Passionate Pursuits

Sun Herald

Sunday August 24, 2008

By Clive Hopkins

Fishing, football, comics and cars are more than just a pastime for these four men- they're a passion. By Clive Hopkins. Plus our Father's Day gift guide for dads with all kinds of obsessions.

SCOTT BAILEY

Motoring enthusiast

"When I'm driving, I always get a thumbs-up from people, whether they be eight or 80 years old. It always gives me a boost - you've got something that they haven't," says Scott Bailey, 57, from Regentville in NSW.

Bailey got his first MG in 1966, even before he was old enough to drive it. But the bug he caught so young has stayed with him throughout his life.

"My father found a 1952 MG TD, with a broken crankshaft, in the local paper for $150," he says. At the time, Bailey's take-home pay as an apprentice machine fitter was $13.10.

Bailey undertook the restoration of the car over two years, which involved completely pulling it apart in the shed behind the family home. "Dad believed that working on a project like that would serve me well in later life - and it did."

He sums up the appeal of this kind of top-off, windscreen-down, old-school sports car with the "suicide doors" (ones that open to the rear): "It turns girls' heads" and, indeed, he courted his now-wife Suzanne in that very car.

Bailey used the MG as an everyday car for two years, before selling it "for $600 and a camera". This allowed him to put a deposit on a block of

land in the NSW Southern Highlands. "I had the opportunity to put the car up on blocks in a hay shed and, in retrospect, I wish I'd done it. It would probably be worth $18,000 to $20,000 today."

Next came raising two kids and 22 years of working as a fitter for Sydney Water, a job from which he has recently retired. Alongside that came a series of Holdens and Toyotas, a world away from the raw motoring experience of a vintage sports car. But then in 1999, his Toyota Corona was stolen (for the fifth time) and came back beyond repair. Bailey said to his wife, "Let's get another MG!" - and she agreed.

The next MG was an MGB Mark 2 from 1969, which Bailey cheerfully describes as a "rust bucket". The restoration turned out to be an even bigger job than the first, including replacing the floor and sandblasting the whole car back to bare metal. While Bailey now has a hoist in his shed, at the time he employed an arrangement of scaffolding poles that allowed him to suspend the car shell and turn

it for the best angle of working - "like a rotisserie".

While Bailey still drives the MGB, his sports-car life came full circle last year when he bought another MG TD, this time restored. This is the car Bailey drove up to Tamworth over Easter for the annual meeting of MG clubs throughout Australia. He describes these occasions as an opportunity to renew friendships but also as "very competitive".

The Sydney MG Car Club organises a variety of outings, and plans are underway to visit the factory in China where MGs are now made.

When asked if his passion involves an element of reliving his youth, Bailey laughs. "I know some blokes having a midlife crisis [who are getting involved] with other women. But my girl's the car."

Motoring

1. Tumi for Ducati Moto Messenger bag, $245.

2. Boss Black by Hugo Boss jacket, $699.

3. Gregory's Best Scenic Drives Australia, New Zealand And The Pacific, $40, from Myer.

4. Chopard Mille Miglia Gran Turismo XL watch, $6650, from Watches of Switzerland.

5. Asus Lamborghini VX3 notebook, $4599.

6. Louis Vuitton Taiga key holder, $380.

7. RJays GP-2 helmet in Chaos Gloss Red, $250, from Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket.

8. Calvin Klein Man Eau De Toilette, $90 for 50ml.

9. Blake gearbox cufflinks, $25.

10. Puma Supersqualo Lo GT sneakers, $160, from the Ferrari collection.

11. Motorpro Automotive 100-piece tool kit, $60, from Kmart.

12. Prada SPR221 sunglasses, $470, from Sunglass Hut.

13. Silk-lined leather gloves, $225, from Henry Buck's.

14. Tissot T-Race watch, $1450.

GERHARD BENZ

Fisherman

"Fly-fishing is hunting. It all happens in clear water, and whether it's in rivers or lakes, you can see the fish you're trying to catch," says Gerhard Benz.

The 63-year-old grew up in Hohebach in rural Germany, where as a child he would "tickle" trout - catch them just with his hands. But it was his other great passion, surfing, that lured him to Sydney in 1978, and he still rides a board at Bondi Beach. Having retired from working in the treasury department of Pacific Power in 2001, Benz now has considerable time to follow his passions.

The stereotype of a fisherman dozing on a riverbank with a line in the water is far from the truth. Benz is constantly walking, stalking his prey. Along with his top-of-the-range rod and reel, he's decked out in thigh waders, camouflage clothes and hat and, most importantly, the polaroid sunnies that allow him to see beneath the water's surface. While others employ guides, boats and even helicopters in their search for the perfect trout, Benz is proud to pursue his passion unaided, just man against beast.

But the suspense of the hunt is nothing compared with the thrill of the strike - the "flash of white" from the inside of the fish's mouth when it takes the fly. "Trout is one of the few species that jump when hooked. The acrobatic display is part of the experience. Trout, along with salmon, are the glamour end of fishing."

But no trout gives up without a fight, with crocodile rolls and snagging among the weeds all par for the course. The strategy is to tire out the fish, which can typically take 20 to 30 minutes for a decent-sized fish. Benz's longest time with something on the line was 80 minutes - "by the end, I was more tired than the fish," he says.

Benz's biggest catch to date was a five-kilogram brown trout from the Pejar Dam near Goulburn. But the one he's most proud of was a 4.5-kilo fish - "I don't know anyone else who has caught such

a big one in the Thredbo River with a dry fly."

Says Benz, "The good thing about retirement is that you can start dealing with only like-minded souls - like surfers and fly-fishers." He is active with the NSW Rod Fishers' Society and is happy to show fellow club members his "secret spots".

Benz claims his wife, Christiane, is "supportive and understanding of my passion and lets me get away quite regularly".

He's away from home for six weeks a year on a dozen trips of between two and 10 days. Typical trips can take him to Oberon or Lake Jindabyne and, hopefully, once a year to New Zealand - "a fly-fisher's paradise, with pristine streams on both the North and South islands".

For Benz, though, it's never just about the fish but about the total experience. "I'm walking in a pristine environment, with not too many people,

no rubbish, no graffiti. And as writer Robert Traver says, we're always looking to catch a mermaid."

Outdoors

1. Kathmandu Kootenay Gore-Tex jacket, $579.

2. Coleman LED Personal Size Security Lantern, $25.

3. Davidoff Adventure Eau De Toilette, $120 for 100ml.

4. Hermes compass, $1195.

5. Fish Wobbegong polarised sunglasses, $70.

6. Oregon Scientific One Day Wireless Weather Station, $149, from Australian Geographic.

7. The North Face Plasma XCR Boa multi-sport shoes, $300.

8. Eva Solo table grill, $495, from Top3 By Design.

9. Shimano Fire Blood 2500FA fishing reel, $599.

10. Sony Ericsson C702 Cyber-shot mobile phone, $699.

11. Leather duffle bag, $395, from Hunt Leather.

12. Uniden UH036sx-2 pocket-size UHF hand-held radios, $69 a pair.

13. The Aussie Hat Co. canvas hat, $25, from Kmart.

SCOTT BELLAIRS

Comic-book collector

"Comics are short-burst, escapist entertainment. It's like going to the movies every week and seeing a dozen new films," says Scott Bellairs, 25, a part-time marketing student and call-centre worker from Balwyn, Victoria. "They're not restrained by budgetary concerns or feasibility - as long as someone can write it and someone can draw it, it can be done."

His parents must look back at that first Archie comic they bought him when he was eight and wonder what they started, as Bellairs has between 3000 and 4000 comic books in his collection. While some are in storage, most are kept in boxes in the house he shares with his parents, Garry and Esther.

Bellairs graduated from Archie to Sonic The Hedgehog, until a chance purchase by his mother when he was 12 changed his reading forever. "Mum brought me an X-Men comic along with my Sonic. It blew my mind! It was on heavier paper, with high-quality printing and a foil [embossed] cover. I wasn't aware comics could be like that. It now has a special place in my heart, as it turned me onto superheroes. It's the one I'd save if the house was on fire."

And so began a passion that has followed Bellairs into adult life. After finishing high school and starting a job, he soon discovered the pitfall that haunts every serious collector. "I'd get the pay check from Pizza Hut and blow 90 per cent of it in a comic shop." A typical weekly purchase from Classic Comics in Melbourne's Bourke Street now totals between 15 and 17 comics, with a split of 75 per cent Marvel (X-Men, Spider-Man), 20 per cent DC (Batman, Superman) and a US or Japanese title.

In the 1990s, acquiring comics became an investment for some, with rare editions stored in climate-controlled facilities to preserve their value. But as Bellairs puts it, "I buy comics to read them now, not to sell them in the future."

Despite a lot of comic art transferring to the internet (Marvel's back-catalogue is now available online via subscription), Bellairs is clear about his preference.

"I like to hold something in my hand. With a comic, you can smell it, you can touch it, you can get your eye as close as you want without any loss of quality."

While his parents are "tolerant" of his passion, Bellairs's friends are more sympathetic. "They don't make arrangements to do things on a Thursday, when they know I'll be at the comic store."

City

1. Sony DSCT300 Cyber-shot digital camera, $599. 2. Marvel Spider-Man Origins Signature Series Captain America figurine, $60, from Myer.

3. Schwipe T-shirt, $80.

4. Apple MacBook Air notebook, from $2499.

5. Apple iPhone 3G, price on application from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.

6. Ray and Charles Eames for Acme Studios business-card holder, $80, from Top3 By Design.

7. Persol PO2857-V optical frames, $249, from OPSM.

8. Sennheiser HD 205 headphones, $100.

9. Sunbeam 4 in 1 Personal Groomer, $20.

10. DarkCloudSilver timber, sterling silver and stainless steel speaker-box pendant, $450.

11. Le Coq Sportif bag, $80.

12. Adidas Originals ZX 700 Sport trainers, $160.

13. Nixon The Quatro watch, $200.

JUSTIN VAN LOON

Football fan

The standard joke about any serious sports fan is that they would rearrange their wedding around an important match. But in the case of Geelong Cats fan Justin van Loon, it's true.

"We'd booked the church [in 1994] and then someone pointed out it was the same day as the grand final. We managed to move the wedding forward but that still clashed with the preliminary final. On the day, my brother nearly crashed the car, tuning the radio in to check the score."

Van Loon, 36, a project manager at an air-conditioning manufacturer, has supported his home-town team for as long as he can remember. He was taken to his first match by his uncle when he was six years old and from the age of 12, started going to every home game. He now goes to all the home games and every away game in Victoria and tries to do one interstate trip a year.

A typical home-match day for van Loon starts early, with breakfast with his three daughters - all under five but each one signed up as a club member aged one day old. He'll get to Geelong's Skilled Stadium early and get a pass out (which guarantees him re-entry) and then it's on to a mate's house for a barbecue and a few beers. Then it's back to the ground about half an hour before kick-off.

"At Skilled Stadium, there are two areas behind the goals where you can stand. We always go to the same spot at the city end, where we see the same faces. They're a good bunch of larrikins, although we do drop the swearing if there are kids around."

Of course, for the serious fan, barracking for the team isn't enough. "We yell at the umpires if they make a bad decision and there are certain players in the opposition that we don't like. Matthew Richardson of Richmond, we always give it to him. You let them know they're at your ground and this is how we play." Van Loon insists on wearing the same clothes to every match, which then go straight in the wash, ready for the next game.

Before their 2007 victory, Geelong's last grand final win was in 1963 (before van Loon was even born) and the team had lost five finals in between. But the 2007 preliminary final against Collingwood, which the Cats won by five points, holds a special place in van Loon's memory.

"I was on the edge of my seat the whole game and I think I lost 10 years of my life through nerves. When the final siren sounded, my muscles loosened; I was so relieved. I said to my friends, "We're going to win next week." In the final, we hit them hard early, so we could relax and enjoy the game."

After the win, van Loon booked in for a tattoo. "It's on my arm, with a picture of the [Geelong] pussy cat and "Premiers 07". I've got room for '08 and '09."

1. Sporty1. Sony HDR-TG1 Handycam, $1599.

2. Nautica Voyager Eau De Toilette, $110 for 100ml.

3. Asics Statement T-shirt, $55.

4. Menu magnetic dumb-bells, $325 for set of two, from Top3 By Design.

5. Nike Mercurial Veer soccer ball, $50.

6. Reebok Premier Trinity KFS II trainers, $220.

7. Sherrin football, $20, from Kmart.

8. Burberry polo shirt, $250.

9. Oris Divers (47-millimetre) watch with stainless-steel band, $1950.

10. Barska Focus Free 7 x 35 binoculars, $100, from Australian Geographic.

11. Gucci suede sports shoes, $505.

12. VholdR wearable camcorder, $499.

13. Kiehl's Facial Fuel No-Shine Moisturising Lip Balm, $16.

Stockists

Adidas 1800 801 891

Apple 133 622, www.apple.com/au

Asics (02) 9853 2300

Asus 1300 278 788

Australian Geographic (02) 9473 6700

Blake (03) 9372 1799

Braun 1800 641 820

Burberry (02) 9238 0978, (03) 9690 1100

Calvin Klein fragrances 1800 812 663

Coleman 1800 224 350

DarkCloudSilver 0423 892 067, darkcloudsilver@yahoo.com.au

Davidoff fragrances 1800 812 663

Everdure 1300 766 066

Fish 1300 721 160

Gucci (02) 9282 4299, (03) 9639 6200

Henry Buck's 1800 651 399

Hermes (02) 9287 3200, (03) 9654 5571

Hugo Boss (03) 9474 6310

Hunt Leather 1800 064 768

Kathmandu 1800 333 484

Kiehl's (02) 9326 9980

Kmart 1800 634 251

Le Coq Sportif (02) 9256 8450

Louis Vuitton 1300 883 880

Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket (02) 9261 5182

Myer 1800 811 611

Nautica fragrances 1800 812 663

Nike 1300 656 453

Nixon (02) 9932 3166

OPSM 132 020

Oris 1800 200 330

Oroton 1800 061 047

Puma 1800 811 511

Rebel Sport www.rebelsport.com.au

Reebok (02) 8306 3337

Schwipe (03) 9639 2227

Sennheiser 1800 648 628

Shimano (02) 9526 2144

Sony 1300 720 071

Sony Ericsson 1300 650 050

Sunbeam 1300 881 861

Sunglass Hut 1800 556 926

The North Face (02) 8306 3311

Tissot (03) 8844 3300

Top3 By Design 1300 867 333

Tumi 1800 228 864

Uniden (02) 9599 3355

VholdR (02) 4226 2999

Vintage Cellars 1300 366 084

Watches Of Switzerland 1300 888 091

© 2008 Sun Herald

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