[ Total Views: 977 | Total Replies: 5 | Thread Id: 103091 ] |
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p anders
Learner Dubber
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posted on August 13th, 2013 at 11:28 PM |
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Laurie Whitehead Special badge
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 |
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HappyDaze
A.k.a.: Greg Mackie
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posted on August 14th, 2013 at 06:00 AM |
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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
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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58camper
A.k.a.: Bill Moore
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posted on August 14th, 2013 at 07:39 AM |
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Greg,
Here is a photo from 1961. Does it look familiar.???
countrybuggybill
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Phil74Camper
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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posted on August 14th, 2013 at 07:46 AM |
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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?
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p anders
Learner Dubber
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posted on August 14th, 2013 at 09:13 PM |
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Thanks for the info all, here is a pic of the badge I have, has anyone seen it before.
Cheers
Paul
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Keats
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posted on September 20th, 2014 at 08:45 PM |
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Found these - if you view the first two full size, you'll see your badge!
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