A Life In Cars

The life story of Dickie Sutherland

A Life In Cars

This is the life story of Richard “Dickie” Sutherland, a Baby Boomer growing up in Adelaide, South Australia during the golden era of the motor car.

His memoirs are told using the small stories of the many cars that accompanied him throughout the decades.

And as the years roll on, his story starts to include the car stories of his son Nicholas.

Explore the stories

1954
Rowley-Park-gates-Lighten

Sprint Cars at Rowley Park

Rowley Park the Place where Champions Gather I was twelve my best friends Bobby was right into racing cars especially Speedway Sprint cars.
  • Sprint Cars
1969
DarrylOnParadeCloseUp-178KB

Trip to Puckapunyal

National Service scheme, 1964–1972 A fourth period of National Service was introduced in 1964, and in May 1965 the Coalition Government introduced new powers that enabled it to send national servicemen overseas. At that time Australian soldiers were involved in the war in Vietnam and
  • Mini
1970
Mike Spence Crop 185KB

October  Overseas Cars

Mike Spence prestige car showroom Lotus Dealership It was just the place for a car mad South Australia to wait out the winter months.
  • Ford, Lamborghini, Lotus, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Simitar, Singer, VW
1949
BarbPat ErnBobBrianOld soap box Donald driving

Soap Box Racer

Our family had two proper Soap Box Racers stored in the back yard. An older pre-war dark blue "heavy car" and a white, lighter construction developed later.
  • Soap Box Cars
1964
image102

Donald Campbell’s Bluebird

The course was never fully dry, but under pressure, Campbell was forced to make the best of it. In July he put in some speeds which approached the record. On 17 July, taking advantage of a break in the weather , he made 2 courageous
  • Bluebird
1968
jan68weekendVauxhall Ford 1100 1340x 196KB

Ford Customline

The Ford a versitile Luxery sedan, surf chser, mussel car of 1954
  • Ford

See all of the stories

Oldest First
Newest First
By Year
By Make

About A Life In Cars

Cars have been a strong and influential theme running throughout my life. They have not been my whole life as such, but they have been a central focus.

They have also been a centre point for my working life and hundreds of adventures along the way.  Cars have influenced my thinking, my interests, my career and my family life.

So yes!

You could definitely say that “I’m a car guy.”

And thus, cars are the common thread that binds my life’s story together. A Life In Cars is my life story recounted using all my car stories as the central theme of the story.

I describe the experiences, the people and the places along the way. The cars I owned, the cars I experienced, the cars that ‘should have been,’ and the notable car-related moments in my life.

I hope you enjoy the stories and I hope that my story might help you rediscover old memories and emotional ties, just like I have during the process of writing them all down.

You are also welcome to leave a comment below each story, as a way to extend my story or as a place to share your tales.

Introduction
Why Cars
Favourite Car
about-richard-sutherland-enfield-adelaide
Me and a radio controlled car that I raced during the late 70's and early 80's.