HOPE Bartlett ran a daily motor service between Nowra and Moruya from 1924, and later went as far as Bega, Eden and Cooma.
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He also did well ferrying workmen on the Sydney Harbour Bridge from Moruya where the blue stone for the pylons had been quarried.
Rumour has it that his first car was a six-door Packard, formerly owned by Squizzy Taylor, and brought to the South Coast with bullet holes still in the side, after the Sydney gangster had been killed.
His first job was a trainee wool buyer, but that was soon abandoned in favour of something more exciting.
While his business allowed him to drive, Bartlett (1892-1984) was passionate about motor racing, and he is considered by some to have been well ahead of his time.
His interests were varied for he was equally at home in a car, on a motorcycle or in a boat.
According to Brian Mossop's obituary in the Daily Telegraph, Bartlett "began his flirtation with speed in 1910 as a works rider on the then famous belt-driven Zenith motorcycle, and ended it driving an XK Jaguar to victory on Bathurst's Mt Panorama circuit in 1951".
Coming from the North Coast, he took over motor service previously operated by George Harrison.
He lived on his Kinghorne Street premises at Nowra for something like 30 years, and took an interest in various racing activities around the district.
Hill climbing attracted his attention, and in 1924 driving a Vauxhall car, he set a record of 52.2 seconds up Conjola hill.
Encouraging local motorcyclists, Bartlett offered £5 to any rider who could better his time and this was done by a Mr Sidebottom on an AJS bike.
He was a regular at Maroubra Speedway in the days when crowds were in the vicinity of 70,000, and while he enjoyed plenty of success there were also mishaps.
During January 1927 he escaped unharmed when his car burst into flames, and the following week he was involved in the race when famous driver Phil Garlick crashed to his death.
In that final of a handicap event for high-speed cars he was travelling at 92 miles per hour, while on other occasions they reached 100.
Twice during the 1930s he crossed the Tasman to win the (then coveted) New Zealand Cup, in a Vauxhall and a Bugatti.
During his long career of more than 40 years, Bartlett also drove a Sunbeam, MG, the famous long-tail Dixon Riley, and finally a Jaguar.
As a member of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, he won many speed boat titles as well.
He was a sporting legend around the Nowra district, and according to Wandandian historian Val Windley, her father ranked Bartlett alongside Don Bradman as a sporting hero.
If he was still around today, there is no doubt that Hope Bartlett would be gearing up for Bathurst!