The Short History of Ian's Cars and Motorbikes

(Click on the "thumbnails" to see a bigger picture.)

In the beginning, there was the old Honda 175 twin - complete with electric start !  It was unlicensed and got all the "road crap" ripped off and a knobby back tyre.  It attempted one very wet enduro in Albany and did not fare well with mud clogging the throttle cable and air filter.  I had this during my latter high school years and sold it when I left Albany.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a photo of the actual beast, so one I scrounged off the internet will have to do.  Mine was red like this - but not nearly as pretty.

Then came the 1976 Escort (pictured before and on one of its many Nullabor crossings):

A few years later, the old TY250 was bought.  It was tired then - and is even more so now.  In 1999, after 17 years in retirement, it was resurrected and is again competing in observed trials.

Then, 11 years, 220,000 kms and 2 engines with the Escort came the 1972 Capri.  It was white when I bought it, was grey according to the rego, red according to the compliance plate - and finished up back with the original red (what-ever the official colour is called).  It was a bucket of neglected crap when I bought it, but very reliable when I finished with it - so reliable I got bored with it.

(pictured before it got fitted with the original pressed-steel "mags")

Then, after I got tired of the Capri came the 1981 Supra.

Then, when the urge to go trail bike riding hit in 2000, and my old mate Pim had a little-used, but still registered XL250 - came the XL250 (on long-term loan from Pim).  It has been cleaned-up a bit, and lots of oil leaks plugged.  The original rear tyre has been replaced with something more fitting to off road work and an near rear exhaust made.  It and its aging rider have managed to keep up with the young(er) guns on their newer machinery quite adequately.  Very cheap motoring !

Then, in a typical sacrifice that fathers are expected to make, the Supra was sold and Joanne's dream car (a 2000 Ka) purchased for Jo to learn to drive in - and then to purchase from us 12 months later (at which point I can go and buy a "real" car again !).

Oh how plans change !  Since Nicole will be learning to drive within a year, we went and bought the car of Nicole's (instead of my) dreams - a 2000 Lancer.

After another long stint working in Port Hedland, some of the overtime proceeds was devoted to a new toy - a 2000 model Yamaha TTR250.  The trusty old XL250 went back to it's true owner (in a much renovated form).