Upper Middle Petrol Head:

The crew of this fabulous 48-215 Holden sedan were down from Victoria to race at this weekend's Baskerville Historics meeting ( www.motorsportstas.com.au/event/baskerville-historics ) .  According to the owner, they were part of a large contingent of early model Holdens that would be battling it out on the track this weekend. The Historics is an annual event put on by the Hobart Sporting Car Club at the home of southern Tasmanian motorsport, the Baskerville Raceway, at Old Beach, approximately twenty minutes' drive north-east of the capital city of Hobart.  This year's meeting is being held from Friday the 22nd to Sunday the 24th of September.  It's a massive get together of some of the best historic race cars from Tasmania and around Australia, featuring examples from manufacturers from all around the world. Best of luck to all competitors and thanks to the crew of the magnificent beast featured here.  Happy racing! U ...

Burgers are not necessarily better than sushi or pastries or chocolates or pies.  However, in order to be as good as, better than or the best - or able to be ranked, even - eateries need to be open in the first place.  This rather ruled out Masaaki's Sushi at 20B Church Street, Geeveston (Ph: 0408 712 340) who, for the second time when UMPH has tried to visit, was closed.  Computer (aka Trip Advisor) said yes but hand-written note pinned to front door said no!     Happily for the Huon, all is not lost if one venue is closed.  The Huon Valley, comprising the main centre of Huonville and several satellite towns -  Cygnet,  Geeveston, Franklin and Ranelagh amongst them - are all within twenty or so minutes' drive and the roads and scenery are terrific, making for a fun drive in the country if you're so inclined. Arguably, Huonville's best cafe is the Cat's Tongue  at Shop 3, 11-13 Wilmot Road (0428 411 455;  www.thecatstongue.c...

Hobart has at least four really nice 1970s Valiant utes similar to this one.  There are two red ones and a mustard-coloured version with a metal canopy.  For some reason, there don't seem to be any that aren't in particularly good nick ; all four are straight, rust free and tidy, featuring largely unmarked paint and bright-work.  That's not a bad effort for a working vehicle that's now over forty years old.  That must say something about their inherent quality and the regard that their owners hold them in, too.  U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.