Wheelspin July 2012 - Sporting Car Club of SA

JEFF GRANSDEN’S 90TH BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION
Family came from far and wide including interstaters to celebrate
the milestone birthday of the grand ol’ man! (not that Jeff would
admit to being old). I believe the ol’ fella is still competing; his
last race was at Mallala at the Easter Historic race meeting.
Thanks must go to Jeff’s lovely wife, Lorraine, for organising
this special day.
By all reports everyone had a wonderful time, and I believe his
fellow Club cronies really enjoyed the refreshments as Jeff was
footing the bill!!
On behalf of the Sporting Car Club, congratulations and best
wishes Jeff.
Alan Caire Facilities/ Functions
The Black Bess replica built by Jeff shown above.
Jeff with his great grand children and one of his
Elfin clubman sports cars.
On Sunday 20th May, Jeff Gransden, a long time Club Member
of 57 years plus, celebrated his 90th birthday with 120 family
and friends in the Reg. Sparks Room.
On stage were two of Jeff’s creations –
An Elfin 1968 Clubman Roadster (one of 5 which he built )
The second being a replica of ‘Black Bess’, a re-creation of the
original 1940 model.
( Black Bess was originally a Ford V8, stripped and rebuilt for
racing but after a short life and blowing the engine was put away
for some years. In 1946 it was again rebuilt with a Mercury V8
and went from success to success winning 29 races and 10
other placings from 40 starts at circuits all over Australia in the
period to 1952.)
Of course the day wouldn’t have been the same without the
Birthday Boy being interviewed by the one and only Graham
Boulter, and Jeff, true to form responded in his cheeky and
humorous way. Roastings by Hedley Bachmann and Colin Stagg
and a tribute given by Jeff’s great-grandson, Jonathon, made
the afternoon most enjoyable with plenty of laughter and
reminiscing from days gone by.
David Braunack kindly presented Jeff with nine bottles of red
wine with each label representing a decade of Jeff’s life. Jeff is
looking forward to the next bottle!
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