Drag Racing on Taverner's Hill

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With my tour guide Bob Honeybrooke

Around 1961-2 the Tram network had been replaced by buses and cars.

Lee Gordon and Abe Saffron set up a drive in Hamburger joint,running a competition to name it https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/557109416404070053/

"Gordon and Saffron's other major joint venture was another idea that proved to be somewhat ahead of its time for Australia - the first drive-in fast food restaurant in Sydney, the Big Boy hamburger bar on Parramatta Road at Taverners Hill"- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Gordon_(promoter) (viewed 7 dec 2023)

The Big Boy hamburger bar, became the place to hang out on Saturday and Sunday nights. Looking down Parramatta Road this became the perfect spot to show of you car.

Flood St Lights facing "race" course

Without the current median strip there was a perfect circuit on a Saturday or Sunday night.

Upward St Leichhardt

Two drivers would head down the hill, turning right into either George or Upward Sts, Leichhardt and then positioning the two cars at the lights in Flood St.

When the lights changed the drivers would race up the hill, with the finish line at the Bar. Turning right into Andreas St, Petersham or doing a Uey to return to the Bar to basque in glory or shame. 

Looking West along Parramatta Road
Car Showrooms

The Big Boy hamburger bar is long gone by November 2023.

But the car mechanics and show rooms remain.

60 years earlier Gordon was areaste on drug charges in July and  found dead in November 1963..." The sign on the footpath out the front says ‘Motorcyclists not allowed’..The Bikie Burger Ban, June 2014 (viewed 7 Dec 2023) https://www.pressreader.com/australia/old-bike-australasia/20140601/281947425928691

PS Bob's aunties made wedding dresses and his Mum andwas a seamstress at Osti but that is another tale. 

PPS Lots  of nostalga about "Beefy's" and "Brickies at Homebush." on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/828781524941608/permalink/1146216506531440/) . Including snippet "Watched many a panel van race up that hill, actually the guy that run Beefys was Laurie Ho who was Lisa Ho the fashion designer father" - Bruce  

Mechanic Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt

Mechanic Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt

Car industry Parramatta Rd Lewisham

Flood St at Parramatta Rd Leichhardt

Manufacturing  of clothing

696 Parramatta Road Lewisham (Petersham?)



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