Where it began

It was about 1975 when I first saw an R8 Renault. My first impression wasn't favorable to its shape but it began to grow on me. Some years later, about 1979 I bought my first Renault. It was a round light R10 about a 67 model I think. A few years later I bought  my first R8 and built it into a rally car which I campaigned for a couple of years in Rally's, Hill Climbs and Super-sprints etc. I changed to a Mazda RX2 in about 1982. In 1986 I bought my first R1135 from David Long near Palm Beach. The car was in dry storage under his house since 1973 and was in many pieces as a non completed restoration. I got about 3/4 of the way through the restoration when we decided to move to Bathurst and needed some extra cash so the car was sold to Steve Kozacs who completed the restoration and still owns the car today some 22 years later. The picture below shows the car at the Renault Car Club of Australia's 60th anniversary in Sydney and is a credit to Steve for the condition he keeps it in. (Photo c/- RCCA.) The next photo was taken in the Royal National Park with my R10 in about 1980 and the final photo is me at the wheel of my R8 rally car during a VW Club Khanacrosse at the Plumpton grounds in about '85. (Most likely a housing estate now).

My First Gordini, now owned by Steve Kozacs for over 20 years.(Photo C/-RCCA).

Circa 1980 with my R10.

My R8 Rally car circa 1985.