Isuzu Car Club of Australia Inc. – 1968 to present
The Isuzu Car Club of Australia started life as the Bellett Car Club of NSW in 1968. Roslyn & Jim Gore are the founders, but they quickly attracted a very social and sporting-minded group of enthusiasts. We are very proud that so many of those founding members, and their families, are still very much involved or at least “good friends of the club”.
Throughout the 70s and early 80s, the club calendar kept the members very busy. The intensity and variety of events in those years is staggering. For a long time, it was common for the monthly calendar to feature two or three sporting events, one or two social events, PLUS a general meeting, committee meeting and editorial meeting. The Bellettin magazine was published most months and at its peak, was issued to over 100 financial members.
The Bellett Car Club of NSW, affiliated with CAMS in 1969, was a strong participant in the club motorsport scene at Oran Park, Amaroo Park, etc. In 1974, the club established the Japanese Series for a championship among the active Japanese car clubs. This was hotly contested each year until 1978. From 1976 until 1988, the Club was one of five that organised the ‘Penta’ Series for an annual championship. There are many life-long friendships and even a couple of marriages among those clubs.
Isuzu, as a manufacturer, has always been a great supporter of the Club. In the early days, the Australian representative would frequently come to general meetings. Significant Club events were featured in the worldwide publication Isuzu Times, leading to contact with Japanese, European and American enthusiasts, some of whom we have welcomed at Australian events. Our members have been welcomed at Isuzu headquarters in Japan and attended events at Mt Fuji racetrack.
Since the establishment of Isuzu Ute Australia, we have again enjoyed ‘factory support’. Dealers are made aware of the great Isuzu car heritage, and some of our cars appear in promotions.
In March 2018, to celebrate our 50th year, a car show and reunion was held at Linnwood House in Guildford, attended by about 100 past and present enthusiasts. The event was covered by Isuzu Ute Australia’s d*max magazine and attended by senior team members from Isuzu Ute Australia who presented the club with a prized Daruma Doll on behalf of Isuzu Japan. It’s an incredible privilege.
Also at this fantastic event, Fletch attended and filmed a segment for Classic Restos TV (episode 37). Still available on YouTube. We had our entire group of life members together for the first time in over 20 years and attracted 41 classic Isuzus – this gathering is surpassed only by the 2016 Nationals at Albury.
As a marque car club, the aim has always been the preservation and enjoyment of all Isuzu vehicles. In the early days, there was room to learn from mistakes both on and off the racetrack. In time, Gemini owners were welcomed, and many eagerly joined the sporting ranks. In 1993, the club changed its name to Isuzu Car Club of Australia.
As the years progressed and the cars (and owners) got a little older, costs and family pressures increased, the club gradually changed from a mainly Sydney, sporting-based club to a club for all classic Isuzu enthusiasts. Affiliation with the CMC means access to suitable events and the special registration scheme. It’s an important part of today’s Club. Email, website and Facebook are also crucial to our continued success.
Our financial members and the wider group of enthusiasts are based all over Australia. The logo for our 50th anniversary was designed by an enthusiast in Darwin, our President is from Mudgee, and other committee members are based in the regions and interstate.
The Club is inclusive of both cars and people. This means we do not award trophies or prizes within the Club, other than our ‘Ratbag’ trophy for conspicuous achievement in ratbagery, tom-foolery, temporary madness and senior moments!” However, the club has won ‘Best Club Display’ three times at the huge Gnoo Blas Classic show and individual owners sometimes take home trophies from public shows. There is a National event each year where trophies are usually awarded.
Mates help mates to keep the old cars on the road, and this motivates everyone to drive long distances to have fun together. Families play a big role among Isuzu enthusiasts, and this is part of the Club’s resilience.
These days, it’s all about getting together for a car show, a drive or better still – both! Wherever we go, people want to talk to us: “I learnt to drive on one of those!” (a Bellett sedan or, increasingly, a Gemini!); “My uncle had one of those” (Bellett GT); “gee, they’re rare” (Florian, 117, Piazza); “Where can I get one?” (Wasp ute, Rodeo). If you own a classic Isuzu, you'd better be ready to talk!
Of course, now we also welcome the ‘modern’ Isuzus too. MUX, DMax. Even some truck owners have found a home with the Isuzu Car Club of Australia.
57 years strong – strong friendships – strong cars!
Julie Amos, Secretary January 2026
Website: www.isuzucarclub.net.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISUZUCARCLUBofAustraliaInc
Email:
.JPG)
Model A Ford Club of New South Wales Inc.
In January 1970, an advertisement appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald inviting those interested in Model A Fords to meet in Centennial Park.
From this initial meeting with 13 people and families, a series of get-togethers were held over the following 9 months.
On 6th November, 1970, the Inaugural Meeting and Dinner of the Model A Ford Club of NSW was held at the High Club, York Street, Sydney. The meeting and dinner were conducted with 24 people in attendance. At this inaugural meeting, the constitution of the club was voted on and adopted.
The club is organised to preserve and celebrate the Model A Ford. It does this by promoting the maintenance of original cars, restoration of cars and the use and driving of vehicles through club activities.
The club holds monthly outings and social events, visiting places of interest and various picnic spots in and around the greater Sydney area and the Newcastle and Central Coast areas.
Technically, the Model A Ford Club of NSW offers advice through long-term Model A enthusiasts. You don't need to have a Model A Ford to become a member, having an interest in this vehicle is more than enough.
There are many benefits in becoming a member of our Club:
The Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of the month, at Holroyd Community Centre, Miller Street, Merrylands. Parking off Newman Street in the Council Car Park.
You can contact us at : https://modelafordclubofnsw.com.au/
or via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/208083612952813
JAGUAR DRIVERS' CLUB HUNTER REGION Inc.
Box 492, Australia Post Wallsend NSW 2287
The JDCHR itself is a vibrant community of Jaguar and Daimler enthusiasts across Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, and the Central Coast of NSW
The original conception of the formation of a Club exclusively for Jaguar and Daimler owners could well be laid at the feet of Kevin Buckley.
His original idea realised fruition after a couple of advertisements in the Newcastle Morning Herald asking for those interested in forming a club to contact him.
Response was such that an informal get-together was organised and those seeking further information were invited to attend the premises of UK Autos at Broadmeadow on 1st June 1983. From this gathering, a committee was selected, and dates for further meetings were arranged. The initial membership was 21.
The founding Committee were:
President: Kevin Buckley
Vice President: Tony Herald
Hon. Secretary: Des Ellis
Hon. Treasurer: Gary Freeman
Club Captain: Ron O’Hearn
Committee: Don Campbell
Harry Rees
It was decided that until the Club was functioning in a smooth manner, the committee would meet every two weeks. A suitable Constitution was drawn up, and a letter was sent to Jaguar Coventry with this document, together with the Club's aims, asking permission to use the name Jaguar in the title of our Club. This permission was duly received.
On the sporting front:
Max Paterson was an enthusiastic member of the JDCHR, being heavily involved with the club in all his years of membership, and it was a sad day when Max died in June 2013.
Max was a keen Concours participant, both showing his Jaguar and judging for the JDCHR and JDCA.
1955 NSW & HVSCC Hill Climb Championships, held at King Edward Park, Newcastle, was one of Max’s first shakedown trials to get to know the XK140, which is still owned and cared for by the family today.
Max took first in the Closed Car Class and broke the class record - the first of many.
In 1956, Max entered the South Pacific Racing Championships held at Gnoo Blas, and impressed with his performances in both Event 2 and winning the final Event 5. He set the lap record for the
event, against some formidable opposition.
Every month, there was an event at Tomago and Ringwood, which also saw our JDCHR member Norm Crowfoot compete in his D Type replica.
Norm also competed at Mt Druitt, Bathurst, King Edward Park and Gnoo Blas with Max.
The JDCHR has a special affinity with Gnoo Blas in Orange because of Max Paterson and Norm Crowfoots sporting deeds, which is why we have attended the reunion events each February for many years.
The 2006 National Rally was held by the JDCHR at Foreshore Park in Newcastle.
Ian Hissey, Max Paterson and Don Anderson at the 2006 Jaguar National Rally Sporting Event won the Perpetual National Sporting Trophy.
Socially:
The 25th May 2013, was the 30th Anniversary Dinner with guest speakers Ron Gaudion telling Le Mans Jaguar and Ecurie Ecosse team tales with JDCHR Club history from Tony Herald.
2023 was the 40th Anniversary Dinner, the guest speaker was Club No1 Badge holder Tony Herald, and it was celebrated during the evening on a Newcastle Harbour cruise after a club display day on the Foreshore Park. The HUB magazine, which is published in-house 11 times a year, records club history, events, and member stories.
The JDCHR has a sound financial base, catering to 176 members with an ever-growing membership base.
Activities:
Monthly meetings (held at Wallsend Diggers Club).
Regular Saturday breakfast runs and mid-week morning tea/lunch drives are conducted around Newcastle, the Hunter Valley as well as the north and central coast.
Longer weekend trips and participation in regional motoring events in Moree, Mudgee and Gnoo Blas at Orange have seen the club receive many treasured awards for both members and the club.
The JDCHR has also participated in National Rallies held at many points around Australia.
Each Year, there are awards presented to outstanding members within the club, covering both male and female participants, for club champion of the year as well as clubwoman and clubman of the year.
Why This Matters
The JDCHR is not just about cars—it’s about community, legacy, and storytelling.
Senior members and younger members embody the spirit of the club: celebrating Jaguars through rallies, social gatherings, and shared passion.
For enthusiasts from the SS Jaguar to the latest electric Jaguar I-Pace, including Daimler vehicles, it preserves the artistry and craftsmanship of Jaguars while honouring the people who drive them.
For more information, our club website is at www.jaguarhunter.org.au
Barry Melville
CMC Delegate for JDCHR
Lithgow Vintage Motor Club Inc.
A brief look back at our club shows that a small group of local old car enthusiasts got together in February 1983 and decided to form a club. The word was spread around town and in March of that year, 25 folk held the inaugural meeting and named the club “Lithgow Vintage Motor Club”, we chose the name “Running Board Rag” for our newsletter.
By the end of 1983, membership had grown to 38, and the club had received RTA approval and was operating on the “Club Plate” conditional registration scheme. The club became an Incorporated Association in November 1986.
In the early days, members’ vehicles were mainly of the pre-World War 2 era; however, over the past years and via the various past iterations of the now Transport for New South Wales club approval policies, our club registrar currently has 118 cars and 15 motorcycles of various ages up to the 30-year-old limit registered on the Historic Vehicle Scheme.
Even though the club has approval to register vehicles on the Classic Vehicle Scheme, we currently don’t have any vehicles on this scheme at present, but there are a couple of modified vehicles currently being built.
Over the years, our club has established a very social atmosphere and along with the enthusiasm for heritage motoring it has seen membership grow to 120 members enjoying the monthly meetings, midweek lunch runs, weekend outings, long tours and participation in events organised by other clubs.
Membership of our club is available to motoring enthusiasts residing or having connections in the Lithgow district, whether young or elderly, you don’t have to own a heritage vehicle to be a member.
Rodney Rossi
LVMC Public Officer, Vehicle Registrar (responsible person).
Australian Historic Motor Club- Blue Mountains
The club was formed in about 1977 by Ross McRae, Eric North, Alan Fidler and a Mr Sutherland. At the time the people mentioned were members of the Australian Historic Motor Club in Sydney and found attending meetings in Sydney to be difficult. They therefore asked and received permission to create a Branch in the Blue Mountains and at that point the Australian Historic Motor Club - Blue Mountains Branch was born.
The history of the AHMC Sydney was created from 3 men whose names are John Johnston, John Curtain and Bruce Cooper. Together, they formed the 30-40 Car Club, with the meetings being held at the Australian Hotel in 1967.
Not long after the membership of their club started to grow and with much more modern cars, it was felt there was a need to change the name of club from the 30-40 Club to AHMC to more reflect the vehicles involved. These organizations were created by these men to gather together like-minded car lovers for social outings. The Car Club registration at the time was a nice benefit of membership but not the reason why these people came together.
The AHMC-BM is set up to bring together people who have an interest in road-going vehicles more than 25 years old
- To promote the restoration and preservation of such vehicles
- To foster friendship and co-operation by meeting together and participating in organised events
- To promote interest in and use of vehicles which come within the interest of the Club
- To assist members, where possible by their use of the Club library
For more information, our club website is at – ahmc-bm.org.au
Ronald Dixon
