A life of models, motoring and puppets

Many are familiar with the ever-popular model car, but 90-year-old Bernie Ehmer added his own personal touch to the hobby in a life full of passion.

Whilst most in the modern world purchase their own model cars from one of the many familiar makers, Ehmer has been doing it his own way since as early as the 1940s.

After being in awe of his first taste of speedway at the Brisbane Exhibition Speedway just after World War II, he created his own speedway and hand carved around 20 midget models simply from memory.

Over the following decades the process became more developed and he also made larger models of Porsches, Lotus’, Maseratis, plus much more of around 70-90cm in length.

Ehmer made his most recent model as recently as 10 years ago in his eighties.

Models is just one part of Ehmer’s motoring life full of passion, having been a competitor himself in rallies and hill climbs.

He did all this amid a highly successful career as a puppeteer, where Ehmer and wife Eileen made around 3000 puppets and performed on television and events such as the World Expo in 1988.

Despite now being in his nineties, Ehmer is as sharp as ever and is extremely passionate about his models.

“They are fairly elaborate,” he told Auto Action.

“When I made a Bugatti for example, I got a side view and measured it off a book and then I decided to build it twice the size.

“I then developed all my bits and pieces with a lot of making moulds, fibreglassing it, getting it together.

“We cut out where the wheel axle goes and put the motor in.

“There are so many finite things to do this work.”

Ehmer will “never forget” his first trip to the speedway watching solo motorbikes go racing and joining the crowd in using newspapers to shield their eyes from the dirt.

He particular enjoyed the arrivals of Americans Perry Grimm, Cal Niday and Frank Brewer.

He still attends events and “will not let go” from continuing to do so whilst he can.

Ehmer said making models was far from the only part of his motoring life.

He has been a Marshall, rally driver and hill climb competitor, whilst himself and a fried drove all the way down to Melbourne in an Austin A30 to watch the British legend Stirling Moss win the 1956 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in a Maserati.

The race just happened to be in the Victorian capital at the same time as the XVI Olympics with over 120,000 people in attendance –  what a time to be alive.

Stirling Moss in a Maserati 250F at the 1956 Australian Grand Prix. Image: LAT Photographic

“Myself and my wide Eileen were puppeteers and did 58 years of it around Australia, making about 3000 of them, but I also had a great desire for the motoring industry and had a lot of involvement,” he said.

“I also went to places like Leyburn for road racing and joined the motor club to be a flag marshal, so I have done almost everything you could possibly do.

“My mate Brian Savic and I went into rallying and everything we could put our bodies into.

“But I have always been a mad supporter of speedway.

“I went every Saturday night and especially loved it when the first Americans came out with their Offenhausers.

“The world of motoring is a lot different now, but still very interesting.

“Between puppetry as a performer and motoring, I have had a wonderful life.

“You could not have brought the luck I have had with it.

“Whatever you do, enjoy it and push as hard as you can.”

Ehmer’s puppets and models are currently stored in a shed, but he would love to see them eventually in a museum one day.

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