Posted on January 24th, 2016
It has been a very busy time, so there hasn’t been a chance to load anything up on to the site, or this blog. By way of a catch-up, here are a few things that have turned up this month, plus a few photos of vans seen during our recent visit to New Zealand. We saw 15 in total, so we’ll load three batches of five each over the coming few days.
First, a photo of of the gathering together of J-types for the Carnivale Display in Sydney, Australia.
Jan 26th: Peter Bateman writes: “Eight! Only Eight beautiful J type vans attended this years Australia Day CARnivale being held for the first time at Parramatta Park, 25 Kms west of Sydney.
In previous years we had a very desirable Australia Day plot on Macquarie Street which is close to the Sydney Opera House and the centre of our Australia Day celebrations.
Parramatta Park is a long way from the original landing site of Capt. Arthur Phillip in 1788 which was near the present day Opera House but it does have historical significance. It’s in the grounds of Old Government House which is on the World Heritage List and has lots of shady trees to shelter from the sun…and occasional rain drop. It was also our first experience of parking our vans on grass.The crowds were impressive and as usual the J type vans were a surprise to many.
Our vans were parked next to a Formula 2 Brabham on one side and Midget Speedway cars on the other. Every so often the engine of the Brabham was started and we closed our eyes and dreamed! Later, Laurie Bellette started the Bad Billy’s V8 J type Rat Rod. Aah, REAL Heaven. We were the first convoy to leave the event and there were eight J vans being serenaded by the wonderful sound of the V8 burbling under that J type Rattie. Pure bliss. We will be there in 2017 why don’t you visit?”
Posted on January 11th, 2016
On the day that we hear of the sad loss of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of his era, we felt it appropriate, as a tribute, to publish this photo taken in Melbourne last October. Odd to think that Bowie was one year old when the J-type was announced at the 1948 Show!
Posted on December 21st, 2015
In this week of celebration there’s the joyous news that Register-member Steve Taylor and his wife, Wendy, have each been awarded the MBE for their work fostering teenagers over the last 31 years. They met the Queen at Windsor Castle earlier this month, where the honours were bestowed on them. We’d like to add our congratulations on this great achievement.
We don’t think we’ve had a register member who is an MBE before – unless they’ve kept quiet about it!
Steve can also be congratulated on getting his Planning van into topcoat, which means it is now in the process of fitting out.
Posted on November 19th, 2015
The J-type Register has been given a preview of the new Bill Richardson Transport World museum in Invercargill, New Zealand. The museum’s gala opening is to be on Friday 20th November.
Register member Geoff Fishwick had suggested we visit the Richardson collection when he heard that we would be touring round the South Island. A search on the internet told us that the museum is only available to view by appointment, ahead of the imminent opening of the new building. We were able to make one, and on hearing that we were ‘all the way from the UK’ we were virtually given a guided tour!
The collection is a remarkable one, and it now seems that it will have a spectacular home that will show it off to its finest.
The Register offers its best wishes for a great opening and a successful future.
We left hoping that we would be able to visit again someday.
Whilst in Invercargill we also visited the E Hayes collection, but we’ll save that for the next post.
Posted on November 1st, 2015
Sunday November 1 saw seven J vans attend the Double Bay Fair in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Posted on October 27th, 2015
J van custodians came from Perth Western Australia and country Victoria to Albert Park, Melbourne for the inaugural J van picnic 2015.
J/R 1064, J/R 1102, two of the oldest five working J vans in Australia with J/R 1258 which has seen better days.
J/R 1258’s interior with J/R 31907 in the background.
Posted on October 24th, 2015
The Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Australia on October 24, 2015.
Posted on October 20th, 2015
The Australian arm of the Register, J type vans in Australia, are having a J type picnic at Albert Park in Melbourne on Sunday October 25. Look for them at the Lakeside Stadium car park, Augie Drive from 11.00 AM.
Remember a group of two or more J vans is called a JuBilation. Why not Join them!
For those interested in Australia’s premiere historic car display. Over 500 vehicles will be on display at the Melbourne Exhibition Building from October 23 to 15. For the first time J type vans will be there on Saturday, October 24 in the Club Sandwich area.
What a weekend!
Posted on October 19th, 2015
Posted on October 14th, 2015
