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NOT 50th year at Bathurst!

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HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#925418
The first 'Great Race' was in 1963.....I know for sure, as I drove a VW Beetle in it.

If you add 50 to 1963, you get 2013, which makes this year the 49th year. It is the 50th race, NOT the 50th anniversary.🙅
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

silver Dangerous when poked

2,169 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#925433
As we say in Advertising ...."never let the truth get in the way of a good story"
Keeping it real !

LIFE IN THE LOW LANE All people have the right to stupidity but some abuse the pr

2,534 posts · joined Mar 2007 ·

#925435
Got some pics/stuff of when you raced a beetle at Bathurst greg?? That's the sort of thing that interests me about bathurst!! Stories of the past with people who have raced there that weren't the front runners or in the media spot light.
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE

Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!

DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber

208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·

#925436
You drove a Beetle in the first race! That's very cool, any pics and stories would be great! I love the history of the mountain.

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#925438
Yep, drove a Beetle in the 1963 Armstrong 500 at Bathurst. 😁 Sorry......no pics.

It was a great experience, and despite a few problems [none with the car], we ended up 5th in class A.

I had quite a time trying to get my co-driver, Graham White, to 'work' the Beetle a bit harder......he was 10 seconds a lap slower than my times. When i suggested he rev it out in 3rd until the fan whistled, he asked "what RPM would that be". I made the mistake of telling him. "The car has to last all day", he replied...."It will last all year", I said. I ended up with the fastest lap in class A, and G.W. was likely the slowest.

Trying [a bit too hard?] to make up time, I went round the outside of Fred Gibson [Mini], got into the marbles, and put the Beetle on its side at Murray's Corner. Somehow I managed to get the Beetle back on its wheels, and after a quick r/h rear wheel change, by our pit crew of ONE, we were back into it, without losing a place. Great memories.😏
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

LIFE IN THE LOW LANE All people have the right to stupidity but some abuse the pr

2,534 posts · joined Mar 2007 ·

#925443
That is the stuff I love to hear about!! Awesome!!!!
ACCEPT THAT SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE PIDGEON AND SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE

Alder Outlaws VW Racing - check it out on fb!!

DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber

208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·

#925445
Cool! . Crossply madness!!

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#925469
HappyDaze wrote:The first 'Great Race' was in 1963.....I know for sure, as I drove a VW Beetle in it.

If you add 50 to 1963, you get 2013, which makes this year the 49th year. It is the 50th race, NOT the 50th anniversary.🙅
They got Birchall to work it out!
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

farkengruven Seriously Crusin Dubber

167 posts · joined Jan 2006 ·

#925471
HappyDaze wrote:The first 'Great Race' was in 1963.....I know for sure, as I drove a VW Beetle in it.

If you add 50 to 1963, you get 2013, which makes this year the 49th year. It is the 50th race, NOT the 50th anniversary.🙅
Using your math method, yes you get 2013.
If you use the correct method and include the 1963 race, then you get 2012.
2007 T5 TDI Crewvan
2003 Passat
NSU Ro80
1975 Passat TS
1973 L bug

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#925479
these are labeled 'bathurst '63. is that right?

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tar76 Custom Title Time!

1,622 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#925480
HappyDaze wrote:Yep, drove a Beetle in the 1963 Armstrong 500 at Bathurst. 😁 Sorry......no pics.

It was a great experience, and despite a few problems [none with the car], we ended up 5th in class A.

I had quite a time trying to get my co-driver, Graham White, to 'work' the Beetle a bit harder......he was 10 seconds a lap slower than my times. When i suggested he rev it out in 3rd until the fan whistled, he asked "what RPM would that be". I made the mistake of telling him. "The car has to last all day", he replied...."It will last all year", I said. I ended up with the fastest lap in class A, and G.W. was likely the slowest.

Trying [a bit too hard?] to make up time, I went round the outside of Fred Gibson [Mini], got into the marbles, and put the Beetle on its side at Murray's Corner. Somehow I managed to get the Beetle back on its wheels, and after a quick r/h rear wheel change, by our pit crew of ONE, we were back into it, without losing a place. Great memories.😏
Respect!! Great to hear the old stories 👍
"Obey your Dreams"!


62 Std beetle.
65 11 wnd Split "The Cross".
6? coming very soon!!!!

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#925486
HappyDaze wrote:The first 'Great Race' was in 1963.....I know for sure, as I drove a VW Beetle in it.

If you add 50 to 1963, you get 2013, which makes this year the 49th year. It is the 50th race, NOT the 50th anniversary.🙅
Thank you!!!! I thought I was going mad hearing them say it was the 50th....
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#925487
whatnow wrote:these are labeled 'bathurst '63. is that right?
they are bathurst 63 but not the armstrong 500; those are appendix J cars
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#925490
farkengruven wrote:
HappyDaze wrote:The first 'Great Race' was in 1963.....I know for sure, as I drove a VW Beetle in it.

If you add 50 to 1963, you get 2013, which makes this year the 49th year. It is the 50th race, NOT the 50th anniversary.🙅
Using your math method, yes you get 2013.
If you use the correct method and include the 1963 race, then you get 2012.
No, the first anniversary was in 1964. The first race was in 1963. This year is the 50th race and the 49th anniversary.

Is this a Club Vee Dub thing?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#925492


Photo of Greg Mackie at the first race in 1963 at Hell's Corner

(photo courtesy of G Mackie - greg you gave this [digital] pic to me a few years back)
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

whatnow Custom Title Time!

1,000 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#925494
thanks shaun (sp) and thankyou greg for the story. please keep them coming.

it looks like a later style numberplate light in that picture.

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#925501
whatnow wrote:these are labeled 'bathurst '63. is that right?
That is me at Bathurst in Easter, 1963.......not the Armstrong 500.

The first photo is Murray's Corner, the second is The Esses. It was an Appendix J race, and I managed to grab the 0-1300cc lap record. That was my only car, and I drove it home, and to work the next day.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#925509
is that an oil cooler in front of the headlight??

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

farkengruven Seriously Crusin Dubber

167 posts · joined Jan 2006 ·

#925513
So if someone is celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary, they are really celebrating being married 51 years?????? How does that work?
Try explaining that one to your wife.
2007 T5 TDI Crewvan
2003 Passat
NSU Ro80
1975 Passat TS
1973 L bug

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#925519
We were married in 1963, so NEXTt year [2013] my wife and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary......hopefully.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#925525
I'm getting confused; does that mean I'm a year older because I'm counting my birth year to now?

The year I'm born doesn't count as 1 year old; its not until the following year that you'd become 1 year old... the same applies to all anniversaries and events.
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#925538
I knew Murray whom the corner was named after..
n where has that gone now..
naming rights BS
sold out n lost its soul
nice old bloke too
allegedly 😁
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
allcooled.com.au

baybuscamperkid prince of insufficient light, ruler of heck

4,316 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#925551
Very exciting to know we have such Bathurst history in our midst 😀 Would you have believed then that the track would host one of the most followed races in Australia 50 years later?
Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#925555
Never gave it a thought at the time. All I've got to show for the race is a tiny gold shock-absorber, handed out by Armstrong. But what an experience.👍

Yes Lee, that is an oil cooler.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#925585
farkengruven wrote:So if someone is celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary, they are really celebrating being married 51 years?????? How does that work?
Try explaining that one to your wife.
How did you come to that conclusion?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

whathaveidone Custom Title Time!

1,559 posts · joined Feb 2010 ·

#925600
pretty sure ive got footage of you putting your bug on its side. willhave to find a vhs tohave a look

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#925652
The word 'anniversary' comes from the Latin 'annus' - meaning 'year', and 'versus', meanng 'turned'. Anniversaries are pretty easy to work out - you subtract the starting year from the current year.

You were married in 1968. In 1969 you have your FIRST anniversary, as 1969 - 1968 is 1. You have been married for one year. In 2018 you'll have your 50th anniversary - 2018 minus 1968 is 50.

That is different from counting INSTANCES. The first VW Nationals, or the first Bathurst race, actually happen in that first year, so you are starting your count from ONE in the first year. When the second year comes around, your count is now TWO. This is different from anniversaries - you haven't been married for one year until after the END of your first year.

Anniversary = Current Year minus Starting Year.

Annual instances = Anniversaries PLUS ONE.

So yes, this year is the 50th Bathurst race (count them on your fingers, starting from 1963 inclusive!) but the 49th ANNIVERSARY. Next year will be the 50th Annversary of Bathurst (2013 minus 1963) but the 51st INSTANCE.

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#925657
Its kind of like when you slice up a cake.
You make 10 cuts but end up with 11 pieces.
😂
westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#925673
YAWN....who really cares 😵‍💫......next we will be debating millennium celebrations !😵‍💫