Wednesday, 24 August 2011 23:30

Martin Stubbs - Photographer & Driver

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Martin Stubbs - Photographer & Driver
       Vintage Sports Car Club of  Victoria Rob Roy Hillclimb August 21, 2011 Being a competitor at a motor racing event takes much time and effort.  Apart from having to meet all the requirements for entry, your first bigtask is getting the car to  the circuit. That means an early start to the day putting the car on its trailer, driving to the circuit - which may be a long distance away, parking and getting the car back back off the trailer again, waiting to sign in, getting through scrutineering and driver briefing, waiting on to the starting line, and then pouring what is left of your energy and skill into doing the event itself.It is much easier being a photographer at these meetings, but it still involves expense, time, skill, and patience.  You have to find the bestpositions, get the light right, set the camera/s up, and make sure of getting good shots.  Then when the event is over there is the business of selecting the photographs for an article, and editing wherever necessary.Writing an account of the meeting takes time and patience.  You need to have kept good records - talked to people to ensure that you're getting your details right, and decided what sort of information your readers will be interested in.  You have to do this on the run, as there is no desk to lean on, and your papers tend to fly away in the breeze. And it is not the sort of thing you would do if you were wearing, say, a driver's helmet and gloves.Martin Stubbs (driver of the Austin 7- Car N0 82 in the photo above) did all of this single-handedly at the Vintage Sports Car Club of Victoria Rob Roy Hillclimb on Sunday, August 21, 2011.  
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Above: Daniel Morling - 1950/60Austin 7 'Tyrrell'. Above: Michael Hipkins, 1926 Vauxhall 30/98 with Peter Holbeach 1925 Vauxhall behind. Above: John Pickford - 1929LanciaLambda Special. Above: Bill Morling - 1930 Austin 7Ulster Sports Replica.
60 cars competed, including 12 Austin Sevens, 7 MGs, 7 cars from group K. Racing (with old favourites Jim Russell, Ray Sprague, Lyndon Davey-Milne). John Nash competed in this group, driving a spectacular 1948 Indy USA Ford),  5 Vauxhall 30/98, 4 Bugatti, and the one air cooled driven by John Coffin.With such illustrious company, the VSCC noted that the Rob Roy Hillclimb evolved from Clinton's Pleasure Grounds and avoided putting too serious a tone to the day by conducting a Billy Cart race, and by making provision for drivers to take passengers for a timed run up the hill.   They also paid compliment to the master chefs who provided gourmet sausages, roast beef, and brewed coffee.  Hurrah.It was a long day and everybody seemed to have enjoyed it thoroughly.
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Above: Allan Tyrrell, Austin 7 Sports, supercharged. Above: Neil Murdoch, MG TB Special. Above: Andrew Cannon - 1928 Bugatti. Above: Lucas Morling, 1950/60Austin 7 'Tyrrell'.
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Above: Michael Farrell, 1926Vauxhall 14/40. Above: Robert Sales - 1933 Fiat 508. Above: Unknown owner/driverFiat Ballila display car. Above: Ian Barber, 1932 AlvisSilver Eagle.
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Above: Graeme Lowe, 1936 AltaSports. Above: Phillip Hallo - 1930 Austin 7Ace Special. Above: John Noble - 1946 MG TC. Above: John Nash - 1948 IndyUSA Ford.
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Above: George Hetrel - Bugatti Type 35 - Display car. Above: Trevor Cole & Bob Booth discuss water pump drive problemon the 1936 Austin 7 Special, S/c. Above: Andrew Cannon: 1928 Bugatti Above: Mark Burns - 1924 Alvis 12/50; Michael Farrell - 1926 Vauxhal 14/40; Andrew Green1924 Alvis 12/50
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Above: Unknown driver - MG J2 Above: John Balthazar, 1934 Wolseley Hornet supercharged Above: Neil Murdoch - MG TB Special Above: Grant Cowie - 1934 Frazer Nash Shelsley.

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