Warren Brown on Wide Open Road ABC tv

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Len Beadell was quite a character, one of a number of interesting outback people from that era.

Hi Keith,
I was given a recording of one of Len's afterdinner speeches regarding his work, especially liked the part about about the airstrip he built near Marlinga.

The programme was very good, especially like the Jack Brabham part, last saw him about 11 years ago racing at Goodwood .......... and crashing out.

[Keith Webb]

Although Len had a fame I think he was entirely appropriate to be in the show... I was taking issue more with actors and politicians - felt this was just a bit contrived.

It's a shame not everything can be covered - I mentioned Reg Sprigg - in the first episode there was a heap of footage from Back of Beyond but I don't recall any direct reference to it, or to Tom Kruse.

I really enjoyed the Brabham story - I didn't realise he was a fighter pilot either. It would have been great to include Tony Gaze who had a major connection with Goodwood and was also one of our WW2 Aces with 12.5 victories including Arado 234 jets to his credit, but I suppose that would have got in the way of the storytelling.

The story about the HD Holden with the cheese cutter design was very interesting - I hadn't realised the styling was done in the US. It was also locally known as the 'pedestrian chopper' for obvious reasons.

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Keith,
I was given a recording of one of Len's afterdinner speeches regarding his work, especially liked the part about about the airstrip he built near Marlinga.

The programme was very good, especially like the Jack Brabham part, last saw him about 11 years ago racing at Goodwood .......... and crashing out.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Methinks that this program is tackling too big a subject too do any of it justice.
As a child who grew up through much of what was covered in Ep.2. and much of the narrated comments was not how I remembered it. I certainly was not in a "Holden TRIBE" or a "Ford TRIBE". There were considerably more brands respected and favoured than just these two, as can be seen in the REDEX part.
This program continues to fascinate and annoy me in about equal parts.
Jack Brabham: Legend
Len Beadell: Legend
Paul Keating??????

I assume everyone saw the Blitz "In the Background" in the Brabham story?
Rich.

[Keith Webb]

I missed it - must have been a tired moment!

I do remember at school there was always the Holden/Ford rivalry (which extends today to Chev/Ford CMPs to some extent), although as Rich says there were many other brands. When I got to car buying age there were plentiful supplies of British cars such as Morris Minors and Hillmans. I had 15 Minors at various stages, mostly bought for a few dollars for parts as well as Singer, Hillman and of course CMPs. It was a long while before I owned a Japanese car.

Completely agree re the comment about Keating, also Steve Bracks - these are not the sort of names I'd think of when talking about cars of the 60s or 70s.

A three part program like this naturally has to cover a lot of ground and above all be a piece of entertainment for the audience.

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Methinks that this program is tackling too big a subject too do any of it justice.
As a child who grew up through much of what was covered in Ep.2. and much of the narrated comments was not how I remembered it. I certainly was not in a "Holden TRIBE" or a "Ford TRIBE". There were considerably more brands respected and favoured than just these two, as can be seen in the REDEX part.
This program continues to fascinate and annoy me in about equal parts.
Jack Brabham: Legend
Len Beadell: Legend
Paul Keating??????

I assume everyone saw the Blitz "In the Background" in the Brabham story?
Rich.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Keefy - I agree with you that this series has no place for celebrities. They have no concept or knowledge of this subject but programmers feel the need that they are important for the show. I get sick and tired of seeing anchor presenters purporting to be experts on a wide variety of subjects. They are a self promoting clique who rely on each other for work. I find the same with writing articles, publications are locked into their own writers, good or bad, and it is very difficult for an outsider to crack into the scene.

Warren, your next series should be about the collectors and restorers found on this site with a special emphasis on the yearly Corowa event.

Bob

[Mike K]

I loved the segment with the lady in her Austin A40 tourer in the REDEX trial... only after she had finished the race was she given any cudos by the Austin dealership... typical. I knew this 18 year old Apprentice in 1978, he went through at least three Austin A40's in quick time. He would use them til they broke, and leave them on the roadside, then go and buy another one for $50. He always bought DEVONS , the early type.

Jack Brabham was a mechanic in the RAAF , not a pilot. He began with his own engineering business after the war, hence his intimate knowledge of machinery in general. He was a good fitter and turner as well, a 'hands on' person.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

I assume everyone saw the Blitz "In the Background" in the Brabham story? Rich.

This one, Rich? Looks like the F15 is coming a close 2nd!
jack01.jpg
Actually, I have been enjoying the sound track to the show!

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks Howard, looks like he's cutting the corner too.
New pair of glasses for Keith??
Rich.

[Keith Webb]

No I must have blinked or been distracted by the cat bringing in a dead rabbit instead. Well spotted.

[Howard]

Now that the show has been done & dusted, what are your thoughts, everyone?
Personally I have not checked the credits in detail, but I am sure that a lot of the funding must have come from GMH