The Richard Blanden Collection
Featuring memorabilia & the automotive library of the Late John Blanden
John Blanden was involved in Australian motor sports for almost 50 years. Commencing competitive activities in Victoria with a Ford 10 Special, Renault Special and the inevitable “TC” on the popular tracks of the day including Albert Park, Fisherman’s Bend and Ballarat Airstrip. With the advent of a young family his driving days were over in the early 60’s and his attention was directed to the administration of events and the early establishment of a private record of motor sport events, cars and personalities that was to continue throughout his life.
A career move to Adelaide in the early 70’s saw him join the Sporting Car Club of South Australia where he was to serve as President and ultimately be voted a life member, along with terms on the CAMS State Council. This period saw John return to active motor sport competition as an entrant and patron for several local drivers. It also presented the opportunity to acquire a number of historic racing and sports cars. The establishment of a Motor Museum in Hahndorf to house his growing collection of cars also provided the space to add memorabilia to his collection – the annual run to those early Bendigo Swap Meets was always a lot of fun.
The end of John’s regular working career coincided with the arrival of Formula One in Australia in 1985. A proposal to the Organisers to include Historic Race Cars on the programme led to a 20-year involvement as Historic Events Manager as well as the creation of enormously popular support events such as the Grand Prix Rally and Climb to the Eagle.
Through this period he continued to grow his records and the documenting of our Motor Sport History with the publishing of several books – Historic Racing Cars in Australia (Vol 1 and 2), History of Australian Grand Prix 1928-1939 and Elfin Racing and Sports Cars as well as contributing his records to many other’s in their own publishing efforts.
Growing up in these surroundings it was almost inevitable that I would be similarly enthused by motor sport and its history. I was gifted a youth of travelling to virtually all of Australia’s motorsport circuits as our cars were competing, from Clubmans, to Formula 3, to Formula 5000 and ultimately Historics. As a young man I then had the privilege of driving many of my father’s cars. Not a lot of people will have been picked up after school and taken to a racetrack to learn to drive in a C-Type Jaguar! The cars that passed through our garages over the years included;
AC Shelby Cobra
Allard J2
ASP Clubman 320B
ASP Clubman 340C
ASP Clubman 340C
Aston Martin DB3S
Austin 7 Roadster
Austin Healey 100S
Austin Healey 100/4
Austin Healey Bug Eye Sprite
Birrana 375
Brabham Speedcar
Brabham 2.7 Climax
Bugatti T37
Cooper T51 F2
Cooper T51 F1 (Brabham 1959 World Championship car)
Daimler V8 Majestic
Elfin 300C
Elfin Catalina
Elfin Clubman
Elfin ME5
Ferrari 250 GTE
Ferrari 308 GT4
Ford Falcon XC Coupe – ex Moffat Team Car
Ford Falcon XC Coupe – Cobra
Ford 10 Special
Holden FX
Holden FJ
Jaguar C-Type
Jaguar 3.8 Mk II
Lancia Ford Special
Lola T332 F5000
Lola T400 F5000
Lotus Elite
Lotus 11
Lotus 15
Lotus 18
Lotus 23
Maserati Merak
MG TC
MG TC Special S/C
MG TF
MG B Mk II
Packard Tourer
Porsche 930
From an early age I had collected the autographs of many of the great drivers and continued this through the Adelaide Formula 1 era and beyond. A business career that took me overseas for many years provided access to multiple international events with a range of memorabilia added to my own collection through those years
Since John’s death in 2004 I have been custodian of his Library, photographs and historical records along with much of his memorabilia. These have been displayed along with my collection in my home up until this decision being taken to pass on these items for other enthusiasts to enjoy.
Richard Blanden
January 2022
