I have recently seen a Chrome "Laurie Whitehead Special" badge, I was hoping someone can shed some light as to its origins. So far all I have found is it may be VW.
Thanks.
Paul

Paul, Laurie Whitehead raced a VW special...it was an open-wheel race car, using VW components.

He also raced a car called the "Cooper Porsche", built in 1959. It was a replica Cooper, with a 356 Porsche engine and brakes. I now own this car.

Cheers, Greg

Greg,

Here is a photo from 1961. Does it look familiar.???

countrybuggybill

I would love to know what became of Laurie Whitehead, one of the great 'forgotten' VW trials drivers.

He was originally a journalist for the Melbourne Herald newspaper in the early 1950s. In 1954 he co-drove one of four VWs entered in the Redex Around Australia Trial, entered by Melbourne's Regent Motors. He finished 12th, the best of the two surviving VWs that year (the winner was Gelignite Jack Murray in his Ford V8). Laurie entered again in 1955, the last Redex Trial, one of 16 VWs entered. He won the event, with Eddie Perkins' VW second. He also won the 1957 Mobilgas Trial, the year that VWs finished 1-2-3-4-5-6.

After that he was a VW celebrity, often portrayed in VW ads of the time. He opened his own VW dealership in Melbourne's St Kilda, which survived until 1965 when he must have retired and the dealership became Smiths of St Kilda. I don't know what happened to Laurie after that, but I presume he would have passed away 10 or more years ago. It would be interesting to track down his family in Melbourne - they must have many untapped VW stories and photos, and it would be great to pay him a proper tribute. Maybe a project for Craig and a future issue of VWMA?

Thanks for the info all, here is a pic of the badge I have, has anyone seen it before.
Cheers
Paul

Found these - if you view the first two full size, you'll see your badge!