158 WheelsMag.com.au
The disparate assortment of more than 100 cars
included a 1955 Ferrari Super Squalo F1 open-wheeler, an
exceptionally rare 1920s Australian Six, a 1907 Cadillac and,
most famously, Genevieve, a 1904 Darracq and the star of
the hit film of the same name.
This was not, however, a predictable yarn. Taking direction
from the editor, the great and recently departed Bill Tuckey,
staff writer Tom Floyd penned the story as a series of letters
between writer and editor.
The narrative begins positively enough, though Tuckey is
not impressed when Floyd claims the cost of a ‘pineapple
bombshell’, a vodka-based drink, on his expenses. So it
goes, with an increasingly sun-tanned Floyd enjoying life
on the Gold Coast at the expense of his employer, while a
frustrated Tuckey demands he meet the fast-approaching
deadline for the story.
Threatening not to pay any of Tom’s expenses, while
imploring him to “stop spending our money”, Tuckey
eventually fires Floyd by telegram. Of course, it’s not the
way it really happened, but it is entertaining.
Between pineapple bombshells, Floyd cleverly works
details of the museum into his letters, so the reader gains
a clear understanding of Gilltraps, its exhibits and how itworks, even down to the daily demonstration runs in some
of the more interesting vehicles. The headingOld Dogs and
Hard Roadsis pure Tuckey. Today Floyd says, “I’m absolutely
sure the end result would have had a measure of brilliance
from the old fellow (Tuckey).”
Tom doesn’t remember the details, but I surmised that he
researched the museum while in Surfers Paradise for the
Tasman Cup meeting. As well as the museum story, the May
issue also carries his Tasman Cup race reports of Sandown
Park (Jim Clark’s last race win before he was killed in an F2
race in Germany in April) and Longford. But never jump to
conclusions; at Tuckey’s wake in Sydney, Floyd confessed to
writing the Gilltrap story from the office. In fact, he never
visited the museum.
For 22 years the Gilltrap Auto Museum was one of the
Gold Coast’s key attractions, at least so far as enthusiasts
were concerned, run by the family after founder George
died in 1966. In 1981 a major part of the collection was
sold, though the core (including Genevieve) was moved to
new premises at Dreamworld. When George Gilltrap’s widow
Kathleen died in 1988 the final part of the collection was
sold at auction. The museum irreversibly closed on
31 January 1989.Old Dogs
and Hard Roads
PETER ROBINSON’S
FIRST PUBLISHED MAY 1968
EPIC TALES FROM OUR ARCHIVES
“THERE’S A SCREAMER OF A 1927 FODEN STEAM TRUCK THAT TAKES TWO HOURS TO
FIRE UP AND WHEN YOU GET IT STARTED IT’S TOO LATE TO GO ANYWHERE”
- TOM FLOYD, MAY 1968
Classic
NINE YEARS AFTER GILLTRAPS AUTO MUSEUM OPENED ON THE GOLD COAST, WHEELS FINALLY RAN
A STORY ON WHAT WAS THEN AUSTRALIA’S BEST CAR COLLECTION.