Dennis just loves his old beaut ute

By Marc McGowan
MT BURNETT car aficionado Dennis Jones’ passion for the fourwheeled machine is so strong that he has even organised his own car show.
Mr Jones, 58, coordinates meets at Cora Lynn and Gembrook, the former of which attracted 1200 vehicles in October and the latter of which will be run for the 14th time on 18 February.
The honorary Emerald and District Rotarian was even awarded a prestigious Paul Harris Fellow for his involvement in the shows, which donate all proceeds to Rotary for community benefit.
“It is very satisfying. I love being a part of that scene and being able to help,” he said.
To top off Mr Jones’ car exploits, he has also been the president of the Thunderbirds Rod and Custom Club for six years and a member for a further 29.
Mr Jones’ pet love at the moment is his 1950 Ford ute, which is affectionately known as the single spinner.
“I have a love for cars,” he said.
“I fall in love with them for a while, do them up, drive them around, have some fun in them and then see something else I like and move them on.”
Mr Jones, who claims to have owned close to 200 cars over the years, is still very much in the ‘having fun’ stage with the ute, which he bought for $17,000 after watching Robert Mitchum burn up the bitumen in one in the 1958 movie Thunder Road.
“It feels like a modern car to drive. It doesn’t carry on on the road,” he said.
“This one I might keep for a while.”
Despite Mr Jones’ nonchalance about owning and disposing of his cars, he does admit to a bit of reminiscing of his former projects – particularly his beloved 1932 Ford sedan.
“I’ve come to terms with (not having) it,” Mr Jones said.
“Sometimes I miss it, but I’ve always looked at it as an opportunity to see what else I could own.”