Reno, Nevada - Day 1

US Saturday 23rd June - 2018

After my journey up from Phoenix, Arizona, I arrived safely at the 29-story Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Reno, Nevada, and checked in & registered for the week-long 2018 Model A Ford Club of America [MAFCA] National Convention & Rally.

MAFCA - the Model A Ford Club of America

No rest for the wicked, by the time I settled into my room it was time to meet downstairs for the first of my activities starting at 1600.

My home for the next week and the venue for the 2018
 Model A Ford US National Rally: the Nugget Resort Casino
in Sparks, Reno, Nevada

First up for us was a bus trip over Mount Rose into the gorgeous Lake Tahoe. The coach departed the casino for the 30-minute drive to Lake Tahoe. At Zephyr Cove we boarded the MS Dixie II, a paddle-wheel steamer for a 3-hour dinner cruise on the crystal clear Lake Tahoe. 

Onboard the MS Dixie II cruising on the crystal clear 
calm waters of Lake Tahoe

I did not realise that the Lake is the largest alpine lake in North America and is situated at approximately 6,200 ft. altitude. There were 170 of us Model A Ford fraternity on board enjoying the breat taking scenery & taking the opportunity to get to know one another.

The Jeffery Pine lined shore of Lake Tahoe

I was up very early this morning, I have already had my breakfast looking forward to the day ahead, as I want to familiarise myself with everything.

This afternoon from 5:30-9:00 is the official Welcome Dinner to be held in the Nugget Casino Ballroom. There are 523 registrations for this event, & most are couples, so you are looking at well over 1,000 people & of course there are Model A Fords vehicles everywhere from all over America.

First day of the Convention and it a great chance to get to meet and
exchange stories from some of the other 523 enthusiastic delegates.

I am only one of three Australians in attendance at this US National meet, the other couple are friends of mine Arnold & Glenda from Chivers in Victoria.

There is no doubt about these Americans, they sure know how to organise an event like this, that is why I keep coming back. Today’s events include: Car Judging, swap meet, fashion show, Hubley Derby, Seminars for Model A Ford brakes, wiring & a Model A restorer's class, so there is always something to do.

Gotta go as there is so much to do, I can not waste any more time in my room writing these notes.

Cheers
Warbo

First Leg: Driving from Phoenix to Reno

US Thursday 21st June - 2018

Part I: Roadtrip from Phoenix, Arizona to Reno, Nevada

I departed the trailer park in Chandler, Phoenix at 0300 this morning to beat all the Phoenix peak-hour traffic. Peak-hour congestion starts to build from 0500 here in metropolitan Phoenix & with their 6-lane freeways - you can just imagine what the traffic is like trying to get out of the built-up areas.

I am now well on my way to my final destination; the Golden Nugget Casino in Reno, Nevada to prepare for the upcoming week's events at the National Model A Ford meet.

Sheila - stopping for a breather
87-miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada

Today was a HUGE driving day for me as I wanted to knock over the miles as quick as I could.

The total distance from Chandler in Arizona to Reno, Nevada is 785 miles (approx. 1,300 klms.) I had the pedal to the metal on ‘Sheila’ today driving for 12-hours & covering 654 miles (approx. 1,000 klms) leaving me only a short drive of 131 miles (approx. 200 klms) into Reno on Saturday morning, to take up residence at the Golden Nugget Casino for the next 7-days.

'Sheila' my Model A Ford resting on the verge of 
Highway 95 North between two iconic Joshua Trees.

I would say without a doubt that today’s road trip would have to be the most boring, desolate, arid, dry dessert highway that I have ever experienced.

Hwy 23 North from Phoenix in Arizona, then Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas is like the dark side of the moon, there is just nothing for hundreds of miles. 

Today's first Leg of my drive - approx 654 miles from
Chandler, Arizona to Hawthorne, Nevada

I was too scared to think about ‘Sheila’ possibly breaking down, what with the desolation & the 43ºC [110ºF] or more temperatures, heavens knows what would have happened.

As you can see by the photos how dry & isolated it is along the highways, however the Joshua Trees seem to thrive in this sort of climate. The road north from Las Vegas skirts along side the Death Valley National Park, the photo that shows ‘Sheila’ parked outside a store in Main Street, Goldfield, a town which is located in the middle of nowhere in the vast deserts of Nevada.

'Sheila' parked outside a quirky store on Main Street in
the remote desert town of Goldfield, Nevada
185-miles North of Las Vegas

Needless to say I was very relieved when I drove safely into Hawthorne this afternoon to check into my Holiday Lodge Motel. I have decided to stay here for 2-nights because my reservation at the Casino in Reno commences on Saturday. 

My accommodation for two-nights enroute to Reno, Nevada
at the Holiday Lodge Motel in Hawthorne, Nevada.

With only 131-miles remaining left for my drive into Reno, Nevada, I will check out of here on Saturday morning then drive the final leg into Reno so that I can check in there at 1400 on Saturday afternoon.

Rest assured that I definitely will not be taking the same route back to Phoenix in a week's time when I make my return journey back to Chandler.

No more news for now.

Cheers
Warbo

US Father's Day - Arizona

US Sunday 17th June - 2018

What you have to do here in this hot Arizona desert climate to get anything done is to wake up early & plan your day starting at 0530.  Because by the time 10 o’clock rolls around it is way too hot to work out side in the blazing sun. Temperatures will climb into the high thirties or the low forties Celsius.

This morning I replaced the battery in 'Sheila' so that she would not let me down on the upcoming road trip to Reno, Nevada - then I proceeded to give the old girl a wash.

My US 1931 Model A Ford 'Sheila' parked outside
No.93, my trailer home here in Chandler, Phoenix, Arizona

You may ask how my 1931 Model A Ford 4-door, slant window, Town Sedan got her name.

The gentleman that I purchased this vehicle from lives in Sedona, Arizona. 12-years ago he & another eight Model A Ford US enthusiasts shipped their cars to Australia & drove them over to Perth in W.A. to attend the Model A Ford National Rally. 

Ross took a fancy to the name 'Sheila' & decided that was what he would call his vehicle. Once the Australian Rally was over they then shipped their vehicles back home to America.

Sammy’s office on this amazing property where I live
where Sammy runs his Arizona Model A Ford business

Next week, I am the only one out of the Arizona Model A Ford Club that is driving their vehicle to Reno, the rest are all trailering them, they are all a bunch of pansies with no balls, & of course they think that I am totally off the planet. We’ll see about that down the track.

Sammy’s Dad is into tractors & here are a few 

of them in the paddock with the mules.

I am starting to feel a little better now that l have started my course of antibiotics
yesterday, so by the time Thursday rolls around I should be firing on all 8-cylinders once again.

I still have heaps to do before I hit the road, so I will finish off now.

Cheers 
Warbo.


The next 3 photos shows you just some of the animals roaming around the property, 

Arrival into Phoenix, Arizona

US Saturday 16th June - 2018

Phoenix, Arizona

Reporting live from my Trailer Park home here in Chandler, which is in southern part of the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona, USA.

Phoenix is also known as the Valley of the Sun which in turn is part of the Salt River Valley. Phoenix has long hot summers. Its climate is typical of the Sonoran Desert which it sits on the edge of. Phoenix receives the most amount of sunshine then any major city on earth. Over 300 days of sunshine a year with scant rain.

Summer officially starts here in the US this week, but here in the Arizona desert
temps are already very high. On arrival I was greeted by 43ºC [109ºF]
This is my my outdoor thermometer.

As you can see in the photo [above] by the thermometer at the front door of my trailer it was almost 43ºC [110ºF] when I arrived two days ago from the UK via a brief stopover in New York enroute.

Once I let myself inside & turned the Air-Con on to cool the place down, as it has been 10-months since I last visited here, the next very important job is to check if there are any Scorpions taken up residence in my house. They can sneak in through cracks and crevices as thin as a credit card.

A visitor that find his way into my bathtub during my absence

As you can see by the photo [above] I did have an uninvited visitor that made his way into my bath tub. There a plenty of Scorpions here in the Arizona desert, every night I go looking for any visitors with my blue light torch. They are much easier to spot with the torch when it is dark. You have to make sure that they haven’t climbed into the bedding before you hit the sack.

Yesterday was the start of the monsoon season here in Arizona, & guess what, this morning when I looked outside it had actually been raining overnight. It has been 97 days since they last had any rain here in Chandler.

They also have chooks, goats, rabbits & Sammy the son runs his
Arizona Model A Ford Business from the same property

One of my friends dropped around to see me in his early Model Bronco for a cuppa. Dan is the guy with the Ford Tee shirt & Sam is the owner of the Park. In the photo with the 2 mules is the view that I have out the front window of my luxurious trailer. If you look closely at the back on the left hand side you can see my R.V.

Dan and Sam called by for a cuppa in an old model Ford Bronco

I have never told any one in Sydney that this place is Model A Ford Heaven, as you can see by the photo this line up is just a few of the Model A Fords that the Guthrie’s have scattered throughout their Trailer Park, there are something like 50-60 Model A Fords on this property. 

The US-based popular TV show; American Pickers want to shoot an episode here, however the owners are not interested and do not want to have a bar of it.

When I am here at the Trailer Park it is like living in the '20s-'30s, there is no where else like it in the world, I really love it here & the Guthrie family treat me as if I am one of their sons.

Model A Fords lined up on the Chandler property.
Arizona with its dry desert atmosphere - is a good rust free environment
for storing cars. The sun can be tough on interiors though.

To give you a better idea of this unique place I will take a few more shots & post them here on the blog for you. 

They also have chooks, goats, rabbits & Sammy the son runs his Arizona Model A Ford Business from the same property.

They also have chooks, goats, rabbits & Sammy the son, runs his
Arizona Model A Ford Business from the same property

Along the way in my last 3-weeks of travel, I have managed to pick up an Upper Respiratory tract infection, I was so crook this morning l decided to go to the Dr’s today for antibiotics, hopefully I will come good by the time I depart for my drive up to Reno, Nevada next Thursday.

Today is much cooler, temperature, around 24ºC [75ºF] with overcast skies that I very rarely see here in Arizona.

At the moment it is 1530 on Saturday afternoon, I will finish this off & enjoy a quiet evening watching the TV.

Cheers for now
Warbo.

Departing London Gatwick for JFK, New York

Thursday 14th June - 2018

Preparing to depart the UK for the US

After the One Day Cricket game today I headed for London Gatwick Airport to hole up in the Sofitel Hotel located on the Airport in preparation for my early 4:00am check-in for my 6:30am departure to JFK, New York on the low-cost, trans-Atlantic carrier, Norwegian.

My Norwegian B787 Dreamliner, Rego G-CKWD
with British Polar Explorer, Ernest Shackleton on the tail
Their VHF radio call-sign is  'Red Nose'
I have renamed Norwegian Airlines “The Flying Tampon”.

Here we are crossing the North Atlantic Ocean at 38,000 feet
The B787 flies at Mach 0.85 - that's the equivalent of 650mph
We had a total flight time of just 7-hours. 

My Norwegian B787 Dreamliner, Rego G-CKWD

with British Polar Explorer, Ernest Shackleton on the tail

Arrived here in New York a couple of hours ago, I am now sitting in the American Airlines departure lounge waiting for my flight AA 952 to Phoenix, Arizona departing here at 1330 local. I just checked, the temperature in Phoenix is currently 42ºC [108ºF]. That will be quite a marked difference from the mild temps I've experienced in the UK over the last two weeks.

It was definitely a different experience flying with this low-cost, long-haul airline. This is the first time I have flown on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, it is a very neat aircraft with larger windows, 30% bigger than any other aircraft and a more silent cabin and has 20% less omissions then similar aircraft.

Norwegian is the third-largest low cost carrier in Europe behind EasyJet and Ryan Air. They operate 15 x B787-900 Dreamliners.

The in-seat-back electronic menu onboard my Norwegian B787 Dreamliner

Let me tell you, you only get what you pay for on this discount Airline, definitely no frills. There's 309 seats in the Economy cabin with 8 Flight Attendants.

Hold luggage is 20 kilos - In-cabin bag 10 kilos - so needless to say they get you on excess luggage BIG time, plus you pay for every thing in-flight & they are very strict. You pay for food, drinks, headsets, blanket, coffee, tea, etc, etc. They don’t miss you. However, toilet paper is still free, unless they figure out a smart way to charge us for it.

My purchased in-flight meal onboard Norwegian

On final approach to New York's JFK Airport our flight
descends & tracks over Block Island Sound and Long Island at 6,000ft

Once settled in Phoenix, I am really looking forward to my time here in the States, my pace slows down for the next week or so, I should have plenty of time to kick back, and do what ever.

Cheers for now
Ken

One Day International Cricket at The Oval

Wednesday 13th June - 2018

One Day International Cricket at The Kia Oval

After my incredible Spitfire flight yesterday I have traveled up from Goodwood /Chichester Airport in the lovely rural setting of West Sussex up into London City to attend the One Day International Cricket match between Australia and England at the Kia Oval in Kennington, South London.

This morning I have traveled the 70 miles from Goodwood/Chichester
up into South London to the Kia Oval in Kennington

The Oval here has a long cricket history and has been the home of the Surrey County Cricket Club since 1845. The Ashes were first created here in 1882. And the great Sir Donald Bradman played his last ever innings here and memorably failed to make the four runs he required to retire from cricket with an average of 100 runs per innings.

At The Kia Oval in South London with the Member's Stand behind me

I take my seat as pre-match activities take place out on the center

My spot in the bleachers. I'm listening to former Australian Cricket
Captain Ricky Ponting's live commentary on the ear-piece.

Another coincidence, in the photograph [above] you can see the young guy sitting in front of me with the beer in his right hand, well, earlier I got a chat on with him because I could hear his Australian accent & asked him where he was from in Australia. His answer was; “you would not know where l live, I live in the Sutherland Shire at Menai". Well you could have knocked me over with a feather, trust me. He is now living here in London.

The game is under way. I have great views of all the action.
C'mon the Aussies!

This is the first outing for new look Australian Cricket Team after some big recent changes with a new coach, a new Captain and new attitude. Unfortunately my presence wasn't enough to spur the Aussies to victory against the arch enemies. 

Today is my last full day in the Old Dart. Tonight I'm headed for the Sofitel Hotel at London Gatwick Airport in preparation for my 6:30am departure to New York tomorrow morning on low-cost Trans-Atlantic airline, Norwegian Air at 6:30am. 

Warbo

My Spitfire flight...

UK - Tuesday 12th June - 2018

Part III - My Spitfire Flight from Goodwood over the English Channel

I had absolutely no idea how emotional this flight would be.

I would say my experience of actually flying in this incredible & iconic World War II vintage machine is right up there with any thing else that I have been fortunate enough to accomplish in my life.

My aircraft was: ‘The Boultbee Spitfire' H.F.IXe/two-seat Trainer 9 - Model SM520 

RAF 3-letter identifier: ‘KJ-I’ - British registration: G-ILDA. It was originally built as a single-seat high-level fighter in 1944 at the Castle Bromwich factory.

This is the exact two-seat Spitfire aircraft that I went flying in today
SM520 - but this is not my actual flight.
File photo

It was converted to a two-seat trainer post war. This aircraft is one of approximately 20,000 Vintage Warbirds that were made, & this year being the 100-year anniversary of the Royal Air Force made this flight so much more meaningful for me.

Prior to my Spitfire flight today, I pose in the hangar with my Norwegian 
Spitfire pilot, Lars, who in real life is a Scandanavian Airlines B737 pilot.

Once the safety briefing was finished the instructors fitted me out with all the gear. Flying Suit-Life jacket-Helmet-Parachute-Flying gloves-Personal locator beacon, safety harness cutter & last but not least my very own personal sick bag.

Then it was time to have a chat with the Pilot (officially). The pilot today was the same guy that stayed here at the B&B were I am. We spoke briefly over breakfast earlier this morning, his name is Lars. He is Norwegian and his real job is flying Boeing 737s for Scandinavia Airlines. 

Two of my incredible aviation experiences this week captured in one photo.
The Spitfire that I flew in today and the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows that I
saw fly over the Isle of Man just 5-days ago. Wow!

Lars briefed me regarding the flight & sort my response if I'd like to experience the following manoeuvres: Victory Roll, Wing over, Half Cuban, Barrel Roll, finishing off with a Loop, (he said that we would experience up to 3-4 G-forces max). In for a penny in for a pound I said to him. Let's do it.

He also wanted to know if I wanted to take the controls and fly this Spitfire & of course I said yes, I did not need to be asked twice. Before we took off Lars gave me instructions as to what to do & how to control this aircraft when he handed over the joy stick to me.

So they strap me into my seat, Lars fires up this supercharged Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 a 27-litre engine, all 1,600hp of this beast, the sound & noise of this baby firing up actually gave me goose bumps. 

We taxi away from the hangar onto the grass runway, at the end of the runway before we commence our take-off roll we check all the instruments & flight controls in preparation for flight. Let the fun begin !!!

Before I new it we were airborne, climbing to 1,500 ft. looking out over Goodwood Estate where I can clearly see the Goodwood House and the surrounding motor racing circuit, making a turn towards the English Channel & the Isle of Wight in the distance. I could see the Needles from that altitude.

The countryside fields of West Sussex extend down to the shores of the Solent

We climbed to 4,000ft then over the headset Lars said to me, Ken you are now in control, Lars had already warned me of the sensitivity of the controls, I gently pulled the joy stick back towards me no more than a quarter of an inch, up comes the nose of the Spitfire, then wanting to make a turn to starboard l moved the controls ever so slightly to the right. It did not take me too long to get the feel of the aircraft, I was as happy as a dog with 3 dicks.

Lars allowed me about 5-minutes at the controls flying this magnificent vintage warbird.

A file shot of KJ-I formatting with another two-seat Spitfire
over the windswept waters of the Solent

By now it was time for Lars to take over again, time had come to give me the thrill of my life. For the next 5 or so minutes we were doing all the manoeuvres that I had agreed to earlier, finishing off with a 360º loop. I can’t wait to see the video of this flight, should be absolutely awesome.

I must confess that I did feel a little squeamish during these manoeuvres, however the thrill of it all soon changed all that & l did not need to use my sick bag.

Then it was time to head for home. The flight lasted about 30 exhilarating minutes in total, then safely landing back on the grass runway at Goodwood Aerodrome. 

 ‘The Boultbee Spitfire' two-seat Trainer 9 - Model.SM520
File photo

What an experience I have just had. Flying in a WWII Spitfire is like driving a Model A Ford compared to a 747 Jumbo Jet, in the Spitfire you are actually flying by the seat of your pants, just like driving a Model A Ford on Australian roads.

You may ask me, would you do it all again. Yes, yes, yes any time.

The One Day International Cricket match tomorrow between the Aussies & the Poms at the Kia Oval will be rather pedestrian after today's exhilarating experience, although I do have some sandpaper here in my kit just in case our bowlers need a courser grain to rub on these English cricket balls.

Nothing else to report from rural Chichester.

Cheers

Warbo

To view the Cockpit Video of my Spitfire flight CLICK HERE

Breakfast before my Spitfire Flight

UK - Tuesday 12th June - 2018

Part II - Breakfast before my Spitfire Flight

I'm staying at the Bruford's B&B in Boxgrove village near Chichester. It's an 18th century village house that was originally part of the Goodwood Estate near Chichester in West Sussex.

Goodwood and the Goodwood Estate plays host to world renowned events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival.

I'm staying at Brufords B&B in Boxgrove, Chichester 

We are approx. 20-30 minutes drive from the scenic coastal areas of Bosham, Dell Quay, Itchenor, Chichester Marina and West Wittering Beach with views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and up the coast to Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower.

Below: Sitting in the garden of this beautiful B&B enjoying my English Breakfast.

 Enjoying my English Breakfast sitting in the garden of this beautiful B & B

Brufords B&B is an original 18th century village house

I have just met my pilot for today’s Spitfire flight, he is the gentleman sitting on the right in the photo below, he is also staying here at the Brufords B&B.

My Spitfire pilot for later today was also staying at the same B&B as me.
That's him on the right, Lars from Norway

His name is Lars, and he is from Norway.

Gotta go, I need to get to the flight briefing.

Warbo

Morning prior to my Spitfire Flight

UK - Tuesday 12th June - 2018

Part I - Spitfire Flight Day

It is 0430 on Tuesday morning the 12th June 2018 here in Goodwood, as you can well imagine I am so wound up and excited for today’s events I can not sleep.

Yesterday afternoon I arrived here at Chichester/Goodwood in the English County of West Sussex. I did a quick tour around the Goodwood Airport and here a few photos that I took.

I spotted this beauty on the ramp at Goodwood.
This is the two-seat Spitfire that I will be flying in later today.

The Boultbee Flight Academy van with a Spitfire in back ground.

Part II - Monday 11th June - 2018

Part II - Monday 11th June - 2018

It has been a long time between drinks, however here I am back in Goodwood, West Sussex, patiently waiting for my flight of a life time tomorrow morning in a two-seat WWll Spitfire fighter aircraft.

The all grass runways of Goodwood Airport are
surrounded by the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
My Spitfire flight will depart off these grass strips.

I drove down here today from Gatwick Airport, on arrival I stopped by the Goodwood Airport and checked in with the Boultbee Flight Academy, just to confirm that all is OK for lift off of my WWII Spitfire flight in the morning.

Entrance sign to the historic Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit

Today the weather has been perfect flying conditions, they have flown 7 flights today so let’s hope the weather stays nice & calm for tomorrow.

This afternoon I have been exploring all around this area, I have checked out the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit (Bruce McLaren was unfortunately killed in practice at this motor racing circuit many, many years ago & I think Stirling Moss also had his big prang at this circuit). There is also a horse racing track along with the Goodwood Aerodrome.

The tunnel that travels through to the Goodwood aerodrome
and the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit

The bronze statue is of Wing Commander Douglas Bader, DSO & BAR DFC. RAF. He flew his last mission from this Airfield. (9th August 1941).

Right now I have returned to this quaint B & B  that is situated only a couple of miles from the Aerodrome to prepare myself for tomorrow’s flight.

Wing Commander Douglas Bader, DSO & BAR DFC. RAF

I have decided to stay here for 2-nights, (Mon- Tue) then I will drive back to London on Wednesday morning so that I am at the cricket match at the Oval (Kia Oval) by 1100.The ODI commences at 1300. 

It will only take me approximately 2-hours to drive from here to there & I would much sooner be staying here in this nice rural setting than back in London. Once the Cricket game has finished I will then drive down to Gatwick Airport, stay overnight at the Gatwick Sofitel Hotel at the airport & be up bright & early at 0330 to check into my flight that departs Gatwick for New York at 0630.

Nothing else for now, next big report will be my story about the Spitfire flight tomorrow.

Stay safe.
Cheers
Warbo.