Hi Everyone.
I feel absolute privilege being the current "custodian" (yes I share the same viewpoint as Big Tony about being a custodian and not an owner of certain cars)of Geoff Brown's fantastic Picardy Red HK 327 Monaro. Bathurst Version. Although I never met him I have learnt some things about this gentleman and feel that the creationof this award is well deserved. Initially I thought it was overdue but I now think it is better that it hapenned later than sooner because it really does prove Geoff Brown is strongly remembered by many in the Monaro fraternity.
To me the Geoff Brown Memorial award came as a complete surprise and I was somewhat stunned when asked to do the presentation of this new and prestigeous award at the 2010 Monaro Nationals Awards Dinner. I was informed by Ben Stewart after the dinner that the comittee had kept my opportunity to present the award secret from me till the last moment. I have since learnt that it was the worst kept secret secret at the Nationals.....everyone except me seemed to know!
Another surprise for me was being informed that my HKGTS 327 was actually "Car of Show" at the first Monaro Nationals back in 1998.
Deservingly so when you consider the present fantastic condition of the car. This is mainly due to the quality of the work that Geoff did restoring the car late last century.
When Geoff completed the car it was immediately successful in Show. Apart from high achievement in the Nationals it was a consistent winner at many, many other venues. For example: Monaros In The Spotlight, Motorex, Numerous NSW Monaro Club events. More recently it has done well in northern NSW and S.E. QLD events including 2008 & 2009 awards at the QLD Hotrod Show (it should be noted that both years I was invited to join the QLD Monaro Club display). These are a fraction of the awards the car has achieved.
The car featured in a national television advertising campaign for Clearview retirement solutions. It shared a five page article in the September 2003 issue of Street Machine Magazine with the "Mr Whippy" HG GTS350 Monaro and more recently a full page feature in the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
Geoff enjoyed the fruit of his efforts for sometime but along the way he was diagnosed with cancer. He decided to sell the car to Steven Clark who was a friend of his. Not long after this he passed away.
Steven had the car for several years and took care of it as if it was one of his children. His meticulous care and maintenance meant that it was still a winner when I purchased it from him in September 2007. By the way Steven and I have become good mates.
My input into the Monaro's excellent present condition has been somewhat minimal compared to Steven's. It was presented to me only needing some detail work on the undercarriage which probably added up to a few weeks of solid work.
Thanks to Geoff and Steven being the current custodian has been quite easy (and enjoyable).
Regarding the future of this car I feel an obligation to preserve and keep as much of Geoff Browns work as evident as possible. Geoff's work set a high benchmark for what has become Concours Class today. Although not Concours correct in 1998 it stood out as the best car at the first Nationals. Today, I feel that this car is best considered in "Contemporary" class, the closest thing to this in the 2010 Nationals was "Mild Custom". As such I entered this class and was awarded the trophy. Thanks to those who helped by discussing this with me.
I have learnt that the car which beat the Geoff Brown Monaro at the 2000 National is the beautiful Silver HT GTS 350 Monaro which won the 2010 Geoff Brown Memorial Award and is currently in the custody of Ben Stewart who recently took over from Tony. Both of these cars (the red and silver Monaros) created the momentum which has resulted in the current crop of top end cars. This includes the incredible base model HK Monaro of my good friend Nick Gontas who won the Concours Class for an unprecedented third time at the 2010 Nationals....Historic! Congratulations Nick.
I congratulate Ben and Tony on winning the innaugural Geoff Brown Memorial Award. An award which will certainly encourage excellence in-show at the Monaro Nationals for many years to come.
Thanks to all.
Nick Moran
Yamba
NSW.
8 F1 World titles. 10 Bathurst wins......HA!HA!
Grafton Speedway Club Rookie of the year 2006...True....
Edited by user Sunday, 19 September 2010 3:26:20 AM(UTC)
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