Do you remember this sleek looking Soapbox Racer racing at places like Port Kembla in the late 1980's.

Jim Manoliadis certainly does and as a result a story on its success and whereabouts is about to be told so watch this space.

Do you remember this Soapbox Racer built and racing at places like Coolongatta, Nowra and Port Kembla throughout the 1980's.

According to the original owner Jim Manoliadis many hours were spent on perfecting the design before making its debut at Port Kembla in October 1980.

Unfortunately its perfection hadn't quite been mastered as it ended up finishing in third place behind Rick Murray aboard "Think Big" and another competitior.

Unable to fit into "Stormbringer" the recruitment of George Graham soon followed which proved to be a catalyst for its success at venues like,

  credentcertainly does after finding this website and as result a newly updated story is about to be uncovered so watch this space. 

Do you remember this sleek built Soapbox Racer built during the 1980's.

Jim Manoliadis certainly does after finding this website and as a result a story of its success and whereabouts are about to be uncovered so watch this space.

This streamlined racer called Shaft is the original billycart built by Gary Angelucci.

Built and developed in three stages Shaft was often seen at billycart events in New South Wales and Queensland where it was very successful.

According to docmentation that Gary has fowarded onto me it appears that Port Kembla holds many fond memories as being a successful place to race Shaft as it claimed back to back wins in 1983 and 1984.

It is believed that Mervyn Reid in Dynamo and Trevor "Spike" Jones aboard Go Bananas were worthy opponents during these successful years.

Its other achievements are that it won National Titles and appeared on a documentary called "Sports Crazy" on channel ten which was narrated by Jack Thompson.

As shown by the attached image titled "The Unreal Wheel" Shaft was promoted on Weetbix packets which shows that billycarting was popular in the 1980's.

Since its retirement from racing Shaft has been kept in mint condition which is a bonus as I am sure many of us would like to see it again as part of a display.

This streamlined racer called Impulse is another fine example of the craftmanship of Gary Angelucci who first raced this billycart in 1986.

According to Lindsay Eames his brother Phillip began his rise to fame as a billycart racer by finishing runner up in his class at the nationals at Bathurst in 1980.

The following year being 1981 at this same event Phillip grabbed his opportunity by claiming the title of his class which will be etched in the memory of both members of the family for many years.

After this event Phillip stepped into another streamliner built for the next event which was staged at Wollongong.

As a billycart enthusiast I consider this profile worthy of its status on this website as it gives us an insight to Bathurst and some of the earliest days of Soapbox Racing in Australia. 

During the off-season of 1981 the second stream-line racer was built for Phillip Eames which was classified as a Senior Special Soapbox.

On debut it finished runner up at the event staged at Wollongong which must have brought a few smiles to the faces of all concerned.

Then in 1983 at Coolangatta it finshed second again, narrowly missing out on a trip to the United States which was commonly sought after in the 1980's.

At this stage there is nothing further to report other than I have been informed that the family is seeking a return to this great pastime.

Until now the "Yarambat Flash" was simply another streamlined billycart that very few knew about which included myself.

My investigating has revealed that it was built by Allan and Graeme Treloar in the early 1980's.

I am unsure who raced it during that time however the good news is that it remains in their possession so more information will be forthcoming soon.

Does anybody have a photo of it in at a race meeting so everybody can see it in its glory ?

 Originally named as "Catch 22" and built by the son of former Alderman Peter Morton who was a chairman of the billycart event at Port Kembla during the mid to late 1980's this billycart was considered very fast for its time.

The proof of its speed was at the hands of Jodie Luck-Taylor who steered the billycart between the years of 1988 and 1992, "A lot of second place outrights were achieved because of its streamline design".

These good results were at places like Junee and Port Kembla where the pitfall of having a low frontal area that made it take a fraction longer to get off the ramps didn't seem to be a factor.

Apart from that I am led to believe that Merinda is fitted with disc brakes which are considered rare in any level of billycarting in Australia.

I am sure billycart enthusiasts of the mid to late 1980's can remember this iconic billycart which will hopefully improve this story in time.

 "Blowfish" is a newcomer to billycarting having made its debut at Bathurst in 2008.

Built and owned by Clay Woolcock, I believe it deserves the status of being put into this section because of its design and shape.

During its very first run at Bathurst this billycart had a hair raising moment running out of Griffin's Bend whereby it fish-tailed some four to five times.

Good driving thereafter resulted in this billycart finishing in fifth place in the supercart class with the time of 1 minute, 15.72 seconds.

"Flying High" is a fine example of the fast and sleek billycarts which were entering races at places like Port Kembla in the early 1980's.

According to some feedback obtained on this website I have been informed that "Flying High" won the junior class of the Port Kembla Billycart Derby in 1988.

I understand that Tony Prior was at the wheel of the billycart at the time.

Some more updated information is still required to fill in the gap of the story of this billycart.

Despite showing its age of about twenty five years old, "Flying High" has just taken out first place in both the All Rounder and Modified Soapbox Classes at Bathurst.

Something that I am sure that Alison will treasure for quite a long time.

This fast and sleek built machine is one of very high calibre having been built in either the late 1980's or early 1990's.

Anyway, I first saw this billycart at an event in Castlemaine, Victoria where it easily won first outright on the day by clocking the highest speed of 59km/ph.

Owner Troy Davey-Milne has been very successful throughout his career which is a credit to him and its aerodynamic design.

At present Sniper and Troy are taking a well earned break which is a shame for those who have never seen them in action.

The photos I have taken show that keeping it simple can be successful.

As pointed out by Allan Treloar who plays a key role in constructing these billycarts, its all in the wheels

Stormbringer is one of many Australian built American Soapboxes that was very successful during the early 1980's.

According to archive information this billycart won the Junior Special Class at Port Kembla in 1981,82 & 1983.

Claimed another first place in both the junior and senior classes at the Coolangatta Billycart Derby in 1982.

It also won the senior open class at Nowra in 1983.

According to some feedback I received the original owner sold the billycart to a family living in Young, New South Wales sometime in the early 1990's.

Anyone who has updated information can place it in feedback section as every bit helps. 

Originally named Cobra 2 before the name and facelift to Auto Finish a few years ago this fine machine has remained very competitive.

During its life span of seventeen years current owner Patrick Taylor has won a fair share of events in both Tasmania and Victoria which is a credit to him.

Watch this space for more information. 

Any information about this billycart and the location of the event would be appreciated.