Run to Wilton; 1st stop Sublime Point

Sunday 13th October - 2019

Hello once again fellow enthusiasts.

My local Shire-based Car Club, the Motor Enthusiasts Group celebrated their 10th Anniversary today, when the group conducted a Sunday run to fellow Club Member's Jim & Sancho's 25-acre rural property in Wilton, which is 85Kms south of Sydney.

Peter Deane and myself taking in the views & relaxing
with a cuppa at Sublime Point

For a first stop leg-stretcher, Club members were requested to meet at Sublime Point lookout at 10:00am. 

Sublime Point is approx 45-minutes south of Sydney and is perched at 415m high above the Illawarra Escarpment, offering 180º expanded views out over the Pacific Ocean and of the 17-beaches of Wollongong directly below.

My 1931 Model A Ford at Sublime Point

Those gorgeous tall bright red shrubs [or small trees] are Waratahs - the State emblem of NSW. They can grow up to 13 feet tall. The name 'Waratah' is the aboriginal word for the species.

From Sublime Point it was only a short 30Km or 30-minute drive inland to Wilton, where we arrived just in time to watch the start of the famous Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 race being held at the Mount Panorama Circuit.

Looking south, tall & healthy Waratahs frame the view over the
City of Wollongong below and the coastline looking as far as Kiama.

Our visit to Wilton today also coincided with the running of the most prestigious motor race on the Australian calendar, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Part II, Wilton - coming up next... 

Stay tuned

You Tube: Warbo's Model A Ford Grenfell Weekend

21-22 September - 2019

Hi folks, we've put together a 3-minute Slideshow of my photos from the Model A Ford Club's, 2019 President's Run weekend to Grenfell & Cowra, NSW.

Just simply click on the 'You Tube' play arrow below to view the slideshow and don't forget to hit the full screen icon to view it up nice and large...

The last of the photos from Grenfell, NSW

21-22 September - 2019

Here's the last of my photos of our visit to Henry Lawson's Birthplace - Grenfell, NSW.

Lawson is perhaps Australia's best known poet, fiction & bush writer of the colonial era. His birth place is dominated by a very large sugar gum tree [left of photo] planted by Lawson's daughter. There are twelve interpretive plaques positioned along the curved walking path. Each plaque has a different theme and tells the story of Henry Lawson's life.

Here's Henry Lawson's white obelisk, erected in 1924 - you can see members
of our Model A Ford Club wandering around reading the twelve plaques.

Grenfell was the first town to honour Henry Lawson after his passing in 1922. The monument [above] honours one of Australia's most prolific authors. Short story titles that you may have heard of include the slapstick story The Loaded Dog and the moving poem The Drover's Wife.

A bust of Henry Lawson is situated in Grenfell's aptly named Main Street, next to the Ambulance Station. Just push the button and you can listen to some of Henry's most famous poems while you are immersed in Grenfell's quiet country charm.

A vacant place exists either side of the bench next Henry which
beckons you sit... so I took the opportunity to take a minute and
reflect on what Lawson's birthplace means to me. 

Henry peacefully sits; eyes cast over his beloved birthplace, contemplating the visit he never had. Weary but relaxed Henry is poised, pen in hand, notebook blank. A vacant place exists either side of Henry which beckons you sit... so I took the opportunity to take a minute and reflect on what Lawson's birthplace means to me. 

The heritage listed Grenfell Railway Station

By 1887 the railway reached as far as Murrumburrah, and the Cobb & Co coach company met the trains three times a week and carried passengers and mail onward to Grenfell. The station has been witness to some moving scenes. In August 1914, John Taylor, Mayor of Grenfell, fare-welled the first contingent of local men leaving for the World War I.

The Grenfell Railway Station was officially closed in April 1975, the railway Station precinct is a site of NSW State heritage significance and is accessible all year round.

Warbo

Visit to the Japanese Gardens, Cowra, NSW

Sunday 22nd September - 2019

You cannot help but feel completely at peace when you walk through the lush gardens and cascading water features of the Cowra Japanese Gardens & Cultural Centre. 

These Japanese Gardens and Cultural Centre were established to recognise and develop the relationship between the people of Japan, a relationship that has its origins in the Prisoner of War Camp that housed the Japanese POWs during WWII.

Our Model A Fords parked in the car park at the Japanese Gardens
this scene could easily be from the 1930s

In 1960 the Japanese Government decided to bring all their war dead from various parts of Australia to be interned at Cowra. This was the beginning of the friendship between Japan and the town of Cowra.

These tranquil and well-planned gardens acknowledge the history of the area and underline the importance of peace.

Beautifully manicured & maintained gardens 
makes you feel like you are in Japan

As we walked into the gardens we were greeted by the beautiful blossoms on all the various tree shrubs, and further along on our Pepplecrete pathway, we were given the 'once over' by a friendly bearded dragon who was keeping guard on the route.

Because of my handicap with the injury to my leg we decided to hire a golf buggy [below] to make our adventure around the Japanese Gardens more pleasurable. 

Getting a littler power assistance from Bob Ward for our 
Golf Cart exploration of the Japanese Gardens 

It is a pity that we were not a couple of weeks later because all of the flowers were just starting to bloom and in a week or so the gardens would have been a sight for sore eyes.

A friendly bearded dragon keeping a keen eye
on who crosses the pathway

All of our Model A Fords parked in the car park at the Japanese Gardens made a wonderful sight, almost reminiscent of a 1930's picnic gathering. After a delightful visit, we warmed up the engines in preparation for our drive back to our Motel in Grenfell for a well-earned rest.

Spring is when the Sakura [Cherry Blossoms] begin to bloom
and the garden erupts into a wonderful burst of coloured trees

So that my friends is my final report of the Model A Ford Club's adventure to Grenfell and Cowra recently. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed my stories and photographs of a magic weekend away on the road with my friends from the Model A Ford Club.

So until my next Adventure before Dementia, stay tuned.

Cheers for now...

Warbo

Visit to Jeff Connolly's Chrysler Car Museum in Grenfell.

Sunday 21st September - 2019

Our Model A Ford Club's visit to Jeff Connolly's Chrysler Car Museum in Grenfell.

The first photo below shows Jeff (in white shirt on the right) as he was kind enough to give us a personally guided tour of his wonderful Museum, there are around fifteen vehicles on display, plus various engines in repair in the work shop. 

Jeff meticulously explained the history of all his prized possessions in great detail, which all of our Club members really appreciated.

Jeff took the time to walk and talk us through his prized
cars in his magnificent collection. Club Members were hanging 
on every word that came out of Jeff's mouth.

WOW!!! Jeff's Chrysler Car Museum is well worth a look for all you petrol heads. The Museum features Chrysler vehicles spanning the years from 1930 right up to the present day, including Jeff's original and I mean original 1971 Charger R/T option E49. 

When Jeff was telling us the history about this vehicle I was completely blown away. This Charger is so original it still has the original paint job, not only that this fine example of Australian motoring history, it is still shod with the original tyres that it came out of the factory with and of course very, very, very low mileage.

An original 1971 Charger R/T option E49. 

This vehicle the E49 featured a tuned 'Six Pack' version of the engine characterised by Triple side-draft Weber Carburettors, and it goes like s**t off a hot shovel. The Charger R/T E49 engine produced remarkable torque on a seven bearing configuration which enabled considerable power development previously unobtainable from 6-cylinder engines and not surpassed until the Porsche Turbo 911 (300) release of 1975.

The Valiant Charger achieved critical acclaim, winning the 1971 Australian 'Wheels Magazine - Car Of The Year Award'. It was also popular in New Zealand where they were assembled from imported kits.

I could rave on and on about this magnificent beast, however this is one hell of a piece of machinery from the early '70s. You just have to see this GEM. Now for the Good Bit: There would be no change out of $450,000 Australian Dollars if you wanted to purchase this highly collectable vehicle.

A 1933 Chrysler Royal Straight 8 Coupe

[Above] This true treasure was last owned by my friends in the Chrysler Restorers Club, Barrie & Lorna Osborn, they completed a ground up restoration of this very rare Chrysler Coupe. Many years of heart ache finally produced this magnificent motor vehicle. Now this is a real motor vehicle.

Autographed signature of Leo Geoghegan on
the firewall of the Valiant Pacer

[Above] Jeff told us that the red Valiant Pacer was on loan to the Museum from a friend of his, this was the Pacer that Leo Geoghegan raced way back. When Leo visited the museum before his death in 2015 at the age of 78-years-old, he kindly autographed the firewall of the Pacer. How cool is that?

Club Members enjoying our personally guided tour
of the Chrysler Museum in Grenfell

As I mentioned earlier, if you are or if you are not a Mopar enthusiast just do yourself a favour at your earliest convenience and check out this GEM of a Museum.

I wish I had a man shed like Jeff's... make sure you put this one down in your little BLACK book if you are within a 100 miles of Grenfell.

Address: 46 Main Street, Grenfell, NSW, 2810
Contact Person: Jeff Connolly.
Opening Hours: Open by appointment only and for major events.

Tomorrow is another day and we drive our Model A Fords to Cowra (about an hour's drive) to enjoy more exciting adventures.

See you soon. Cheers

Warbo

The 2019 Model A Ford Club's President's Run to Grenfell

21-22 September - 2019

Welcome to the Model A Ford Club's 2019 President's Run to Grenfell & Cowra, NSW.

Lined up in front of the 30-metre-high painted commodities silos
situated on Grenfell's West Street

Grenfell is a quiet country NSW town situated on the western plains and is an ideal holiday spot for history buffs. Its heritage is rich in gold, bushrangers and poetry. In the 1860s, gold miners seeking their fortune came in their thousands, and the lure of gold also drew Bushrangers from near and far. 

Grenfell has a rich & colourful history of gold mining,
bushrangers and poetry

Grenfell is also the birthplace of Henry Lawson, one of Australia's best loved short story and verse writers, Lawson was born on the Grenfell gold fields in 1867.

With my car on the Heritage listed Grenfell Railway Station,
the Station opened in 1901 - before the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk

On this weekend the Model A Ford Club of NSW visited this historic area in our vintage Model A Fords to the delight of the locals. Approximately twelve Model A Fords attended the President's Run along with forty-five Club members for the 4-day weekend event.

Our Model A Fords lined up outside
the turn-of-the-century Grenfell Railway Station

By now you are probably fully aware of the accident that I had 7-weeks ago on my way back to Sydney from Bathurst with the '55 -'56 -'57 Chevrolet Club. I accidentally fell into a cattle grid while taking photos as I was walking backwards, I ended up in Canberra Hospital for an operation and skin graft to repair the horrible injury that I sustained from falling into a cattle grid.

So needless to say I was very happy to know that a member of the local Grenfell District Ambulance service was staying in the room next to me at the Grenfell Motel just in case I managed to get myself in any more strife.

A NSW Ambulance parked next to my vehicle at the motel, had some Club 
Members speculating that I was now travelling with my own medical team in tow.

On the Saturday morning we visited various attractions around the township, that included a visit to the Historic Grenfell Railway Station where the local Lions club hosted a BBQ lunch for all our club members and the opportunity to display our vintage Model A Fords for the locals to admire.

Grenfell Lions Club hosted us for a BBQ lunch on the
platform of the historic Grenfell Railway Station

We were also requested by the local press to exhibit our vehicles out side the huge, recently painted commodities silos for another photo opportunity.

Later on in the afternoon we visited the Chrysler Museum & Henry Lawson's birthplace in Grenfell, I will write another story for my blog about these attractions shortly.

Please enjoy the stories and photographs of Grenfell & Cowra.

Cheers for now,

Warbo

Bathurst on the way home from Grenfell

Monday 23rd September - 2019

On the way home from the Grenfell Model A Ford weekend...

My car sitting on the famous Start/Finish line of the
main straight of the Mount Panorama Circuit at Bathurst.

We decided to give the Model A Ford a quick few qualifying laps around the Mount Panorama Circuit to bed in the tyres and brakes, and also make sure the mixtures are correct. 

Prepared for the G-force loadings, the Model A Ford 
heads down the mountain and through the esses.

The most important thing in running in a race like this is to have your mixtures correct or you could blow a Con Rod out the side of your engine on Conrod Straight, not forgetting to choose the correct gear ratios for the the ‘BIG RACE’ around the mountain on October 13th, 2019 at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, NSW, Australia.

On the top of the mountain at around 850m,
Sulman Park merges to McPhillamy Park, this is where
the diehards camp out on race weekend 

The entrance to Pit Lane at Mount Panorama

Stay tuned: Grenfell Model A Ford weekend story coming up next...

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