Upper Middle Petrol Head:

It didn't take long for Mona's Dark Mofo Winter Festival to cement its spot on the Australian cultural calendar.  In the space of just three years, Tasmanians - and indeed mainland Australians and international visitors alike - have come to embrace awe-inspiring light installations probing Hobart's clear night skies, fire and music spectaculars, Balinese ogoh ogohs, theatre, art, food, wine and nude swimming ... .   Yes, that's swimming - wearing not so much as a stitch, let alone a wet-suit - in the River Derwent's icy waters for the Winter Solstice Nude Swim!  This year's water temperature was a manhood- (and ego-) shriveling 11 degrees Celsius, rivaled in bone-chilling potential only by the air temperature that was hovering around one degree C!     The UMPHs aren't quite brave or, more accurately, mad enough to nude-up for the swim.  Neither are She of the Scarlet Scarf and her Platonic friend who's a boy but isn't her boyfriend.  UMPH did man

Welcome to this, Upper Middle Petrol Head's first Classics by the Beach post!  He's hoping to step into the shoes - but not on the toes - of Swade, who has been providing excellent commentary on Hobart's classic cars scene for several years now.   UMPH wishes Swade all the best in his new role in Sweden.  If UMPH can be half as well informed, enthusiastic and passionate as Swade has been, he reckons he'll be doing alright.    Those of you that follow Swade ( swadeology.com )   will have almost certainly seen that he's already doing his thing in his adopted home and has posted several car-related articles, the most recent of which relates to the Saab Festival.  Having never really been a fan of the marque, UMPH now has to admit that he can see the appeal - especially with the Sonnets and the 96s in rally guise.                     ____________________________________________________ The first thing that struck UMPH about this month's Classics is just ho