Intro: My '57 Chevy Bel Air

Thursday 7th March - 2019

Recently I decided to replace the two photographs on the head banner of my blog page.

For many months now, every time you logged onto my blog page you would see a Turquoise 1964 Plymouth/Valiant, 2-door, 3-speed manual sedan kept in company by the 1931 Model A Ford 4-door Town sedan. These two vehicles I purchased in Santa Clarita, California in July 2018. 

Two different cars of mine now feature
on my new blog headline banner

I just thought that those two photos were growing a little tired by now, so I have updated those (2) photos with (2) of my later model vehicles for you to see & enjoy. I also decided that I would write a story on both of these classic vehicles of how & where I became the proud owner of them both.

1) 1957 (Black) Chevy 2-Door Bel Air.

Way back in 1957 when I was a spring chicken I cast my eyes over one of these beautiful cars & decided that one day I wanted to own one of these classic vehicles. Even then as a 10-year-old child I believed that the '57 Chevy was the best looking car of the fifties.

Two striking examples of iconic design lines from the '50s and the '70s
paired together here. The Sydney Opera House c.1973
& the Chevrolet Bel Air c.1957
Photo: Steve Core  

So to cut a long story short & fast forward 49-years here is what happened.

On one of my trips to the States (October 2016) I attended the Hershey Swap Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, now if you do not know any thing about this swap meet let me tell you a little bit about it. This meet takes place the first full week in October, where you can visit over 9,000 vendors, view over 1,000 cars for sale in the corral, & admire the approximately 1,200 cars at the car show on Saturday. (Put this event down on your bucket list).

One of my American friends is a vendor at this swap meet selling Model A Ford parts, I casually mentioned to him that I am in the market for a '57 Chevy. This chap is a motor mechanic & he said that one of his clients has his '57 Chevy in his (Cleveland, Ohio) workshop for repair. So I decided to call in & see the Chevy on my road trip back west to Phoenix, Arizona. As soon as I laid my eyes on this '57 Chevy I immediately feel in love with it.

The '57 Chevy parked under the Prince Alfred Bridge in Gundagai, NSW.
The bridge, opened in 1867, is a wrought iron truss & timber road bridge.
The bridge spans across the Murrumbidgee River floodplain.

Of course this vehicle was not for sale. I met up with the owner & began negotiations to purchase his vehicle, as luck would have it, this gentleman was in the process of selling his house & downsizing, so you might say that I was in the right spot at the right time because he had no room to garage this vehicle & by me buying this vehicle from him would save him quite a few head aches.

We came to an amicable deal & I now owned my life long dream a 1957 Chevy 2-door Bel Air.

The '57 Chevy framed under the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Photo: Steve Core  

There was still a huge problem because I then had to drive my RV back across America to the West Coast & then on down to Phoenix, Arizona, as soon as l arrived back in Phoenix I boarded an aircraft & flew back to Cleveland Ohio to take delivery of my new 'Baby'.

Once I had taken delivery of my new vehicle, I decided to take a HUGE gamble & drive it back to Los Angeles. All of my American friends advised me to ship it to the West Coast on a Truck, I was having none of that & decided to take the PUNT & drive it back to LA. 

Distance: Cleveland Ohio to Los Angeles is 2,350 miles (3,782 kms). Two and a half days later I arrived in Los Angeles. The only problem that I experienced with the car was I lost the passenger side wiper blade in one of the rain storms I drove through.

The vehicle is as close as possible to original condition
where the chrome & trim are in stunning condition.
Photo: Steve Core  

When I arrived in LA I immediately organised to have the vehicle shipped back across the Pacific ocean to good old Sydney town.

So that my dear friends is how I come to own this '57 Chevy. Now I want to tell you about these highly sort after icons.

The Chevy Bel Air is an iconic car that debuted in the 1950s. The 1957 Chevy Bel Air remains to be one of the most popular made, it's really one of the most popular Classics of all time. These models are highly sort after by collectors & enthusiasts. If you want to pick up a '57 Chevy Bel Air today, it will cost you from $80,000 - $100,000 Aussie $s based on condition.

Here's the engine bay with the 350-cu.in 5.7 litre Chevy engine.
Sitting on top of the engine you can see the 650 Edelbrock Carburetor.

There are many high dollar collector cars BUT how many can be called a true work of art. The 2-door 1957 Chevy Bel Air is one of few. It is a rolling Mona Lisa. If Leonardo da Vinci had ever designed a car it would be the 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

It is safe to say that Chevrolet will never produce another car like the 1957 2-door Bel Air, this vehicle is a time capsule of a by-gone era.

Some interesting Specifications:

* Price. '57 Chevy in 1957. $2,300.00.
* Outside Length. 200 inches (5,080 mm). Width 73.9 inches (1,877 mm). Wheelbase 115 inches (2,921 mm).
* Estimated curb weight. 1550 kg/3,420 lbs.
* How fast is this car? Top speed 155 km/p (96 mph).
* Engines available. 4 Standard engine options. 1) 235.5-cu.in a 6 cylinder. 2) 265-cu.in V-8 "Turbo Fire". 3) 2 x 283-cu.i V-8's a " Turbo - Fire" twin barrel carburetor & a "Super Turbo Fire" 4-barrel carburetor.

In March 2017, the '57 Chevy landed at Port Botany in Sydney from the USA.
Here we are trailering it out of the Customs clearance facility. It still
has its original Ohio number plates on it.
Photo: Steve Core  

Modifications that were carried out by the previous owner.

* 350-cu.inch 5.7 litre Chevrolet engine.
* 400 Turbo Hydro Transmission.
* 3.55 Ratio differential.
* Headers powder coated.
* 650 Edelbrock Carburetor.
* Rack & pinion power Steering.
* Classic Instrument Gauges. (after market).
* Front Disc brake conversion.
* Mag Wheels.
* Huge Aluminium radiator.

Production numbers for the 1957 Chevy Bel Air 2-Door Sedan: 62,751. Total.
Who designed the '57 Chevy? Designer. Clare R Mackichan. (1954).

What does Bel Air mean? It's French, meaning literally "beautiful air".

Successor: Chevrolet Impala in 1975.

Manufacturer: Chevrolet. (General Motors).

So for now my fellow classic car enthusiasts, I hope that you have enjoyed my story about my 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

Cheers for now.

Warbo

A Horse-race to remember...

Hyperno Wins the '79 Melbourne Cup

Yes, that famous horse race was 40-years ago this year, I remember that as clear as if it were just yesterday for a very special reason. That year and that race in 1979, sticks firmly in my memory bank because that was the year and the day, 40-years ago, that I purchased my 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe in Melbourne, Victoria.

Way back then I was only a young man, I had joined Qantas Airways 5-years earlier, employed as an International Trolly-Dolly, & the world was my oyster.

My friend Anthony Clarke (best man at my wedding) called me up one afternoon in early November of 1979 to tell me about his friend in Victoria who was selling his 2-year-old 1977 Porsche in order to purchase a Ferrari.

Photo of my 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe taken on the day of the
2018 Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.

Anthony was well aware that I had a love affair with the 911 Porsches ever since I started my motor mechanic apprenticeship as a 16-year-old kid.

I said to my wife at the time (and I have only had one of them) why don't we fly down to Melbourne & check this vehicle out, while we were at it we could go to the Melbourne Cup at the same time. Of course she agreed, why wouldn't you.

We flew staff travel down to Melbourne, I had pre-arranged to meet up with Anthony's friend (Dr. Robert Cannon who was a dentist). We meet him at his practice in Collins Street, Melbourne. He told us the story that he intended to purchase a Ferrari so he wanted to sell his Porsche. He gave me the keys to his Porsche that was parked in the under ground parking bay of his building. 

He said have a look at it & take it for a spin if you like. My wife & I caught the elevator down to the car park level, as the elevator door opened there right in front of us was this magnificent Yellow 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe. I almost passed out, because the colour of this vehicle was my favourite colour (yellow). 

My 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe taken at the
Parklands Resort & Conference Centre at Mudgee.

Over the previous years of looking at these beasts in brochures & magazines I said to myself, if ever I am lucky enough to own one of these incredible sports cars that is the colour that I would like to have. Of course if you are trying to purchase a 2nd hand Porsche you really have no choice with the colour unless you purchase a new car. That, for me, was totally out of the question because of the price tag.

So far so good. This Porsche was originally sold by Hamilton's Porsche of South Yarra, they were the Porsche Distributors in Melbourne at the time, and it came with an Australian Compliance plate. So far we had ticked all the boxes. Now for the BIG road test. I was absolutely shaking in my boots as I jumped into the driver's seat, turned on the ignition switch & fired up the engine. No other car looks like it, or sounds like it, no other Sports car can match its unique driving dynamics.

Before I had driven out of the underground garage I was SOLD. We drove around the city of Melbourne for quite some time, I was in my element. Once the road test was over I drove the Porsche back to the car park with out bending it. I do not think that the Dr. would have been too impressed if I had bent his vehicle.

So to cut a long story short we negotiated a price & I was now the owner of this 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe. I paid for the car, insured the vehicle then drove off to Flemington Race Course to experience the thrill of my 1st Melbourne Cup. What a Day.

My yellow 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe joins a group of Porsches at
the 2018 Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.

We over-nighted in Melbourne that evening after watching the Melbourne Cup. The following morning we were up at the crack of dawn to commence the long drive home to Sydney via the more scenic coast road. Arrived home safely in the 'SHIRE' with my pride & joy.

It is hard to believe a car that shares its roots with the 1930's VW Beetle and is the most influential sports car of the 20th Century (voted by a panel of 133 car journos from around the world, by the way).

The Porsche 911 is an incredible sports car, no question. Thing is, it should never have worked. This rear-engined Coupe is a Teutonic middle finger to laws of physics because centrifugal force should fling it off the road at every corner.

That's after what happened in the '60s, '70s & '80s when overly ambitious drivers lifted off the throttle mid-corner. But other more talented drivers used the 911's power, light weight & inherent agility to dominate races like the Monte Carlo Rally, Targa Florio & the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

My yellow 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe joins a group of Porsches at
the 2018 Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.

In 1977 this car's price ranged from $28,160.00 to $33,940.00 - depending of course on what extras you custom ordered with it.  These days, classic 911s can cost ten times more than a brand new 911 Turbo, which is $390K by the way, however not every 911 will cost you a large house. Being such an enthusiast, such vehicles have become motoring legends as well as classics.

Landmark Porsche 911s: Porsche turns 70. Over 7 generations an automotive icon has been forged. No one model of car has ever set so many hearts awash with LUST & ENVY...

Two years ago my pride & joy was looking very tired after 40-years, so l decided to give it a BIG LICK.

I stripped the vehicle down & we then took the paint back to bare metal. The vehicle now looks better than brand new as you can see by the photographs, the original Colour looks sensational. These photographs were taken at the 2018 Porsche's Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla in Sydney.

I hope that you have enjoyed the journey of my 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe.

Regards for now.

Warbo

Sydney Tram Museum - Open Day

Sunday 24th February, 2019

Another great day’s outing for the Model A Ford Club of NSW today. Our Club were once again asked if we could support the Annual Vintage Tramway Festival open day of celebrations at the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus.

Lined up on Main Street of the Tramway Museum at Loftus
vehicles from the Model A Ford Club of NSW help recreate the era.

For more than 80-years until 1961, trams were an important part of life in Sydney. The 25th February 2019, will mark the 58th Anniversary of the day that the last tram ran on the Sydney tram network. 

Unlimited tram rides are offered to all paying guests 
on the Museum's Tramway Festival open day

The Sydney Tramway Museum was founded in 1950 to preserve examples of the city’s tramway heritage, the exhibits not only include almost every type of tram which ran on the former Sydney system, but extend to examples from other Australian & overseas cities, chosen to give a National & international picture of the development of tramcar design.

Plenty of colourful characters on the day

This museum has approximately 28 trams, however not all these trams are operational. Here is a list of the Trams that are indeed still in use at the Museum: 2 x C class (1896-1926). 1 x F class (1899-1916). 1 x L/P class (1918-1951). 2 x O class (1908-1958). 1 x P class (1921-1960). 2 x R class (1933-1960).

A variety of trams lined up - all offering tram rides on sections
of the Museum's own incorporated 3.5 kms of tram line

The 626 'O' Class cars serviced the Sydney Metropolitan area… particularly around Easter time, when the RAS (Royal Agricultural Society) held their Annual Show [State Fair] at the Moore Park complex. With a capacity of 80 seats + 80 standing, the famous old cross bench trams, when coupled, could shift a load of 320 people.

The Display Hall houses the Museum's assemblage 
of trams and vast collection of tramway memorabilia.

Sydney’s longest tram route was from the Fort Macquarie Tram Depot, now the location of the Sydney Opera House, via George Street & Pyrmont to Ryde, a distance of 17 km.

The expression “Shooting Through like a Bondi Tram’ comes from express steam trams on the Bondi line, the fastest form of transport a city reliant on horse drawn conveyances at the end of the 19th century.

Plenty of colourful characters to complement the colourful cars,
buses & trams on display.

These wonderful people movers (no pollution) also traveled over the Sydney Harbour Bridge up to the North Shore until 1958.

The standard height of the overhead wire on Sydney’s tramways was 5.8 metres (19 feet), Double-deck buses were 4.4 metres high (14.4 feet).

The Display Hall houses the Museum's assemblage 

of trams and vast collection of tramway memorabilia.

In 1909 a total of 564 trams crossed the Sydney CBD intersection of King & George Streets between 5.00 & 6.30 pm - a tram every ten seconds.

What do you think the current NSW Gladys Berejiklian's Liberal Government would give to have these statistics.

Operating throughout the day, a tram passes
vehicles from the Model A Ford Club on static display

The last tram to operate in Sydney was in 1961, between the City & La Perouse.

As a child l can remember my Mum taking us kids into the CBD shopping & travelling from one end of the city to the other on board the trams, & for those of you that are old enough we even witnessed Bea Miles a famous eccentric identity of Sydney jumping from one tram to the other as they passed each other.

Wonderful, wonderful memories.

Vintage cars along with vintage buildings, vintage trams & buses
complete the integrated street scene setting on the Tramway Festival day

How fast do trams go? From the advent of four-motor trams such as the Sydney 'O' class, trams were expected to run at around 40 to 45 kmh (or approx 26 mph) on a level track with a full load. On good straight downhill track, speeds of 60 kmh could be achieved. 

Modern Trams being built today for street operation typically will have normal running speeds of up to 70 kmh (approx 42 mph).

The trams carry an amazing authentic array of advertising signage
that convey you back in time to another era

Now with all that useless information, l can highly recommend anyone that is interested in going back to a different era to spend a few hours at the Sydney Tramway Museum located at Loftus, less than 1-hour south of down-town Sydney. 

It's Australia's oldest Tram Museum and the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. You will really enjoy the surroundings & friendly volunteers that are only too happy to take you back in time.

Until the next adventure, stay safe.

Cheers for now.

Warbo

Classic 1938 Ford Truck with long Australian family history

Sunday 17th February - 2019

At this past weekend's 43rd Berrima District Historic Vehicle Club Rally, I managed to catch up with Stephen & Tanya Chalker-Holz & their son Mitchell.

What a pleasure & honour it was to talk to Tanya about the history of their very rare 1938 Ford 2½ ton truck. This Ford Classic, is renowned for it’s unique shaped grill, which is often referred to as a “beer barrel” grill.

Restored to factory specifications, including the original paint colour.
The timber used in the restoration: The flatbed tray is constructed of WA Jarrah,
and the Toolbox & Headboard are made of Redwood.

The Australian Government purchased 500 of these trucks from the Ford Plant located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada for the war effort. These vehicles arrived in Australia in a knocked down form & the Ford plants here in Australia re-assembled these vehicles to Australian Army requirements.

After the war, the Australian Government couldn’t afford to bring these vehicles home, so they were mostly left in the theatres of war in which they operated, like Africa & New Guinea.

After the end of World War II, in 1946, Tanya’s Grandfather attended an Army Auction in Goulburn, NSW where all surplus military vehicles were being auctioned off. You had to be a Primary producer to put your name down in the ballot to be eligible to purchase a vehicle.

Tanya’s Grandfather elected to put his name down for a truck & this is what he received.

This rare 1938 Ford 2½ ton truck is a family heirloom and has
been in the Chalker-Holz family for the last 76-years.

For many years this vehicle worked on the family farm & later was used as the local fire truck in their district until 1965, then tucked away in a shed on Tanya’s Grandparents farm in Mittagong.

Then in 1999 they brought the truck home to Gosford, to where the Chalker-Holz family now live, where they embarked upon a 10-year restoration.

By now Tanya’s father was in his 80s (a carpenter by trade) did all the timber work to return this vehicle to its former glory. Restored to factory specifications, including the original paint colour. The timber used in the restoration: The flatbed tray is constructed of WA Jarrah, while the toolbox & headboard are made of Redwood.

Since its restoration in 2010 this master piece has driven over 30,000 miles (48,000 kms) to Adelaide, Brisbane, Victoria & appeared in several movies including Hacksaw Ridge directed by Mel Gibson in 2016.

Before Tanya’s father's death he was able to see his father's truck in Hacksaw Ridge on the big screen. Tanya’s Dad just shook his head & could not believe that his father's farm truck & the very same truck he learnt to drive in as a 15-year-old was now in a Hollywood movie.

Restored to Ford factory specifications, including the original paint colour.
The timber used in the restoration: The flatbed tray is constructed of WA Jarrah,
while the toolbox & headboard are made of Redwood.

Stephen & Tanya were telling me that their son Mitchell will eventually inherit this truck which he is very proud of. So it certainly looks like this automotive relic from another era will stay in the loving hands of the Chalker-Holz family for a 4th generation.

Now the best news about to come... 

The Chalker-Holz family have assured me that their pride & joy (this 1938 Ford Truck) will be on exhibition at Cronulla for our 5th Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Car Show on Sunday April 14th, 2019 to help raise much needed funds for the Sylvanvale Foundation to support people with disabilities to reach their potential.

Whatever you do, do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to view this this 'Classic'.

As the event organiser, I am delighted that 20,000+ Motor Enthusiasts will be able to enjoy this very, very special part of history right here on the tiles of Cronulla Mall on Sunday, April 14th, 2019.

See you there,

Ken Warburton

Visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum

Wednesday 6th February, 2019

Thirty members of our Model A Ford Club visited the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst in inner Sydney today.

We all mustered at a coffee house at Circular Quay before boarding a bus that delivered us to the Museum in Darlinghurst Road. Once we all processed through the security checks we entered into another world.

Part of the facade of the Sydney Jewish Museum
in Darlinghurst

The Sydney Jewish Museum was established in 1992 by the generation of Holocaust survivors who came to Australia. The Museum is an institution that collects and preserves historic objects, commemorates and educates, with a mission to challenge visitors’ perceptions of morality, social justice, democracy and human rights.

The Museum collects and conserves original memorabilia related to the Holocaust, Judaica and Australian Jewish history to make these available for display and research for generations to come.

After recent renovations the Museum offers fantastic displays
and exhibitions of curated items in a modern environment.

Seeing that there were so many of us, we were divided into three groups of 10 people in each group. Our group's guide (Vera) whose parents were survivors of The Holocaust took us all on an informative, but frightening journey for the following one & a half hours.

Our guide Vera [in white, with her back to the camera] conducts
our tour group through the exhibitions and displays.

I was well aware of what to expect, because in 1969 (50-years ago) when I was a young man travelling around the world in a Volkswagen camper van, I visited Dachau the First Concentration Camp, which was established immediately after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933.

For these people that say the Holocaust never happened, WELL, let me tell you, just allow yourself a few hours one day to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum, I can assure you it would be well worth the visit.

For lunch we headed for the Courthouse Hotel located on
Taylor Square on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.

Once our guided tour of the Museum had finished all thirty of us made the short stroll to the Courthouse Hotel located in Taylor Square on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst for a Pub lunch & discuss the morning's events.

Our group enjoying lunch inside the Courthouse Hotel after an
enlightening visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum.

Cheers for now.

Warbo.

Australia Day 2019, Cronulla

Australia Day - Cronulla - 26th January, 2019.

HUUUGE Day!!!

Mixing in the right company with the current Prime Minister of Australia, my friend, Scott Morrison.

I'm certain he did not realise that he was sharing the BBQ plate with the Australian Open BBQ Champion held at ‘Swallow Rock’ Greys Point in 1972.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits Cronulla Beach for the
Australia Day festivities and grabs a pair of tongs to help man the
BBQ to raise money for struggling farmers.

I showed the head of our nation a few tricks about cooking a minute steak, he took my advice & scoffed into a beautifully cooked minute steak with the onions (under the meat) of course.

Cronulla Rotary members really appreciated the PM dropping by our set up to say a BIG HELLO!!! & to personally thank us all for our efforts to raise money for our farmers that are doing it real tough right now.

The Cronulla Rotary BBQ on Australia Day

The PM Scott Morrison would have spent 10-minutes talking to every one that was there working away either cooking on the BBQ serving the customers, collecting money, or what ever their tasks were, he even grabbed a long pair tongs & actually helped cook the sausages & minute steaks.

All proceeds raised go to a great cause, Rural Aid.

Cronulla Rotary volunteers man the BBQ hotplates on Australia Day
in Cronulla Park on Cronulla Beach

In the photo above, you can see a happy bunch of volunteers cooking the Minute Steaks, Gluten free snags & onions on (4) BBQs.

Today was one hell of an effort from everyone involved, by the time we finished around 8.30-9.00pm this evening we had cooked 500 minute steaks, almost 3,000 gluten free sausages, plus kilos of onions. 

The Australian Day Concert & Festivities on the Beach at Cronulla
Photo: John Veage

I would like to personally thank one of our quiet achievers Mark Ellis. Mark has worked his BUTT off over the past couple of months organising today’s events & guess what, every thing went off to plan, (no hiccups at all). Congratulations & well done mate. You are a CHAMPION.

I must admit the Cronulla Rotary set up for today’s events was very impressive as you can see in the photos showing the punters lining up for their Steak Sanga, or Sausage & onion on a roll cooked by a former Australian BBQ Champion. How good is that?

Great day had by all involved, it will be interesting to see how much today’s event raised for Rural Aid, I will let you know as soon as I know the figures on my Blog.

That is just about it for this bout, stay safe.

Warbo.

Model A Ford Club - Luncheon Run to Burrawang Cafe

Sunday 18th November - 2018

Another wonderful day's outing with the Model A Ford Club of NSW members & their vehicles driving through the picturesque Southern Highlands & then onto the Burrawang General Store & Cafe for lunch.

This morning started for me at 0600, my first obligation was to prepare morning tea for our first stop at Pheasants Nest (south) on the Hume Highway approximately 1 1/2 hours south of Cronulla where I reside in 'the Shire'.

My favourite morning tea on occasions like this is: SAO biscuits, cheese & Vegemite then of course a Thermos full of (hot) Bushell's tea to wash it down with.

Departing Fitzroy Falls in the Morton National Park

I picked up my travelling mate Peter Deane at 0730 at Loftus, we hit the road running, transversing the Heathcote Road to hook up with the Hume Motorway at Liverpool for the 1-hour drive to the mustering point at the 7-Eleven at Pheasants Nest (south) roadside stop. 

Upon arriving at the 7-Eleven we set ourselves up on the picnic table & chairs to enjoy our morning tea & biscuits. It was not long before other Club members joined us.

Once every one had arrived & enjoyed their morning tea we once again set sail at 1000 for the 1-hour drive to Fitzroy Falls Lookout and visitor centre.

Twenty-three happy members of the Model A Ford Club
captured at Fitzroy Falls in the NSW southern highlands

In the photograph above you can see at least twenty-three happy Model A Ford Club Members enjoying the scenery looking out over the Yarrunga Valley - 640 metres above sea level, at the Fitzroy Falls lookout on a picture perfect day. 

The falls are where the Yarrunga Creek cascades over the escarpment into the Kangaroo Valley and flows into the Kangaroo River. We enjoyed taking in the scenery for about 1-hour, then it was time to leave Fitzroy Falls in the Morton National Park to drive on to the Burranwang General Store & Cafe for our luncheon reservation at noon.

The Fitzroy Falls are where the Yarrunga Creek cascades over the escarpment into
the Yarrunga valley and flows into the Kangaroo River.

In one of the photos above you can see my Burgundy 1931 2-door Tudor Delux sedan departing the Fitzroy Falls, shortly after departing the Park l needed petrol badly, so Peter recommended that I continue up the road a couple of clicks & we would find a service station to get me out of trouble (I always carry a spare 5-litre container on petrol just for occasions like this).

When we stopped at this very small service station out in the sticks, they would only allow us to purchase a maximum of $20 worth of fuel, because they were running low themselves, at least that would get us out of trouble & allow us to drive onto the next service station, hopefully to fill the 8-gallon tank of the Model A Ford.

A friendly Parakeet joined us a local fuel stop.

Whilst stopped at the Service Station for our 20-bucks worth of fuel, three or four Parakeets decided that they wanted to check out the Model A Ford more closely, you can see Peter checking out one of the Parrots that had landed on the roof of the Model A Ford, (How cool is that?). 

Peter Deane checks out the parakeet that wanted
to take a closer look at my Model A Ford

Now that we were mobile once again we drove onto the Burrawang General Store & Cafe to meet up with every one else for lunch. When we arrived at the Burrawang Cafe, Peter and myself were the last to arrive because of the unplanned petrol & Parrot diversions. 

The Burrawang General Store & Café

Here we were in the Southern Highlands only a couple of kilometres from Robertson, we were greeted by this wonderful (1867 General Store) that has been trading continuously for over 140 years, now converted into a magnificent restaurant. 

There were a total of 30 people or more in our party, so guess what there was no room left for us inside the restaurant so management found us a table on the outside verandah which was OK by us.

Lunch on the verandah of the Burrawang General Store & Cafe
with Peter Deane [left] then myself and Leon Panov and
Gary Smith from the Model A Club

Such a lovely setting, you can see that Peter & myself were also joined for lunch by Leon Panov & Gary Smith from the Model A Car Club on the verandah.

Once lunch was completed & our bellies were full it was time to say 'Cheerio' to the Burrawang Cafe & the other Club Members & head for home.

We made a great diversionary stop into the Robertson Pie Shop
for a road-stop dessert of Apple Pie with cream.

Of course l could not help myself & suggested to Peter my Navigator, that we will be calling into the 'Famous' Robertson Pie Shop on the way home for dessert. What better way to finish off a delightful lunch with an Apple Pie & Cream, (the icing on the cake, I reckon).

By now I really felt like a 'Whale' & decided it was time to once again hit the road & head for home via the rugged Macquarie Pass driving the Model A Ford down the mountain to Albion Park to by pass the HARS Aviation Museum located at the Illawarra Regional Airport. 

Every time I drive past the HARS Aviation Museum my heart always skips a beat or two because they have one of the ex-Qantas Boeing 747 Jumbo jets parked on the tarmac. During my flying career of 34-years l would have spent 100s of hours, on this particular aircraft flying around the world serving the punters, chicken or beef, followed by hot tea or coffee.

The retired Qantas B747-400 'VH-OJA' now sits on static display at the
HARS Museum at the Illawarra Regional Airport.
I spent many hours of my Qantas working life aboard this very aircraft.

FYI; if you are interested. This very Qantas 747-438 'VH-OJA' Boeing Jumbo Jet named the City of Canberra was retired to Wollongong after 25-years of service, the City of Canberra was in Qantas service for 25.3 years, flew 13,833 flights, carried 4,094,568 passengers and has flown nearly 85 million kilometers, which is equivalent to 110.2 return trips to the moon.

This aircraft also holds the world record for the longest non-stop flight by a commercial aircraft - London to Sydney in August 1989 for a total flight time of 20 hrs & 9 minutes at an average speed of - 893km/h for a total distance of 18,012 km.

Now, sorry l got carried away. Back to today's excursion. My 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Delux sedan covered a distance of 280 kilometres (180 miles), definitely no comparison to the Jumbo Jet that l have been telling you about. However, let me assure you that today's journey was very enjoyable with out the PC & no jet lag!

Cheers for now.

Warbo