Since 2015, the Laurie Starling Memorial Scholarship has helped support talented young car crafters further their careers by offering a $4000 grant to go towards tertiary education, industry training or tools. 

The list of previous winners is dotted with up-and-coming street machiners who’ve gone on to become household names, cementing themselves in custom car lore thanks to their outstanding skills and commitment to the street machining lifestyle. 

The 2024 winner, Luke Wehbe from Image Vehicle Manufacturing, hasn’t only exhibited exceptional skills that far surpass his age and experience, he’s landed himself an apprenticeship on the floor of a shop that’s intertwined with the late Laurie Starling’s legacy, headed by Mick and Matt Ellard.

SM: So Luke, how did you secure your apprenticeship with the Ellards?

Luke: I was pretty new to the car scene and building cars, but my uncle knew the Ellards through their limousine building, and some of the high-profile show cars they’d built. I’ve always loved cars, from show cars to muscle cars and everything in between.

SM: Are you building a car yourself?

Luke: I’m building a KE55 Corolla that I’ve just spent the past 12 months doing rust repairs on. The plan is to fit a 3RZ turbocharged engine and put a HiLux diff in the rear.

SM: Is that a prerequisite for a job at Image? To love cars, especially Corollas?

Matt: [laughs] Luke had the Corolla before he started with us, and he showed us some photos of the work he’d done at home in the shed, and I figured if he could do that at home with no tools, imagine what he could do here with us and all the tools!

SM: Talk to us about the vehicle building trade, because the way Luke’s learning it might be a little different to his peers.

Matt: Most vehicle builders will be in the heavy vehicle industry, so he’ll probably find 90 per cent of his peers at TAFE are doing bus or truck bodies, but historically, our family business was always building hearses and limos. Mick and I are transitioning away from that into custom and show cars, and a lot of the skills translate easily. With the working cars, they have to be extremely reliable, so we’re able to introduce that element of engineering and reliability into our show cars that allows them to run, drive and be used on the street.

SM: And Luke, you’re obviously aware of the significance of the Laurie Starling Award. What’s it like to be among such a talented group of past winners?

Luke: I know it’s a pretty big deal. I’ve seen some of the people I follow on Instagram who’ve won it before and their work blows me away! It’s an amazing honour; it really took me by surprise. I’m grateful to the boys for cheering me on and keeping me going.

SM: Mick, some readers might not be aware of your personal connection with Laurie through your Rodeo mini-truck, Severed Ruby. What’s it like to have your apprentice inducted into the Laurie Starling Award Scheme?

Mick: It’s amazing. I’ve been on his arse about it the whole year, because this stuff is right up Laurie’s alley – fabrication, creativity, metal shaping; all that stuff is Laurie. When we got Luke, we were pretty amazed at what he could do; we thought he was a bit of a gun! It was the perfect opportunity, as we haven’t had an apprentice to even go for the award, let alone someone this capable. He’s very talented and we’re really proud of him.