In 1963 I spent a month down south in VIC with my good mate David Cobbelson. Once again my mobile home was an old 1955 Vanguard ex-bread delivery van. We were both goofy footers and were in constant search of left hand surf breaks. After some nice lefts at Cat Bay we journeyed on to Tourquay. It was the time of the famous Bells Beach Easter Surf Comp. The old muddy dirt track out to Bells Beach had to be negotiated with some care in my old Vanguard. In a low and slow gear we rolled our way in and out of bog patches, eventually making it to the hill top above the beach.
Dave and I had surfed small to medium waves at Bells a few times before that day. But this time the surf that greeted us from the hill top was bigger and better, with some sets bringing in good 8’ waves.
The Comp was supported by some famous surfers down from Sydney and of course the top local talent Peter Troy, Terry Wall, Marcus Shae, Brian Prynton and Flossie Neylan. Midget came down with Wogger in his big 1955 V8 Ford sedan. On this occasion he did not particapate in the comp but instead volunteered to be a judge. Dough Andrews from Dee Why won the men's senior title and Nat Young took out the junior title.
(Original for sale: $4,000.00)

A3 (370x255mm)

AUD$50.00

A4 (263x180mm)

AUD$35.00

© Garry Birdsall