The Australian Early Holden Federation

The History of the Australian Early Holden Federation Nationals

(Disclaimer: the following history has been put together by Barry Black and other members of the AEHF and is correct to the best of their knowledge. If you are aware of any discrepencies and have evidence to prove it, please forward the details to Barry by email: bblack@ricoh.com.au)

The First Early Holden Nationals were run by the EMHC of Vic or to be more precise Les McVeigh. The marketing company working for the film ‘The FJ Holden’ contacted GMH and they were passed onto Les, he told them about his idea of a national meeting and they agreed to help. So the First Nationals were held from 23 -25th April 1977 and run in conjunction with world premiere of the movie. The event started at the Holden dealer in Chullora where there was a Show and Shine held with judging. After the Show and Shine it was across the road to the Chullora Drive-in to see ‘The FJ Holden’ movie, which was free to all the 412 FX and FJ’s who attended. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Les McVeigh Early Model Holden Club of Vic.
Top Stock FX Ray Phillips Southern Early Model Holden Club of Vic.
Top Stock FJ Russell Theil Early Model Holden Club of Vic.

So with this popularity in mind Les contacted all the FX FJ clubs in Victoria about the forming of a body to control the early movement. A meeting was held on June 30th at Rare Spares in Brunswick and attended by most of the clubs from Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong and Ballarat. After much discussion the Australian Early Holden Federation was chosen as the name and a committee formed with Les McVeigh as National Director and three committee members who were: George Omachen, Paul Miller and Steve Bridges. A rough constitution was drawn up and it was decided to have another national event later in the year

The Second Nationals were held from 27 - 30th December 1977 at Tumut N. S. W. The Nationals were a tremendous success with ‘Earlies’ attending from all over Australia and everyone having a ball mixing with people of similar interests. Highlights were the big Street Parade, the Show and Shine and the Motorkhana, both at the Showgrounds. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Les McVeigh Early Model Holden Club of Vic.
Top Stock FX Ken Bassett Southern Early Model Holden Club of Vic.
Top Stock FJ Russell Theil Early Model Holden Club of Vic.

In 1978 we once again everyone set off to Tumut for the third Nationals held from 27 - 29th December. Unfortunately the Showgrounds that had been the venue for the previous Nationals had been torn-up for improvements so most people moved to the Caravan Park to camp, instead of the grounds offered to replace the Showgrounds. With 182 earlies attending it was another great success, with the Town giving great support to the event. The Street Procession was a great highlight with the leading cars returning before some of the other cars had started. Further highlights was the Show and Shine in the centre of town and this being the 70’s, there was a Disco dance in the evening. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Brian Smith FX-FJ Holden Club of Qld.
Grand Champion Modified Noel Harper FX-FJ Holden Club of Aust, Bendigo Chap.

The 4th Nationals for 1979 were moved to Narrandera N. S. W. in the hope of finding better facilities and a more central location. The Nationals were held from 26 - 29th December and were a great event even though it was very hot but good drinking weather. The Highlights were the Go-Whoa times which ranged from 16 seconds for the grey motor cars to 9 seconds for the V8 cars, the Burn-out competition that destroyed tyres and dug holes in the bitumen and the Cricket match between the AEHF members and the Narrandera RSL with the AEHF winning. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Steve Picone Early Model Holden Club of Vic.
Grand Champion Modified Pat Fay Early Model Holden Club of NSW.
We returned the following year to Narrandera for the 5th Nationals, with new dates from 28 December to New Years Day eve. Another hot and sticky event but that didn’t stop everyone from having a great time. The Highlights were the Go-Whoa with everyone being told not to damage the bitumen, a Car rally to Griffith and 80 cars on the oval for the Show’N’Shine. Top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Steve Picone Early Model Holden Club of Vic.
Grand Champion Modified Kevin Garth Early Model Holden Club of Vic.

As the 1980 5th Nationals had become such a large gathering of earlies it was decided that in order to ease the workload of the organising committee, that the Nationals be held every second year. Later on it was decided that the AEHF committee, which runs the Nationals, should be rotated around the clubs to spread the workload.

The Nationals had settled down to a standard formula of events that included a welcome BBQ, a touring run, a Show & Shine day, interclub sports, car competition events and Trophy Presentation night spread over the four days from 27th to 30th December.

The Queenslanders ran the 1982 6th Nationals, which were held at Wellington in Northern New South Wales. This was an enjoyable and well-run event with 153 cars in attendance. The highlights were the no show of the locals for the cricket match so we had a game among ourselves, the street parade where hundreds of locals turned out to watch and a car rally to the Mudgee wineries and Pioneer Museum. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Ron & Fay Goodhew FX-FJ Holden Club of Queensland
Grand Champion Modified Ron Keegan FX-FJ Holden Club of Aust, Syd Chap.

Onto the 7th Nationals in 1984, which were held at the Natex Centre in Canberra. This was an excellent venue and turned out to be an outstanding event. The highlights were a 50’s style dance, an observation run to the sites in Canberra with a few getting lost due to all the roundabouts, a car parade on the trotting track which was part of the race meeting held on the night and the Motorkhana and Go-whoa on the grass in the rain which provided an amusing spectacle for those watching. It was even mentioned by a few people that this event almost paralleled the first Tumut Nationals acknowledged as the best Nationals ever held. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Fred Heyward Northside FX-FJ Club, Queensland
Grand Champion Modified Mike Marsden FX-FJ Holden Club of Queensland

1986 was the turn of the South Australians to run the 8th Nationals, which was held near the coastal town of Yankalilla at the Wirrina Holiday resort. The highlights were 120 car Show’N’Shine display on the Wirrina oval, Observation run to Victor Harbour and the Motorkhana held on a dusty paddock. An enjoyable four days were had, renewing old acquaintances, checking out the new cars, and knocking down a few ales. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Roy Johnson FX-FJ Holden Club of Queensland
Grand Champion Modified Malcolm Whittaker Northside FX-FJ Club, Queensland

In 1988 we travelled to Queensland for the 9th Nationals at the Cleveland Showgrounds, Cleveland. Highlights were the Show’N’Shine at the Brisbane Exhibition Centre in Brisbane city area. An Observation Rally with a walking section through the fantastic local museum and another wet Motorkhana. Plenty of seafood was provided for the meals. A great and well-attended Nats with the top Trophies winners being:-
Grand Champion Stock Roy Johnson FX-FJ Holden Club of Queensland
Grand Champion Modified Dave Johnson FX-FJ Holden Club of Queensland

1990 was the Victorians turn to run the 10th Nationals at Bacchus Marsh that attracted 140 entries. Highlights include the Motorkhana being very dusty with no help from Mark Plummer doing 360’s in the top chop. Having 99 Earlies in the street parade and a great Bush Dance. Having a Go-Whoa competition in the back street of the town, which turned out to be very close competition that everybody enjoyed. With all the Victorian Clubs lending a hand when required, the Nats were a great success. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Bob Harris FX-FJ Car Club of Canberra
Grand Champion Modified John Robinson FX-FJ Holden Club of Aust, NW Tas Chap.

A boat trip was required to Tasmania for the 11th Nationals at Launceston in 1992. This was a very well organised and enjoyable Nats. Highlights included a rough ride on the Abel Tasman and Cat causing a few to do a 'heave-ho', a touring rally to the Tasmania Motor Museum, Grindelwald Swiss Village and a old Gold Mine, a Ute breaking a timing gear in the Motorkhana and a Victorian participant breaking a rear spring after the Nats, but getting it fixed by club members still left at the camping ground. As a lot of people did a touring holiday of Tasmania after the Nats, the Tasmania members offered their backyards to camp in and were great hosts. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Darren Maxted Shepparton FX-FJ Car Club
Grand Champion Modified Darryl McBeth Early Model Holden Club of Vic

The Station Resort at Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains was the venue for the 12th Nationals in 1994. Highlights include a great Touring rally where you had to identify 20 car items on a tray and then we went all around the Snowy scheme and we ended up at the Ski Tube Terminal so we could take the train up to Thredbo. The well attended Show’N’Shine at the Banjo Patterson Park, next to the lake and a great Motorkhana with everyone having fun. A very well run Nats by the Canberra AEHF Committee. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Darren Maxted Shepparton FX-FJ Car Club
Grand Champion Modified John Ottley FX-FJ Car Club of Canberra

The 13th Nationals in 1996 were at The Archer Resort, Nowra in N. S. W run by the Sydney AEHF Committee. Highlights include car events at the Nowra Speedway where a few nearly came to grief with the Armco. A very low-key affair but very enjoyable Nats. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Darren Maxted Shepparton FX-FJ Car Club
Grand Champion Modified Darryl Nielsen Combined Coastal Car Club

Cooroy in Queensland near the tourist town of Noosa was the venue of the 14th Nationals in 1998. Highlights include a big turn out of cars on the oval for Show n Shine, the observation run that started with a walk through the town and then into your car to complete the run around the local area and the motorkhana that got washed out halfway through, so what happen to the sunny Queensland weather? The Queensland AEHF committee did a fantastic job which was appreciated by everyone who attended. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Steve & Sue Whiting Combined Coastal Car Club
Grand Champion Modified Steve & Sue Whiting Combined Coastal Car Club

A trip to Victoria country Town of Shepparton was required to attend the 15th Nationals in 2000. With strong support of the town the Shepparton AEHF Committee did a great job. The highlights were a Show’N’Shine on the grass next to the city’s lake, which everyone enjoyed, and a observation run around the local area, plus free samples from the fruit cannery. The National Driver Training Centre provided the venue for the speed events that showed the good drivers from the bad. The Committee even surprised everyone at the trophy presentation with Guest speakers Peter Brock and Don Loffler. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock G & G Strongman Early Model Holden Club of Vic
Grand Champion Modified John Coulits Shepparton FX-FJ Car Club

In 2002 we got on a faster Ferry than last time to travel to Tasmania for the 16th Nationals held in the ferry port of Devonport. Due to insurance problems no car competition events could be held but than didn’t stop the Tasmania AEHF committee from putting on a well organised event. Highlights included a Show’n’Shine where there were packed crowds looking at the cars all day and Two runs that covered all the sites to see across the top of the island. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Les Maxted Shepparton FX-FJ Car Club
Grand Champion Modified John Coulits FX-FJ Holden Club of Aust, Syd Chap.

For 2004 17th Nationals we went to another country town called Loxton on the Murray River in South Australia. With the usual strong support from the town the small South Australian AEHF committee put on a very friendly and well organised Nats. The highlights included a big turn out of custom FX-FJs on the Show’N’Shine day and runs through the scenic towns on the Murray River with free samples received during a visit to the Berri Company. The top Trophies winners were:-
Grand Champion Stock Joyce Clark FX-FJ Holden Club of Aust, Syd Chap.
Grand Champion Modified Darryl Nielsen Combined Coastal Car Club

The 2006 18th Nationals were held in Canberra.

The 2008 19th Nationals will be held in Beenleigh, QLD.

Please send us any info re earlier shows.