Western Australia P76 Owners Club - 2012

ALL-AUSSIE CAR DAY, PINJARRA

15 APRIL 2012


With a heaven-sent day of sunshine and moderate temperature, the Big Event for the
Club had every chance of being a success.
And so it turned out to be.
With thirty-eight P76s taking up positions on the Pinjarra Paceway trotting track, complemented by a great
showing of Valiants out to celebrate their 50th Anniversary, the Club presented an awesome spectacle of colour and style.
For most of us the day began with a huge muster of cars at the Pioneer Village car park in Armadale (see cover picture). The arrival of the P76 Driveline display on a trailer along ith the white Force 7 from the WA Motor Museum added to the excitement of the occasion.
The contingent arrived at Pinjarra Paceway within an hour, but the exercise of entering the venue took almost another 15 to 20 minutes with a slow tortuous route from the street onto the concourse . . . long enough for some temperamental cooling systems to take the needle almost into the red.
With the Force 7 and the Driveline Display unit taking up central positions, the cars parked in two long rows straddled by the Valiants on one side and Fords on the other, while Holdens took up the remaining section of the huge crescent of cars sparkling and glinting in the bright sunshine.
Once the public began to flow into the venue, it became apparent that the P76 formed an attraction to many people. Before long a large number of folk had lodged their preference for the P76 People Choice Award that was eventually won by Brendon Truman immaculate NV Green.
Brendon paint job alone was deserving of this prize as the finish can be described as silken to the touch.
The Club’s mini-marquee provided welcome relief from the increasingly strong sunshine as the day wore on, as members and friends took the opportunity to socialize over a cool drink.
Two observations were made by various people during the day.
One lamented the clouds of dust raised from the trotting course hardstand by passing vehicles or running children.
By the end of the day most cars had their paintwork coated with a layer of grey dust.
Another suggested that the cars could have been parked tail-to-tail to present their to the public. No doubt these points will be taken up with the event organisers for future reference.
Around early-afternoon an event official approached Sam Murray to advise that his Targa had been selected for the “Best Leyland award, the third consecutive year this vehicle has won this particular prize. Sam was presented with the award by the local MP, who also did the honours for the Best Valiant Best Ford and Best Holden.
It was interesting that this year the awards included appropriate Trax models in each category.
In Sam case this was a Nutmeg Targa.
Of course, the special Ps attracted a large amount of attention: Mick Rally Car and his methane-fuelled Chevy-powered Westrac P76, were much appreciated by the passing
parade.
The Force 7 proved to be a head turner with many stopping to take pictures and ask questions about this truly unique vehicle.
The Event organisers presented the Club with a plaque consisting of two mounted Trax P76 models in appreciation of the Club 30th Anniversary display.
Among those to whom thanks is due for their contribution to a truly great event are the following:
Dave Neuzerling: For towing the Driveline Display down to the show
Ken Domeyer: For organizing the loan of the trailer to bring the driveline down
Andrew Mentiplay: For doing a lot of preparation work on the driveline display
Mick Le Cocq: For organizing the trophy for People Choice
John McLean and Kevin Clark for bringing the Force 7 on behalf of the WA Motor
Museum.
Thanks is also due to the guys who brought, erected and dismantled the Club shelter, and to all those who brought their own cars or who drove cars on behalf of members who had multiple cars on display.
All-in-all the All-Aussie Car Day was a huge success for the Club and its members, many of whom had never seen so many P76s together in one place at one time.
Lets hope that it serves as a dress rehearsal for an even greater display in 2013 when the marque celebrates the 40th Anniversary of its release on 26 June 1973.































Last updated
May, 2012
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