'Round the World' in a Model T Ford
In the Summer of 2012 Dirk & Trudy Regter of the Netherlands started a journey in their 1915 Model T Ford, that would rack-up 80,000 miles and visit over 50 countries, covering all the main continents of the world.
After a break at home in North Holland, the pair returned to the southern hemisphere in February and March of 2018, where the couple toured both islands of New Zealand. Then they transported their 1915 Model T Ford by shipping container by sea from Auckland, New Zealand to Brisbane, Queensland.
In the first week of April 2018 they commenced the first leg of of their 'Around Australia' loop by heading south from Brisbane for my home town of Sydney.
Dirk & Trudy live in a small town in the northwest Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Combined with the city of Volendam, Edam forms the municipality of Edam-Volendam. Approximately 7,380 people live in Edam. The entire municipality of Edam-Volendam has 28,492 inhabitants.
In the first week of April 2018 they commenced the first leg of of their 'Around Australia' loop by heading south from Brisbane for my home town of Sydney.
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| After a 50,000 mile around-the-world journey in this magic machine, Dutch couple Dirk and Trudy Regter finally piloted their 103-year-old Model T Ford in fine style into Sydney today and rolled right into one of the warmest Autumn weeks in Sydney's history. Photo: Steve Core |
Dirk & Trudy live in a small town in the northwest Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Combined with the city of Volendam, Edam forms the municipality of Edam-Volendam. Approximately 7,380 people live in Edam. The entire municipality of Edam-Volendam has 28,492 inhabitants.
The name Edam originates from a dam on the little river E or IJe where the first settlement was located and which was therefore called IJedam. Edam is famous as the original source of the cheese with the same name.
The Warbo Report: Now that the Pre-WWll Vintage Car and Bike Show is over for another year, l have time to sit back and reflect about many of the side-issues connected to this year's show, none more important than meeting and being involved with our friends from Holland, Dirk & Trudy Regter who are at present driving around the world in their 1915 Model T Ford.
We had covered their journey extensively in our Show's Facebook and Blog pages over the preceding 4-weeks once we became aware that these two adventurers would join us on the tiles in Cronulla Mall for the Pre-WWll Vintage Car & Bike Show on April 15th 2018.
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| Me sitting in Dirk & Trudy Retger's 1915 Model T Ford and my 1931 Model A Ford, Tudor Deluxe, 2-door, Sedan at McMahons Point Photo: Steve Core |
The Warbo Report: Now that the Pre-WWll Vintage Car and Bike Show is over for another year, l have time to sit back and reflect about many of the side-issues connected to this year's show, none more important than meeting and being involved with our friends from Holland, Dirk & Trudy Regter who are at present driving around the world in their 1915 Model T Ford.
We had covered their journey extensively in our Show's Facebook and Blog pages over the preceding 4-weeks once we became aware that these two adventurers would join us on the tiles in Cronulla Mall for the Pre-WWll Vintage Car & Bike Show on April 15th 2018.
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| The Model T Ford World Tour entourage taking in the sights of
the Cronulla beaches after a long day on the road. [LtoR]. Support Vehicle Team: Sjaak Retger [Dirk's brother] and Coby DeWit. Middle: Dirk & Trudy Regter. [Right] Ken Warburton. The Dutch group were in Cronulla for three days and were the star attraction at the Pre-WWII Vintage Car & Bike Show in Cronulla on Sunday 15th April, 2018 Photo: Steve Core |
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| Setting up the Model T and the Model A for a Video Shoot for the Channel 9 News Sydney Photo: Steve Core |
Phil Campbell (events coordinator) from the Model T Ford Club here in Sydney contacted me and mentioned that Dirk & Trudy would be in Sydney on the same weekend as our car show. Phil asked me if we were interested to include the "round the worlders" in our show on April 15th, 2018.
l did not need to be asked twice. What a wonderful opportunity to introduce these adventurers to the 'SHIRE' to share their experiences and stories with the large numbers of general public that attend our car show.
ln the same conversation, Phil asked me if l knew of any Caravan Parks in the Cronulla area, l asked him - why?
Now to cut a long story short, these adventurers usually camp out when travelling around the globe. With that in mind, l offered my residence here in Woolooware to the Regters for their time in Sydney, to which they gratefully accepted.
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| The Dutch four-some is wide awake on a Sydney Train as we head from Woolooware Station in the Sutherland Shire into Circular Quay in the city of Sydney. [LtoR] Trudy, Sjaark, Dirk & Coby Photo: Steve Core |
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| Dirk pauses to check out a '62 Ford Falcon Futura convertible on The Corso in Manly. Photo: Steve Core |
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| Great Southern Land: With everyone up on the front bow section of the Manly ferry, Ken goes into Tourism Director mode as we transit across the Sydney Harbour Heads - passing the opening out into the vast South Pacific ocean on our way to the seaside resort of Manly Beach Photo: Steve Core |
May l say that it was an absolute delight to have them stay at my residence, we shared many of their stories & experiences in the short time they were here (48-hours) before they moved onto Canberra to continue their world-wide journey in their 103-year-old Model T Ford.
l consider myself to be an adventurer & that I possibly think outside the square. Well, let me assure you, l am still in kindergarten when it comes to the adventure that the Regters have undertaken.
Have you ever driven in a Model T Ford for any length of time let alone 80,000 miles or (128,747 Kms) visiting all 5 Continents & 50 Countries along the way.
l consider myself to be an adventurer & that I possibly think outside the square. Well, let me assure you, l am still in kindergarten when it comes to the adventure that the Regters have undertaken.
Have you ever driven in a Model T Ford for any length of time let alone 80,000 miles or (128,747 Kms) visiting all 5 Continents & 50 Countries along the way.
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| On a Summer-like Saturday we made an ice-cream stop in Manly at Ben & Jerry's Ice-Cream, located on the South Steyne beach-side strip on Manly Beach. Photo: Steve Core |
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| After a whistle stop tour of Manly Beach and Sydney's glorious harbour on their brief 48-hour stopover in Sydney, Model T Ford pilot, Dirk finds Sydney Trains are so comfortable that he grabbed 40-winks on the way home - all to the rhythm of the rails. Photo: Steve Core |
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| The Regters and their 1915 Model T Ford along with their support vehicle were a major drawcard at our Pre-WWII Vintage Car & Bike Show in the Cronulla Mall on Sunday, April 15th. Photo: Steve Core |
What an achievement & what a constitution, especially at their age. They are as tough as nails.
l was humbled for the Regters to spend time with me here in Sydney on their massive adventure of circumnavigating the world to raise funds for their charity of choice. (SOS Children's Villages International).
By the way they were a HUGE drawcard at our Pre-WWll Vintage Car and Bike Show on Sunday 15th April 2018. Proving to be a real crowd favourite.
Thanks for the memories.
Cheers
l was humbled for the Regters to spend time with me here in Sydney on their massive adventure of circumnavigating the world to raise funds for their charity of choice. (SOS Children's Villages International).
By the way they were a HUGE drawcard at our Pre-WWll Vintage Car and Bike Show on Sunday 15th April 2018. Proving to be a real crowd favourite.
Thanks for the memories.
Cheers
Warbo
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| After a 3-day stay, the Retgers prepare to leave my home in Burraneer and embark on their next sector of their Around Australia leg; Sydney to Canberra |
or on Dirk's Facebook page CLICK HERE
