Early in September …
and totally out of the blue, AEVA SA Branch Chair Sally Knight contacted me with an interesting proposal. She invited me to enter the ‘Bay to Birdwood’ rally, in my converted 1949 Singer Ute.
The organisers of this historic vehicle rally had, in recent years, opened the event to include electric classic cars; most likely, the first official classic car event to do so.
Each year, on a Sunday in October, a large convoy of historic vehicles gather at the Adelaide suburb of West Beach. They drive 67 kms through Adelaide’s streets to the outer suburb of Modbury, before tackling the winding road into the foothills. The rally finishes at the National Car Museum near the town of Birdwood.
At first I was reluctant to accept Sally’s invitation, since the furthest I’d travelled in the Singer was 55kms, and this on relatively flat roads, around my home town near Ballarat in Victoria.
It would be a challenge, yet Sally was insistent that with help from fellow SA Branch members, ‘we could do it.’
AEVA’s offer of financial support for the transportation of the car to Adelaide and return was equally encouraging.
Meanwhile, there were a few problematic wiring issues to resolve on the Singer. Fortunately, local AEVA member Petro soon sorted them out. His technical knowledge also enabled me to accurately balance the 16 x 3.2V LiFePo4 battery cells, thus improving the range. (Unlike production EVs, I’m reliant on voltage readings to gauge range.)
The decision to ‘give it a go’ was made, and the entrant application was sent off to the Bay to Birdwood events team.
On the Friday before the event, we loaded the Singer onto a trailer and headed off to Hahndorf for an overnight stay.
Up early the next morning, and dressed in 1950s clothing, my friend Brandon and I drove the Singer into the Adelaide Migration Museum courtyard for a general public display and the Concours d’Elegance judging. There we met our competitors, Chris and Scott wearing 1970’s paisley shirts and driving a beautifully restored BMW 2002 EV-Revival conversion.
Saturday morning Concourse D’Elegance display. Steve Carter (left) and assistant Brandon Perrett
There was another early rise on Sunday, in preparation for the 8.15 am send-off by the South Australian Governor. Huge crowds lined the streets as I headed off on the 67 km run. There were just over 1500 ICE veteran, vintage and classic cars that followed, each flagged off at set intervals.
Leading the way. Start of B2B Rally 2025
Thankfully, the Singer made the distance, though not without an embarrassing hiccup early on in the journey. Whilst stopping at a set of traffic lights, my enthusiastic application of regen braking caused the electrical system to trip, due to an amperage exceedance.
True to their word, support from the SA AEVA members was forthcoming, and soon we were back on the road to Birdwood.
Members of the SA Branch resolving an electrical glitch early in the rally.
Modbury was a preplanned stop, and both Matthew’s 2024 winning BMW 2002 (driven by Sally) and the Singer were placed on trickle charge for over an hour, to guarantee making the remaining distance.
V2L application - charging the Singer at Modbury. SA member, Bay’s brand new EX5 Geely providing support.
We arrived in time to take out second place, to Chris and Scott’s 2002.
Second place award. SA Chair Sally and Steve at the Birdwood National Motor Museum.
In total there were 4 EV converted cars on the finishing line, including Eric Rodda’s Holden Barina EV.
4 EV conversions in the 2025 Bay to Birdwood Rally.
Congratulations to all involved, especially Sally and the AEVA SA support team.
I am particularly grateful to the AEVA Board for providing financial support, ensuring a truly successful day for EVs, and promoting the ‘Silent Classic’ car movement.
The Bay to Birdwood committee were most hospitable, highlighting our small group, and providing encouragement, in the hope for increased numbers in 2026.
The Singer will be back.