2012
Spencer Martin visit to Melbourne
Winner - 1966 & 1967 Australian
Gold Star
5-12
March
Spener
Martin was invited by Historic Racing Australia in
early 2012 to come to Melbourne and launch the Hilton Melbourne South
Wharf exhibition, as well as staying on for the Phillip Island Classic.
We kept Spencer very busy during his week-long stay.
Brett
Ramsey of the television show In Pit Lane accepted our invitation
to conduct the interview at the Hilton on Monday 5 March, at which
occasion Spencer was also re-united with two of his old cars; the
Elfin 400 & 350 Monaro.
On
Friday we arrived at Phillip Island in the afternoon where it was
a chance to catch up with many friends from the past.
The
Formula Junior Association held a party that evening, of which we
were gate-crashers as it was held at the house we borrow annually.
It was here that we started to delve into the 73 year-olds mind and
re-live some of his famous stories, including the two Gold Stars &
the Ferrari 250LM.
After
an interview on the PA at the track by Cheif Commentator, Ron Simmonds,
Bill Hemming, without hesitation, agreed for Spencer to drive his
Elfin MR8-AC Formula 5000 in Sunday afternoon's demonstration laps.
It
was the second time in his life driving an F5000, the first some 40
years ago!, but he quickly familiarised himself with the car &
put on a good show for the crowd.
Sunday
afternoon at the PI Classic ended with an interview with Brian 'Brique'
Reed. This interview will be recorded on to print shortly & uploaded
to this site in the near future.
On
driving back to Melbourne to pick up a new purchase (the ride back
to Sydney) on Monday, we made a visit to Bill Hemming's Elfin Heritage
Centre for coffee. Spencer signed the visitor book for ex. Elfin drivers'
& signed a photograph of him in the 400 beating Alan Hamilton's
Porsche 906 in period & signed both sides of the 400 - next to
the then present signature of Bob Jane.
Below
is a series of photos capturing the above moments.
Above:
Spencer
re-uniting himself with the Brabham BT11A 2.5 Lt Climax that took
him to two 'Gold Star 'awards in 1966 & 1967.
Above:
Spencer
ready to go in Bill Hemming's Elfin MR8-AC F5000, which Historic Racing
Australia's Charles Rogers kneeling beside.
Above:
Spencer
(right)is interviewed for the circuit PA at Phillip Island by Ron
Simmonds (left).
Above:
At
the Elfin Heritage Centre on 12 March, Bill Hemming had Spencer sign
the Elfin 400 (blurred - last second pic), and below: the
finished product.
Above:
Spencer
took time out at Norm Falkner's garage with Norm (right) and Jim Hardman
(middle) to preview the restoration of Norm's Elfin Mono (yes they
are the wrong size tyres - correct ones on their way).
Above:
A
shot of the Lotus engine in the back of the Elfin Mono.
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