KEN Essenhigh has had an obsession with Holden cars since his childhood and his son Brent and grandchildren Liam and Harrison follow in his footsteps.

Born in 1954 at the Benalla private hospital, Ken was raised in Swanpool and later moved to Docker where his father ran a dairy farm.

His first driving experience was on the farm in his father’s HD Holden station wagon, where he used the manual beside him on the bench seat to show him how to work the gears.

Then he was given a 1938 Morris 1300 Commercial truck to use as a farm vehicle to further hone his driving skills.

Ken bought his first Holden when he was 17 years of age.

It was a white HT Holden ute bought from Don Telford, a local painter from Wangaratta.

Ken’s father bought it for him for $1500 and Ken paid him $15 a week until the loan was paid out.

The HT served him well for the next four years until the engine blew up.

Instead of repairing the Holden, Ken chose to buy an XT Falcon V8.

This proved to be the worst car he has ever bought and put him off Fords for life.

After the Falcon, Ken owned several Celicas during the mid-1980s.

The purchase of his next car, a Commodore VH SLE V8, was inspired by the birth of his son Brent, as it was impossible for his wife Leanne to place and secure a baby bassinette into a two door Celica.

Ken graduated from Wangaratta Technical School in 1970.

He applied for two Jobs, one with Telecom the other with the SEC.

He started as an SEC linesman on January 18, 1971 and retired on January 18, 2016 after 45 years of service.

Ken still works as a licenced electrical inspector to feed his Holden obsession and to keep his cars going.

He has owned more than 30 different Holdens over the last 45 years.

With the exception of the HR/HD range, Ken has owned one of every model Holden produced and has always had a Holden ute.

He has restored many of the Holdens in his collection and has amassed an abundance of knowledge about Holden components and mechanical systems.

His participation in Wangaratta Speedway events prompted much of his mechanical expertise as engine rebuilds became a standard task for the competition of racing.

Ken’s mechanical insights were boosted by his old mates Ken Simmons and John Blackwell, old school mechanics who showed Ken the tricks of the trade.

Ken is far from a purist when it comes to vehicle restoration.

He has modified all of his Holdens by fitting Tasman or Simonds wheels and enhancing engine, steering and braking systems to create a safer car.

In 2000, Ken and several other Holden enthusiasts created the Wangaratta Early Holden Car Club Inc to share their passion with likeminded enthusiasts.

The club was formed with 25 initial members which has grown to around 75 members to date.

Monthly meetings and club runs to places of interest form the activities for members.

Ken loves to have a chat and to share his knowledge and passion for Holden cars as well as to hear the stories from those that are inspired by seeing his cars.

His commitment to the biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In has seen him serve on each of the organising committees for the past eight years.

“It’s a great chance for the family to get together and see something different from yesteryear," Ken said.

"We have organised a great display of historic vehicles, trucks, tractors, fire engines, ambulances, stationary engines, planes, motorbikes and more.”

The Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In is held on Sunday, 27 April at the Wangaratta Airport on Greta Road.

If you wish to be a part of the display with your Historic Vehicle ring Martin Ziermann on 0456 039 892 or Steve Doig on 0423 298 127 or access the online entry form online www.wangarattahistoricmotorshoandflyin.com.