For those who might have missed it at the bottom of yesterday’s post, Kennewell CNC have graciously donated 20 recreations of the origional Sprite Club of SA bonnet badge.

Originally created by sticking contact onto a mild steel plate and very carefully cut out to create the badge, an original was digitised and then laser etched in seconds onto 316 Stainless Steel using the latest state-of-the-art.

The badges are available for $25 each with all funds raised going to assist the club to stage the 2026 National Challenge. There are 18 left so get in quick!

They will be available at the Christmas BBQ for cash or EFT (direct debit) is fine if that’s easiest, just please clearly mark in the description its for the Heritage Badge so we can apportion the money to the Nationals account!

And if you’d like one of the newer grill badges or perhaps one of the 50th Anniversary badges, we still have some in stock.

As many of you know we are already planning for the 2026 National Challenge and we are looking for supporters who will allow us to deliver a fantastic event at an affordable price.

One way businesses can help is with donations for which we can then run advertising on our website, magazines and social media over the next two years.

Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to the businesses who are helping us deliver the National Challenge and I’d encourage everyone to get behind them if you can use their services!

Without further ado I’d like to introduce BRC (Billet Race Craft ) and Kennewell CNC located in Murray Bridge (also the venue for the 2026 National Challenge!).

Located about a 150metres from the banks of the Murray River is one of South Australia’s leading experts in CNC machining and the home of Billet Race Craft, designer and manufacturer of FIA, ANDRA and Motorsport Australia homologated Roll Cage Joiners. These roll cage joiners mean your roll bar/cage no longer needs to be permanent fixture in your car yet will meet the strictest of race-day inspection regimes!

I’ve been working with Brett and his business for nearly 4 years now and his precision machining and toolmaking abilities are first class and highly sought after.

Kennewell CNC has machining and engineering capabilities often not found outside of the CBD. Brett has recreated the original Sprite Club of South Australia grill badge, using the latest in laser engraving technology to produce (and very generously donate) 20 exact reproductions for the Club to sell as part of its National Challenge 26 program.

With only 20 reproduced these are strictly a limited edition for the car or the shed and one can be yours for only $25! Cash or Direct Debit (Click Here for bank details!). These will be available at the end of year BBQ.

Thank you Brett and the team at Kennewell CNC and thank you to all of the sponsors of the Sprite Club of South Australia.

Stay tuned for more announcements about the fabulous companies supporting us and if you’d like to join the support crew, contact the club at admin@spriteclub.com.au!

Please follow the link to the latest cars and parts for sale from Chris and Miles

Reminder about the Sports Car Run tomorrow evening!

Thank you to all those who attended the Annual General Meeting and participated in the Committee Elections for 2025.

The 2025 Committee largely unchanged from 2024, with Robin, Peter and Kerry continuing in the leadership roles of President, Secretary and Treasurer. Pat continues in his role as the Competition Secretary, Miles as Librarian and Don has continued for another year as the Federation Representative; however, Don has noted that this will be the last year he does this role. Sean volunteered to continue in his role as the Clubbies Rep.

Grant and Angela have offered to continue as the Social Coordinators and I’d request that members to please get behind them and share the organisation load!

Gary Dodd has come into the Committee as the Regalia Officer and I thank Gary for offering to take this role on. The roles of Club Registrars for Conditional Registration continues as Don and Gordon. We may look to recruit another Registrar for 2025, particularly as we have additional logbooks to sign for next year!

One role we don’t formally have filled is the role of Web Master. I’ve agreed to another year as President on the proviso that someone takes on the back-end running of the website and the admin that comes with it. Gordon, myself and now Gary will upload (and create) content onto the website and the Club’s social media platforms but we do need someone to run the back end of the web and just keep it running as an administrator.

Other than that, the Treasurer noted that the club accounts require auditing. This isn’t a job specific for an accountant, simply someone independent of the Committee who has the skills to audit the books so I’m looking for a volunteer. Its quite important that we get this done.

The National Challenge Committee sits outside of the formal Club Committee and our small band will continue on with the plans for the 2026 meeting. More on that to follow, but if you’d like to talk to anyone on that committee (or volunteer to help as the organisation ramps up next year), the Nationals Committee is currently Sue, Helen, Gordon, Dean, Grant, Angela and myself.

Hope I haven’t forgotten anyone! If you’d like to learn more about the committee and perhaps take on an understudy role for any of the positions, please let us know as we’d love your help and input to run the club for 2025.

Looking forward to a great year in 2025. I’ve already had some ideas floated for runs and events, even a possible weekend away to stretch our cars legs a little further than the Adelaide Hills and surrounds which would be great.

Onwards and forwards into 2025. See you out on the road!

Don’t forget its Display Day this Sunday. Held in conjunction with the Austin Healey Owners Club of SA, it should be a great display of Sprites, Midgets, Healeys of all shapes and sizes and member’s associate cars, including hopefully a fabulous line up of Clubbies.

Remember, if you have a Sprite or a Midget and you are not a member, you are most welcome to join the day and show off your pride and joy with us. Wigley Reserve from 0930 until early afternoon (we will be setting up from at 0900 in case you are early).

Drip Trays. A note to people displaying their car – we need to leave the grass in the same state that we found it so please bring a drip tray or something to catch the odd spots of oil (such as cardboard) that might find its way free from your engine or gearbox! An MG or Midget that leaks. Perish the thought!

In all seriousness, we pay a bond to the Council to ensure we keep the grass oil free and we want to be able to come back to the Reserve so please try to remember to bring a drip catcher with you!

Read the latest from the Sprite Club of SA here!

Come out and enjoy an old fashioned beach and suburbs cruise!

Bring out your Sprite or Midget, Big Healey or Associate Car!

Visitors with Sprites and Midgets most welcome to join us!

Quick notes and reminders for members.

Monday 14 Oct 24 – General Meeting at Richmonds Showrooms. Meeting starts at 7.30pm. An abridged club meeting will be followed by Andy Morgan of Richmonds giving us a tour and insights into Richmonds. This promises to be a fabulous evening!

Sunday 20 October

• Bay to Birdwood. The annual South Australian classic car spectacular run to Birdwood is on again. If you missed out and but would like to do the run, let me know as I spare entry.
• MSCA Round 5 (The Bend East Circuit). Flaggies wanted! This could be the last MSCA SuperSprint at the Bend for a while. If you are not doing the Bay to Birdwood you might like to see The Bend from a very up close and personal view! If you can help please contact Pat Miller or the MSCA Secretary.

Sunday 3 November – 2024 Annual Display Day. This year the Sprite Club is formally combining with the Austin Healey Owners Club of SA for our annual display day at Wigley Reserve. Get your Sprite or Midget or Associate Car out, dust it off, and bring it down to Glenelg for our day to show off to the public! We managed about 60 cars last year, so lets hit that target and more! A coffee van will be onsite, as will classic car books and club merchandise on sale!

Monday 4 November – Annual General Meeting.

Those of you who read the Burble would have noticed details on the next two runs. For those who might have missed it, run details are as follows:

Sunday 6 October – Picnic Run to Collingrove

Join us at the start or meet up along the way. Racing starts from 1000.

Starting Point: Verdun pub (Stanley Bridge Tavern), 0850 for a 0900 departure via:

• thru Balhannah (passing the oval at approx. 0905)
• thru Woodside (main street approx. 0915)
• Continuing on to Birdwood, stopping opposite the petrol station at 0925-0930
• Wait/regroup 5-10 minutes
• Depart for Birdwood for Collingrove 0935, arrive at 1000

Entry fee is $15. Pay online (>ClickHere<) before you go or at the gate.

There promises to be some amazing cars going up the hill this year so don’t be late! Canteen will be open but by all means pack a picnic or at least a thermos of coffee or tea is it might be a bit nippy out there!

Saturday 12 October Gary’s Inaugural Fish and Chip Run

Fullarton Centre (Sprite Club Rooms) in the Fullarton Road carpark, 1530 for a 1600 departure.

Please have a look at the menu (pictured) or view online (>click here<) and give your order to Gary, who will phone the orders through.

To help him out, he’d appreciate it if you could email your order through to him beforehand at gary@doddpc.com just to make things easier.

Pay when you pick the food up at the Seaview Fish and Chippy before heading to the Kingston House area to eat and get a photo of all of the cars … and eat the F&C of course!

Gary says that seating is a bit limited at the park so if you can, pack some chairs.

For people who might not make the start (like the President….), key route points are:

• Fullarton Park, up Belair Road to Blackwood and then along Main Road before heading down the hill along Black Road.
• Right into South Road and the into Seacombe Road to stop at Seaview Fish and Chips.
• From there its along Brighton Road to arrive at Kingston Park.

Hope to see you there or along the way!

Any questions about either run, please contact Gary or myself!

Please find the (new look) October edition of the Bugeye Burble below.

Some great runs coming up over the next few weeks so get the cars out and see you out on the road!

Let me know if you love or hate the new look newsletter!

Read it right here!

21 August – Midweek Run.

24 August – Pea and Pie Night

2 September – Spring General Meeting

6 September – A Night at the Sporting Car Club

21 September – SCSA Annual Dinner

And many more events still to come on the 2024 Calendar! Full calendar can be found at the bottom of this post.

Event details:

21 August Midweek Run.

We will be attempting to re-run the June Midweek run and the weather this time looks much better. David and Carole will be the run leaders.

Originally planned as the Winter Solstice Run, the run will start at Ridge Park Carpark, Barr Smith Ave, Myrtle Bank, leaving at 1015. The route will take you through the hills to the Big Rocking Horse for a late-ish morning tea and re-group, before heading on to Emma & Ivy for lunch in Lobethal, arriving around 1230.

Total run will be approx 95km. The route map can be found here by following this link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N9Wr1ELi4Qkzh7ZK7. I will endeavour to create a trip run sheet!

RSVPs would be appreciated so I can book the cafe for lunch.

Pea and Pie Night.

We currently have around 30 people coming along. This is always a great night so if you are interested, please let Don Cardonne know or contact me and I’ll make sure he has enough pies on order!

A night with the Sporting Car Club

Thanks to Carole and David, the Sprite Club have been invited to join the Sporting Car Club’s Classic and Modern Register for their monthly meeting and then a feature of our club! Three of our cars will be on stage with their owners talking about their car journeys. The night starts at 7.30pm (6.30 for the members putting their cars on stage), the bar will be open and tea&coffee will be available.

Come along for what is always a fabulous night!

21 September – Sprite Club Annual Dinner.

If you have not yet registered and paid for the annual dinner, please do so! If you need any more information please contact Grant, Angela or myself.

Where – Cafe Paparazzi, 291 Unley Road, Malvern

When – 21 September, 6.30pm for 7.00pm

Cost – $55 per head

Dietary Needs. We want to ensure that everyone in the club can come along and enjoy the night. The staff have ensured us that they can cater for all dietary needs so please let Grant and Angela (or me) know as soon as possible!

RSVP. Members to RSVP to Grant & Angela or myself by 14 September. For the computer savvy, I’ve created a shared document here to register your attendance and any dietary requirements. >Click Here to Register< or contact us directly!

Payment. Payment is required NLT 14 September 

More details can be found by clicking >here<.

Its late but it’s here! The July-August Bugeye Burble.

Please don’t critique the grammar or spelling. I know there are issues but its been done in a rush!

The position of Magazine editor continues to be open if you’d like to help out!!

A note to members that the minutes for the June and July 2024 General Meetings are now available for viewing in the Club/Members Information section of the website.

Save the date!!

Where – Cafe Paparazzi, 291 Unley Road, Malvern

When – 21 September, 6.30pm for 7.00pm

Cost – $55 per head

All members are encouraged to come along, new and not-so-new! There will be raffles ($5 per 3-tickets), a car themed Trivia Quiz and the Club perpetual awards. Its a great night to renew old friendships and make new ones and we hope to see you all there.

Dietary Needs. We want to ensure that everyone in the club can come along and enjoy the night. The staff have ensured us that they can cater for all dietary needs so please let Grant and Angela (or me) know as soon as possible!

RSVP. Members to RSVP to Grant & Angela or myself by 14 September. For the computer savvy, I’ve created a shared document here to register your attendance and any dietary requirements. >Click Here to Register<

Payment. Payment is required NLT 14 September to allow the Treasurer time to pay the restaurant! You can pay by cash at the August and September club meetings or via Direct Debit into the club accounts (please annotate with your name and ‘Annual Dinner’ to help out Kerry!).

Please note. I’m sure that you will all have noticed that a nice night out has gone up between 30 and 50% at our favourite pubs and restaurants. The annual dinner is no different unfortunately and the costs have gone up markedly even compared to this time last year. The Club has had a good year in membership wise so we are once again able to subsidize the dinner for members. We think that $55 per head for a three course meal is pretty good value! We have; however, had to make a small concession to keep costs down so we’ve decided to do away with the complimentary glass of wine or beer on arrival. We hope that you will see this as only a small inconvenience and not an unreasonable compromise. The bar will be open tho!

I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything! And I apologise to the member who says my articles are too long – I think this one is about right!

Attention all members of the Sprite Club of SA

One of our members recently had a virus or trojan infect their computer unfortunately. They have had their computer professionally cleaned and reset; however, the hackers responsible have managed to get hold of enough information to recreate more seemingly genuine emails from people it may appear that you know.

Here are the warning signs:

Title – Favour to ask

Content will include this (or something very similar):

Good Morning. Sorry to bother you. Are you available on email for a few minutes? Can’t call due to a serious throat pain caused by laryngitis (or similar ailment)

Don’t respond to the email. It is not who you think it is. Its a scam. The hacker has cloned the email address and used computer trickery to overlay that address on their own. If you do receive this, text or call the person who the message appears to be from and let them know. Or text the email to me and I’ll check the member list to see if its one of our members.

DONT forward or respond to the email.

I’ve had the club website checked and will have it checked again if the emails continue and I’ve personally re-run a virus scan on my computer to make sure it wasn’t me.

Looking to do something different in late August?

The Morris Car Club of SA, in conjunction with the Morris Register of SA have extended and open invitation to all car owners of Morris and Morris related vehicles to join their display on the Corner Blight St & Torrens Rd Ridleyton, 25 August 2024 (the day after our Pea and Pie Night!).

What’s a Morris related car you might ask? Its anything produced by what was once known as the Nuffield Corporation. In other words, Morris, Wolseley, Riley, MG, Morris Commercial, SU, Nuffield Universal (at tractor no less). The Nuffield group even designed and produced tanks and armoured cars for the British Army and licence built V12 engines, but I don’t expect to see any of these on display!

Even if you don’t own a ‘Nuffield’ car, this is always a great display with lots to look at and owners to talk to!

An interesting conundrum to consider is that all Sprites and Midgets were produced at MG’s Abingdon factory, including the CKD kits shipped to Australia for assembly. Does that make a Sprite a Nuffield car by association? I’ll leave that for you to ponder……

A pie floater. Its as South Australian as Fruchocs, Coopers and Penfold’s Grange.

When I moved from the country to Adelaide to go to uni my father told me “remember, you’re always guaranteed to get a hot meal late at night at the Pie Cart at the GPO”. That hot meal was, of course, a pie floater.

The original pie cart may now, sadly, be no more, but the tradition of the Pie Floater, in many forms and variations, lives on in pubs and pie carts throughout South Australia and, indeed Australia. Some can even be found in pubs in the UK, although, like the Kiwis and their claims on Pavlova and Phar Lap, the Brits probably claim it to be their invention!

It is, in many ways, a birth right of all South Australians to enjoy a hot pie floating on a bed of hot pea soup on a cold winters night, quite appropriate with the weather we are currently having!

I can also see look of fear and confusion on some at the idea of a Pie Floater but don’t knock it until you try it! And thanks to the efforts of Don and Elaine and now Angela and Grant, we can all sample this gastronomic delight. For some it may be your first time but for many it will be like saying hello to a long lost friend.

Where – Sprite Club clubrooms at Fullarton Park

When – 24 August, from 6.30 onwards

Cost – $10 per member

BYO Drinks and a plate of nibbles or dessert

There will be a raffle during the night ($5 for three tickets) and I’ll attempt to sort out the sound on the TV so we can have some interesting viewing running in the background!

RSVP to Don and Elaine Cardone (0411 876 067) so they can gauge the numbers for ordering please. Please also advise if you intend to bring a savoury or sweet plate so we don’t end up with too much one thing!

Visitors are most welcome, just please let me (Robin) or Don and Elaine know prior so we can cater for the right numbers!

Are you Pie Floater curious and want to know more? If you click here, this article from Aunty (ABC) might just whet your taste buds! See you on the night!

Something a bit different from the normal car related posts but something close to my family’s heart, the Cobdogla Steam Friends Society and the Cobdogla Steam and Irrigation Museum!

Those who I’ve talked over the years to know the museum has had a couple of challenging years, not least with the rising Murray River inundating the grounds and closing the museum, now for some two years. Despite their challenges, the band of men and women who are behind the Society (average age around 75!) have continued to restore and maintain their magnificent steam powered machines, not least a 27 tonne traction engine, a genuine Steam Roller (what kid didn’t love a steam roller) and a 0-4-0 Bagnall Saddle Engine!

And now they have a new challenge, a 0-6-2 tank engine called ‘Chiverton’, built by Perry Engineering here in South Australia in 1938. Built to serve the cane fields in Far North Queensland, the loco had a relatively short working life of about 19 years, being retired in 1958 (other Perry engines worked the fields until the mid 1970s!) and served the next 17 years as the feature in a kids playground.

Since the 1970s the engine has been in the care of a NSW based enthusiast however, needs must, and the loco was put up for sale, first in 2020 and, after that fell through, most recently, this year. Advertised for $25,000, the Society has quickly raised $15,000 and have secured the locomotive but they are seeking support, financial and otherwise, to bring the loco back to SA and commence the restoration. For example, they need to raise another $15,000 to finalise the purchase and transport the loco back from Junee to Loveday, on a low loader on Conditional (historic) registration no less!

The Society knows what its doing on a technical basis. With the right support and backing, the 100s of years of engineering expertise within the Society will come to the fore and the loco will come back to life … the key though is attracting the backing to pay the bills. Maybe you might be able to help.

The museum’s President and long time friend, Damien Osborne, has created a GoFundMe page as ’round 1′ of the fund raising. $5 would be appreciated, $100 would be loved or if a business might be interested in becoming a higher profile supporter, either for the restoration of the loco or the greater museum, they’d love to talk to you!

Do you secretly like steam engines? Can you help?

I’m a member of the museum, now a (small) shareholder of the loco and now its first GoFundMe supporter. Hopefully I’m not the only one! I grew up playing on their (now operational) steam engine and the traction engines when they too were kids play things.

Bring Chiverton Home to South Australia GoFundMe Link

Top left image is the loco as it current is and bottom right as a beloved childrens play thing. The other images are sister Perry Engineering locomotives working the cane fields in the early 1950s and a restored sister operating in the Illawarra.

Sorry to all for being off-line with updates for a while. Work and family commitments, which I’m sure you can all appreciate, not to mention a round of the dreaded seasonal lurgy for good measure.

Upcoming Events:

July Midweek Run. Unfortunately I’m going to have to postpone the midweek run (again, I know!!) due to (a) more potentially inclement weather and (b) I can’t find someone to be the ‘run leader’ – I’ve had to reschedule a few things and I can’t take the day off from work sorry! The run WILL happen, not not as per the calendar. Stay tuned for updates as when we can put the midweek run on.

Pie and Peas Night (Sat 24 August). Names and numbers are requested as soon as possible please for catering. Names to me (admin@spriteclub.com.au) or Don (0411 876 067). An information post will come out soon(ish) but to let you know, its BYO drinks on the night and we’d like to know if you can bring a savoury or a sweet dish to add to the evening.

To help with the cost of catering (for the pea soup and the pies, and the hall hire), a small surcharge of $10 per head is requested, payable on the night.

There will be a raffle on the night also ($5 for three tickets).

The evening will be held at the Fullarton Centre club-rooms and is always a great night to chat and have hearty hot soup. All members are welcome and new members are encouraged to come along!

An Evening At Richmonds (14 October). Thanks to Gary Dodd and Andy Morgan (from Richmonds), the October General Meeting will be held at Richmonds Classic Cars. Starting at 1930, it will be an evening to look forward to! More details to follow!

Bay to Birdwood (20th October). Entries are now over 2/3rds sold out so if you want to participate in one of the great runs in the automotive world, get in quick!

And wait, there’s more. No, not self sharpening steak knives or DemTel record selectors, but as the weather fines up there will be a slew of club organised events from a planned car-park picnic run to Collingrove, Fish and Chip runs, Display Day (with the Austin Healey Owners Club) and of course the club Annual Dinner.

Watch out on the website and the Facebook page for more news and updates on coming events!

Just a quick reminder to all members that the next Monthly Meeting (1 July 2024 … ie, tomorrow night!) is our mid winter Wine and Cheese Night.

A more informal meeting style than normal, bring a plate or a bottle of wine (or something non-alcoholic such as sparkling water), listen to the happenings of the club whilst enjoying a tipple with a nibble and a natter!

If you are stuck for what to bring, I’ve suggested ‘odd lettered surnames’ (ie, A, C, E ….. Y) bring a savoury something and ‘even lettered surnames’ (B, D, F …. Z) bring something sweet, or just bring a contribution to the cheese and cracker theme!

We will be running a raffle on the night so bring $5 for 3 tickets!

Doors will be open from 1930 (7.30pm) with the meeting running as usual from 2000 (8pm). Coffee and tea will be available as usual!

Hope to see you there.

All

Due to the predicted inclement weather and only a very few brave and hearty souls willing to commit to the run, this Months Midweek run has been postponed until next Month. Next midweek run will be on the Wednesday 17 of July.

All the same run details, just one month later.

Apologies to those who indicated they’d like to attend. Hopefully you can come along in July.

Any questions, please contact the run organiser (me).

As I type this the weather looks miserable for next Wednesday’s Midweek Run, sort of fitting really for a Winter Solstice run through the hills. There’s not mystery about the run; I’m no Russell and I can’t keep a straight face so the run sheet is attached.

Given the weather, Spridgets are not required, but if you are keen to drive yours, don’t let the weather stop you. I won’t be as mine hasn’t recovered from the last Midweek Run yet!

Like all Sprite Club runs, if you are not a member of the club, that’s ok. You are most welcome to join in and have lunch with us. Please let me know that’s all so I’ve got the right head count for the cars!

Departure Point: Ridge Park Carpark, Barr Smith Ave, Myrtle Bank

Departure Time: 1030

Stop 1 – The Big Rocking Horse

Route will be via Eagle on the Hill, Mount Lofty Summit Road, Ridge Road, Marble Hill Road, Corkscrew Road and Gorge Road, then on to Gumeracha for a stop and regroup.

ETA Gumeracha – 1130. Total distance – 52km

If you get separated on the run up we will wait until we all get there!

Estimated time of departure – 1200 or once we have all arrived!

Stop 2 – Emma and Ivy, Main Street, Lobethal

Route will be out via Birdwood to Mount Pleasant, then towards Tungkillo, then Mount Torrens and into Lobethal

ETA Lobethal – 1245. Distance – 44km

Lunch is proposed for Emma and Ivy’s. They have a great menu, great coffee and warm hot chocolates to boot!

I’d really appreciate an RSVP on numbers so I can book.

If you can’t make the run but would like to meet for lunch, that’s ok too! Just let us know for numbers.

For the technically minded, the run map can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N9Wr1ELi4Qkzh7ZK7

This means you can open it up in Google Maps and just follow the computer voice if you don’t trust the car in front!!

I’ve picked this run as I hope some of our members who live along the way can pop out and say hello and perhaps join as at one of the Stops for a natter or for lunch!

A few quick updates:

Winter Warmer Merch. I’m putting in an order later this week for long sleeve t-shirts and hoodies. If you are interested please get your detail (and payment) in so I can order. This may be the only order for new winter warmth so get in quick. Orders close Wednesday evening. Refer to the post in Spritely News (link below). The link to the order form and pricing is contained in the linked post.

June Mid-Week Run. The keen eyed amongst you might have noticed a Mid Week run scheduled for the 19th. I have not had a chance to organise something yet which might be a great opportunity for someone who hadn’t created a run before to have a go!??! No pressure and no expectation, but if you are interested in having a crack at it, please let me know! Doesn’t have to be an all singing, all dancing, just a meeting point, a destination and the route seems to take care of itself!

July General Meeting. The July monthly meeting will be a mid-year Cheese and Wine night. I’d like to make this a ‘bring a plate of something’ to share by members when they come. The eternal question is ‘shall I bring a sweet or a savoury’ – so …. if you surname is a an ‘odd letter’ (A, C, E etc), then bring a savoury. If you have an ‘even letter’ (B,D, F etc), bring a sweet. OR, just bring something. Maybe donate a bottle of red or white wine to the night if you’d prefer. Doesn’t have to be a lot, just a small plate with all the small plates going together to make a large plate! Hopefully we will have some butter tasting to go along with it.

There will be a raffle on the night so please bring along a $5 donation to go towards the costs for the night.

Cheers!

For your reading pleasure!

You may have heard a recent rumour that the Grill Badges where here and … YOU’D BE RIGHT!

The Grill Badges have landed! Yes, like Neil Armstrong finessing Apollo 11 with its last gasp of fuel, Daryl’s persistence and patience with the supplier has paid off and the new grill badges have arrived! They will be available for collection or purchase at the next Meeting or event. Seems like a really good reason to come along to the next meeting if you ask me!

If you’d like to check if you ordered or if you want to reserve on, please click and follow the following link

Club Merchandise Orders.xlsx

Now, Winter is but a few days away and so are cold necks, chilly ears and general coldness as you venture out, top up or down! Don’t forget, the club has a range of scarves, beanies (which can be ordered with pompoms!) and a new ‘hoodie’ style winter coat.

The club has some stock of beanies (without pompoms!) and scarves and we will be taking orders for the hoodie. The only difference to the jacket as pictured is it will have the traditional logo on the front and the new ‘fun’ logo on the back (or no logo on the back if you’d prefer).

We will also do a run of long-sleeved T-Shirts.

Oh, and as its likely to rain sometime soon, we will also be doing golf style umbrellas!

As for colour – you can have it in any colour at all, so long as it’s black … or navy blue or red (we haven’t checked the logo against the other colours though!).

Sizing guides below. As a ‘wet thumb in the air’, I wear an XL Hoodie Jacket and Long Sleeve.

If you’d like to order a Jacket, Long sleeve T or Umbrella , please follow the link to order. Payment is required before prior for this run.

Club Merchandise Orders.xlsx

Of course, if you’d like a traditional embroidered logo onto a shirt or jacket, Corporate Image has a wide range of good quality clothing you can select from. You can call them or look up their clothing range online. A Sprite Club embroidered badge will cost you an additional $7 to $10 dollars depending on what you’d like done! Their online catalogue can be found here: https://corporateimageonline.com.au/

Daryl has been working pretty hard to develop new merchandise lines for members to buy and support the club. Stay tuned for more details on the Spring/Summer lines including the all important Stubbie Holder!

Route details – nothing challenging, just a nice run down from Adelaide to Sellicks Beach.

• Depart Fullarton Centre 1015
• Follow freeway up to Stirling (arrive approx 1030)
• Right at the Roundabout onto Avenue Road. Feel free to wait near Steamroller Park.
• Right onto Sturt Valley Road through Upper Sturt, Iron Bark, Cherry Gardens and onto Clarendon, arriving at the Bakery at approximately 1050 for a coffee stop.
• Depart at 1115 via Range Road and The Range
• Left onto Victor Harbor Road, then right onto Pages Flat Road, heading for Pages Flat and thence Myponga.
• From Myponga its right onto Main South Road, past the Victory Hotel and right into Rogers Rd and right into Plains Rd for Elephants Door, arriving approx 1200

If its raining or your car is off the road, just come along in your everyday car!

A detailed route map can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/D8SBcmAUuMAzr1629

Regarding the meal at the Victory:

• Its a set two course menu. I need to advise the Hotel by NLT Wednesday afternoon if its going to be entrée + main or main + dessert. Left up to me it will be main + dessert but please let me know your preference and the popular vote wins!
• The menu can be found below or follow the following link: (https://victoryhotel.com.au/group-bookings/)
• The pub wont split the bill. I’ll pay and everyone will need to pay me by EFT or PayID, or you can bring cash!
• There are several spots left if you’d like to come along, just let me know please (0431247746).

Wanted to borrow – a front hub puller for wire wheels!

Does anyone in the club have one that I can borrow?

For reference, its this one (pretty sure its the 8tpi one I’m after!!).

If I can’t chase one down I’m going to look into getting one made so if anyone would like one made, also, please let me know

A quick reminder for people wishing to attend to let me know as soon as possible so I can confirm with the venue.

Email me or put you name into the list via this link: 26 May 24 – Victory Hotel Lunch Run.xlsx

Lunch cost is $60 per head for a two course meal.

I’ve got a cap at 30 and we have 19 signed up so far so don’t miss out!

Final route details will be posted later this week, including timing for anyone who wishes to join the run at the Clarendon Bakery.

Plan on about a 70km run to Sellicks. Not long, but long enough to blow out the cobwebs and everyday cars are more than fine (as I don’t think the Little Blue Car will be back on its wheels, unless some has a front hub puller for wire wheels hiding in their shed!)

First it was the Celica or the Corolla conversion, pioneered, I’m told, here in Australia and ultimately formed the basis of another well known conversion kit from Frontline, using a Ford T9 gearbox (from a Sierra I believe). Over in the Land of the Free, a mob called ‘Rivergate’ did the same thing with a 5 speed box from a Datto (not sure which one, probably the 120y or similar).

The issue with all of the conversions has be availability of the gearboxes; the ubiquitous Toyota T50 has found itself behind everything from a Sprite or Midget through to a Clubbie or a Cortina or even small block V8. And as the donor cars are no longer made, the supply has dwindled toa trickle or members who are hording two or three spares ‘just in case’ … you know who you are … !

In the UK Barrett Engineering (https://barrattengineering.co.uk/) has developed a new conversion kit for our cars using the 5 cog from none other than a Suzuki Sierra/Jimny. The Jimny has been around since about 1970 in one form or other and has been called various things in various countries, including the Sierra here in the 1990s/early 2000s and the Jimny so, in theory at least, there is a relatively good supply of the gearbox from wreckers or brand new. The box has several advantages too, in particular that it doesn’t need to have the 2nd cross member removed as in the case of the T50 and the T-9 conversion.

We already have club member, Geoff Glasson, who has ordered a conversion kit for his Mk1 (and I’m hoping that he might be able bring it in to a meeting soon for a ‘show and tell’ session); Peter (the Plumber) and Chris (the Car Dealer) are both interested in the kit and have recently contacted Barrett to enquire as to a ‘bulk deal’ and if they can fill a pallet (5 or 6 kits) there is a decent discount to be had. Peter has already sourced several gearboxes and is well on the way to having 5 or 6 boxes available so their plan is a bring in the kit without a gearbox.

From Peter and Chris:

The kit comes with engine backplate, billet flywheel, starter motor, tail shaft, gearshift to suit sprite/midget hole location. Price is GBP2400 on their website, we have arranged a price of GPB2000 pounds plus approximately 450 freight to Adelaide Port (not including duties). 5 kits will fit on a pallet (with a gearbox) or 6 kits without, therefore the freight price can be shared. Chris regularly drives to Melbourne for work so can delivery to there and delivery of kits to other locations can be arranged.

Even including freight from Adelaide to anywhere in Australia, this is going to be cheaper that an individual importing it themselves, particularly as the guys have chased up gearboxes.

The kit will fit any rear wheel drive A Series car – Morry Minor, Marina, Sprite, Midget, A30/35, A40 Farina.

If you are interested please, have a look at the website and then let Peter (0418 823 545) or Chris (0411 867 118) know as they keen to make this happen.

NB: Peter and Chris need to know which engine you are fitting this to as the kit comes specific to an engine type. IE, they need to know if you are putting it behind a 948, 1098 or a 1275.

NBB: A question has been asked about ratios. Please see the comparison table of the popular conversions below:

Wednesday, 15 May – Midweek Meander

If you are coming along to tomorrows Midweek Run please be sure to let Russell and Judy know TODAY (or me if you can’t contact them) so they can book the lunch venue.

Details:

• Starting Point – Hazelwood Park, 0930 for a 1000 departure
• Total trip distance is 150-160km – 110 out, 50 back.

Sunday 26 May – Elephants Door and Victory Hotel

Reminder to let me know who is coming along. I’ve created a spreadsheet (click here) to you can update your details.

Final run route details are being developed – we will be meeting at the Fullarton Centre (ie, the Sprite Club clubrooms) at 0945 for a 1000 departure. There will be a morning tea stop (where you can also join us), arriving at Dean King’s Elephant Door at 1200. Lunch at the Victory has been amended to 1330. I need to understand how many are coming! The booking is currently for 20; however, they can cater for more (up to 30 in the cellar or more upstairs) so please let me know ASAP!

Two great club runs coming up this month!

All members and friends of the Sprite Club of SA are welcome to join in be it in their Sprite or Midget, Clubbie or other Associate Vehicle or, if the weather is miserable, in you every day car!

Wednesday 15 May – Midweek Run #1

Starting Point – Hazelwood Park, 0930 for a 1000 departure

Please let Russell and Judy, or myself, know so Russell and Judy can make the appropriate booking at the lunch venue. RSVP by 13 May please

Total trip distance is 150-160km, with the outward journey being approximately 110km via the most circuitous route possible! And … no dirt or gravel roads.

Sunday 26 May – Winery and Lunch

Depart – TBA. Run route details yet to be decided; however, a 1000 departure is planned

Destination(s):

Elephants Door Cellar Door – 1200

Victory Hotel Cellar Lunch – 1330

RSVP for the lunch is critical! A booking for 20 has been tentatively made with the venue able to seat up to 32 in the cellar if we let them know. Preferred meal format will be a $60 two-course menu (entrée & main or main & dessert) and dietary requirements can be met.

RSVP no later than 22 May please (to me – Robin)

Over in Whyalla, our Club’s resident intrepid Spridget adventurer Adrian Faulks is currently installing a Frontline T9 5-speed gearbox kit and is running into issues that have left him, and Frontline, bemused and confused.

Has anyone in the club attempted this on their car? I know a lot of us have Dellow Toyota T50 conversion and some of us have the US sourced ‘Rivergate’ conversion using a Datsun/Nissan box and we even have on member about to commence using the newest conversion kit from Barrett (which uses a Suzuki box) however, I’m not sure who in the club, if anyone, is running the current Frontline kit. If you are, Adrian would love to hear from you.

Situation: The gear box is sitting further back in the tunnel that Frontline say it should; however, they also say that Adrian’s work seems to be spot on in terms of installation. They (and Adrian) are bemused as to why the gearshift is not sitting neatly in the extant opening (see below).

The only solution seems to be to cut away the rear of the gear shift opening; before he takes to the car with a grinder (or an axe) Adrian is keen to hear if others have had this issue please! If you have experienced this, please drop me a line and I’ll pass your information or details to Adrian to ponder!

For those of you who followed his most recent adventures and the failed clutch on the way back from Nationals, it wasn’t the brand new clutch at all … it was the equally brand new carbon thrust block that failed. Needless to say I’ve suggested that he talks to SpriteParts about a roller bearing release block instead!

This Sunday sees the annual running of the Peter Hall 6Hr at Mallala. The Sprite Club, with a significant amount of help from the Clubbies brigade, have a long history of participation, including helping the Victorians to a podium place….

It take many hands to make the teams work and Sean Power needs your help! Please see below:

Great news – the 10 day forecast says Sunday will be 10 to 21 degrees on the day and unlikely to have rain.Fabulous news at the moment. Still can be cold at Mallalla.

We have a home base of Sheds 100/101 where we have always located, next to the canteen. Parking just outside. The shed has power for tools, charging and kettles. You can place stuff there for the day.

As usual, I do not know exactly how many volunteers are turning up on the day. I do know that the young ones who ruled the pit wall (2-3 persons) cannot make it this year. They were invaluable and adaptable.

This year we have 2 teams. I will manage the ‘We’re in it for the Beer’ and Pat Miller is going to manage the other team ‘Red Heifer’.

Drivers, this year you do not have to go out in the warmup  to set a time if you don’t want to. Just give me your time …. AND THEN STICK TO IT – winning is not about posting your PB or the fastest time, its about which team can stick to their laptimes for the whole race! Don’t give me a time that you are going to struggle to meet. Give me a time that you can peel off lap after lap after lap …. AND THEN STICK TO IT!!!!!

Each team need to just operate safely and not mess up the day by being disqualified by not having a car on track … this means we need the following resources to make it all work:

• 1 person in formup to keep watching for change overs and to transfer the sleeve band from incoming driver to driver in formup
• 2-3 persons on pit wall to provide times and signals to their driver to come in, slow down, go faster, stay out, etc.
• 1/2 persons located on the hill to time and send messages to pit wall re time of their car or any emergency. They also contact others in team if they see their car crashed or disabled or other general black flag situation.
• A volunteer or volunteers to assist MSCA run the event. We are short all sorts of officials and someone from each team has been rostered on to give an hour to MSCA to take up a position – e.g. at pit start area. 
• Team Manager has to get times from Team members and rush them to the tower by 10.00am, plus try and keep an eye on things as they unfold.
• Handy to have someone at the garages to keep an eye on drivers and let them know when ready to get to start up.  Also helps when there are breakdowns with car in garage and not ready to go.

Note the numbers above do not really include extras to give people toilet and meal breaks. Drivers can help out but with 5 per team, they have to be available for their next set of driving, immediately if anything goes wrong as a car has to get out on track.

Last year we did not have enough walkie talkies for all of the groups involved. It was challenging. Phones can’t be easily used like walkie talkies for casual quick updates of timing & emergency issues. So please, if you are a volunteer, find, borrow or pinch a set of walkie talkies so we can communicate. I have two walkie talkies only plus spare batteries.

So this year I am proposing for my team anyway that we do not concentrate on times and timing if we do not have the resources to time and communicate easily. Drivers set a time they are not easily going to beat and focus on being smooth. We let them go, communicating only on the wall to stay out or come in or whatever.

I rove between positions and try to manage emergencies as they arise and try to do the volunteer position plus liaise with the Race Director if things happen

Main thing is to have fun and keep the cars going.

We are in it to have fun, give the drivers lots of track time and come back safely. See you next Sunday from 8.00am onwards

Please click below for the May edition of the Bugeye Burble

The keen eyed amongst you may have noticed a Breakfast Run on the calendar for Easter Monday. The plan has shifted one day to become an Easter Sunday run.

If you can’t make the Sporting Car Club but would like to have breakfast, perhaps meet at Lobethal!

If you are heading along, please let me know so the guys organising can book a big enough table.

Cheers! See you out on the road

Better late than never, please find below the (now combined) March-April 2024 edition of the Bugeye Burble.

Please note the change of date and location of the next General Meeting. It will be on the 8th of April and the Sporting Car Club from 6.30pm as part of our annual Stars and their Cars meeting. The regular meeting will be held at 7.30pm with Stars and their Cars commencing at (or just after) 8pm. All welcome, including members visiting from other Clubs keen to look at some of our cars and hear the stories of their owners!

Sorry to post about membership renewals again. This message only affects a handful of people within the club who have a vehicle on Conditional Registration and who are not currently financial.

If you have your vehicle on Conditional Registration and you have not yet renewed your membership, please do so by Friday 8 March 24 as the Club Registrars must report to Services SA on the status of financial members and Conditional Registration.

The report is technically past due and Gordon & Don have held off reporting to allow several members to finalise their membership.

The Club completely understands when members chose not to renew as we know people sell their cars on or buy into a new marque and want to immerse themselves in the enthusiasts of that brand! But we do get concerned when we know people still have their prized Classic and on Conditional Registration yet you haven’t renewed. If you are in this category and your car is laid up for some reason, please contact us so we can talk through the best option for you.

However, if your car is still being used on the road, you are currently be driving unregistered if you are not a financial member. Please contact us ASAP!

The Club does not have an option and we have to report to Services SA the status of members with cars on Conditional Registration. If you are reported it will mean you have to start from scratch and go through the whole MR334 process all over again. If there are circumstances PLEASE talk to myself or the Registrars before Friday.

A busy couple of weeks are coming up for the Sprite Club of SA with events and runs.

This Saturday evening (24 Feb) sees the return of a favourite flavour with the Ice Cream Run, followed by the MSCA Birthday event up in Mount Barker Oval on Sunday (25 Feb, all Sprite Club members are warmly welcomed, whether you have been racing or not and bring your car!!). There will be special guest speakers talking about their experiences and memories of the MSCA series over the past 50 years! There is also a prize for the best club display so bring your car for a great picnic lunch!

The following weekend we have both the annual All British Day up in Echunga, where I know quite a few members have entered their cars for the display and Round 1 of the MSCA out at Mallala where the Sprite Club have been rostered on as Flag Marshalls for the day, both events occurring on Sunday 3 March

If you are not heading to All British Day to display or spectate, and you are able to help out at the MSCA event, please let Pat Miller know (nanmiller@adam.com.au, 0421 289 706) or contact the MSCA directly (sec@mscasa.com). Flagging is a great opportunity to get close to the action with lunch provided. Any training required will also be provided.

And it doesn’t stop there, at least not yet! There are events in March and April, including the national Sprite and Midget meet in Wodonga and McLaren Vale Classics, a ‘sports car cruise, as well as another club favourite, Stars and Their Cars, being held at the Sporting Car Club on Monday the 8th of April from 6.30 at night (note the date – the Monthly Meeting falls on Easter Monday so we have been able to move it back a week – more to come!).

Grill Badges. Just a gentle reminder to get our order in for your 2024 Grill Badge if you are keen. We have a small number members who have ordered a badge at the introductory price and the order form will close on the 22nd of Feb so Darryl can get it all rolling. Get in before the introductory price offer expires!

Original Article: Sprite Club of SA 2024 Grill Badge | Sprite Club of South Australia

For the Order Form Click Here.

Individually Constructed Vehicles. Please note the vote at next Months meeting to include ICVs of less than 25 years of age for the purposes of Conditional Registration. You can vote by email (in accordance with the instructions in the email set out 12 Feb 24) or in person on the night. Please remember, you need to be a financial member to vote so …

Membership. We still have a few outstanding members (who we know still have Sprites or Midgets!) who have not renewed. If you would like to vote on the Constitution change on the 4th you need to be a financial member before hand! Also, if you have a car on Conditional Registration and you are not a financial member for 2024, you can’t drive on the road until you have (a) paid your subs and (b) had you log book stamped confirming you are a 2024 financial member!

2024 Nationals. There are still some spots available at the 2024 Nationals. If you would like to attend, please let the organisers know. You can contact me if you need their phone/email details!

Ice Cream Run. More details to follow but planning is somewhat advanced for a run on the late afternoon of the Saturday 24rd from the Club Rooms car park to a 48 Flavours somewhere in Adelaide. I suspect it might be near the organisers home! Stay tuned for more information.

MSCA Birthday Bash. All Sprite Club members are welcome! Details here: MSCA Turns 50! | Sprite Club of South Australia

Attention Motorsport Enthusiasts

Come & help celebrate the M.S.C.A 50^th Birthday on Sunday 25^th February 2024

The MSCA was formed in August 1973 with four clubs and today we have eighteen clubs regularly participating!

Show & Shine – Club Display

Come along with your picnic basket and display your car and talk to, and support, other competitors who have competed in the super sprint series for 2023 and in the years past. 

The trophy presentation for 2023 will take place during the afternoon with past & current members talking about their experiences!

WHERE:  Mount Barker Oval, Alexandrina Road, Mount Barker

WHEN:    Sunday 25th February 2024

TIMES:   

You don’t have to be a competitor to join in the celebrations. Bring you car and come along to hear the stories and support your club members!

Further information, please contact Sue Stephenson on 0408 858 046 or email comp@mscasa.com

Club member Ian Rawley has asked if someone heading across to Nationals at the end of March might have enough room to bring back a 1275 ‘short’ engine and a pair of springs for his Mk1 Sprite. Alex Robertson (of Queensland) has offered to bring the parts down as far as Wodonga when he comes down for the event.

He would be very grateful if someone can help him out! If you can, drop me a line and I’ll pass Ian’s details through.

Those who read the articles here may recall we asked for you thoughts on a new grill/badge bar badge for the car club earlier this year.

The overwhelming feedback was for the new full colour design (see below). This badge comes with two wing-nuts to fasten the badge directly to the grill.

We hope to have these available for purchase at $45 per badge (depending on order numbers we may be able to reduce this to $40) for Club members and friends soon; however, we need to order a minimum quantity of at least 25 badges, so, before we order, I’m looking to get as many pre-orders as possible, just so we know these are going to sell!

As an introductory offer, those who register for the initial order will get their badges at the discounted price of $35 (ie, $10 discount).

If you are interested in a badge from the first run, please follow the link >here< and register your details and the number of badges you wish to buy. I will leave the order list open until 22 Feb.

Payment can be via direct debit (preferred), cheque or cash. If you are using direct debit please put your name and what the payment is for in the payment details (Grill badge x 1 Fred Nerque) to make life easier for Kerry! If you want it posted out please include an extra $10 to cover postage (and tell Kerry that you’ve paid!!).

Direct Debit details:

Order to delivery is approximately 8 weeks but Daryll will try to get them quicker if we can so we can perhaps take them to Nationals.

For those who might still want the original style, please let me know as I’m talking to a local company who may be able to do a limited run for the Club.

Please find below the first Bugeye Burble for 2024.

A celebration of the life of Paul Doube will be held at 3.30pm, 3 Feb 24, at Centennial Park, 760 Goodwood Road, Pasadena.

All club members are invited to come along and celebrate the life and loves of former Sprite Club President and Clubbie tragic, the late Paul Doube. It doesn’t matter if you knew Paul well or only in passing, he touched the lives of many classic car enthusiasts.

If you can, come along in your Sprite, Midget, Clubbie or other classic and relive your memories of Paul with his friends and family. If you can’t make it, the intent is to live stream the event; follow the link here https://www.centennialpark.org/funeral-services/.

And if you are looking for an early morning run this coming Sunday, consider heading up to the ClubbiesSA traditional ‘First Sunday’ at Perfect Note Coffee Shop in Blackwood. Paul was one of the founding members of ClubbiesSA and was part of the band of Clubbies who gathered at the Perfect Note on the first Sunday of each month for a fabulous coffee before heading off for a run along one of the many roads through the Adelaide Hills. Head up, grab a brew, see who else rolls up, pick a road and head off for a run.

Perhaps this is a strange topic to be writing about on the Sprite Club of SA. Its not about an upcoming event (stay tuned for the calendar, out hopefully this weekend) or a technical missive, but its a timely reminder for us to take stock of our personal cyber security.

Recently I’ve noticed a definite ‘up-tick’ what I believe to be personal ‘data harvesting’ activity that can have no use other than for nefarious deeds. And its becoming more and more prevalent across a number of un-regulated or poorly regulated chat communities or Groups. For many of us, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, connecting us with friends, family, and the world at large. However, with the convenience and connectivity come significant risks, one of the most prevalent being personal data phishing. This silent threat poses a severe danger to users, as cybercriminals continually exploit social media platforms to harvest sensitive information for malicious purposes. In this article, I will hopefully give you some insights that I’ve learned over the past few years being involved with aspects of security and how you might consider protecting yourselves.

Why? Because about 18 months ago we were targeted with an attempt at identity theft as a result of one of the ‘high profile’ personal data spills and, even though it failed, the effort to close all the doors that were opened is considerable and time consuming.

Understanding Personal Data Phishing:

Cybercriminals often create fake profiles, impersonating trusted entities or individuals to establish a sense of trust with unsuspecting users. These profiles may mimic friends, family members, or even official organizations, making it challenging for users to discern the authenticity of the connection. How many times do you check the profile of the person in your long-standing Group who is suddenly asking you to ‘Post your ride’ for no apparent reason, yet so many people still do (or pictures of their dog etc etc!).

Phishers leverage various tactics to deceive users into divulging personal information. They may send messages, emails, or direct messages containing urgent requests, fake promotions, or seemingly innocuous links. Clicking on these links can lead users to fraudulent websites designed to capture sensitive data, such as login credentials.

Third-party applications and quizzes on social media platforms can be Trojan horses for personal data phishing. Users are often enticed to grant these applications access to their profiles, unknowingly providing cybercriminals with a gateway to extract personal information.

Even seemingly innocuous information shared on social media can be exploited by cybercriminals. Details such as birthdates, locations, and workplace information can be aggregated to create a comprehensive profile, making users vulnerable to identity theft and other cybercrimes.

And to be clear, a cybercriminal might still be a pimply 15 year old kid just trying to skim some money from your account, or it could be a state-operated phishing enterprise looking to steal money and information from large corporations or Mum and Dad next door to fund their activities.

Protecting Yourself from Personal Data Phishing:

Vigilance in Accepting Friend Requests: Be cautious when accepting friend requests, especially from individuals you do not know personally. Scrutinize profile details, mutual friends, and activity to identify potential fake accounts. If in doubt, verify the identity through alternative means before accepting the request.

Verify Messages and Links: Exercise skepticism when receiving messages or emails containing urgent requests or suspicious links. Verify the sender’s identity through a separate communication channel and refrain from clicking on links unless you are certain of their legitimacy. Social media platforms often provide features to report and block suspicious accounts.

Review App Permissions: Regularly review and audit the third-party applications connected to your social media accounts. Remove access for applications that are no longer needed or are unfamiliar. Restrict the permissions granted to apps, allowing only essential access to your profile information.

Limit Public Information: Restrict the amount of personal information shared publicly on your social media profiles. Review and adjust privacy settings to control who can view your posts, friend list, and other details. The less information available to potential phishers, the lower the risk of falling victim to personal data phishing.

Educate Yourself and Stay Informed: Stay informed about the latest phishing techniques and scams circulating on social media. Being aware of potential threats enables you to recognize and avoid falling prey to malicious activities. Follow official security guidelines provided by social media platforms and cybersecurity experts.

Personal data phishing on social media is a persistent and evolving threat that requires constant vigilance. As users we need to be proactive in protecting our online identities. By understanding the methods employed by cybercriminals and implementing best practices to safeguard our personal information, we can navigate the digital landscape with greater confidence.

Social media is a powerful tool for connectivity, but it is crucial to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps against the silent threat of personal data phishing.

If you have any questions, just ask!

It is with considerable sadness that I write to inform Club members and friends of the Sprite Club of South Australia of the passing of former Club President, Paul Doube.

Following a long battle with his health, Paul passed peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday night. He put up a great fight right to the end. Not one to let his condition slow him down, Paul travelled to Perth last year and sought the warmth of Northern Australia during our winter. Remarkably, he had just come back from a beach sojourn at Stansbury where he and the family went every year for so long. There, with family and friends he spent a last, lovely summer holiday. Just back home with Ruth, the disease took its toll and he could fight no more.

Paul and Ruth were one of the founding members of ClubbiesSA, present at the very first gathering at Kilikanoon Wines and is one of the only Clubbie owners who attended every National meeting (and, indeed, every ‘Not the Nationals’ meeting). Paul, along with Clubbie stalwarts Barry and Sean, was also instrumental in developing the long relationship that the Sprite Club has with Clubbies SA and, to the best of my knowledge, is the only non-Spridget owning President of the Club, serving three terms.

Paul didn’t let his condition slow him down. He was often seen at the wheel of his beloved Clubbie or his MGTC with the oxygen bottle attached to the roll bar (and his wheelchair on a specially made rack on the the spare wheel!). Once asked why he was so slow up over a pass on a Clubbies Run he quipped that he had to slow down to change his oxygen bottle. Such was his determination not to allow his condition to slow him down.

Associate Driver of the Year, owner of the Associate Car of the Year, as a club member Paul gave the Sprite Club and ClubbiesSA his all and we are better clubs for that. We are a better club for his association and his enthusiasm, wit, and, most of all, friendship will be sorely missed.

Our deepest condolences to Ruth and his family, and his dear friends, many of whom are members of the Sprite Club, at this time.

Details of his funeral will be announced when they are known.

My personal thanks to his dear friend Sean Power for helping me writing this article. Photo credit to Gordon Boyce or as marked.

Thongs, Pluggers, Flip Flops, Jandals, Plankies, Japanese Riding Boots or Chinese Safety Boots are all names for one of the worlds oldest forms of footwear. Worn with some minor variations across the ancient worlds of Egypt, Rome, Greece, sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Korea, Japan and some Latin American cultures, the humble thong was designed to protect the wearers foot whilst keeping the top of the foot cool … and allowing it to burn in the summer sun. Not so cool in the centuries before SPF50+ sunscreen!

As Australian’s, of course, we found other unique uses for them, including harnessing the unique aerodynamic qualities nearest the pin throwing competition. A blend of lawn bowls, darts and bouche, Thong Throwing is as Australian on Australia Day as Two Up is to Anzac Day.

What is the best throwing style I hear you ask? Do you try for the ‘Maverick’, a flat spin style where the thong rotates through the air until the aerodynamic drag of the straps slows it down and causes it to drop like a stone like an F14 that’s flown through the jetwash and suffered a flame out? Is it the Lockett, where you line up the throw about 3′ left of the bucket and lob it with a strong backspin, drop punt style and then watch it move left to right inexorably towards the target as the friction caused by the straps cause it to gracefully curve through the air? Do you just try for the random lob and hope for the best?

What ever style you think is going to be serve you best, start practicing in time for the Sprite Club’s annual Thong Throwing Competition, held once again in the picturesque setting of the Chabrel’s front yard, overlooking the backstraight of Oakbank Racecourse!

Miles, I believe, is the current keeper of the John and Judy Bowering Memorial Trophy. At least I think he is!! I should know shouldn’t I!

Its a BYO lunch and drinks (and chairs if you have some fold outs that will fit into the Spridget!) and the Chabrels will supply dessert following the competition. Its a fabulous day to come and share a picnic lunch and meet friends new and old.

Please RSVP Des and Penny or myself so we know how many to cater dessert for.

Come along for a fun day out!

What started out three years ago as three cars meeting for a New Year’s coffee in Norwood has grown into some 13 cars taking a morning drive up to Uraidla for coffee and breakfast. 13 cars at 9am on New Years day … and that doesn’t include the late withdrawals, one from illness and at least one from a suspected NYE hang-over! At this rate we will have the whole club turning out within a year or two! Wouldn’t that be an amazing sight heading up Greenhill Road!

The pictures fail to accurately show just what a glorious morning it was too. Hopefully a good omen for 2024.

Starting at the Sporting Car Club for the first photo of the year, the plan was simple enough. Get a group photo at the start, a straightforward run up Greenhill Road and coffee or tea at the Uraidla Republic Cafe. We had 12 cars at the start, picking up Don and Elaine on the way (Don gave the Midget a run for the first time in quite a while). If we do get any more cars we will have to park closer together at the Sporting Car Club or find a new start point as we just about filled the driveway! Quite a sight to behold really!

It was great to see club cars out that we don’t see all that often, cars that have left the club and have now returned with new owners, and just new cars and new members! And of course friends of the Sprite Club, the Shipards with their Mk3 Sprite and the Oliphant’s with their stunning 260z (although some of us were disappointed their ‘new’ 1960 Falcon XK didn’t come out for the day!).

Aside from one motorcyclist doing his/her best impression of a temporary road user it was a great run up the hill. Easy and straight forward, a good way to start the year I think! But I have to ask … with the number of fatalities recorded on South Australian roads last year you would think that vulnerable road users would be somewhat more circumspect on the first day of the year and show some patience. We were, after all, all doing the speed limit and not holding up the traffic! I’m not sure about the other drivers but I was mentally brushing up my first aid as I watched him/her weave in and out of the line of cars and the oncoming traffic … ok, rant over!

What’s coming up next I hear you ask?

The rest of January is fairly quiet until Australia Day and the club’s annual Thong Throwing competition, hosted again by the Chabrels. Its a fabulous day and a great way for new members to meet the Club over a BYO lunch and the heat of competition as the thongs fly, all whilst overlooking the picturesque Oakbank Racecourse. Stay tuned for more details on what is always a great day!

There was a bit of a ‘buzz’ around those at Uraidla about another breakfast run to somewhere with a few recommending the Rise Artisan Bakery at Nairne so again, stay tuned for run details to there soon.

Oh, and a personal note to self. Don’t attempt to follow a certain green Sprite through a twisting road. The driver (and probably car) are much better at going through curves than I am!

(photo credits – Gary Dodd, Paul Mitchell and some bloke with GoPros hanging off his car!)

On the last day of 2023 we have some 109 subscriptions on the book for a total of nearly 150 members, including 13 surviving Founder and Life members.

62 Club members have already renewed their membership subscription for 2024 and we hope to welcome back the 34 outstanding members back into the club fold soon.

Please note – if you are reading this and you are one of the 34 outstanding members AND you car is on Conditional Registration (ie, Club Rego), you wont be able to drive in 2024 until you are (a) financial and (b) your logbook has been stamped by the Club.

We completely understand that people sell their cars on or some of you may have your car registered with another club so this isn’t of concern to you, but for those of you who are still with the club and haven’t gotten to the paperwork, please don’t get caught out by the police driving what becomes an unregistered car as of 1 Jan 24!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on 0431 247 746 or email me at admin@spriteclub.com.au

PS: Happy New Year to everyone and for those venturing out for the run tomorrow, see you then! I’ve talked to the Café – they are open but are not taking bookings … its first in best dressed! If they run out of room we will try across the road!

A group of us have bit a New Year’s Day ‘tradition’ of a photo outside of the Sporting Car Club and then a leisurely run up to the Urailda Republic Café for breakfast.

If you’d like to get the New Year into gear and get that first entry into your 2024 logbooks, come along and join us.

The plan is to gather at the Sporting Car Club at or after 0830 for a photo and head off at 0900. Nothing technical, just straight up Greenhill Road and keep going until we get to the Café for coffee and breakfast! Home before lunch time!

I usually book a table for 12 so let me know if you are thinking of coming along to make the booking bigger!

(And a gentle reminder … if your car is on Conditional/Historic registration with the club and you have not renewed your membership yet and/or not had your logbook stamped for 2024 by Gordon or Don, you can’t drive it in 2024 until you do.)

My sincere apologies to James Lord Pierpont…

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope to you see you all safe and well in the New Year!

(photo credits to Terry Shipard, and image borrowed from the internet, John Gazerk from the Midget Owners Group on Facebook and some random Sprite Club member with a camera at Victoria Square!)

Some of you may recall I undertook to bring Sprouting Forth back this year as an annual magazine to look back over the highlights of the year and selected history of the Sprite Club of SA.

With the assistance of a number of members, including Reinhard Walker, Gordon Boyce, Grant Stephenson, Sean Power, Sue Stephenson and Daryl Otterwill, as well as Nick Phillips of the MG Car Club of South Australia, I offer to you some Christmas reading and the first of what I hope can become an annual edition, Sprouting Forth 2023 (‘The Relaunch Edition).

As I’m new to publishing magazines online, I’ve provided you two options to access the magazine. One direct from the Sprite Club website, the other from an external hosting service. The magazine is best read on a computer or tablet at full screen size. If you have difficulty accessing it please contact me!

Sprouting Forth (from the Club Website)

Sprouting Forth (external hosting)

From all those involved with creating this, we hope you enjoy!

(My apologies in advance – I’m not a professional writer nor magazine editor. Any remaining grammar errors are probably mine!!)

The keen eyed amongst you may have noticed that the Club’s regalia list includes a Grill Badge, not something we have had for for sale a while.

At the Display Day back in November, past member Doug Gordon (who, after over 40 years, still owns his Midget!) showed Daryl and I one of the original Club grill badges and it got us thinking about new grill badge for members cars. Some calls ensued and as a result we have some options to present to members to consider for new grill badge.

As always with getting something produced, we need to meet some minimum order quantities to make them affordable (25 minimum in this case) so, whilst we’d like to have both for sale, its not a realistic option, so we are seeking feedback on the design and genuine interest to buy.

Option 1: A laser engraved reproduction of the original badge. Made from stainless steel, the badge would be approximately 70mm x 70mm square with a tab on the bottom to fasten to a badge bar or wire back to the grill. For an additional cost, the reverse side could be engraved with the current badge to give members a choice of which image to display.

Option 2: A full colour modern take on the original badge. Size will be approximately the same, also with a tab to allow it to be mounted to a badge bar or wired back onto the grill.

Estimated cost to members is approximately $35 (+/-$5)

We are keen to get your thoughts! Hopefully this link will take you to a shared spreadsheet where you can vote for your preferred design! The chosen design will (hopefully) become a key ring later on also!

Looking for last minute Christmas gifts?

Need something car related for that special someone?

Look no further than the Sprite Club regalia list!

We have in stock caps, (new) wide brimmed hats, beanies and scarves and other odds and ends – prices below!

Contact regalia@spriteclub.com.au or admin@spriteclub.com.au to know more.

Or of course you might want to talk to our wonderful Club sponsors and supporters – click on their links just to the left or right of this page for more information!

As some of you may be aware, the State Government recently announced a change to the Conditional Vehicle Registration scheme in so much as what are now known as ‘Individually Constructed Vehicles’, irrespective of their age, are now eligible to be registered under the States Conditional Registration program, the same program under which members of the Sprite Club can register their cars on what we colloquially call ‘historic registration’ for a maximum of 90 days driving per year.

There is a process that we need to follow to apply if we chose to go down this path. Its not an automatic scheme that we can offer simply because we recognise and accept Clubbies with the club and the committee is currently undertaking a review of the requirements and the process that needs to be followed if we, as a Club, decide to offer this form of membership. As a club we are not current authorised (as I understand it … I may be about to be wrong here sorry!!) to offer Conditional Registration to Hot Rods or Left Hand Drive Vehicles, only ‘Historic Vehicles’, those being vehicles that are 25 or more years old. We do; however, have a strong Clubbies community with members owning vehicles both younger and older than 25 year. The Committee is reviewing this and will decide if we wish, as a club, to apply to be able to offer Conditional Registration to the ClubbiesSA members with their newer Clubman cars who are members of our club.

Please also note that if we, the Committee, believe its in the best interest of the Club, we will need to change our Constitution (again!) and any change must be voted in by the Membership with at least 2/3rds of the Members present agreeing.

So, the Committee is meeting on Monday night (11 Dec) to discuss the next steps.

Logbook Signing

So … and this is the ‘log books’ bit of the Log Books and ICVs in the title … we know that some of you are yet to have your logbook signed or replaced for 2024 and I know that you all know that if you are not a financal member before 1 Jan 2024 and your log book is not stamped as being valid for 2024, that run you had planned for New Years Day can’t go ahead.

So … as we will be holding a Committee meeting at the Clubrooms between 1915 and 2000 (Monday 11 Dec) to discuss ICVs, once the meeting has closed Don and/or Gordon will be available for a short period to sign logbooks. Please note, I can’t guarantee Kerry will be present at this meeting due to another commitment so if you are seeking to get the Logbook signed next Monday night you must have paid your 2024 subs and you need to bring proof of payment (screen shot of the bank transaction or similar). We won’t be taking cash next Monday sorry.

Please note also that we won’t be in the normal meeting room; we will be using one of the smaller board rooms so you might need to ring or hunt around.

If you can’t make it on Monday, we will be running a ‘mail in’ service. The process is as follows:

Take a copy of you logbook (photocopy) and use this to sign any drives you might undertake whilst you log book is ‘in the mail’. All travel must be recorded into the log book on its return. This process will only cover up up to 31 Dec 2023.

Send your logbook, plus a copy of your registration AND proof of 2024 membership payment, as well as a stamped, self addressed envelope for its return (the Club is not paying for your logbook to be mailed back … sorry!). Don will be clearing the mailbox regularly leading up to Christmas and will sign and return your logbook if everything is there. This way you should have it before New Years Day

If you need a new log book, please also include $5 (per new logbook required). This will take a little more time as Gordon processes all the new logbooks so we will need to get your mail across to him; however, if you act quickly to get it into the mail, you should still get your new book before New Year.

Please remember, even if we have signed your current or new book and its ‘in the mail’ on return, if you have not received it before 1 Jan 24 you can’t drive until you have it.

The postal address for the Club is Post Office Box 21, Fullarton, SA, 5063.

Please keep in mind that we are a volunteer club and we are trying to help you get your logbooks re-signed as quickly as we can so please bear with us if it takes a few more days to get your book back to you!

Just a reminder that this Monday is the final meeting of the year. Those who can make it along, we will be holding the traditional Christmas BBQ. Details of what you need to bring can be found >here<.

The evening starts at 1800 with the meeting at 2000

A quick note about the Club Magazine. I won’t be putting out a Burble this month, rather we are attempting to relaunch the Club magazine, Sprouting Forth, with what I hope can become an annual ‘Christmas’ edition (and the Burble for all the other months of the year!). With a lot of help from contributors its nearly done but I’m hoping that some of you might have some photos from years gone by that you might be able to help me with?

I’m particularly looking for photos from around 1973, 1983, 93 and 2003 – not heaps, maybe 1 or 2interesting or funny images from years gone by, with or without a few words to explain the picture or who/what it is. I’m borrowing from Sprouting Forth from years gone by with a couple articles and it would great to add to the history with a few photos from around that time. Hopefully I’ll end up with a dozen or so in total to choose from!

They don’t have to be professional scans or crisp images – in fact some ‘patina’ to the photos and some less than perfect smart phone scans can sometimes only add to the image!

If you can help out I’d be very appreciative and I’ll (try to) credit all of the suppliers of the photos! Best to send them to admin@spriteclub.com.au or spriteclubsa@gmail.com. My number is 0431 247 746 if you’d like to talk about it first!

Apologies. The Webmaster should be sacked and thanks Mr Secretary for reminding me I haven’t posted the minutes! Please see attached below.

The weather looks favourable for a pleasant summer’s evening to enjoy the Christmas Festivities with a BBQ in the Fullarton Community Centre park and the meeting to follow – hopefully I haven’t jinked the weather!

Start at 1800 (that’s 6pm for some!), followed by the final General Meeting of the year at 2000.

The Club will provide the BBQ (Miles has tested it!), meat, salads and bread. Everything else is BYO – drink, chairs, plates, cutlery, glasses etc.

Elaine and Carole have the salads under control but we’d love some help on the night to cook the meat!

This is the last official social event for the year so we’d love to see new faces and old! If its a nice evening you might even want to bring you car out!

Hope to see you all there!

(if the technology doesn’t defeat us, Grant hopes to put on some in-car ‘home movies’ from the 2023 Legend of the Lakes!)

A quick note to say the 2024 membership fee structure and the updated forms are now available under the Membership tab or follow this link

A friendly reminder for all of you with cars on Conditional Registration. If you have not renewed your membership by 1 Jan 24 you can’t drive your pride and joy out for New Years Day breakfast. You must have your subs paid and your log book stamped by either Don or Gordon BEFORE you go out on the road, not after! Both Don and Gordon will be available for log book signing at the Christmas meeting.

If necessary, we will consider a one-off log book morning/night but we’d prefer not to do this!

A short note to say thank you to the members who were able to attend the AGM last night and for 2024 Sprite Club of South Australia committee members. Your 2024 committee is:

President – Robin Dunk

Secretary – Peter Stanley

Treasurer – Kerry (we ended the year in the green!) Fisher

Club Registras – Gordon Boyce and Don Cardone

Federation Representative – Don Cardone

Motor Sport Secretary – Pat Miller

Librarian – Miles Jackson

Regalia Officer – Daryl Otterwill

Clubbies SA Rep – Sean Power

Webguru and News Editor – Robin Dunk

After a number of years on the Committee, including a period as the President and most recently at least six years as the Social Secretary/Coordinator, Michael McLaren has elected to step down from Club Committee duties. The Club is hugely indebted to Michael for his contributions and as the President I would like to thank him on behalf of all Members, past and present.

This; however, leaves us with a vacant position on the Committee for a Social coordinator and I’d like to call on all members to consider if they can spare the time to fill this role to assist the Committee to organise not only the Annual Dinner but organise or contribute to the various runs and social gatherings throughout the year that makes the Sprite Club the warm and all-inclusive club that it is. If you feel you can assist, please contact me directly to discuss. Rest assured, Michael and the whole Committee will ensure you are fully supported as you learn your way in. Please, don’t rely on me to organise the Annual Dinner as if you do we will all be a the front bar of the Goodwood Hotel for a counter meal on Trivia Night.

Just a quick reminder that Display Day is on from 0900(ish) at Wigley Reserve.

Whilst we’d prefer everyone could stay for the whole day we know that weekends are precious and we all need to juggle various commitments so if you need to leave early its not going to be a problem, just let one of us know and we will make sure you have a safe path out to the road.

Likewise, we also know there are a few competing events on tomorrow, not least Cars and Coffee at the Sporting Car Club and also Cars and Culture at Morphettville, so feel free to come down afterwards. It ok to be late – we’d just love to see you and your car if you can make it!

Remember, Associate Cars, Clubbies and invited Clubs are most welcome!

Oh, and if your car is like mine and suddenly dripping more oil than the Exxon Valdez, please bring a strip of cardboard or rags to pop under your car. The Holdfast Bay Council takes a dim view to having Wigley Reserve covered in oil!

See you there!

For all the latest news and events look no further!

Be sure to follow the link to the first of hopefully a series of historical articles from past issues of Sprouting Forth!

I look forward to seeing you at Display Day or an event in the near future!

From the archives comes the first of Reinhard Walker’s digitally recreated articles from old articles of Sprouting Forth. With the aid of digital scanning, Reinhard has been able to combine the old articles with the images he and others took at the time to really bring these fabulous memories to life.

The intent is to create a digital archive within the Members area so watch out for a new folder link in the menus in the coming days.

To attempt to control the file sizes on the web, Reinhard is experimenting with a new format called Story Maps. Rather than posting the full article here, you will find a link below that will take you to the article. It will take you away from the Sprite Club website and into the Story Maps environment.

Enjoy – this looks like it was an absolute blast of a road trip!

>Flogga ’73<

Minutes from the General Meeting held 9th of October 2023

Despite the best efforts of the spam filters from the web-hosting company, WordPress and my own cyber security, the Sprite Club emails and website, like many sites these days, continues to get spammed and suffers attempts to hack in. Goodness knows what these hackers think they are going to find in our pages!

Cyber activity has significantly escalated in the past 12 months with the number of attempts to hack into businesses (and Clubs) more than doubling. For example, I cleared out the email spam filter at 0730 this morning and by morning tea there were half a dozen emails offering everything from website upgrades, cheap Chinese machining tools and the usual assortment of, err, medications. I’m sure you get the picture. In amongst that were unfortunately genuine emails from new members or other clubs and individuals reaching out to us so you can understand if sometimes we miss a letter or a notice to the Club.

There have also been attempts to send Committee members and general club members spam emails that appear to come from either my personal email or one of the Club emails. If it doesn’t make sense, then likely it isn’t real. If in doubt, look at the senders email address. Hackers/spammers cloak their real addresses with a fake one to make it appear real but if you look carefully you’ll see the underlying email address that isn’t one of ours. Unless you are absolutely sure of who its from, just don’t click the links in the body or the title of the email. Check the website or contact me.

As a result of the attempt to use my personal email to contact other members, I’ve changed the web settings and I’ll try to only use the ‘admin@spriteclub.com.au’ email address and will pass the details to the ‘assistant webmasters’ (Darryl and Gordon) who also need to log in or upload an article. I realise a change to the sending email will be frustrating for some as I know some of you have only just managed to de-spam the Club from your system. As always, if you are not getting emails (but are reading this online or on the BookFace site) please reach out to me on 0431 247 746 or admin@spriteclub.com.au. Don’t be shy about asking for help! Just ask!

I realise this is frustrating as, in this modern world, the emails and the website are our main, often only, forms of communications so we need to keep on top of it!

In the meantime, please keep an eye on the website for upcoming events! Hope to see you all at the Display Day in a few weeks!

Robin,

President/Webmaster, Sprite Club of South Australia

If anyone can assist with Flag Marshall duties at Mallala for the final round of 2023 on the 29th of October, please let Pat Miller know.

We are not officially on duty (that was the cancelled meet at the Bend); however, MSCA is short on flaggies and they have reached out to the Sprite Club and others from the previous meeting to see if we can help.

If you can help out please contact Pat (nanmiller@adam.com.au, 0421 289 706) or contact the MSCA Secretary directly (sec@msca.com).

For sale:

Rims. Set of Minator 13 x 5” rims, no centre caps or nuts. $600

Tyres. Set of 4 Yokohama A050 Advans. 175/60 R13 used on track once $400

Contact Chris Brine at chris.brine@gmail.com or 0419 802 163

Nice to see the recent Sprite Club events that have been well attended by the AHOC were reported in their magazine 🙂

Healey Howl

Please find below some more info on the national challenge for next year as well as the Entry Form here

WHERE – GOULBURN, NSW – 180km Sth of Sydney

WHEN – Easter – PM Thursday 24^th March to

AM Monday 28^th March 2016

WHAT’S ON –

Thursday 24^th March – Welcome BBQ Dinner

Friday 25^th March – Scenic Coastal Coach Trip

OR

Track Day at Marulan Driver Training Centre – Sprints, timed laps etc.

Evening Dinner at Goulburn Soldiers Club – fun, frivolity, tappet cover races etc.

Saturday 26^th March            

Concourse

Evening Dinner at Goulburn Soldiers Club – slide show, etc.

Sunday 27^th March    

Observation Drive – see the sights, guess the answers etc.

Presentation Dinner at Goulburn Soldiers Club – Fancy Dress – more fun and shenanigans.

Monday 28^th March – Farewell Breakfast

COST – ALL INCLUSIVE

         SOCIAL – $650 per person – Accommodation – Thurs Night 24/3 to Mon AM 28/3 (4 nights), Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners and ALL organised social activities.

         COMPETITOR – $750 per person – Includes Track Day at Marulan Driver Training Centre

(NOT Scenic Coastal coach trip)

BOOKINGS – Early Bird – CASH UP FRONT by 15^th Dec 2015 to receive a $50 DISCOUNT

         OR          Lay-by – 15^th Dec    $200 per person

15^th Jan    $200 per person

15^th Feb    $200 per person

15^th Mar    $50 Social OR

$150 Competitor

Banking Details –   Commonwealth Bank – Sprite Car Club of Australia

BSB: 062 452 A/c: 10228025

MUST Include Reference: 1st Initial / Surname NAT16   eg. G Holden NAT16

More info?

Greg Holden 0418 286 831 (president@spriteclub.com)

Graham Wells 02 9654 1344 (secretary@spriteclub.com) – BOOKINGS

LOOK OUT FOR FURTHER UPDATES

From Clive Spreadbury…

The run started badly for me on the Saturday afternoon.

Having just fitted and adjusted the new front grill & surrounds to my Mk2A, I then commenced a full clean, polish, minor service, wheel & tyre black.  I then headed off to the local service station to fill up with 98. Bang, a loud noise from the rhs rear somewhere. Initial investigation revealed nothing, then decided to return to the workshop to check it out.

Formal investigation revealed that the rear bracket holding the shock absorber to the diff housing had broken the weld and the shocker was just dangling down. Run in the Sprite reluctantly
aborted. No time to fix, have to take the Fairlane.

Arrived at the Victoria Park circuit via the Northern entrance, and enjoyed the thrill of driving into the Pit entrance & down Pit straight to where the other Sprites had accumulated.

Around 10 Sprites, an MGBGT, an MX5, an Alfa Sports, a Clubman and a Fairlane had made the trip. A good turn out of enthusiasts.

Gordon Boyce began by giving us an informative talk about the History of the event, both the Political problems in staging the event, and the costs & benefits to Adelaide. We learnt of the 2 rain effected race days in 1989 & 1991, and that Adelaide held the shortest Grand Prix in history due to the rain in 1991, and how as soon as the race had been cancelled the rain cleared up. We also learnt how hot the first event in 1985 was, and that the 1995 event was the biggest of any GP anywhere in history.

Gordon then explained the route to us and we all took off, beginning with a drive around as much of the old circuit that was still available to drive on.

Heading up Wakefield street, we drove past the old Wakefield corner and turned into Hutt street, heading down to Stag Corner apposite the Stag Hotel. Gordon had previously explained to us that the paint was still on the kerbing left from the old Grand Prix days. This part of the circuit was not used in the Clipsal 500 circuit, and had not been used since the Adelaide LeMans Race 0n 31/12/2000.

Continuing down Bartels Road, we turned right onto Dequetteville Tce, and marvelled at the fact that the F1 cars were doing 300kph down Dequetteville Tce, heading down to the Fosters Hairpin, at the Wakefield st corner.

Gary Beaton decided to carry straight on and head towards Belair. Maybe his brakes had failed. I myself like a sheep had followed him, the 2 of us only to get some practice in U turning on Fullarton rd.

We caught up the pack, heading down Wakefield st and turning left up Hutt street. We then headed up Glen Osmond rd along the Route previously taken by the Climb to the Eagle participants.

I so well remember working on Glen Osmond road and coming out every year to watch & cheer the participants as they made their way to the Eagle.

Arriving at Devil’s Elbow, I could not resist and gave the Fairlane a squirt around the corner, catching up to the pack. The Sprites were motoring pretty quickly up the hill at this stage which was most enjoyable. Passing the Old Eagle on the Hill Hotel, which is now a private residence, we stopped at the Park just beyond the old Hotel.

Gordon then gave us an interesting talk on the History of the Climb to the Eagle, and Don Cardone explained that he had raced and stayed in front of Sir Jack Brabham in the 1995 Dutton Grand Prix Rally which was the final event.

Driving further we turned off the freeway and headed on the Piccadilly rd. I then turned away from the pack and headed along the back road to Uraidla to show my passenger the ES&A bank agency that I used to run as a young teller back in 1970.

To my surprise, Gary B arrived down the road at Uraidla, and we again headed off to catch the pack up to head towards Lobethal.

Arriving at Lobethal, we than commenced a full circuit drive of the original 1939 Grand Prix Circuit, which was 14 kilometres in length. The lap was long with 2 very sharp hairpin curves. Gordon later explained that the original 400 kilometre 1939 race was completed in just over 2 hours, the winner’s average speed being a staggering 80 mph average speed in an MG TA sports coupe.

We then carried on through Lobethal and stopped at the Bushman Park for some lunch.

The spot was very pleasant with a lake, barbeque spots and toilets on hand.

Following the stop for lunch, Gordon explained to us the history of the 1939 event.

Barb thanked Gordon for the time and effort spent in organising and researching the day, as many of us have very fond memories of the 11 years that Adelaide hosted the Grand Prix.

We than headed off to Balhannah for afternoon tea, ourselves getting stuck behind a stray dog at Mt Torrens. We headed off to catch the pack up, but then drove straight past the turnoff and arrived back in Lobethal. Unable to find the pack we headed back to Cudlee creek for a coffee.

An enjoyable day & run was had by all.

Thanks to Gordon Boyce for all his efforts.

Do not forget the Grand Prix Remembrance Day Run this Sunday.

10.00am for a 10.30am departure from the Senna Chicane, Wakefield Road.

Please remember to bring a Picnic Lunch, chairs and/or a picnic rug. Lunch can be bought at Lobethal if required. (eg Lobethal Bakery, Cafes, etc)

We will stop for coffee on the return drive home.

Also to add to the theme of the run, Please wear any Grand Prix Merchandise, shirts, hats, etc.

See you at the track on Sunday……………..

Please see below the flyer from the NSW Sprite Club more details to come at the next club meeting…

Sprite and Midget Nationals 

Our club is running the next NATIONAL MEETING for Sprites and Midgets.

WHERE? GOULBURN, NSW

WHEN? EASTER 2016

What happens at a National Meeting?

Sprites and Midgets from all over Australia get together, their owners get to meet lots of fellow owners

The National Meeting has a display / concourse, social events, a track day for those so inclined.

Motels have been booked, meals and social events organised.

The emphasis is about having a good time, making lots of new friends and catching up with those you have already met from previous events.

You can be a social butterfly or get into the competition side.

Proposed Itinerary

Thursday 24^th March – Welcome BBQ

Friday 25^th March

Track Day at Marulan Driver Training Centre

Social activities (bus trip)

Evening Dinner (fun, frivolity, tappet cover races)

Saturday 26^th March            

Concourse, motorkhana (new location)

Evening Dinner (slide show, fancy dress)

Sunday 27^th March    

Observation Run (see the sights)

Presentation Dinner (more fun and frivolity)

Sunday 28^th March

Farewell Breakfast

COST? TBA

All inclusive of accommodation, food and social activites. Cost is dependent on social / competition choices.

Do you want more information?

Contact:

Greg Holden 0418 286 831 (president@spriteclub.com)

Graham Wells 02 9654 1344 (secretary@spriteclub.com)

This is pretty good if you haven’t seen this snippet from Top Gear

Can anyone recommend someone to rebuild my 1275 Midget engine?

It is with great sadness that we must advise members of the sudden and tragic loss of one of our long term members, Ros Brittain, who passed away on Friday 12 June 2015 in Daw Park Hospice after a short battle with illness.

Ros was an active member of the Club, and was a regular attendee at many club events, always in company with her partner Peter Dineen, who is also one of the club’s longest serving members.

Her enthusiasm for the club and it’s activities was infectious, and her presence will be very sadly missed by all members.

On behalf of all members of the Sprite Club of South Australia, I convey our deepest sympathies to Ros’ family, and in particular offer our sympathy and support to Peter Dineen, in this his sad hour of loss.

Attention of members is drawn to the funeral for Ros, which is to be held in the Church of Christ, Porter Street Goolwa, on Friday 19 June 2015 at 11.00am.

With deepest sympathy

The Members of the Sprite Club of South Australia

Please find below some info on next year’s Sprite National Challenge

A question was asked at the last general meeting about the website and the number of hits each day – please see below a brief summary.

A brisk start – but fine and mild day greeted the participants in the McLaren Vale Vintage and Classic.  Yet another well organised event and luckily the paddock wasn’t sodden at Serafino’s Winery for the start!

A great collection of over 500 cars but the standout for me were the beautifully restored ’31 Packard next to the ‘original’ early small window VW and of course the Hippo on the Landy! And you couldn’t miss the hot pink Eureka!

The participating Sprite Club members, John and Briony Whitburn, Chris and Tina Brine, Luther Nunnerly, Dean King, David Dineen, Ray and Jenny Kinlay and Kym Ninnes enjoyed fine lunch and a few very tasty vino’s at Woodstock Winery with the large MG club crowd.

Date:            Friday 20^th March, 2014

Time:           7 for 7.30pm

Location:     SIMAX Engineering, 49 George Street, Parkside

Audience:    ClubbiesSA members & friends, Sprite Club members

Come and help us celebrate the opening of the Old Farts Garage. This is the enterprise set up by Simon Taylor and Alan Austin based at Simax Engineering, to deliver bespoke engineering solutions for classic and race cars. Bits and pieces from a Bugatti to a Sprite, a Jaguar, a clubbie or an RCR can be repaired or re-made. Come and see what they can offer you.

On the night, we will revisit the development of the twin cam heads for the Model T, plus Simon’s latest acquisition, the RCR. Alan will talk about living with a Riley & other English machines. Together they will recount their work on Escorts & the BDA & BDG engines. There will be a range of great cars on display.

To help the night go well (thanks to Paul Doube & Gordon Boyce), I have arranged Tony Walker, the winemaker from Minnow Creek to be there for a wine tasting of his latest products, plus have bottles available for sale. This will be supported by products from the Cheese and Bread section of Regency Campus. Tea & coffee available on night. Bring your Clubbie or Sprite. Limited parking next door, on footpath & on road.

Don’t miss this night. It will be fascinating. I need to know numbers so email me if you can come.

Sean Power
sean@adelaide.on.net

Just another reminder to come an join us for the meeting at the Sporting Car Club of SA 51 King William Road Unley – at 7pm for 7.30.  The club (Sponsorship from Michael McLaren – Bentleys Accounting) is providing a light meal (pizza, pies, nibbles etc) and a drink from the bar on arrival.

For the meeting regulars – something different and for those of you who haven’t been for a while and incentive to attend.

Spridgets and Clubbies on stage, a Q&A session and a report on last year’s Goodwood Revival that some of the club members who attended the event.

Please support this event it has taken a bit of organising and sponsorship!!

We will be holding the March General meeting (Monday 2 March) at the Sporting Car Club of SA, 51 King William Road, Unley, at 7pm for 7.30pm start.

This one off event will allow us to do a few things out of the ordinary, in particular showcase several members cars on stage, of course several sprigets, but also a clubby for all our clubman owing members.

Also there will be a couple of presentations on recent events attended by our members, the Goodwood Revival and also the Lap of Tassie event organised by Tony Bennetto of the Bugeye Barn.

There will be a complimentary drink on arrival, full bar facilities will also be available.  We’ll even spring for a few nibbles – pizzas and some party pies and pasties!!

Please make an effort to attend – Bentleys Accounting (AKA – Michael McLaren) has put considerable effort and sponsorship to make this happen!

Hi We’ve lost the list of those people who needed new name badges – if you need a new one please email admin@spriteclub.com.au and we’ll get them organised!

Hi just a reminder about the Australia Day activities – Fay and Gary want to host the Australia Day BBQ and throng throwing comp. Starts at 11.00 am. Bring your own meat for BBQ drinks and chair and a salad or dessert to share. Check the Events Calendar for full details.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year from the Sprite Club of SA.

Also a heads up on the epic day of the thong – Fay and Gary want to host the Australia Day BBQ and throng throwing comp. Starts at 11.00 am. Bring your own meat for BBQ drinks and chair and a salad or dessert to share. More updates to come in the new year!

Here is a small video snippet from the recent “Lap of Tassie”  that several members of the SCSA participated in…

Hi All

It’s that time of year again – Annual General Meeting to be held at the Fullarton Park Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton 7.30pm for meeting start at 8pm

Please consider where you can not only attend this important meeting but also what you may be able to offer the club in terms of a position on the committee!

Also can ALL trophies please be returned to the club to enable awards to be presented at the December meeting – and don’t forget the Xmas Party on the 6 December details to follow – Thanks!

Hi All

Here is an interesting article found by Gordon, please follow the link below

http://www.midgetregister.com/forums/technical/front-wheel-bearings/#2102

Hi All

It’s that time of year again – Annual General Meeting to be held at the Fullarton Park Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton 7.30pm for meeting start at 8pm

Please consider where you can not only attend this important meeting but also what you may be able to offer the club in terms of a position on the committee!

Also can ALL trophies please be returned to the club to enable awards to be presented at the Xmas function – Thanks!

If Kate Moss has time to get her midget out so can you!!

From Barb Ridge

SPRITE LUNCHEON PDF

Carvery at the Feathers Hotel

When: Sunday 14th September, 2014 at 12.30 p.m.

Cost: $34.00 per head

Where: Alfresco Room Feathers Hotel, 516 Glynburn Road, Burnside

You are invited to attend our Club luncheon with your fellow members, a carvery lunch, which includes soup, entrée, main course, dessert, tea and coffee.

Drinks can be purchased from the bar at your own cost.

Any enquiries to Barb your Social Conveynor, on 83879983

RSVP: NO later that 7th September

Payment must be IN FULL to Mary our Treasurer.

We ask that if you do pay by direct bank transfer, that you email the Club to inform us of your payment, your name and for how many people.

Bank Details: The Sprite Club of SA Inc.

BSB No: 085-005 Account No: 207432628

OR

Cheque/Money Order with your name/names to be sent to:

The Sprite Club of SA Inc P.O. Box 21 Fullarton S.A. 5063

If you have any special food requirements, please let Barb know on her home phone number, or you may ring the Feathers Hotel direct on 83326133

REMEMBER CUT OFF DATE IS 7TH SEPTEMBER

 NUMBERS ARE LIMITED

Six cars met at Haywood Park at 10.00 for 10.30am start. Gordon and Narelle Boyce set a new improved Don Doug Run. Over the year this event has caused driver/navigator tension, but this time peace reigned.

Run sheets handed out and a small clue of what was about to set the tone for the day. How many railways lines do we cross. How many different yellow animal advisory signs can we find. This should be easy we think.! But there is always a twist.

Those who braved the morning showers were,

The Organisers of the run Gordon & Narelle Boyce and their two children Kieran and Tiarna.
David & Di Low, our Sprite is engineless at the moment so we took our MX5.
Gary and Molly Beaton in their tin top, Gary’s car is also off the road.
Don & Elaine Cardone in their Alfa, Sprite ?,
Clive Spreadbury & Cheryl Pitt in their tin top, Sprite ?
Chris & Tina Brine in their Bugeye, a bit of rain didn’t deter these avid sprite drivers.
Apologies from Ken & Mary Dutch and Gary & Fay Brock, both on the sick list.

After a great drive we had lunch at the Oakbank Hotel, Gordon and Narelle had prepared a short Quiz and after much discussion and using our run sheets for clues, the winners were Chris & Tina , the rest of us also won a small prize. A excellent idea to revive one of the oldest annual runs of the Sprite Club.

So where were the rest of you, good food, good company and great roads. Gordon and Narelle took extraordinary trouble with two small children to put a great Sunday run together and it must be disheartening to have so few attend.

I know we all have busy lives but being a member of the Sprite Club isn’t just about attending the monthly meeting or joining to get historic registration, or as a stepping stone to motor sport. We have a number of members who motor race under the Sprite Club banner , Patrick Kukla has a small band of followers on a Sunday morning breakfast and run through the hills, but where are the 90+ members who we never see.

John Whitburn organised a fantastic shed visit about three weeks ago, So who went to this event, something different and by all accounts from those members who went, a experience not to be missed. I would have thought there would have been at least 25 or more may have gone.

We have our Birthday Lunch on the 14th September and it would be wonderful if those members who have been missing in action attend. Details on the website.

So next time perhaps you might consider getting the car out and joining a social event . It is like who can first the chicken or the egg. Its is hard to get members to organise a social event or weekend away. If you do take the time to organise a social event and it is poorly attended you won’t put up your hand again.

I suppose the bottom line is, has the Sprite Club of SA lost it’s relevance in today’s society, I hope not, over the year we have had some wonderful car experiences, lots of laughter and a few tears along the way, made some long term friends and the Sprite has been always been there.

At Easter our little red Bugeye has been in David’s garage for 30 years and it has had some amazing adventures. While we were in Queensland at the challenge we met two interstate members that have had their Sprites for 50+ years. Imagine what stories those little cars could tell.,
What I am saying is this is your club, you vote with your attendance at events. It is up to you.

Dianne Low
Life Member of the Sprite Club of SA

Hi Sprities

Don’t forget to get out for Gordon’s run tomorrow!

Hope you have marked your calendars for the “revised” DonDoug Pub Run.

Previously this run has been a cryptic navigation and observation run that has left many drivers, navigators and marriages in tatters!

The new format will be an enjoyable group run through the Adelaide Hill, finding nice Sprite roads, picturesque scenery, and “observing” important points of interest during the run.

We will finish at a country hills hotel for a warming Sunday Lunch.

Here questions will be asked of what you noticed and remembered from the run, to test your observation skills.

This will be a fun run, not a test of your ability to count fence posts, letter boxes or decipher where you ought to be.

Meeting Point:

Sunday 10th August 2014

10.00am for a 10.30am departure

Heyward Park (Southern end of King William Road)

Enter of Grove Street, Unley Park – Car Park, toilets and Play ground

Hi All

You should have all received a password reset email from me – please follow the link at the bottom of the email to change your password to one you can remember – hopefully this will solve the spam problems

cheers Chris