Cover of the Chevy Club's September Edition

Thursday 29th August - 2019

I was stoked to see the September 2019 PDF version of the '55'56'57 Chevrolet Club of Australia's monthly Newsletter turn up in my e-mail inbox today.

My photo, as previously published here on my blog, graces the Club's Newsletter cover. It features my car and my photo at Abercrombie House in Bathurst earlier this month.

Super stoked to see my car and my photo on the cover
of the '55'56'57 Chevrolet Club of Australia's newsletter.

Also featuring in the newsletter are more of my photos of our fantastic Bathurst August 2019 weekend away and our visit to Abercrombie House. 

The September 2019 edition also includes my preceding blog story about my accident on the Cattle Grid at Crookwell.

To view the Club's Website CLICK HERE
To view the Club's Facebook page CLICK HERE

Warbo

My accident on a Cattle Grid in Crookwell

Sunday 11th August - 2019

Everything was going splendidly until around 1530 on the Sunday afternoon when I decided to divert down south, and call into my friend's property in Crookwell, NSW. We could not get back across the Blue Mountains From Bathurst to Sydney because the Great Western Highway was closed at Lithgow due to snow & ice.

I wanted to show my mate Peter Deane, the property and Shearer’s Quarters where a bunch of us ex-Qantas employees venture to every year to do “boy stuff” and hopefully catch the elusive trout in the creeks that run through the Prell’s property.

Heading across the Great Dividing Range from Bathurst
on our way to Crookwell

However there were a couple of things we needed to do before this would eventuate.

First of all we needed to navigate the highway through the snow as we drove over the summit of the Great Dividing Range [Above] before descending down into Crookwell where we wanted to enjoy a Sunday afternoon lunch at the delightful Laggan Pub which is approximately 8km out of Crookwell.

Peter and I sat in front of a pleasant open fire in the Restaurant of the Laggan Pub lapping up the warm atmosphere while enjoying our Shepherds Pie and beer.

The '57 Chevy parked outside the Laggan Pub

Once we warmed up and with our bellies now full, it was now time to push onto the Prell’s property which was another 15kms out of Crookwell on the way to Goulburn.

I drove off the highway onto the gravel road that wound down towards the Shearers Quarters. I decided to park the ‘57 Chevy on the hill to take some photographs of the property with the Chevy in the foreground looking down to the Shearer’s Quarters, and those “UGLY” Windmills in the background.

Little did I know the SHIT was about to hit the fan BIG time...

If you look closely at the photo looking towards the Windmills in front 
of my Chevy, you can see the Cattle Grid that I ended up in.

As you can see in the photograph [above] I managed to take a photograph looking from the rear of the Chevy towards the Windmills, then I had this bright idea that I should take another photograph looking from the front of the Chevy looking in the opposite direction.

So with my iPad in both hands, I was walking backwards, concentrating on the screen, trying to frame the perfect shot (as you do) I ended up stepping right into the steel Cattle Grid, arse up.

If you look closely at the photo looking towards the Windmills in front of my Chevy you can see the Cattle Grid that I ended up in. Moral to the story: Don’t ever walk backwards while taking photos. 

The damage I did to myself, this photo was taken before my
skin graft operation in Canberra Hospital.

Now I can see how these people have fallen to their death while taking “selfies”. How to stuff up what had been a perfect weekend away with the Chevy Car Club.

To cut a long story short because of my injuries (as you can see by the photograph) I ended up in Canberra Hospital for an operation and skin graft. I spent a total of 9-days in hospital and was discharged on Monday, and let me assure you it is great to be back home in the “Shire”.

Recovering after my skin graft operation in Canberra Hospital
enjoying a feed that a friend called in with

I have a very good friend that works at the Canberra Airport as a “Firey” he dropped by one day with lunch for me. [Above], I was hanging out for fresh prawns, sourdough bread rolls and a Classic Coke to wash it all down. Yummie !!!

That sure put a big smile on my face as you can see.

Back home now in The Shire, my wound is healing up nicely

So now all that is left for me to do is listen to the Doctor's orders and rest up until my wound heals.

Cheers for now from the “Squire from the Shire”.

Warbo

Visit to Abercrombie House, Bathurst, NSW

Sunday 11th August - 2019

Two Car Clubs; the Chevrolet Car Club of NSW and the ‘55-‘56-‘57 Chevy Club of Australia visited this magnificent, heritage property which is listed on the National Trust, Abercrombie House, in Bathurst on Sunday 11th August 2019.

My ‘57 Chevy parked outside Abercrombie House, Bathurst

Built in the 1870s by the Stewart family, headed up by William Stewart, who migrated to Australia from England in 1825 as part of the colonisation of the British penal colony in Australia.

This stately home is resting on its 50-acre (200,000m²) plot of land and the buildings, including the outer buildings, are regarded as “an outstanding example of Victorian Tudor-style architecture”. It is currently owned by the Rex Henry Morgan family.

After a cold grey morning, the sun actually started shining as we
were about to enter the house and commence our tour.

Since 1969 the Morgan family has made major restorations to the house and slowly being restored to its former glory. The House is currently occupied by Christopher Morgan and his family.

Abercrombie House is a magnificently preserved part of Australia’s early history. It’s like a step back in history, or a piece of Olde England right here in Australia.

Christopher Morgan (left) explains the history of the residence to the group
before we were allowed to roam through the house at our leisure.

Christopher Morgan and his wife gave us all a beautiful country welcome with tea, coffee, cordial and home-made cakes upon arrival. 

You can also see the beautiful wood fire burning to the left side of the table to keep us warm.

We enjoyed a sumptuous morning tea by the open fire

You have to remember that this is a private home and not a Museum, but there's so much rich history here, people forget Bathurst is the oldest inland settlement in Australia and Abercrombie House underpins this.

Nineteen members of our Car Club all rugged up to keep warm before
our guided tour of the Abercrombie House by the current occupant
and owner, Mr Christopher Morgan

For those Club members that missed this weekend away in Bathurst with the two Chevy Car Clubs, you don’t realise how much enjoyment you missed out on.

For more details on visiting Abercrombie House Click here

Adventure before Dementia.

Cheers for now
Ken Warburton

Weekend away with '55-'56-'57 Chev Car Club

Saturday 10th August - 2019

On our weekend away drive to Bathurst, '55 '56 '57 Chev Car Club members were invited to morning tea at Bob Thompson’s house at Victoria Pass, in the Blue Mountains for a pleasurable morning tea and home-made cakes.

Me standing beside my 2-door ‘57 Chevy Bel Air
with the perfect Wintry backdrop.

As you can see by a couple of these photographs the local weather in the Blue Mountains region was definitely a challenge, at 1,052m [3,450ft] elevation it was very crisp indeed. 

And 'Wow!!!' what a great set up and man shed Bob Thompson has, every thing a man needs in life if you are a petrol head.

Looking towards Bob's swimming pool with a snow covered
slippery dip, it was actually snowing when I shot this photo

From Victoria Pass it was now time to drive to Bathurst to visit the world famous Mount Panorama Circuit and I do not say that lightly, if you ever have the chance to drive around this track please do so it is one hell of an experience.

Club members feeding their faces and enjoying a delicious morning tea.

Before doing a couple of HOT laps around the Bathurst mountain track in the ‘57 Chevy 2-door Bel Air we visited the fantastic National Motor Racing Museum which is situated at the end of Conrod Straight. This is another “Do not miss attraction”.

Bob's garage... now this is a tool box!!!

On my first practice lap for qualifying I was lucky not to get booked, as I drove around Devil’s Corner at the bottom of the mountain just before entering Conrod Straight I looked in my rear view mirror and sure enough, there, hidden behind the safety fence was none other than a NSW Highway Patrol Vehicle just waiting there to book hoons like me.

I managed to organise our two Chevy Clubs Presidents for a photo.
John Fenato in the centre and Matte Reynolds on the right
with yours truly on the left. How good is Bob’s Bar?

By now it was getting well into the afternoon and we needed to check into our Motel for the evening to relax and settle back for the evening to watch the Bledisloe Cup Rugby Union and the Australian Wallabies spank those All Blacks arses, trust me it is not before time. We have been waiting a long time for this to eventuate. (Go you good thing).

Cheers for now.
Warbo.

Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit

Saturday 10th August - 2019

Hello again fellow Motor Racing enthusiasts.

For me, my Saturday afternoon gallop around the world famous Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit in Bathurst in my ‘57 Chevy bought back many wonderful memories from when my Dad used to take me to Bathurst to watch the car and bike races in the late '50s early '60s when I was a hairy-arsed kid.

My ‘57 Chevy parked in the sand trap at McPhillamy Park
 at the top of the mountain from where my Dad and
I watched the races from all those years ago.

I can remember as though it was yesterday watching those daredevils racing their machines over the top of the mountain from our spectator position in McPhillamy Park [above], long before there was a concrete barrier to stop competitors going over the side of the mountain.

Yes, I did witness a few guys crash over the side of the mountain on their motorcycles and sidecars.

This photo shows you the concrete barrier going into The Esses,
half-way down the mountain. In those early days when my Dad
used to take me to the races in the late '50s and early '60s
this barrier was non existent.

For those of you old enough to remember they also raced motorcycles and sidecars around this unbelievable circuit. The first meeting for motorcycles was held in April 1938, the first Car race, the 'Australian Grand Prix' was held 2-days later.

It must be 20-years or longer since I have driven around the race circuit, when I did it this past weekend, I have to admit that it still gives me goose-bumps.

Just past Murray's Corner is the starting grid positions and
the Pit Garages and the start/finish line.

The Mount Panorama Circuit these days is best known as the home of the Bathurst 1000 Motor Race, technically a street Circuit and is a public road with normal speed restrictions when no racing events are being held.

A total of eighteen brave young men have lost their lives competing at this track over the years. Denny Holme the 1967 World Drivers Champion died of a heart attack while competing in a race here on 4th October 1992.

This photo shows my Chevy parked on the side of the circuit
just after Hell’s Corner, also shows the start of Conrod Straight.

I was trackside on 7th April 1969 when Bevan Gibson driving a Elfin 400 Repco for the Bob Jane racing team lost his life on Conrod Straight in a horrific fiery crash at full speed cart wheeling down the straight at maximum speed. I will never forget those images.

Why is Conrod Straight called Conrod Straight? This part of the track was originally called the Main Straight, though it was later renamed Conrod after a Conrod failure that occurred in a driver's car, causing them to retire from the race.

Looking back and down towards the township of Bathurst
through the cutting on the ascent up the mountain.

In case you were wondering what the Mount Panorama Circuit track layout is and how long this spectacular race track is: It's 6.21kms or 3.86 miles. 

Hope you enjoyed the story and photographs.

Cheers
Warbo