TUCKED away amongst the many warehouses in Kangaroo Flat is Simon Young\u2019s British Sporting Cars, a restoration and reconditioning workshop servicing vintage classics.<\/p>\n
Together Mr Young and his partner Shelly run the business which moved to its current location in 2005 following its establishment 25 years ago by Mr Young and his late father.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrimarily we deal with the restoration of old British cars, mostly built before 1975. We do all our own engine work in house, our gear boxes in house. We do everything except body work and paint and trim,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also run cars in competitive events so we make up our own modified breaks and different things that the cars might need for different events.”<\/p>\n
Mr Young\u2019s self-described \u201caffliction\u201d with the stylish vehicles began at a young age and his talents for restoring their intricate insides were inherited from generations of family work in similar industries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a ride back from my grandmother\u2019s house in Geelong when I was about six years old with my Aunt in her 850 Mini and there was just something about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fell in love with it then and there was never any doubt what my first car was going to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father was a mechanic, originally my family came from England to here to work on steam engines. He was into motorbikes and rally race motorbikes so it was just everywhere, but they weren\u2019t into English stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other half of my family have been here forever and they are all fitters and turners and motor mechanics and practical people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Built to perfection, the cars lined up in Mr Young\u2019s shop are an expensive investment for himself and his clients, but he said the process of revitalising them is a rewarding and nostalgic one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a sociological aspect to these things where people see a Mini Cooper S, they think of the Italian job, the Beetles, Twiggy, Mary Quant and it is that whole mindset,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want to be part of that even though it\u2019s a piece of history now. The cars themselves are tangible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to keep reminders of our social history.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TUCKED away amongst the many warehouses in Kangaroo Flat is Simon Young\u2019s British Sporting Cars, a restoration and reconditioning workshop servicing vintage classics. Together Mr Young and his partner Shelly run the business which moved to its current location in 2005 following its establishment 25 years ago by Mr Young and his late father. \u201cPrimarily […]<\/p>\n