Days 1 & 2: South Australia Trip

Day 1 - Friday 28th September - 2018

We are headed for the 25th Australian National Model A Ford Meet at Murray Bridge, SA from Oct 2nd-7th - 2018. 

The Ford National meet coincides with the Classic Bay to Birdwood Run for vintage and heritage vehicles. It is one of the largest gatherings of its type - anywhere in the world. So our goal is to participate in both events.

My travelling companion for the South Australia trip
is Peter Deane. We did our motor mechanic apprenticeships
together 55-years ago.

Our adventure started in Sydney, in the early hours of Friday morning, I picked up my travelling mate Peter Deane from his residence in Loftus at 0400 so that we could knock off some kilometres before dawn & beat the traffic out of the “SHIRE”.

Our first stop was at Sutton’s Forest for a quick break & coffee, then onwards & upwards as there was no time to waste because today’s drive would be 12-hours behind the wheel of the Model A Ford before arriving in the township of Hay, NSW, with a total of 455 miles or 732 kms on the clock.

My 1931 Model A Ford holed up at
a country motel along the way

We drove into a strong head wind for most of the day before eventually being totally bored stiff driving along the Hay Plains, I kept Peter busy along the way counting the countless abundance of Toyota Prados and mile after mile of dead road kill consisting of Kangaroos, Emu’s, Wombats, Foxes, Hares, Lizards.

I never realised how many Toyota Prados that are on the road, 85 - 90% of all caravans - trailers - horse floats are being towed by a Toyota Prado. I have assigned Peter the duty of counting how many Toyota Prados we pass on our return journey to Sydney in a week's time.

The iconic Commercial Hotel in Hay

Arrived at the Motel in Hay, NSW at 1600, we decided to enjoy a couple of schooners at the local pub & grab a quick bite to eat at their snack bar before returning to our Motel to watch TV & hit the sack about 2200.

Day 2 - Saturday 29th September - 2018

After our first overnight stop, we started off Saturday, day two early once again, we were on the bitumen at 0600 ready for another HUGE day. Our journey today would take us through another two States; Victoria & South Australia before arriving at our destination at Glenelg. 

We finally arrive in our destination of Glenelg an Adelaide beach-side
suburb where the Bay to Birdwood run will commence tomorrow.

Today’s distance was 50 miles (80 kms) shorter than yesterday’s drive through NSW. I was very happy to arrive at our Airport City Motel in Glenelg to enjoy a break from the driving.

In the 48-hours since departure from the “SHIRE” we had covered a distance of 855 miles (1,376 kms), & been behind the wheel of the Model A Ford for a combined total of 23-hours.

Only two of the interlopers you need to keep an eye out for
on the roads heading across to South Australia.

By comparison, when I think back to the Dutch Couple (Dirk & Trudy Regter) that were circumnavigating the world in their 1915 Model “T” Ford I must take my hat off to them.

What a constitution they must have, day in, day out, for months & months on end they would hit the road again with only a very short overnight rest before moving onto the next town.

Peter & myself were travelling in luxury in our 1931 Model A Ford compared to them in their 1915 Model “T” Ford.

Useless statistical information from Sydney - Adelaide, SA:

Toyota Prado - thousands...
Kangaroos (dead) - 310, wombats (dead) - 15, Foxes (dead) - 4, Emu’s (dead) - 2, (alive) - 3, Hares (dead) - 2, Blue tongue lizards (dead) - 2.
Distance: Sydney - Adelaide. 855 miles (1,376 kms)
98 octane petrol - 12 mpg.
Cost: $460.00. 

Cheers
Warbo

2018 Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia Spring Tour - Part II

Monday 24th September - 2018

2018 Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia Spring Tour - Part II

After over-nighting in Yass, it was now time to hit the road again for another day of adventure driving through the magnificent Riverina countryside of NSW.

My '63 Valiant Regal Sedan among the
vibrant countryside of NSW's Riverina district.

Considering that the eastern states of Australia are experiencing the worst drought conditions for more than 100-years I was very surprised to see that the countryside we drove through today is still holding up quite well.

The Riverina is one of the most agriculturally diverse areas of Australia. It sits in the South-West region of NSW. The dams were still half full, the paddocks were green & the cattle & sheep all had their heads down munching away on the grass. 

Although I am lead to believe that after talking to the locals here last night at the Red Cow Hotel here in Junee where I managed to sink a few schooners, that once you travel west from here towards Narrandera & further west to Hay the countryside changers dramatically for the worst unfortunately.

The Red Cow Hotel in Junee

During the journey yesterday our first stop was at a little place called Binalong to visit Peter Minson Art Glass and see Peter, a third-generation glass blower, perform the skillful art of glass blowing.

Once we departed Binalong heading towards Murrumburrah & Cootamundera the paddocks were full of these sun flower seed crops.

We visited the Monte Cristo Homestead
reported to be one of the most haunted houses in Australia

We arrived into Junee early afternoon & I decided to visit the Monte Cristo Historic House that was originally built in 1876. It's a charming Victorian design, of pleasing line and proportion. Unchanged since the Colonial days, when it was renowned as one of the region's social centres, where grand balls were held and the local gentry idled their time away playing tennis or golf one the region's first golf courses. 

Monte Cristo Homestead, Junee, NSW

Parked outside this residence were fellow Chrysler Club member motor vehicles [below] also viewing this Historic House.

This magnificently restored 1932 DeSoto Airstream
has joined our group of Chrsyler products on this tour.

The most impressive vehicle (love them or hate them) was this beautifully restored 1932 DeSoto Airstream, WOW !!! what an impressive automobile. If you do not know any thing about these vehicles they were way ahead of their time back in the early ‘30s.

In the back ground you can see other Chrysler products from our club parked in the car park.

A wide variety of Chrysler product
joining in for the Spring Tour.

Today being Day 3 of our Spring Tour here in Junee our road tour takes us to the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory, then afterwards we visit the Roundhouse Rail Museum.

The Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory features a
'39 Chevy Delivery van as part of their artifacts on display

Unfortunately today will be my last day on the Spring Tour with my fellow Chrysler Restorers Club members, early tomorrow morning I will be heading back home to Sydney to prepare for my journey to Adelaide in my 1931 Model A Ford 2 Door Tudor Sedan for the National meet in Murray Bridge.

I will be departing Sydney for Adelaide, South Australia accompanied by an old mate of mine (Peter Deane, we did our Motor Mechanics's apprenticeships together 55-years ago) in the early hours of Friday morning, over-nighting in Hay, NSW & then onto Glenelg, South Australia to meet up with another 1,500 Historic Vehicles to compete in the Bay to Birdwood Run on Sunday the 30th September.

So until I hit the road to Adelaide, keep smiling & safe travels.

 
Cheers for now.
Warbo.

2018 Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia Spring Tour - Part I

Sunday 23rd September - 2018

2018 Chrysler Restorers Club of Australia Spring Tour - Part I

This 7-day tour heads to southern NSW and in the later part, takes us down along Australia's longest river; the Murray River, which forms the natural border between the states of NSW and Victoria. We will be exploring & visiting places on either side of the river.

For this tour, I am taking my '63 Valiant Regal, 4-door sedan - in complete original condition.

My '63 Valiant Regal 4-door Sedan
First stop; visiting the Tulip Top Gardens at Sutton, NSW

For the first stage of the journey tonight I am here in Yass holed up at the Motel after a very enjoyable drive from Cronulla to Camden where 38 members of our Chrysler Club including 23 vehicles gathered to receive our instructions for the following 7-days of the Spring tour.

Magnificent Tulip beds and blossom trees at Tulip Top Gardens 

Today’s journey once we departed the Curry Reserve in Camden took us winding through the Southern Highlands to Bowral, Moss Vale, Marulan, Gunning, Goulburn.

We visited the Tulip Top Gardens at Sutton, which are located on the Federal Highway about 20kms north of the nation's capital, Canberra  It's a 10-acre garden, full of stately flower beds of tulips and other Spring flowers and shrubs. It offers a bursting kaleidoscope of colours in a tranquil setting of grassy lawns and shady trees.

It's all nicely tucked away in a hidden valley full of hundreds of blossom trees and bursting flowers beds. Classical music is piped over loudspeakers as you casually meander down a pathway that leads to a waterfall and a beautiful watercourse.

Tulip Top Gardens

As you can see by these photos it was well worth the visit, helped of course by a truly brilliant day with the sun streaming down on all the Tulips & Cherry Blossoms.

Yesterday I drove 219 miles (352.45 kms). Fuel consumption was 11 gallons or 41.93 ltrs. Averaging just on 20 mpg.

My '63 Chrysler Valiant outside the Yass Motel, in Yass, NSW

Tomorrow, Stage 2 of our journey takes us further south to Junee via Binalong, Harden, Cootamundra. Only a relatively short driving distance for the day of 154 km’s/95 miles.

To be continued...

Cheers 
Ken.

2018 Concours d'Elegance

Sunday 9th September - 2018

The Porsche Club of New South Wales hosted the 2018 Concours d'Elegance / 70 Year Celebration of Porsche in the Don Lucas Reserve, Wanda Beach, Cronulla today.

On a beautiful Spring morning at Wanda Beach in Cronulla
I displayed my yellow 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe
The residential high-rise buildings of Cronulla Beach in the backdrop.

On a magnificent Spring Sunday morning here in Cronulla I joined 300+ other Porsche owners as it gave me the perfect platform to display my 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe. 

l purchased my Porsche way back in 1979 from the original owner Dr. Robert Cannon who purchased the vehicle on 23/03/77 from Hamilton's of South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria.

After 39-years of owning my Porsche, this is the first time I have ever
put it on display at a car show. Licence plate KW 911.

l have owned this beautiful Porsche for 39-years, so l decided for the 1st time in all those years to proudly participate / show my vehicle in recognition of celebrating 70-years of Porsche sports cars.

More Porsches on display in all their glory that were 

entered in the Open Concours category.

My vehicle is now 41-years-old, last year the paint work was starting to look very tired so l decided to give the vehicle a face lift, we completely stripped the paint back to bare metal & resprayed the vehicle to its original colour. The vehicle now looks better than when it rolled off the production line in Germany all those years ago.

In those 41-years the speedo reading shows only 174,000 klms. (4,243 klms or 2,636 miles per year). Definitely genuine mileage. 

2018 Concours D'Elegance Judges huddled together discussing
the results of the various categories.

Don Lucas Reserve in Cronulla offers a lush parkland setting with a gorgeous backdrop (as you can witness in the photographs) located on one of Sydney's iconic beaches to show off your car.

Throughout the day there was a roving commentator interviewing participants & asking questions relating to their car & its history. 

A future Porsche owner enjoying the Porsche Diesel (Standard) tractor.

At one point he mentioned the similarity between this event & the Concours d'Elegance held at Pebble Beach,California. Never having been to that event at Pebble Beach in California l really can not comment. However it would want to be excellent to even come any where near the showpiece setting here in Cronulla.

Mean looking Gun metal Grey Porsche 930 with HUGE picnic tray.

This years event was held in conjunction with Porsche Cars Australia, at a guess l would say there were close to 300 Porsches dating back to the 1956 Porsche 356 to the latest Porsche GT3RS, plus very special & increasingly rare cars proudly on display in the Reserve.

The event was designed to accommodate all Porsche enthusiasts from the hard core Open Concours entry, Wash & Polish entry as well as the Porsche owner who simply wants to put his car on the grass and enjoy the day.

Latest Porsche GT3RS on display yesterday.

Not to mention all the Porsches that were parked in surrounding & nearby streets, l suppose that these Porsche owners did not want to pay the $40.00 Park up Display fee for guests with a Porsche.

White Coupe, another fine example of the 1956 (356 Porsche)

All participating cars were given a special commemorative 70th Year celebration Grill Badge supplied by Porsche for the once in a lifetime opportunity, 

Please enjoy the few photographs that l took at yesterdays event.

Cheers for now

Warbo

Goodguys Rat Day at Wanda Beach

Sunday 2nd September - 2018

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Club held their 18th Annual Rat Rod Day on Father's Day at a new venue [for them], at Wanda Beach in my home town of Cronulla.

My '57 Chevy sandwiched between two T-bucket 
hot rods with a gloomy Pacific Ocean in the background

In recent years hundreds of hot rods, rat rods, customs, street machines, VWs and bikes have cruised in for their traditional Father's Day event. With a wide variety of cars turning up, you never know what you are going to see.

My '57 Chevy picked up the 'Top Shiny'
Award on the day

For the first weekend of Spring this morning, under overcast skies, light rain showers and cool south-easterly wind blowing in off the Pacific Ocean, I braved the elements to turn up and show my ‘57 Chevy 2-door pillarless Bel-Air Sedan at the annual Goodguys Rat Day Car show at Wanda Beach in Cronulla.

A classic no airbag statement...
Airbags were introduced as standard equipment in 1997

I was pleasantly surprised that my Classic ‘57 Chevy won the trophy for the ‘Top Shiny’ category out of all the other Hot Rod participants that were entered.

My '57 Chevy picked up the 'Top Shiny'
Award on the day

And why the name Goodguys? No, they are not sponsored by the electrical goods retailer of the same name. Founded 35-years by Gary Meadors who was from Cave Creek, in Phoneix, Arizona [very close to where I have my place in Phoenix] thought that all of the club's car owners were just good guys - simply out having fun with their cars and not doing any harm in society. Hence the name - Goodguys.

Needless to say I am a very “Happy Chappy”.

Cheers
Warbo

Boeing 707 Reunion

Saturday 1st September - 2018

Today there was a 50th Year Anniversary for all those lucky Trolly-Dolly’s that flew on the Boeing 707 Aircraft for Qantas.

Flight Service Director Andrew Heath & his loyal Customer 
Service Supervisor Ken Warburton posing in front of the Classic ‘57 
Chevy parked near Darling Street, Balmain.

So to get us both in the mood I decided to drive my ‘57 Chevy to the Cricketers Arms Hotel in Balmain to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Balmain, an inner Sydney suburb will charm you with its heritage pubs, beautifully restored sandstone cottages and terrace houses.

Some of Australia's best-known writers, actors, film directors, musicians and artists call Balmain home. A casual stroll along the streets will reveal Balmain’s colonial heritage, from its working-class roots to the many restored Georgian and Regency buildings and some of the harbour city’s oldest pubs.

The Cricketers Arms Hotel

in Balmain

In the top photo: Flight Service Director Andrew Heath & his loyal Customer Service Supervisor Ken Warburton posing in front of the Classic ‘57 Chevy parked near Darling Street Balmain.

Qantas entered the jet age in 1959 with delivery of its first Boeing 707.
It flew until March 1979 with Qantas.

Balmain was the perfect location to celebrate the great memories of the early nostalgic jet age years flying and working onboard this iconic Qantas aircraft.

Cheers
Warbo.

Back home into Sydney today

AUS - Wednesday 29th August - 2018

This morning I arrived back home into Sydney after 22-days in the US.

Mission accomplished: My trip purpose was to prepare my three newest [car] members to the Warburton family, for asbestos compliance prior to their trans-oceanic shipment to Australia.

Here I am aboard this Qantas Airbus A-380, the QF12, as she makes good her final approach for Sydney Airport after a 14hr 20min flight from Los Angeles.

The inbound track of my Qantas Airbus A380 as
she arrived into Sydney this morning from Los Angeles

Just seven miles from touchdown here, the flight gets me back home into the Sutherland Shire just a few minutes before the actual touchdown. My home is just a short 5kms to the left of the red aircraft marker.

After the Summer warmth of Arizona and California it was just 6ºC when we touched down at 6:30am

Cheers 
Warbo

Tesla

US Sunday 26th August - 2018

One of my mates over here has just taken delivery of his new Tesla Model S.

I got a chance to slip behind the wheel of a mate's new
Tesla Model S here in Arizona this week

Absolutely unbelievable motor vehicle, it has all the bells and whistles.

You can see why the punters go ape shit over this machine, talk about GO... it is quite scary how fast this vehicle accelerates... 0 to 60mph in 2.5 seconds.

Exceptionally quiet and quick to drive.

The current range on a full charge is 315 miles.

What you need to do is completely change the way you drive a car, it would take me 3-months just to get used to the Tesla.

Cheers
Warbo

Galpin Ford Dealership - Private Museum

US Wednesday 22nd August - 2018

After yesterday’s breakfast outing at Crazy Ottos Restaurant in Acton, California & then later visiting Dennis Neice's property at San Canyon, my good Kiwi mate, Mike Lawrence took me to the Galpin Ford Dealership’s Private Museum.

We grabbed a hearty US-style breakfast at
Crazy Otto's in Acton, California

Galpin Ford, located in North Hills, California has been the number one volume Ford Dealer in the world for the last whopping 24-years. Next door to the dealership they have a private museum that features around 50+ cars, mostly from the blue oval, but they have a keen interest in the custom cars of Hollywood.

Below are a few photos that I thought you may be interested in. In the first photo [below] is the red Cobra No 66 - which is an original Cobra race car.

An original Shelby Cobra race car

Designed by the legendary Carroll Shelby, who after winning the 24-Hours of Le Mans in 1959, Shelby began race-car building. In 1962 he introduced the Shelby Cobra, at the time was the world’s fastest production car. He went on to design the Shelby Mustang GT for Ford, a car that helped define a generation.

The red Ford GT40 [below] has never been registered to be driven on the road with only 550 original miles on the Speedo. These magnificent vehicles were built from 1964-1969, there were only 105 produced.

Ford GT-40 - originally produced to win
long-distance races against Ferrari

The famous Ford GT40 won 24-hours of Le Mans four times consecutively from 1966-1969 including a 1-2-3 finish in 1966.

The very famous NZ race car designer & driver Bruce McLaren along with fellow Kiwi Chris Amon won the first victory for any American manufacturer at the 24-hours of Le Mans in front of Henry Ford ll in 1966.

This kit car once belonged to entertainer Liberace.

The big cream vehicle with his trademark candelabra sitting on top of the radiator shell is a kit car once owned by one of the most famous entertainers in the world, none other than the flamboyant Wladziu Valentino Liberace (1919-1987).

The Pink Panther mobile - the driver has to wear a helmet
because he sits out in the open.

Finally the legendary Pink Panther mobile was built in 1969 and was on of the most exuberant and radical cars of the era. Shaped like an anteater, it is an outstanding 23ft long and 6ft wide & is powered by a massive seven litre engine.

Featuring prominently in the Pink Panther cartoon opening and closing sequence, the car was the work of legendary Hollywood car designer Jay Ohrberg — responsible for the Back To The Future DeLorean, the 1966 and 1989 Batmobiles and David Hasselhoff’s vehicle in Knight Rider.

The 'Pleasure Capsule' of the Pink Panther Mobile

Behind the driver and engine is what is known as the 'Pleasure Capsule' - an interior with pink shag reclined seats, square-tufted upholstery, half a dozen faux-fur pillows, a 1970's era car phone and a bar.

This vehicle just exudes the '70's Classic era cool with its space age styling.

The Galpin collection acts as a wonderful selling tool and shows the dealership’s dedication to cars, Ford history, custom cars, hot rods, and automotive history, but it’s more than just a museum – it’s a showroom in itself. All interesting vehicles from a by-gone era.

Cheers
Ken

Pre-certification work is complete...

US Saturday 18th August - 2018

Finally all the hard preliminary preparation work has been done, yesterday we delivered 'Hoover' my 1931 AA Ford Truck to the warehouse in Compton, Los Angeles.
 
As we completed all the work required on the other two vehicles during this past week, we delivered all three vehicles to the Compton warehouse so that they can make them ready for fumigation & asbestos swab testing next Monday (20th August).

In the photo below, all three vehicles are parked safely in the warehouse waiting for their final inspection fate on Monday.

Update: After endless hours of preparation work
all three of my cars sitting in Compton awaiting final certification

The company that we are using here in LA to complete certification, asbestos swab testing & what ever else is required only do their testing on Mondays. So if I hadn’t delivered all vehicles by yesterday - I would have to wait another week for the process.

During the past week we have removed all the brake shoes, clutch plates, head gaskets & manifold gaskets from the three vehicles to be exported back to Sydney. Hopefully that will ensure the vehicles a clean bill of health once they hit the shore in Sydney at the Container Terminal in Port Botany in a few months time.

My 1964 Plymouth/Valiant on the Car trailer all ready to be delivered
to the warehouse in LA for export to Australia compliance

In the photo [above] you can see my 1964 Plymouth/ Valiant on the car trailer all ready to be delivered to the warehouse in LA.

[Below] Prior to unloading 'Hoover' from the car trailer yesterday you can see the two Anzacs at work in our high-vis vests. 

My Kiwi mate, Mike Lawrence [right] is my right-hand man
here in LA

Without my Kiwi friend Mike Lawrence life would have been a lot tougher to prepare the vehicles this week, he is my right hand man here in LA - he makes things happen.

Unfortunately I do not have a photo of Mike’s wife Judy at the moment, she was also a tower of strength when needed & what’s more Judy makes the best cuppa tea here in America.

My 1931 Model A Ford slant window 4-door sedan with wheels and brake drums
removed asbestos certification prior to shipping to Australia

[Above] My 1931 Model A Ford slant window 4-door Town Sedan was already in the LA depot with the wheels & brake drums removed for inspection on Monday 20th August.

[Below] If you look closely on the right-hand side (looking at the truck) you will notice some orange tie-down straps on the tray, those straps are supporting the engine of the truck. We had to remove the engine so that the clutch plate could be removed.

Custom forklift wheel tines - a very clever and safe innovation
to lift the vehicle from the trailer without any damage

[Above] you can see the tines of the forklift preparing to lift 'Hoover' from the car trailer, a very clever & safe way to lift the vehicle without damaging anything.

Tomorrow is Sunday, I am off to a swap meet. This afternoon (Saturday) I will help my friends set up all the assorted gear that they hope to sell tomorrow.

Work in progress, now I can relax a little and I am really looking forward to the certification results next Wednesday.

Cheers for now 
Warbo.