Photo galleries

The Sprite Club of SA and The Austin Healey Owners Club held a combined display day at Wigley Reserve, Glenelg. It was open to all Austin Healey's and Sprites to join in the celebrations and display their vehicles. There was a People's Choice Award for three categories, Sprites, Big Healey's and Others, voted on by the general public. Our Tony Cappellutti took out the Big Healey award for his BJ8. Don Cardone won the Sprite Award with his Bugeye Sprite. Our John Cronshaw was there with his magnificent stall of motoring books creating interest among the crowd. We had 15 Healey's on display during the day. It was great to see one of our newer members Dan Farmer there with his white BJ8. Hard luck story of the day was the BJ7 of Trotters who had brake issues before they left home. Ian Hay had a busy week repairing a leaking oil seal on the rear end so he could make the day. Graham Hammond brought all our signs and marquees to the event, leaving his Healey at home. A very successful day with the weather and the turnout of so many vehicles, many thanks go to The Sprite Club for their organisation in the lead up to and on the day. All participants had a great day, and the general consensus was to continue with combined display days. Hopefully we will see a few more Healey's next year at this event.

For the first event of the club this year our Geoff Bennett organised a great Vice Presidents Dinner on Tuesday 14th January 2025 at the Cremone Hotel, Unley Road, Unley. The room we had was a shared room with the public which didn't give the President Jock Osborne an opportunity to report on previous and future events. Nevertheless, members in attendance enjoyed a very relaxed evening with many stories of exploits they had over the Christmas, New Year period. The meal was a al carte providing options for all preferences and tastes. Next General Meeting is on the Tuesday 4th February 2025. All British Day is Sunday 2nd March 2025 which is only 5 weeks away.

Our Healey Christmas Party was held in the Reg Sparks Room at The Sporting Car Club of SA on Sunday 8th December 2024. The luncheon food was catered by Let's Eat Catering with pork, turkey and ham plus assorted salads. Dessert was assorted icecream's and a decorated Christmas cake. Hindson's, Hammond's, Watson's, Read's and Jock Osborne all volunteered their services on the day to decorate, lay tables, serve and clean up. Events like these only work if our member's volunteer, making the day run smoothly. I was a great day with 54 members attending, unfortunately Nola Boord and Julie Osborne were unwell on the day and missed an enjoyable afternoon catching up and reminiscing about family and what this Christmas holds, and past events. John Cronshaw, Guy Schubert and Rick Beviss took the opportunity with the fantastic weather to bring out their Healey's. Some members were lucky enough to be sitting in the selected chairs and won some chocolate prizes. Our President, Jock Osborne gave a recap of previous events including the Combined Display Day with The Sprite Club in November and upcoming events such as The Vice Presidents Dinner in January 2025. We thank members for their support with our events and hope to see some more members at the next Christmas Party Sunday 14th December 2025.

This year is the 41st All British Day and is a joint effort between registered Car and Motorbike Clubs in South Australia to bring together and display vehicles that are predominantly British Design or manufacture in a picnic day atmosphere. It is located at Echunga in the Adelaide hills on the two ovals. This year's feature theme was 1950, when many manufacturers offered buyers fresh new models and designs, discarding old-fashioned prewar designs with minimal improvements. Sunday 2nd March 2025, we had 15 Healey's on display from the 22 registered, with some members unwell or interstate at The National Rally in Victoria. Unfortunately, Chris Cornall had hoped to have completed his restoration of his 3000 Mk 3 but needed about 3 more weeks to complete which was a shame. Tom Roesler is still progressing on his gearbox rebuild, and we hope to see it back on the road soon. On a positive note, it was great to catch up with our new member James (Jim) Cuthill who had his 3000 Mk 3 on display. Many thanks to Jock Osbourne for bring both his Healey's 100 BN1 and 3000 Mk 3, and Ian Hay who also brought his two Healey's 100BN1 and 3000 Mk 3 on the day. The Hammond's once again organised the delivery and collection of the clubs Marques for the day providing a central spot for our members to congregate plus providing valuable shade. We had the clubs new Flags in display and many thanks go to Ralph Boord for modifying the bases for the event. Ian Hay and Steve Fielder volunteer as marshals which assisted greatly on the day. Our John Cronshaw had his large display of automotive books for sale to the general public, meaning we don't get to see his Healey on display.

Rod & Helen Bishop organised the Dinner meeting at The Elephant & Castle on West Terrace, Adelaide. Dinner meetings provide a less formal platform for general discussion and social interaction between members and partners. There were 27 members and family in attendance, which is down on our usual numbers as some of our members were ill and others interstate attending the National Rally in Victoria. Food was Al A carte and suited most tastes, those who had the steaks commented on how tender their meals were. Our President Jock Osborne gave a brief speech thanking Rod & Helen for organising the dinner and advised the Run to Mannum organised by Kent Farminer which was cancelled due to low numbers will be rescheduled soon. The Run to the Limestone Coast, 28th April to 3rd May 2025 now has two spaces available due to a cancellation if any members would like to take up the offer, if so, please contact Gayle & Graham Hammond. Members spent the evening engaged with in-depth discussions about current and social events and sharing relevant information on club matters.

2024 Annual Dinner & Awards Night This year’s Annual Dinner was held at the Parkside Hotel on the 6 th of August a chance to celebrate some the year’s events. The Shannons Trophy for best car at the All British Day was won by new member Tony Cappelluti for his Blue & White BJ8 recently restored as a passion project at his Naracoorte Cappa body works congratulations Tony. Jock Osborn presented the trophy and announced a new trophy to be awarded from next year to combine the two previous trophy’s into one, members will be asked to nominate people who have contributed to the club by organizing runs, dinners, events or any worthy effort.

Marion Hotel Dinner 7th May This month’s dinner was in the Terrace room at the Marion Hotel. We were lucky to get a separate room for this month’s dinner as it is becoming increasingly difficult to book a room these days without having to pay a significant deposit thanks again to the Hammonds for their work securing another great venue.

Hyde Park Hotel Dinner The clubs bimonthly dinner meetings are always well attended as it is a great opportunity to keep our wives involved with the club. The March 6 th meeting at the Hyde park hotel also gave members a chance to rehash the weekends All British Day showing having the upstairs room gave us a private venue with a great group photo to remember the event.

All British Day 2024 This year’s event was the 40 th anniversary of the event which started as a picnic day at St Clair in 1984 moved to Uraidla, then outgrew that venue and since 2013 has been held at Echunga with a breakfast at nearby Mylor which serves as a meeting point for many clubs, around 800 vehicles attended with all profits going to charities. The event also celebrated the 90 th anniversary of the Sporting Car Club where we hold our meetings. This year a dozen members entered the event and it was very pleasing to see some new cars and some that had been in restoration for many years on display.

Coonawarra & Grampians Run 2024 Following the over-whelming success of Grant & Bronte Trotters Flinders Ranges run last year they teamed up with Rod & Helen Bishop to produce an equal or better run by doing it a couple of times before hand to get the timing right (zealots). Wednesday 20 th of March we met at the Crafers Hotel we headed of collecting the Hillier’s Smeaton’s and Hammonds at Wistow first stop was at Langhorn Creek where David Hillier’s bonnet was lifting, that grill in six cylinder bonnets is perfect for tying them down with the binder twine farmer David produced from his boot. With no further problems we had morning tea at Meningie followed by a trouble free run to Penola using some of the lesser highways to avoid the traffic where we were joined by Anton Hardeman a friend of many in the club from Portland in his Cobra. That night we celebrated Bronte Trotter and Peter Schembrie’s birthdays at the local pub. Thursday morning it was off to the Yallum Park homestead a mansion built by John Riddock a prominent local politician for a guided tour by the owner then on to the Ottelia restaurant for lunch a wander through the historic parts of Penola and some of the Smeaton’s wine for the evening. Friday morning it was off to the Grampians via the Mannon Falls minus the water then Dunkeld Bakery for lunch at the turn off David Hillier’s clutch gave out but the local mechanic who was easy on the eye according to the girls had him back on the road after lunch and on to Halls Gap. Saturday was a wander around the area meet for lunch then a tour of the beautiful heritage Seppelts Great Western cellars, dinner at Barney’s bar a converted shearing shed in the center of what only weeks before had been the Grampians bushfires to which the proceeds of Paul Bradley’s raffles were contributed. Next morning, we were off again for a run to the Murtoa stick shed from the outside a big bulk handling shed but on the inside it revealed its amazing construction with 560 Mountain Ash poles up to 80 feet high supporting the roof, built to store surplus grain during WW2. The Woods farming machinery museum was another gem discovered by our organizer’s with a huge collection of all types of machinery and lunch supplied then onto Horsham. Sunday it was off to Goroke to visit the painted silos with lunch and farewells at Keith and a big thank you to the Trotters and Bishops for organizing the run.