1955 Zephyr Special

Today, you would describe Eldred De Bracton Norman as a lateral thinker, but during the 1950s, “eccentric” in the kindest possible way would more easily come to mind. Now, over a half a century later, just to mention his name brings knowing looks and the slight nodding of heads as those who know of his work reflect on how amazingly advanced it was. The less kind amongst us would probably think the word “bizarre” might be more appropriate. Whatever Eldred Norman was, his work was certainly noticed.

Just looking at the map of the world will show you that we, in Australia, are a long way from the rest but, to be truthful, we like to think that the rest of the world is a long way from us. We like it that way as it keeps the less-desirable happenings of the world on our TV screens and not on our streets. Many have used the term “tyranny of distance” when it comes to describing what it’s all about and it applies especially to competition vehicles.