ONE of the best things about my job is working with the family of freelance writers, photographers and videographers who lovingly create the content that fills the various Street Machine platforms with automotive goodness all year round.
Most of these guys and girls have day jobs and so they beaver away on Street Machine stuff at night, on the weekends and even on their lunch breaks.
Adelaide bloke Dave Carey is one of our most prolific beavers. Dave’s day gig for the last 12 years has been with Shannons Insurance, but in 2013, we spotted Dave’s musings on car culture on his Garage of Awesome blog. Dave was funny, interested in weird cars and could write! We made contact and offered him a try-out, which he passed with flying colours.
Dave and Stella!
Dave soon became a regular writer for Street Machine and Unique Cars. As well as the usual car features and event coverage, Dave has come to specialise in thoughtful, expansive and well-researched history yarns.
Dave’s enthusiasm for his craft and joy in his subject matter is infectious and I’m not sure what we’d do without him. We’ve had a lot of fun over the last six years, but for most of that time, Dave has been going through the toughest of times at home. His wife Sarah contracted breast cancer in 2014 and fought it hard until passing away on 22 October this year.
Sarah, Joseph AKA J-Man, Stella and Dave
The time in between was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, including the birth of Sarah and Dave’s second child in 2016.
To celebrate Sarah’s life, the car community of Adelaide is holding a memorial cruise this Sunday. The day will begin with a Cars and Coffee-style gathering from 8am to 10am at the Mile End Homemaker Centre. At 10am, a horn will sound to kick off the cruise to Bonython Park. For those who can’t make it to the cruise, Bonython Park will be open to entrants from 9am. Traffic marshals will be on hand to help set up the show ‘n’ shine.
In addition to a bunch of great cars and bikes, there will be over 15 traders, food trucks, live music and a DJ, a jumping castle, face painting and slot cars!
Sarah with Gentleman Jim Richards at Mallala earlier this year
Gold coin donation will be accepted at the entrance to both venues and there will be a raffle and a silent auction held as well. The funds raised will be divided 50:50 between the National Breast Cancer Foundation and directly to support Dave’s family as they adjust to their new circumstances.
If you can make it, it should be a wonderful day. And if you can’t but would like to contribute, the link to the GoFundMe campaign is here.
And if you’d like to check out some of Dave’s writing, here’s a sample. The first one touches on Dave and Sarah’s younger days racing around in an MG and throws forward to their lives as parents.
Blowin’ Gaskets: Quit Holden On
The great HR Holden coupe hoax
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