This Easter at Warwick in Queensland will see a congregation of classic Austin Healey Sprite sports cars to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the marquee. Bowen Mountain resident, Glenn Falson, who is an avid aficionado of these little British cars, is going to make the trip along with about 100 other cars.
“These are fabulous little cars and great fun to own and drive”, said Mr Falson. “The 50th anniversary meeting at Warwick will be a showcase for probably the most successful of all British cars. They were produced from the original “bug eye” 1958 model right through to 1978. Minor cosmetic and mechanical changes were made through the years but the cars remained basically as they were in 1958, economical and fun open top sporty motoring”, he said. “The Easter weekend will see a full program of events including racing, motorkhana, and ‘show and shine’”,
“I have been working on my 1959 model car for a few months now getting it ready for the meeting including giving it a fresh coat of paint and some engine modifications,” Mr Falson said. “I love the camaraderie that exists in the old car clubs. Competing in the events is great fun too. These little cars are flat out doing about 90-100 mph (160-180 kph) but because they are so small and low to the ground you feel like you are in a Grand Prix car. And their cornering ability would leave almost all modern cars for dead”, he said.
The meeting at Warwick is on the Easter weekend. Most of the little cars are travelling in convoy on the Wednesday before Easter. If you see them on the road, give them a toot of acknowledgement for a long and productive life. Mr Falson reckons that they could easily go another 50 years but thinks that he may have to hand his car to one of his children by then.