Author(s): Murray Hubbard

New Planes, Trains and Automobiles

A rollicking ride through the early days of Australian motorsport. Set in 1900 - 1918 in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the true story of bitter rivalry between two Brisbane car importers/ dealers: E.G. Eager & Son and Canada Cycle and Motor (CCM). There are four main characters; Fred Z. Eager, Alec Fraser Jewell, E.G. Eager and ...... A rollicking ride through the early days of Australian motorsport. Set in 1900 - 1918 in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the true story of bitter rivalry between two Brisbane car importers/ dealers: E.G. Eager & Son and Canada Cycle and Motor (CCM). There are four main characters; Fred Z. Eager, Alec Fraser Jewell, E.G. Eager and CCM managing director A.V.Dodwell. The paths of speedsters Fred Eager and Alec Jewell collide on Christmas Day, 1916, on Southport Beach at the first attempt to set an Australian land speed record. CCM could not beat Eager and Whitey in the premier motorsport event of hill climbs so they decided to stage an event of their own, bespoke for the Studebaker. This race would nullify Fred Eager's driving skills and suit the big-engined Studey: A straight-line land speed contest against the clock on the firm, low-tide sand of Southport (Surfers Paradise) beach. Only one of them could win. Or could they?