Back around 1968 I managed to buy an MG TD - cheap from a shonky caryard in Melbourne - cheap because its left hand mudguard and suspension had been bingled. I repaired the front end, repainted and reupholstered the old girl, and I bitterly regret ever selling it. It was fun to drive, and gave a lovely snug feeling with the roof up. I'd love to have it now.

However, I sold it so I could buy GKE 008, an ex BMC Australia Austin Healey 100S raced by such entities as John Roxborough and Doug Whiteford. At the time it was just an old flogged racing car - It had a streamlined (And not very attractive) nose fitted after Roxborough (I think) ran it off the road at Templestowe hill climb. I paid $2000 for it!

It was a great car - and in those days there was no upper speed limit on the Geelong freeway - so, out of University, into the Healey and down to Geelong at 120mph!! I was only ever passed once  - by a Chev Belair! I couldn't  believe it; until a month later I read in 'Sports Car World' that Neil Allen had imported a supercharged Belair.

The Healey frightened me - not because of its performance, but because as an impecunious uni student, I couldn't afford to repair it something happened - At the time, I remember researching that there was only one original Weslake head unused and it belonged to a guy in America who had no intention of selling it! I built up a scrap book of its racing history in Australia. The car had been 'improved' by BMC Australia and later racing owners - lightened (The engine mounts looked like swiss cheese they were so drilled out!), overbored and fitted with Thornycroft truck pistons to take it from 2600 to 3000cc. SU carbys drilled out, and the road exhaust was a gutted muffler and an exit below the drivers door! Lovely sound, but even better if I put the full racing open pipe exhaust on!

After a year, I decided to work in the Territory for a gap year at Uni - and I still owed money to my mother for buying the Healey - so I sold it!! Once again for $2000 to another young guy. Last year I heard from a Healey club member that it (still with the GKE 008 rego) sold recently in Europe for over 600,000 Euros!! It should never have left Australia. In Europe it is one of 35 or so AH100S's that survive (mine was number 54 of 55 built), but in Australia it was also a genuine historic racer.

Oh, the tragedy of ignorant youth!  well ,at least I owned and enjoyed it for a while!