Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Symmons Plains in Tasmania's north.  Image by Scotty B Photography. I've recently come to the conclusion that whilst driving racing cars is an absolute hoot, getting in and out of the damned things is a proper pain in the bum!  John Madigan's Improved Production series Alfasud TI is no exception; climbing over - or more accurately  through  - the car's six point roll cage and into its narrow, super-supportive driver's racing seat requires yogic levels of flexibility and  dexterity that I don't really possess .   Baskerville.  Image by Callanrs2000 Motorsport Media. The strapping-in procedure was similarly fraught, fighting with broad slabs of webbing, adjusters, buckles and, worst of all, the six point system's too-snug crotch straps!  Just as well John was there to close the door for me, because I had no chance of reaching the door-pull by myself. Owner John behind the wheel.  Image supplied.   Now securely trussed-in, I was s...

  Team UMPH were quite excited to see this ripper Fiat 127 vaguely heading in the direction of Classics by the Beach, Hobart's regular first-Sunday-of-the-month cars 'n' coffee, hoping that it was going to make a stop at the Sandy Bay venue.  Fortunately, it did!    The yellow lenses aren't permanent. According to owner Oliver, who bought the car in Melbourne during the Covid 19 lock-down, its body remains pretty much as-was but the suspension and brakes have had an upgrade, including trick new shocks all 'round, imported from Italy; lowered front springs and rear control arms; and cross-drilled and slotted front rotors.  The handling package is nicely completed by a set of four 13 x 7" Superlite -style wheels.  Inside there's a tasty Momo Prototipo  steering wheel, a nifty gear knob and a pair of very era-appropriate bucket seats, the latter because, being a tallish bloke, Oliver didn't really fit into the car with the original pews in place.  It...

  1970s' Aussie Ford hardtops as far as the eye could see!  Well, almost.  Saturday the 22nd of March’s Hardtop Anniversary Tour display on the lawns of Parliament House in Hobart, Tasmania, was certainly the biggest assembly of two-door XA, XB and XC Falcons and Fairmonts, and P5 LTDs that I've ever witnessed.  What a glorious sight! According to my mate, Nick - whose gold XB GS was part of the display and can be found via this link:  https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2020/01/1976-xb-falcon-gs-hardtop-reminiscence.html - there were 157 hardtops present, including 17 John Goss Specials (my personal fave, especially in Horn Car guise!), 17 Landaus, several Cobras, plus numerous XA and XB GTs, GSs and other variants built between 1972 and 1978.   They came from every state and territory of Australia, converging on Tasmania to participate in the 2025 running of the annual event that celebrates the famous 1977 Bathurst 1000 "one - two finish" wh...