Geelong revival holds its own

WHILE Geelong came about third in the recent Melbourne football competition, it's the winner when it comes to cars.

Aston Martin

WHILE Geelong came about third in the recent Melbourne football competition, it's the winner when it comes to autos. This month, the Motor City of Melbourne, the Detroit of the Dandenongs, the Car City of Corio Bay is home to the one of the world's greatest motoring festivals, the second annual Geelong Revival.

Out Goodwooding Goodwood, acting mayor Bruce Harwood and his council, including Eddy Kontelj, the holder of two Guinness world records for the longest static cycling marathons, have put together two days of sprints, shows, fashion, food markets and a $79 gala dinner (this includes welcome drinks and three-course meal) that would make even the city's most famous resident, Barry Crocker, rush back to his birthplace.

Younger readers might not remember that Barry wrote and recorded the Geelong Football Club's theme song Come on the Cats. However, he is best known for that wonderful song from the classic piece of film blanc Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, My One Eyed Trouser Snake.

They're so keen on cars in Geelong they named their biggest bridge after Lewis Bandt (real first name Louis, but who's checking?), the inventor of the ute. At 19 Lou went to work at Ford as a draughtsman and ended up as the company's first Australian designer. The inaugural ute came off the production line in 1933.

Henry Ford called them Kangaroo Chasers but of course both Ford and GM soon began making what would become their most profitable products.

Mayor Bruce has organised 800 cars and serious motor racing royalty for the weekend: Jim Richards; Claire Greig, the granddaughter of the legendary Diana Davison, driving her Reynard FF84; the replica of the ex-Tony Gaze Holden 48-215 that competed in the 1953 Monte Carlo Rally; a complete range of V8 Supercars; and of course the 410kW Matich SR4.

Frank Matich had the SR4 built to race overseas but it never did, which was a pity for local drivers. It crushed the competition so badly it led to the saying "doing a Matich", which meant fastest qualifying and taking pole position, recording the fastest lap, setting the lap record and winning the race.

I'm not saying there's anything shonky going on but Mayor Bruce does represent Kardinia ward, which includes the beautiful village of Barwon Heads where Claire Greig lives.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing you there with the other 30,000 petrolheads. I'm only going for the vintage fashions, which means I can dress normally.

While we are waiting for the Corio Bay motor festival, let's head to the Geelong of Britain, Birmingham, next weekend for the Silverstone Auctions festival of car sales.

You could bid on the 1970 IKA Torino 380S, owned by Juan Manuel Fangio, offered without reserve. Of course you don't know the IKA was Argentina's national car, which later became the Renault Torino.

Juan's family was prompted to sell the Torino after his 1974 Merc racer brought $32 million at auction this year. Juan liked the IKA so much he kept it even after he was made boss of Mercedes in Argentina. Mercedes did not later become Renault.

The real reason to go is the single-family owned 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 MKIII, bought new in May 1958 for £3242. As a bonus the dealer threw in 68 litres of petrol at £3 12s and 6p! Jack Moss did a two-year restoration on the car and it shows. Expect an Australian banker to pay around $300,000 for this serious piece of kit.

If you like wearing other people's clothes and you're vertically challenged, Silverstone will sell you Ayrton Senna's 1989 race suit for about $20,000.