RUNNING HOT

JUST got back from the Running On Empty Festival in Cobar, which appeared to be a huge hit with ROE fans, with around 2000 people driving in from all over the country.

There were many replicas of the cars that West Australian hot rodder Dave Duncan originally cast or designed for the film, and one or two originals with what appeared to be Dave’s original artwork as well. What Dave said in your article a few years back

(SM Hot Rod #16) about the producers of the film was true:

“It was terrible, embarrassing. The whole production staff didn’t have a clue – they wanted to know why we weren’t using Mini Minors. We had a bit of fun, we just went hot rodding. I was there for about two months, then I pulled the pin. I snatched the rent, I got pissed off. I couldn’t put up with it.”

However, Dave’s work remained core to the film and people are celebrating it some 35 years later. I think Dave deserves credit for styling the cars in the film, which is so dear to the hearts of so many. Others are queuing up to take some or all of this credit and it would be good if Dave got more of the recognition he deserves.

There’s talk on Facebook of another ROE Fest, perhaps a 40th anniversary, and if that happens Dave should be there! Can you forward Dave’s email address to the organisers of the festival so we can try and make sure this happens?