Datsun 1600 Fairlady, taken in 1965
Author: Naylan in Guildford
1985
- In late 1985, Phill Brook and Claude Movia met while both were planning to restore their Datsuns, Phill's a 1966 1600 and Claude's a low screen 2000. Claude had also recently met Syd Carr who was restoring a high screen 2000.
1986
- After much discussion about the lack of a club for Datsun Sports owners, Phill's car went on display as part of the Liverpool District Motor Club stand at the 1986 Motor Club Show at Macquarie Shopping Centre, North Ryde to gauge interest from other owners.
- By the end of the show, Phill had a list of a dozen or so Sports and Silvia owners interested in starting a club. A meeting was convened several weeks later, in April , at the Blacktown workshop of Impact Glass Beading. Among those in attendance, Phill, Claude, Syd, Ken Barnard, Paul Coggiola and Fred Schneider.
- The group formed a club called the Datsun Fairlady, Silvia and Sports Owner's Club. Ads and notices were put in newspapers and a leaflet was produced that would be left with any Datsuns spotted on the street in the hope that owners would make contact with us.
1987
- In July 1987, we learned of the existence of Datsun Sports owners' clubs based in Queensland and Victoria and that they had recently held a combined meeting at Dubbo.
- Our own club, now about 45 strong, was getting too large to organise by irregular meetings and phone calls so our first newsletter was published in September 1987. To pay for this, an annual membership fee of $5 was introduced. The fee would cover club running costs as well as the postage and printing for six issues of the newsletter per year.
1988
- In 1988 the club had a stand in the Motor Club Show held at the Yennora Wool Centre.
- We also attended our first Datsun Sports Nationals at Dubbo on the Queens Birthday Long Weekend (June 11th to 13th). NSW members attending were Phill Brook, Syd and Marlene Carr, Paul and Pennie Coggiola, Claude and Sue Movia, Fred and Barbara Schneider.
- The first club T-shirts and sloppy joes were also produced in time for Dubbo. The design was based on a caricature used by the SP/SR Owners Club of Japan. The car at the centre of the design is still used as a logo by our club.
- We participated in events such as the first Dawes Classic run to Warwick Farm. This was an event that combined a rally of about 60 km (ending at the old Warwick Farm race track) with a blast around what was left of the old circuit.
- We joined with the Hunter Valley Z-car club for a run to The Ferneries (near Gosford) and held our own family picnic event at Nurragingy Reserve (Doonside). Over half of the club's members turned up during the day (membership was about 45 at the time).
The Cabin in a Datsun 1600 Fairlady, taken in 1965
Author: Naylan in Guildford
1989
- In 1989 we again held a stand at the Motor Club Show, this time at the Parklea Markets, April 14, 15 and 15.
- The Datsun Sports Nationals took place on June 10 to 12.
- The Dawes Classic run to Warwick Farm took place on September 10, the Ferneries run with the Hunter Valley Z-car club on October 15 and our Christmas event, again at Nurragingy Reserve, was held on December 3.
1990
- By 1990 the club had grown to the size where decisions needed to be made more formally by more people.
- We made contact with the SP/SR Owners Club of Japan.
- The club again had a stand at the Motor Club Show, Parklea Markets held from the 30th of March to the 1st of April. Our club magazine was judged third in its class.
- The Datsun Sports Nationals were held on the weekend of June 9th to 11th. The Dubbo '90 video chronicles the event.
- Other events for 1990 included; September 9, Dawes Classic run to The Farm and on October 14, a Run to the Ferneries (near Gosford) with members of the Hunter Valley Z-car Club and the Z-Car club of Sydney.
- We also went to Tamworth for a weekend with members of DSOA-Qld. Whilst there, we met long time Datsun racer, Warwick Steed. We also went to Gunnedah on Saturday for a hillclimb.
1991
- In 1991 our first executive committee was elected at a meeting of club members. Paul Coggiola as President, Claude Movia as Vice President.
- The SP/SR Owners Club of Japan, suggested the formation of an International Club.
- The magazine name changed to Dat Chat following a competition for members.
- Datsun Sports Nationals at Dubbo held during the long weekend of June 8th to the 10th.
- Other runs for the year included; September 8, Classic Run to the Farm and a run to the Ferneries on September 22 with the Z-car clubs of Sydney and the Hunter Valley.
- Our Christmas get together was held at the Prospect Reservoir on December 1st.
1992
- In 1992 Paul Coggiola was re-elected as President.
- Thanks to a generous donation from Michael Honer, the club was able to purchase a banner to display at various events (it debuted at Dubbo).
- The Datsun Sports Nationals were held at Dubbo on the long weekend of June 6, 7 & 8. The Dubbo Photo Album chronicles the event.
- Our end-of-year/Christmas get together was again held on December 6th at the Prospect Reservoir.
1993
- Lee McIvor was elected as Club President in 1993.
- The club's name was changed to Datsun Sports Owner Australia - NSW
- The club purchased and re-sold to members 50 copies of the book Datsun Roadsters 1962 - 1971.
- The Datsun Sports Nationals took place in Dubbo, June 12, 13 and 14.
- A weekend run to Jenolan Caves was also held on October 23rd and 24th.
1994
- In 1994 Syd Carr was elected as Club President.
- It was proposed that the club participate in the Historic Registration scheme for original cars in NSW over 30 years old. As soon as enough members indicate their willingness to join the scheme we will follow through.
- A club championship was introduced. Points would be awarded for participation in runs, contributions to the magazine and for major work carried out to cars.
- A club parts exchange was started to buy, reproduce and re-manufacture parts for such as steering and brake components.
- The Datsun Sports Nationals (again at Dubbo) took place on June 10th, 11th and 12th.
- Other events included a Run to Burragorang Valley on August 21st with Mazda MX-5 club. Several members participated in the Inaugural Historic race meeting held at Wakefield Park near Goulburn on November 19th and 20th.
The 1994 Datsun Sports Nationals held in Dubbo
1995
- Syd Carr was re-elected Club President for 1995. He also navigated for Paul Bell in the Mountain Rally. They are the first club members to compete in an historic rally.
- The Club was officially incorporated (as DSOA-NSW).
- Grille badges had been on the club's agenda since as early as 1987. This year we finally designed and ordered them. Eighty were made and delivered in time for Dubbo.
- June 9 to 11, The Datsun Sports Nationals took place in Dubbo. Major structural changes for future Nationals were debated and decided, including the idea of rotating responsibility for the event between the three state clubs.
1996
- 1996 and we celebrate our 10th year.
- Phill Brook was elected Club President. This is likely to be the last year that the Sports Nationals will be held at Dubbo.
A Row of Datsuns
|Charter|
|Committee|
|Dat Chat Magazine|
|Activities|
|Membership|
Document last modified on 31 May 1996