Graeme Miller with LR2785 at Mildura over a weekend in 2012
By Damien Hooper (ABC Mildura Swan Hill, 11 November, 2012) ~ Made available by Dean Montgomery
Around ten Bentleys all produced in the 1920s and 1930s were on the road from Western Australia making their way back to Melbourne, spending the weekend at Mildura in November 2012.
Graeme Miller with his 1930 Bentley once in use by the Western Australian police force
As reported on November 11, 2012:
Graeme Miller pulls on his black leather driving gloves and insists they're not just for show, but help him get a better grip on the steering wheel of his green 1930 Bentley. He seems to know more about the prestigious motor vehicle than most people and in particular his pride and joy of which he is only the third owner.
"It's one of two cars which the Western Australian police force purchased in 1930 for use as patrol cars and they ran them from 1930 until 1946," he says.
As the car rumbles along the main street of Mildura, Graeme explains with some disgust at how other vehicles of the same era out-performed the Bentley, but according to Graeme, weren't built as well.
For Graeme the connection with his car lies in maintenance and making sure the car is running at its optimum.
"You have to keep working on them all the time, so I've had the engine out of this car at least twice over the last 32 years," says Mr Miller.
Graeme says he doesn't believe he could part with his old friend even if the day did come when he had to hand over the keys of his beloved vehicle. "I don't think I would. My wife has told me that if I go before her, she's hanging on to it," he says.
It's more than just the aesthetic appreciation. "You have to treat it as you do any piece of machinery, it must be maintained, there's no point expecting to flog it and do nothing to maintain it.
Another of the car enthusiasts is Phil Schudmak, the proud owner of a 1924 Bentley. When questioned about perception of Bentley owners, Mr Schudmak responded by saying, "it didn't say much about me, except that we're all a bit eccentric." Phil insists "they're still a good fun, strong and quality car," even though the youngest of the touring cars is 81 years old (in 2012).