for the next "numbered” Street Rod Nationals that are to be held at Geelong next Easter. I have bitten the bullet and booked my cabin accommodation for the event and my holidays at the salt mine.. I will be about 10kms away from the event location, but at the same location as a number of other Willys owners. In fine company indeed. Time flies when raising a family, building your own house, club rooms etc. I last attended the "big" nats (my third) in Mildura in 1983. With the coupe back on the road it is time for another long drive.Who else is going? Who is driving? Depending when you read this, you may already know who won the latest WCSRC Clubman of the Year award . I am sure you will agree that

Continued....................

the recipient of the most votes, was again this year, a most worthy winner.

Congratulations to .......BLANK (just in case you read this before the presentation!) In two weeks time, AB and his toy building mates will hold their super successful Model Car Sunday. The mini marquee needs to be erected. This will be done mid morning after a healthy JIMBO’s breakfast next Saturday 3rd July. Please come for a laugh and help out.. I’ve run out of space again, so until next edition, just keep warm and healthy. Bloody winter !!!! Extreme ESuper Model Car Sunday is coming soon! Yep, it's on again! All the usual fun and atmosphere with 7-800 model cars trucks and bikes on the tables plus R/C sprintcars, roadtrains, drift cars, junior rods, demonstrations and trade displays. We are always looking for new entrants so simply email me and I will get entry forms out to you pronto. West Coast Street Rod Clubrooms 12 Cusack Road, Malaga Sunday, July 11, 9.00a.m. til 4.p.m. Adults $5.00, Kids free

Continued....................

Annually in mid June, for the last five or so years, the Mandurah Rod and Custom Club have held their Peter Dawson Memorial Rod Run, in memory of Peter, one of the clubs founding mem-bers.Dwellingup was one of Peter’s favorite places, so it has become a regular destination for this run.The format is simple. Leave Repco car park in Mandurah and cruise to Dwellingup via Pinjarra. A simple 43km cruise, in picturesque farming and forest landscapes.

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial Run

The destination is the Dwellingup Tav-ern which has plenty of parking across the road from it. This year, I had to make a trip to

Gidgegannup earlier in the morning so I made my way directly to dwellingup-by turning off South West Highway (Route 66) at North Dandalup and go-ing down Del Park road. This leads directly to the doorstep of the pub at Dwellingup. I arrived only minutes after the Mandurah mob and ten min-utes earlier than a group led by Phil Pavicich that came directly from Mala-ga. After taking photographs, I bee-lined to ordered some lunch, expecting to be pushing luck to find a seat but the dining room was less crowded this year. I enjoyed great fish and chips with Gibby, Jim and Zeni Longman and Sam Attard and Caroline. The fine weather allowed every one to spread out for lunch, so finding the best spot to hand out the perpetual “Publican’s Choice” trophy was a test. It was eventually held quickly while

Top to Bottom: Syl Zammit’s “Turkey Truck” Pickup got a new blown motor during the rebuild. Noddy’s “Dog” (Kevin Prendagast) Austin pickup has returned to WA after he abandoned it on the east coast for many years. Hank Robertson’s hiboy 34 tudor .

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial Run

standing in a circle in the car park. This years recipient was Rod Maxwell’s black ‘40 coupe. As this was basically a lunch and return trip for me, I left soon after to return home to get whipped into the ongoing patio project. Great day for a drive while it lasted and great company as usual. EW

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial Run

Above: “Publican’s Choice”, Rod Maxwell’s 40 coupe. Below: Phil Pavicich’s water melon truck waiting patiently at the level crossing for the Hotham Valley steam loco to come past, to create a unique photo opportu-nity for the camera buffs. I lost interest waiting any longer for the smelly old train....

Above : Dave Cull’s flamed 34 sedan. Below: Paul Walsh’s LPG A coupe.

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial Run

Above: Joe Italiano’s 57 Chevy. Be-low: Eric French’s Chevy pickup

Above: 1937 Chev roadster featur-ing a removable hardtop based on a donor roof from an FJ Holden

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial Run

Above: Another (Willys) Over-land. This rod run was full of class.

Above: West Coast members at the Run: Ian & Mandy Swinbourne’s 32 tub, Jim and Zeni Longman’s 48 mercury (with passengers Sam and Caroline), Gibby in his bucket and Eric in his 39 Willys Overland coupe.

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial RunLeft: Great ex-amples of Ford’s efforts from the fifties and six-ties. Right: Dwell-ingup is a popu-lar spot for cruising bikers. This show-wor-thy VW pow-ered trike came for a day out too.

Above: More attendees of the Peter Dawson Memorial Run, parked op-posite the Dwellingup Tavern.

MRCC Peter Dawson memorial Run

Below:Gibby shows how not to “power park”! Power Parkingpou-er pahrk-ing

Verb; hot rodding ver-nacular for parking a hot rod in an advanta-geous position, to best show it off, when in the presence of many other hot rods. Generally the act of wankers who suf-fer trophy deficiency..Antonym: the oppo-site. See Gibby’s ex-ample at left.

Welcome to our Newest Members.Over last few months, several probationary members have done their time and been elect-ed to full membership.Congratulations to Mike Kin-ney (& Marjorie), Murray and Jacquii Black and most recently Doug Brassington. The intro-ducton of “Cusso Dougie” has reduced the average of the members down 2.4 years and added two new cars to the club. Doug’s 47 coupe was original-ly built by past club member and secretary Eric Williams. Doug has recently given it a make over. His twin spinner has an immaculate twin carb flathead under the bonnet. Mike Kinney’s 35 Chev coupe started as an excellent resto imported by Brian French. It only needed mechanical up-grades to make a great hot rod without the hassles of doing paint and trim.The mad hatters, Murray and Jacquii Black’s LHD 1960 Chevy cruiser is a daily driver.Welcome to WCSRC. As my headmaster used to say. “You will only get out of any-thing, what you put into it first”.This goes for all hot rod clubs as well. EW

Last year, in the middle of Winter, The Cranksters and some friends got together over a wet weekend and put together Ben Forster’s now well known gold T coupe.This winter, honoring the concept birthed last year, the challenge was to assemble and drive Blackie’s 57 Chevy out of the shed at the end of the June long weekend. Was the car finished? Far from it. It was never expected, but it did knock many months of the building schedule. I was unable to attend this year.. I was building and hanging garage doors near Pinjarra..oh joy.. So I have acquired some photos from John Harney’s Biante12.com web site to give the general idea of the great weekend that they enjoyed. John Harney’s websites are a treasure trove of great photos from rodding and drag racing events and more Go for a visit here http://biante12.com and here http://flickr.com/biante12 EW

Cranksters Winter Madness No2.

Above: The project gets under way with a few guidelines , safety rules and expectations delivered by Ben For-ster.. Left: The start of the project. The body can lift off and has been prepped for paint. An HQ front suspension has been partially grafted to the Chevy Chassis and the running gear is ready to go.

Cranksters Winter Madness No2.

The crew came from all over, as far away as Kalgoorlie to be part of this project.. The chassis was virtually finished and the car half trimmed by the end of the weekend.

Cranksters Winter Madness No2.While the chassis was being weld-ed and pieced together, the paint-ers, glaziers and decorators went to town on the body. Sign writing on the doors seems to be the stan-dard thing at these Crankster weekender events.

Right: A Crankster men-only orgy. Above: keeping the workers fed and watered was important..

Cranksters Winter Madness No2.

Right: Cranksters and friends involved on the project and still there on Monday avo. Below: Blacky and his boss, thank the crowd for the massive effort and team work that progressed their 57 so far in just 3 days.. Below Right: Blacky’s 57 as it drove out of the shed on Monday. The mission was a success!

The annual Wintersun Retro festival was recently held in Coolangatta. Being chained to the 9-5, I didn’t go there, however a couple of Willys colleagues made it to the event and sent back some shots. I have selected some non-belly buttons to feature in this article.Thank you to Andrew Hall and Bill Jansen for the photographs.

(Bill Jansen’ s new Willys coupe only got an hour from home when the new crate motor started overheating then lost oil pressure. A great start to a hot rodding holiday. He complet-ed the journey in the grocery getter) Damn ford motors! Ooops , it was a Chevy...... The word I’ve heard is that the Wintersun “owners” will be using a new venue next year and possibly moving it around every few years. Events of this size need some assistance from en-trepreneurial citys and councils, not naivety and small mindedness of wom-bats. Enjoy the shots.

WINTERSUN 2010

FC Holden 4 door pickup. A stylish piece of work.

Left: Primered Pickups were as common as tattoos.... no doubt..

WINTERSUN 2010

C:\temp\wm11.pngWINTERSUN 2010

Above: Full marks for orig-inality and execution, other-wise it is a bit disturbing!

Above and below: Full marks for origi-nality . Unknown pickup runs a detailed 6 cylinder Jaguar engine.

WINTERSUN 2010

Above and left: Spot the differ-ences in this pickup. Are you actu-ally concentrating on this?

Left: need a wind down window in the ute? How about a station wagon tailgate? Right: This Plymouth sedan dresses up ok!

West Coast Street Rod Club General Meeting 16th May 2010Meeting Opened – 7.32pmApologies – Jim Candido, Gary Curnow, Joe Galipo, Kevin Ireland.Minutes of previous meeting : read and accepted with the alteration that it was Eric Warren, not Eric Waters as written. Accepted by Alan Barton, seconded by Rob Sanders.Correspondence In – Email from Jasmin Devlin from the Moondyne Festival, thanking the club for its participation. Letter from the Sandgroper Nationals Committee thanking West Coast for its assistance in Busselton.Correspondence Out – Klaxon Letter to the Sandgroper Nationals Committee thanking them for their effort over the past few years. Treasurer’s Report – Presented by Brian French.ASRF Report - Charity Run – all clubs support this event. It will be ASRF organized and will occur in early November or late October. Rodder of the Year will be held at Whiteman Park in early February 2011. Apologies are being sought by the WA State Council from the Victorian administration because they released entry forms for the Geelong Nationals before the Sandgroper Nationals had begun. District Council is still looking for a Secretary/ Treasurer. Sandgroper Nationals – All sponsors have been thanked and sponsors’ number plates have been distributed. The Shannon’s plate has been mounted because they were the major sponsor. WA Sporting Car Club is looking for hotrods for a display on the 20th June as part of their Car Boot Sale. Contact Jim Jellim on 0407 892 767. Sanctions granted – August 1 Open Forum at the West Coast Club rooms. January 30 – MHRCC cruise. February 6 – Rodder of the Year at Whiteman Park. Entry forms for the Geelong Nationals will be in the next ASRF magazine.

Mel’s magnificent Minutes

TAC - Looking at printing 100 copies of the TAC Guidelines. They are still available on the website. ASRF is looking for help on their stand at the Hot Rod and Custom Spectacular this year. Social Report- AGM and Clubman of the Year – numbers and $10.00 per head to be given to Dave Krause. AGM starts at 4.00 pm on June 20th. Unfinished Business – Doug Brassington’s Probationary period is over and a vote was conducted – his elevation to full membership was unanimous. We look forward to Doug’s continued support around the club. Events Coming and Past – West Coast is planning a cruise over Easter 2011 (similar to York 2009). Pre 48 Rumble – Well attended by approx 50 rods. An enjoyable cruise through the hills and down to Scarborough for dinner. The movies night was well attended by members. Thanks to Jan French for organizing this evening. Moondyne Escape – a pleasant cruise to Toodyay which was followed by a relaxing day socializing with other rodders. We anticipate doing the same cruise next year, but with a later starting time. AB suggested that West Coast organize the cruise to the club rooms for Super Model Sunday.New Business - Maintenance of the club rooms and grounds. The President read out a list of responsibilities which need to be allocated to club members. Decisions to be made next meeting. Bar top and cupboard doors need to be replaced. Quotes to be obtained. Rodder of the Year nomination is Glenn Armstrong. Hot Rod Spectacular – Neil Gibb asked if the club intended to enter a display. To be discussed further.Buy, Sell, Swap- For Sale – 1932 Ford Hi boy roadster - $75 000 contact Rob Barton. Wanted – Front fender brackets for A model - Rob Sanders. Wanted – HQ stub axles – Eric Warren.Meeting closed 8.40 pm Right: Damage to Eric French’s Chev done by a rock throwing moron at night, on Tonkin Highway in the Mor-ley-Beechboro area. Lucky he es-caped! Eric was very happy about it!

One Friday night a few weeks ago, a group of enthusiasts from the internet based “Hotrod Un-derground” forum got together for Pizzas and then a cruise.. The starting spot was Brando’s Pizza’s in Vic Park. Good Pizzas and excellent garlic prawns! Living close by and liking pizza, were two good reasons for me and Denise to check it out. Taking the hot rod and not having to cook at home were two other reasons worth considering. We had both attended a presentation during the week about eating fruit and veg and drinking copious quanti-ties of water, but this was strangely forgotten that evening. Kim, the organizer, had reserved adequate seating for the group beforehand, so we were all seated together.From here the group, minus me, then went cruising in the perfect night. Not being there,I can’t report any further, but I have included some of Phil Luyer’s photos of the evening for the record.Phil is an excellent photographer. Check out his websites for drags, shows, rod runs and other car photos. They are at www.highoctanephotos.com and in the galleries at www.landbarge.com. Photos are available at very good prices. The photos to the right do little justice to the real quality of Phil’s craftsmanship. They were pinched from the screen in small format by a rank amateur, under paid, magazine editor.. Extreme E.The “underground” is made up of enthusiasts from all aspects of things with wheels.. Rods, street machines, bikes, drags and models. It’s beginnings came from Murray Reynold’s old Cruisin TV show.

Pizza Night and Cruise

Pizza Night and Cruise

A Thankyou Note.

Special thanks to Jan and Brian French for the help they gave me in putting my ‘47 coupe back together.I would never have done it by myself.Thank you Brian and Jan. Doug Brassington.

AN ACTUAL CRAIG'S LIST PERSONALS ADTo the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah, night before last.Date: 2009-05-27, 1 :43 a.m. E.S.T.I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket.. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head .. isn't it?!I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, -- on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful!I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!]I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb ... after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car.Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what 's going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).;In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you ... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day!Thoughtfully yours, Alex

Coming EventsJuly 11: Super Model Car Sunday, at WCSRC Clubrooms. Hot rod cruise to club rooms, leaving from Carousel shopping centre. Gibby 93395020July 11: Inaugral York Motor Show for cars older than 25 years. Joe Carbone 0407 085 636July 25: Longshore Memorial Rod Run. Nu Breed . Carousel to Pinjarra Hotel for lunch ($9 roast). Alan Barker 9384 6309August 28,29: Hot Rod and Street Machine Spectacular at Burswood Dome. WAHRP 9446 7368Regular :Wanderer’s Pizza night. Mark Gryska 9418 3668. At Brandi Pizza, Rockingham Rd , Munster. 6.00pm. Second Thursday each Month.Regular: Jimbo’s Rodders breakfast at WCSRC from 8.30 every Saturday morning. Only 5 bucks Spread the word...

TAC Inspections. 3rd Saturday of month. Call Mike if you need

CLASSIFIEDS For sale: Cupboards for shed different sizes will accept carton of Beam Mike Flett 0402 622 513Australian Street Rodding magazines a few left. Were $3. What offers.Willing to trade on magazines missing. Mike Flett 0402 622 513

Tail lights for 59 Caddy ...Mike Flett 0402 622 513For Sale: Dodge C Cab pick up. Jim Candido 0419 947 332

For Sale: Magazines: Custom Rodder Magazine: 1 to 123, only missing 2,3,5,6,7,20,57. issues 1&4 are reprints $300.00 Cruzin Magazine : 1 to 113, missing 4,21,95 $350.00 Rod and Custom: about 300 magazines from 70's to present but not consecutive numbers American Rodder: make an offer??? Aust Street Machine from way back, not consecutive numbers about 50 of make an offer??? Ring Joey Carbone 0407 085 636