Holden Retirees Club

Engineering Test Trips

The Tony Mele collection

The Linsey Siede collection.

Holden’s Greenfleet entry in the 2005 World Solar Challenge - as told by Warwick Bryce

1988 VN V8 Test Trip Alice to Melbourne via Ayres Rock and and the Oodnadatta track - by Warwick Bryce

1. The Tony Mele collection.

Tony Mele retired in 1991, and during his career in Engineering Dept. from 1952 onwards (apart from 2 years at GMI), spent most of his time in Experimental Engineering then later in Design and Development in the Electrical and A/C sections.

Tony moved into Design and Development in the late 1960’s following the arrival of George Roberts as Assistant Chief Engineer - Mechanical in 1967 and the transfer of many Experimental Engineering personnel to the Design and Development Groups initiated by George Roberts and the then Chief Engineer, Bill Steinhagen. He accompanied Bob Archer and George Roberts on outback test trips on HVAC, engine cooling and hot fuel handling development as did Tom Connors, Chris Shattock and John Finlayson from Experimental. Trips prior to George Roberts’ arrival involved Greg Kraus (Engine Engineer before Fred James) and Bern Ambor (Transmission Engineer before advancing to Asst. Chief Engineer – Mechanical) .

Tony has contributed this collection of trip photos covering the period from 1962 until 1980.

Videos:

2. Linsey Siede Collection

Linsey Siede began his career at Holden/General Motors in January 1976, and spent the first 12 months in the drawing office with Steve Kovacs.  He then helped Henry Wolfe as a Computer Engineer for 12 months, before moving to the Engine Section looking after Exhaust and Engine Mounting systems & ADR27a and ADR28 submissions.  He spent time on Alternative Fuels looking after a variety of test vehicles including a turbo Starfire4 Sunbird, a Statesman with a 350 cu.in Olds diesel engine, and a Commodore diesel.  

He went to GMI in 1980/81, and returned to be put in charge of the introduction of the 1986 emission control systems with catalytic converters and unleaded fuel.  This involved a number of Test Trips to picturesque holiday destinations such as Bourke, Tennant Creek and Katherine and Linsey has provided the following images from his own collection.

a. 1981 July - Cold trip to Bright

b. 1981 Katherine and Darwin

 c. 1982/3 Buick and Pontiac Hot Trips

d. 1984 Bourke Hot Trip

e. 1984 Cold Trip to Bright

 f. 1984 Hot Trip to Katherine.

Photos from the Hot Test trip to Katherine.  This was the first test trip for vehicles using Unleaded fuel.  As it wouldn't be available for another 12 months, fuel dumps of fuel had to be set-up all the way from Melbourne to Darwin (via Adelaide) and back again (via Mt Isa).

g. 1984 Isuzu R-Car Test Trip to NT

Photos from a test trip to Tennant Creek to test the T-car (Gemini) replacement which was a front wheel drive R-car.  Linsey Siede & team from Isuzu were later joined by Tony Hyde.

 3. Holden’s Greenfleet entry in the 2005 Solar Car Challenge as told by Warwick Bryce

 In 2005, the Diesel engine craze was emerging around the world. In 2005, the Diesel engine craze was emerging around the world. To test the Australia interest, Holden imported a UK spec Diesel Astra and ran it from Darwin to Adelaide as a support event to the 2005 World Solar Challenge. 

 Warwick tells us about this unusual entry in this account of the trial of Alternative Fuel vehicles.

 4. 1988 VN V8 Test Trip Alice to Melbourne via Ayres Rock and and the Oodnadatta track - by Warwick Bryce.

In 1988 as the Engine Section representative, I took part on the return leg of a Reliability group VN fuel injected V8 off-tool Audit test trip from Alice Springs to Melbourne via Ayres Rock and the Oodnadatta track. Another objective of the trip was to shake down a very secret Pilot Commodore VG ute.

Read about their trials and tribulations here.