Old Holdens still firing
Classic cars a part of family’s DNA
TWEED resident John “Scoffa” Russell’s birthday sees thousands of people hit his local streets each year for a rocking party like no other – a celebration of classic cars and culture better known to most as Cooly Rocks On.
Scoffa, a grandfather of six who celebrates his 62nd birthday tomorrow, has been cruising down to the nostalgia festival in his two prized classic Holdens since 1978, when the first instalment of its predecessor, Wintersun, was held.
While many classic car aficionados only start their motors for special events, Scoffa’s 1970-71 HG ute (with a 250l diesel tank in its tray) and 1966-67 HR Holden (a three on the column now four on the floor manual) have been his only mode of transport for 40 years.
“The HR was the first car I ever bought. I got it from Tweed Motors second hand when I was 17. I paid $1150 for it,” he said
A Bathurst-loving Holden fan, ‘Scoffa’ has worked as a bulldozer driver since he was 16 years old.
“I left school when I was 15,” he said. “I couldn’t drive a car but I could drive a dozer.”
Scoffa added the ute – a 5l four-speed V8 – when he turned 21.
“I used to tow a trailer behind the HR, with a 44 (gallon drum) of diesel in it to service the dozer, but it was a bit hard on the HR,” he said.
“The ute is better. I’ve got the tanks and all my work tools and tool boxes in it.”
Scoffa’s wife Michelle and two of the couple’s four daughters (Leanne, 33, Jayne, 35, Steph, 31, and Jojo, 29) learnt to drive in the HR and Steph drove it to pass her licence test.
“I put the HR up for sale once about 10 years ago for five grand but no one wanted it,” Scoffa said.
V8 Supercars Hall of Famer Jim Richards, a special guest at yesterday’s first Garage Torque session, will become Cooly Rocks On’s Grand Marshal when he leads today’s iconic street parade through Coolangatta.