With the inception of the home computer the world changed and even though rodders are notoriously wary of change, eventually the rodding world was introduced to this new medium.

Greg Wapling was one who saw its advantages early on and created a website, Hot Rod Internet, which saw the beginnings of Net Rodding in Australia.

It was at this stage my then 10 year old son found the site and I was introduced to ‘the computer’. Mind you at the time I had no idea how to operate it or even how to type, today still only one finger has mastered the art!

I joined the forum and lurked in the background for a while slowly gaining the confidence to add a bit here and there, answer a few queries, ask a few questions and make a few comments.

I was immediately aware of the advantages of this form of communicating especially for those such as I who live in remote areas, but even our city counterparts are advantaged with the speed events that can be publicised, questions answered, parts found, suppliers sourced etc. and the friendly banter between members can be hilarious.

The HRI site grew quickly until a lawsuit was brought against Greg and nine others including myself, causing Greg to close the site.

The two Franks, owners of the American site Rodding Round Table, quickly came to our aid, giving us the use of their facilities, going as far as giving us a section just for Aussies.

Behind the scenes Dave Petrusma was hard at work sorting out and founding ozrodders.com a US hosted community for Aussie Rodders where freedom of speech is guaranteed and the vast knowledge of the members can be passed on.

As time passed I put forward an idea to form an internet based Hot Rod Club and it was given some merit, then put on the backburner. However in May 2005 it was again pushed to the fore and in July 2005 Oz-E-Rodders Rod & Kustom Club was formed, the name being suggested by Sydney Rodder Brett Calvert.

Oz-E-Rodders was affiliated with the ASRF and being a truly national club we decided to affiliate through the national capital via the ACT DC.

The inaugural President was well known rodder and technical author Frank ‘Choco’ Munday. Chris Stork was elected Secretary and Graeme Thomas Treasurer. Sleight of hand saw yours truly given the role of Publicity Officer. This was a simple ruse; this is how it went down… Secretary Chris was aware that at 4.00pm daily I head off to pick up my boys from the school bus; 4.02pm 1 was nominated; 4.04pm nomination was seconded; 4.08pm I was elected unopposed; 4.30pm I arrive home to see the ‘good’ news!! Naturally those responsible were no longer ‘on line’.

So as you can see Oz-E-Rodders was spawned from the ozrodders.com forum giving its members from all over the nation a voice and a vote. This can only be a plus for rodding in general.

As far as I am aware Oz-E-Rodders is the world’s first internet based affiliated Rod Club.

Meetings are opened by the Pres ‘on line’… Topics are discussed and, if needed, voted on and if necessary our DC Rep takes our concerns etc. to the State Meeting, just like any other club, with one exception, we can have a coldie as there is no drive home.

During the course of normal business a camp-out was suggested and plans got underway with the Swift Family offering the use of their picturesque Harcourt property. The weekend of the Bendigo Swap being chosen as the date, as Harcourt is only a short drive away.

The event was a huge success with members from Vic, Tas, NSW, QLD and the ACT attending along with a host of local rodders. It¬πs on again this year and all are welcome. no charge, bar a gold coin donation for a feed.

The year rolled on and membership constantly grew with members from every State and Territory.

In early December I noticed a letter in ASR regarding the plight of Charlie Hocking sent in by his carer Annette Schembri. Charlie is suffering Motor Neurone Disease. My initial thought was we must do something here and being close to Christmas I knew the power of the internet could quickly organise something, so an email here and an email there and members donating
cash and goods saw ‘Charlie’s Big Day Out’ organised and held in eight short days. The day was well documented in ASR. Charlie and his family had a great day, but we the rodders gained even more from the day. Charlie is now an Honorary Life Member.

January saw the Melbourne Hot Rod Show and we planned a site, only we forgot the entry form, however the VHRA through Ron Smith organised a two car stand for us with member Peter ‘Carps’ Carpenter displaying his pinstriping abilities beside the stand and, as only Carps can, a constant babble of Hot Rodding info!

In early May, we were made aware by member Pat Keally that his long time mate rodder Max Anderson was acutely and terminally ill, suffering cancer and again hastily we set about organising a surprise gathering for ‘Max’s Last Ride’ which was a great success with Max being treated to a ride in Megan Young’s ’47 Chev Pickup, driven without fear by husband Gary. When the smoke cleared all we saw was Max’s beaming face, unfortunately his last ride was on the back of the same vehicle on may 19th as we laid him to rest with several Oz-E-Rodders cars as a backdrop to his burial.

Two days later member Peter Gough aka Toprodz put on a family BBQ at his Reservoir business premises which saw dozens from all over Vic attend and one member, Glenn Child from 500km East of Darwin. Glenn is known as Outback, now we know why! Glenn is the fella who drove his four banger powered A Jalopy from Melbourne to Queensland in the pouring rain on
Chainsaw Bob’s Nats Cruise!

July saw our AGM and knowing Choco was not re-nominating due to heavy work commitments the search for a suitable replacement commenced.

Graeme and Chris were elected unopposed, Choco took on the role of DC Rep, and I’m still doing same.

Being a forward thinking club we voted in a female President, Tanya Locke from near Dubbo in NSW has the reins firmly in her grip.

Tanya and husband Terry are longtime rodders, Terry having owned his ’34 Coupe some 31 years and Tanya’s broad rodding knowledge should see her in good stead.

Frank ‘Choco’ Munday with his vast experience led the way through our infant year and I’m sure Tanya will continue in the same vein.

Oz-E-Rodders has now grown to over 70 members.

The initial steps have been taken to organise a National Day the weekend before Christmas with Oz-E-Rodders in each state and territory organising a charitable event to help out any person or group in need of something special.

From the first tentative steps Greg Wapling took with HRI the idea of Internet Rodding has swelled and as with other sites such as eBay will continue to do so. It’s a new, exciting way of keeping up with our sport, the events, the happenings, cars and parts for sale and the invaluable knowledge from here and overseas that is passed on is insurmountable.

Ozrodders.com now boasts over 1100 members from all over the globe and friends have been made world wide.

The huge contingent of Kiwi rodders at Wintersun 2006 was in no small way attributed to forum member Graham ‘Noddy’ Watts who brought two cars over for the event, now there¬¨œÄs dedication.

Via this medium we follow the building of cars from rusty hulks to shiny pieces of mechanical artwork by way of words and pictures. Long time rodders from all over freely pass on their knowledge to young-bloods eager for information.

To all who thought computers were for nerds (as I did) think again. We can all gain from them!