Bernard (Bernie) van Elsen

The van Elsen Legacy Continues: Innovation in Motion and Media

The van Elsen legacy of determination and vision found a powerful expression in Australia through the trailblazing career of Bernard "Bernie" van Elsen. Merging a sharp creative eye with an absolute passion for performance cars, Bernie carved out dual reputations as an acclaimed commercial photographer and a visionary force in Australian motorsport. Capturing iconic automotive eras through his commercial lenses, his professional photography business operated alongside a highly competitive racing career—notably campaigning the iconic Australian-built Bolwell Nagari sports car throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Beyond driving, Bernie's defining contribution to motorsport history came off the track as an ambitious innovator and team entrant. Inspired by the arrival of a World Championship round on Australian soil in 1984, he famously envisioned and commissioned the construction of the legendary Veskanda C1 Chevrolet. Built alongside Adelaide-based K&A Engineering, this radical, ground-effects sports prototype went on to absolute dominance in the 1986 Australian Sports Car Championship with legendary driver John Bowe at the wheel. Representing the pinnacle of domestic racing engineering, Bernie's bold creation etched the van Elsen name permanently into the highest echelons of Australian automotive folklore, a testament to the same driving spirit that first brought the family across the globe in 1960.