A VERY CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE “RICKSHAWS HOT ROD & KUSTOM CAR CLUB INC.”

1961-2001

Composed by Bob Heggie in 2001.

Our logo, typifies our name “Rickshaw/Dragster”.

We are the second oldest Hot Rod Club in N.S.W., established in August, 1961, with approximately 30 in attendance for our first meeting, held in a service station at Glendale, a suburb of Newcastle.

The first Hot Rod Show, in Sydney, was staged by the Metropolitan Hot Rod Association (a speedway group) in 1963 at Hilderbrand and Lawford, car dealer’s showrooms in Cremorne and 3 cars represented our Club.

In June, 1964 the Northern Beaches Hot Rod Club staged its first true Hot Rod Show at the Totem Shopping Centre in Balgowlah and we were there with 4 cars.

Our Club was a founding member of the N.S.W. Hot Rod Association, with the first President a Rickshaw’s member, being Maurice Higgs and later Ray Levoi.

Our Club members worked, and competed, at Castlereagh Dragstrip for many years. We were there for the first drag meet.

Our Club made a substantial loan to the N.S.W.H.R.A. to lay down the new hot mix surface for the first American dragfest. In those days the Clubs were for both drag racing and hot rodder members.

The Rickshaws staged our first Hot Rod Show in Newcastle, in September, 1964. It was then called the “Mattara” Hot Rod Show, as this coincided with the Mattara Spring Festival in Newcastle.

Some events and milestones in our history are as follows:-

Our own Club house with 10 car workshop.
Commer Karrier table-top transporter.
Huge Bedford pantec. 33’ x 8’ x 11’, fully sign-written, to transport 2 rods and accommodate our members at the drags and shows.
Toyota 12-seater bus.
2 Club car floats.
We are the only original promoter in Australia to be still running its own Show. First in 1964 and then continuous until the 90’s when we had a break of 3 years due to the economic downturn at that time.
Organised and ran 3 shows in Taree.
Organised and ran 2 Sydney shows at Yennora Woolstores – in 1979 and 1980.
Instigated and ran 16 annual M.A.D. (Motorists Appreciation Days) in the Hunter Valley and are still continuing to run this day. This event is a gathering of all “collectable” vehicles in a picnic-like atmosphere.

Other clubs, over a period of time, have been formed in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast and can trace their origins back to the RICKSHAWS.

We have, and still do, sponsor other clubs and rodding events in N.S.W.

We have supported many local charities, for many thousands of dollars, over the years.

We were the first Rod Show to incorporate Street Machines into our advertising, trophy list and classes.

Various members, over the years, have served on the Committees of N.S.W. Hot Rod Association (2 Presidents and 5 Sydney shows). Australian Hot Rod Federation (State Director). State Hot Rod Council of N.S.W. (President). Australian Street Rod Federation (State Director). In all the above, the Rickshaws were foundation members. 7 A.S.R.F. Nationals Committees.

Over the years we have both participated and competed at Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Surfer’s Paradise and North Queensland dragstrips, with Kevin Pinkstone and Arnold Taylor, in their dragsters, having outstanding success for quite a number of years and with many National records.

Our vehicles have been displayed in Melbourne shows, the vast majority of all Sydney shows, Brisbane shows (including the first 2 run by the Road Stars Hot Rod Club), 3 Taree shows, Adelaide Show and of course 35 of our own Rickshaws shows together with regional shows in Tamworth, Moree and all across the country, including most recently, Dry Lake Racing at Lake Gairdner, for the last 3 years.

One of our members owned Australia’s first dragster, originally built by Ray Walmsley, and after rebuilding it with a 318 Chrysler it was raced at Castlereagh dragstrip – RICKSHAW 1 was State Champion 1968 A/D Class – 11 sec.

We believe we have more than displayed our commitment to all phases of rodding.

We have a very close “mateship” and camaraderie within the Club which we try to foster at all times, with many long serving members with up to 40 years continuous membership.

And they said Hot Rodding was only a “passing phase”.

Bob Heggie – was an original Member of the Club from 1961 until his passing in 2004.