Foundation Old Car, Slow Car Who cares!! The 1960s and 1970s were the golden years of Aussie Muscle cars. So what better way to raise funds for a cause close to our hearts, than for my son Michael and myself to enter our 1962 R Series Valiant, into the Leukaemia Foundation “Aussie Muscle Car Run”? As most will know my wife Sandy passed away in 2016 from Leukaemia. We felt this was a way to honour her and also have some valuable Father Son time. The Aussie Muscle Car Run was conceived by GT Falcon Club President Kevin May almost 10 years ago. Kevin lost his sister to Leukaemia. After organising the GT Falcon Nationals in Adelaide it occurred to him that this would be an ideal way to combine the passion of car enthusiasts with the need to fund research into blood disease. And so the “Aussie Muscle Car Run” was born. As actor and run participant Shane Jacobson said, “What a way to combine fun and fundraising.”2018 saw a record number of 60 entries line up in Hindmarsh Square for the beginning of the seventh running of the event to date the fundraising has been a huge success with a total this year of $536,916.000. This brings the overall total raised to about $3,000,000. The event includes track days at motor sport venues so we had to prepare our car with this in mind. The Valiant, although never raced at Bathurst like most of the other entrants, still qualified as RV1 Valiants were raced in their time and are considered the first of the Aussie Muscle Cars. Our car has had considerable modification so did not need a lot of preparation. Just new brake pads, fluid and a good thorough service. The track days included a full day at the new circuit at Tailem Bend “The Bend”, 1/8th mile drags at Mildura, Collingrove Hillclimb near Angaston and Mallala Raceway just north of Adelaide. Our car was the oldest in the field and one of the slower cars but it did not matter we were there to have fun and raise some money. That we did, with a total for “Team Sam” of $13,491. The team name comes from my wife Sandy’s family nickname “Sam”. Some of our own highlights were: a genuine 100mph on the long straight at The Bend, overtaking a GT Falcon through the esses at Mallala and winning the Safety Award at the presentation night. This award was for not causing any drama at the track and being considerate to faster cars when being overtaken. Really it was self-preservation on our part. I would like to thank The Land Rover Owners Club of Gippsland for your generous donation as well as everyone who contributed to this fantastic event which can only grow in future years. Next year the run will begin in Adelaide and finish in Melbourne at St Kilda beach taking in race venues such as Phillip Island and Winton along the way. Mick and I have already expressed our intention to participate again so do not be surprised when you see me rattling the tin for donations next year. Mick has a 1971 Valiant ute in his shed in Alice Spring. He is in the process of purchasing a complete 350 hp Chrysler 6 Pack engine and driveline to install in the ute for a future event. Watch this space. Thanks again everybody.
Mal and Mick Trull.
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