At Lakeside Raceway, 1994, being shadowed by Andrew Fletcher's 1970 Sunbeam Sport.
Photo: Marshall Cass (+61-7-3341 6392)
1963 ALPINE SERIES III
At Lakeside Raceway, 1994, being shadowed by Andrew Fletcher's 1970 Sunbeam Sport.
I'm sometimes asked how I came to be involved with Sunbeams. My interest in Sunbeams is an hereditary one.
The only time there hasn't been a Sunbeam in the garage was for the first three years of my life. I can't really remember what it's like to not have one!
My father has owned various models of Sunbeam for pretty much as long as I've been around and for years before. Over the years there have been four Rapiers (both series & fastback models), two Sunbeam-Talbot 90s and two Sunbeam Imps. There have also been a number of Hillmans along the way, and probably other Rootes models I've forgotten about.
My grandparents also were Sunbeam owners, having a fastback Rapier from new, as well as a couple of Hillman Minxes.
If this isn't enough my wife, Neola, comes from a family of Rootes fans. Her family in Scotland swore by Hillmans and Sunbeams and lived only a short drive from Rootes' Linwood factory. Most enthusiastic would have been her Great Uncle Richard. Richard was a sea captain who kicked off his driving career with a Riley, before moving on to a Rapier, an Alpine and a convertible Minx. Neola's aunt had a Stiletto which she hardly drove in the time she had it. I'd give my eye teeth to have it now.
Other family members had Imps, Avengers and who only knows what else. Her Great Uncle Chandler, in addition to owning many Rootes cars, worked at Rootes' Linwood plant.
Both of our Sunbeams were acquired when I was a student. As soon as I could drive I wanted one of my own, so my parents helped me to buy two in dire need of TLC.
The Imp came from New South Wales. I just tinkered with it at first. As a student I didn't have the time or money to do anything with it. As soon as I got my first job Dad & I launched into the restoration. Within six months it was repaired, repainted and reassembled, relying heavily on other Imps we had broken for parts over the years.
No sooner was the Imp on the road than I turned my attention to the Alpine. The Alpine was bought from SOCQ member, the late John Zankay. The Alpine turned out to be a much bigger job than the Imp. Along the way I had a lot of distractions too. I started studying again, took up ballroom dancing, bought other cars, went on overseas holidays, got married and bought a house - all of which took away time and money from the Alpine. Ten years on, it's finally back on the road, but not quite finished. Not that they're ever really finished, are they?
Russ Maddock