1976. I was 16 years old and a pretty good racing cyclist. The Australian Championships were in Melbourne (I was living in Sydney) and my coach was a really cool 24 year old bloke, married with a 4 year old daughter (and a 308/4 speed Jamaica Lime Sandman)

The NSW team flew to Melbourne, but my coach thought it would be cool to drive (so we had the van to get around in). So my 1st big trip without my parents was a (FAST) drive down the old Hume Highway, overnight, riding shotgun in a Sandman. We got pulled over for speeding around the Victorian border sometime after midnight and had a couple of greasy 'burgers at truckstops whenever we stopped to fill the van.

We arrived in Melbourne around dawn.

I saw a tram for the 1st time.

I drank a beer in a pub for the 1st time.

I drove the Sandman around the pub carpark for the 1st time.

I met my 1st Melbourne girl and XXXXXXXXXXXXXX for the 1st time.

I fell in love with Sandman panel vans that weekend and have been in love ever since.

It was almost 40 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.