As I said back on another thread I had the once in a lifetime chance to see an Interceptor in the flesh just 3 weeks ago. Adrian Bennett's one to be specific "oop north" in Bradford. Met up with him at his house after getting directions and spent the first 30mins just gawking at his living room. Now there would be some who would call it obsessive, but I'm certainly not one of them when I looked at Adrians collection of Mad Max memorablia. To say it's impressive is an understatement. He has the Monza nose of an Interceptor on the wall for f**k sake! We chatted and I just wished I could have arrived about 3 hours earlier because I'd just found a kindred spirit in Adrian, and not just for his interest in Mad Max. He's a genuinely nice bloke.
In his living room every free space on the wall has something "Mad Maxish" Even above the picture rail are photos from scenes in the film with photos of himself at some of the actual locations when he went there back in '04. In one alcove alone there are signed photos of the actors from the films, some with Adrian beside them. Artwork and memorabilia abound. It was like a fans Aladdins cave.
Finally he took me out to the backyard and his double garage. He rushed back indoors for something (weak ballder I'm guessing) and I was left to open the garage doors and view the car alone. I kid you not the short hairs on the back of my neck were at attention....
Pause for a "Hmmmm" moment here. Why is it as I read back on what I've written, does it sound soooo anorak? Anyway you have to have been there to experience it.
Adrian came back before I could hotwire it and steal it, and then got in it himself and fired it up (please note I did not say "kicked it in the guts", I'm not THAT anorak!)
You should have heard that sound and V8 rumble!! He drove the car out onto the yard (which featured some very nice paving and brickwork I might add) and somehow he got the car out onto the road on a driveway, the alley is actually 6 inches narrower than the mighty Falcon is wide. Don't ask me how that was done. Suffice to say he got it onto the road unscratched and we set off on a cruise. Somehow I was able to get my scrambled thoughts together enough to hold coherant conversation with him whilst watching Joe Public outside do double takes as the car rumbled on by. One guy in a Range Rover on a roundabout did your classic "Wha' the f**k was that!" Teenage boys tried to act cool as we passed them but I'm sure there were aching to just gawp at the car. So after a 5 mile drive Adrian let me sit behind the wheel, and after PC Plod drive away I rolled the car along about 100 yards just to say I drove it!
It handles like a battleship by the way, heavy steering and lousy turning circle but I LOVED IT!!!
Shortly Adrian and his family will be moving to Aussieland and the Falcon will be going with him. Leaving only the original, and non-running, Mad Max Interceptor in the entire UK. Kinda sad that, but I got to see it up close and personal before it went back to its roots. Oh yeah! You just have to hear that supercharger whine as he revs that 5.8 litre V8 engine!!
I'm attaching some photos of that murky but very memorable day in early April. Hope you enjoy them. And Adrian, thanks again mate, I still have that stupid grin on my face!
Biker
PS I've left the first two big so you can see the stuff Adrian has in his MM collection.
Nice one Biker! Its some experience eh?!
