'64 Plymouth/Valiant run to Oberon & Lithgow

Thursday 13th February - 2020

Two days ago, the Chryslers Restorer's Club 'Gourmet Run' to Oberon and Lithgow was cancelled due to "inclement" weather. 

Now, where do I begin to begin this story about our adventure to the Blue Mountains - Mayfield Garden - Oberon - Lithgow & their bush fire ravaged surrounding countryside on Tuesday 11th & Wednesday 12th February, 2020.

If you are unaware of the crazy weather conditions that we have experienced here on the East Coast of Australia for the past 4-5 months you must have been living under a rock. 

We have been absolutely hammered with horrendous Bush Fires up and down our Eastern States until Saturday the 8th of February. Then, for a big switch up, our State of NSW was hit by a huge storm system with extensive rainfalls that helped extinguish most of the bush fires, thank heavens. 

My '64 Plymouth/Valiant outside the entrance
to Mayfield Garden, near Oberon, NSW

For me, this chain of events all started 3-days before the Gourmet Run was scheduled, when I just happened to have a wedding to attend in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. I was booked in to supply my 1931 Model A Ford Town Sedan on that day. I will not go into too many details of that momentous day, however I must tell you the weather conditions that I experienced during that wedding day in the beautiful Blue Mountains. 

On the Saturday morning I departed Cronulla in teeming rain and the downpour only got worse, from my place to where I had to collect the Bride is about a 2 1/2 hours drive. As I neared the summit of the Blue Mountains at Blackheath I have never experienced rain like it in my life. For those of you old enough and may still remember, it was the worst storm to hit the area in for 47-years. 

The '64 Plymouth/Valiant outside the Royal Hotel in
Oberon's Main Street. We had a scrumptious counter lunch there.
Photo: Steve Core

Get your laughing gear around this. A total of 492mm of rain, or in the old language 19.4 inches fell within a couple of days. Can you believe those statistics, no fake news here.

And to top it all off my Model A windscreen wipers do not work, thank god for Rain-X. If you don't know what Rain-X is then here is the story. lt is a synthetic hydrophobic surface-applied product that causes water to bead up and outsmart the elements, most commonly used on glass automotive surfaces, first introduced in 1972 by Howard Ohlhausen of the Unelko Corporation. 

Steve and I indulge in a zestful counter lunch at the Royal Hotel in Oberon

Now, to cut a long story short, I was about to tell you about our planned trip to the Blue Mountains with the Chrysler Restorers Club on Tuesday and Wednesday which was only three days after my epic rain-soaked trip for the Wedding at Blackheath. However you will understand why I am giving you all this useless information which will lead us up to the cancellation of the Chrysler Restorers Gourmet Run to Oberon & Lithgow which was due to take place only three days later. 

As it turned out at the wedding, the Bride, Groom, Photographer and myself should have worn wetsuits on the day, that's how wet it was and it did not let up for one second.

We had to dodge around the occasional fallen tree. This one here 
on Magpie Hollow Road between Tarana and Lake Lyell.
Photo: Steve Core

Henry Ford would have been proud of his 90-year-old vehicle, the old girl never missed a beat all day (thank God). However I must admit that the vehicle is definitely not water proof by any stretch of the imagination. By the time I returned home to Sydney that evening safe and sound, water was pouring out of it like a sieve, I am still trying to dry out the Model A Ford, one week after the event. 

Now let's get back to the cancellation of the Chrysler Restorers Club Gourmet Run...

My '64 Plymouth/Valiant parked at Mayfield Garden.
Photo: Steve Core

The Club's Gourmet Run Coordinator, Paul Lenehan, called me on Monday morning to acquaint me of the fact that our Gourmet Run to Oberon & Lithgow had been cancelled due to the current and expected bad weather, road closures, trees fallen over the highways, road and land slips and whatever else the authorities have warned us about not to make the journey.

By now you all know what I am like, I do not like the words "you can't do that."

So I called my planned travel mate for this trip, Steve Core, and explained the situation to him. I conveyed to Steve that I was still keen to go and he said he was too.

The wild weather from the previous week presented us with plenty
of driving challenges. This is Mutton Falls Road, Tarana, NSW.
Photo: Steve Core

We both had been looking forward to this adventure for the past three months and nothing was going to stop us. Last year I drove through Tornadoes in my Camper Van in Oklahoma, USA and nothing, and I mean nothing could be worse than that. So we both decided to give it our best shot and hit the road west as previously planned.

I picked up Steve at his residence on Tuesday morning in Gymea at 0730 and we hit the road running. 

After 1.5 hours driving our first stop was to check out Wentworth Falls in the upper Blue Mountains. I had heard reports the water cascading over the falls was the most spectacular sight for well over 30 years, so that was a great start to our journey.

After days of heavy rain, Wentworth Falls was flowing beautifully.
In the previous days, it was running at a 20+-year best flow.

So far so good, no rain on the way up to the Blue Mountains or on our drive to Mayfield Gardens just outside of town of Oberon.  As you can witness by one of the photos the only debris that we experienced was on the back road to Lithgow from the Mayfield Garden.

We made a fantastic stop at the Oberon Pies & Pastries
Bakery in Oberon's main street. I highly recommend this stop as 
their freshly baked Custard Slices are to die for.
Photo: Steve Core

We pushed onto Lithgow that afternoon and checked into our booked accommodation at the Lithgow Workies Club for a well earned rest for the evening.

Then on Wednesday morning l suggested to Steve that while we were up in this area we should take the Bells Line of Road back home towards Sydney to check out the area where the horrific bush fires had been burning for the last couple of months.

The fresh Custard Slices from the Oberon Pies & Pastries were
absolutely heavenly. I highly recommend a visit there
if you're passing through Oberon.
Photo: Steve Core

This is no fake news report.

We departed Lithgow around 0900 (still no rain) and immediately began our climb back up into mountainous territory. Our first stop was to inspect the Zig-Zag Railway, which is based at a little town called Clarence, we stopped to take in how ferocious the fires had been around this area. 

The bush fires ravaged the Zig Zag Railway headquarters at
Clarence. Where the flames licked along the platform's picket fence.

We came across a bunch of Australian Military personnel working with chainsaws cutting down all the hazardous trees that had been damaged by the fires. Steve got a chat on with Lieutenant Aaron who was in charge of proceedings in this area. He was running the show, co-ordinating the troops with all their duties. Aaron told us that he had a small squad of Indonesian Army Troops under his command, that were also assigned to the NSW bush fire clean-up operation on loan from Indonesia.

Steve Core [left] and the Royal Australian Army's Lieutenant Aaron
who was in command of the clean up detail assisting at the Zig Zag Railway

In the photographs of the Zig-Zag Railway's Clarence Railway station you can see where the fires actually burnt the wooden picket fences. It was now time to hit the road once more for our homeward road trip along The Bells Line of Road towards North Richmond.  

I kid you not, what we both were about to witness after we departed the Zig-Zag railway was absolutely astonishing.

On the Bells Line of Road, mile after mile of bushfire devastation
with most road safety signs being completely obliterated

From Lithgow to Bilpin is probably 70-80 kms. We drove the Plymouth along the Bells Line of Road towards Bilpin. I thought I was a lost astronaut driving on the dark side of the moon. The whole journey on both sides of the road was devastated mile after mile and as far as the eye could see. As you can see in the photograph I parked the Plymouth on the side of the road, in the background you can see the aluminium road sign was twisted and melted beyond recognition. 

The extreme heat from the fires melted all the road signs from Lithgow to Bilpin. When we finally arrived in Bilpin along the highway we could see where the bushfires destroyed many of Pilpin's famous apple orchards. Now some growers face an eight-year wait for another apple crop. 

The bushfire warning indicator sign at Bilpin

Steve and myself were completely devastated by the carnage that we had witnessed during our few hours drive along the Bells Line of Road. It must have been terrifying to be in this vicinity when the fires were out of control week after week. All I can say is: Thank you all the Firies and volunteers, we all owe you one hell of a debt.

We stayed here at the Lithgow Workies Club. You can see how close
the fires came to town with the scorched hills at the end of Tank Street
Photo: Steve Core

We descended down out of the Blue Mountains and arrived back in the vast Sydney metropolitan area by crossing over the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond. (Still no rain). We drove a distance of 482 kms (300 miles) over the 2-day adventure. By the time I tucked myself into bed that Wednesday evening I was counting my lucky stars, trust me.

Now if that's not a good story, I don't know what is.

Cheers for now until my next excursion on the highway of life.

Warbo.

MORE: Never seen Rain-X working before? - to watch a demo video CLICK HERE

End of a nice Southern Swell

Sunday - 2nd February - 2020

A solid Southern Swell is something that surfers prey for...

If ever a car has penetrated the psyche of the young Australian male, then the
Holden Sandman panel van and utility ranks right at the top

The final afternoon of the Southern Swell exhibition this afternoon at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre & Gallery in Sydney's south at Gymea, brought back many memories for me from my surfboard riding days in Cronulla way back in the '60s.

My own personal surfboard from 1965 was featured in the display.
That's the green tint surfboard, second from the left

This mixed media exhibition featured a wide array of contemporary and historic photographs, surfboards, films, memorabilia and artworks over the past decades.

An awesome display of surfboards and surfing 
memorabilia connects the past with the present

Apparently this exhibition has broken all records for attendance at this fabulous Gallery, knocking off a previous Quilt exhibition, that held the attendance record, if you can believe it.  Very impressive numbers l am sure.

Various surfboard spanning the entire surfing history of the different
eras from the beaches of the Sutherland Shire

While taking in the exhibition, I ran into a couple of old surfers that l used to surf with almost 60-years ago, some of them a little worse for wear, however we are still on the right side of the turf.

Definitely worth the effort. Cheers...

Warbo

VIEW: Channel 9 report on Southern Swell

Reporting live from Panorama House

Tuesday 21st January - 2020

You know it's funny how things turn out sometimes, and today was one of those occasions. Last week an old Qantas flying friend of mine called me and asked if I could help him with a gearbox problem he was having with his 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang's 4-speed manual gearbox.

As you all know that before I became a 'Trolly-Dolly' with Qantas, I was a fully qualified motor mechanic and still love to tinker with motor vehicles, especially if there is something out of the ordinary that creates a problem that no one else can fix. I love a challenge.

My 1977 Porsche 911 2.7 Coupe
parking next to the Gazebo at Panorama House

John lives at Berry on the Shoalhaven Coast, about 145Ks south of Sydney and I live in the 'Sutherland Shire' at Cronulla, so we decided to meet half-way at the famous old Panorama House that is situated in Bulli Tops, at the top of infamous Bulli Pass and Mount Ousley where those roads meet at the edge of the Illawarra Escarpment at 11am this morning.

Panorama House is approximately a 1-hour drive from my residence here in Cronulla. I departed from home at 10am this morning in what turned out to be a perfect day weather wise, and if you were in the southern suburbs of Sydney last night and witnessed the devastation of the electrical storm that passed through our suburb here in Cronulla at 7pm you would find it hard to believe that we were still in the same country.

View from the Gazebo at Panorama House
is directly over the northern suburbs of Wollongong

I arrived early at Panorama House for our hook up at 11am which gave me time to take a few photographs overlooking the South Coast and the Pacific Ocean, it was so clear today as you can see by the photos I am sure that I could almost see New Zealand.

The Bush fires here in Australia have been raging in our SUN BURNT COUNTRY from the middle of September and are still burning, however we have enjoyed a reprieve from these devastating bushfires in the last couple of days due to much welcomed changed weather conditions and rainfall that has helped dampen the fires that are still burning.

The 1964.5 Ford Mustang - this same model as John's was
used as the Pace Car for the 1964 Indianapolis 500

To cut a long story short, what I am trying to say is that today's weather was the clearest conditions we have experienced for almost 5-months, the photographs are proof of what l am telling you... NO SMOKE !!! can you believe it, and I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy these conditions today on my run down the coast.

Now getting back to the Panorama House, these days many young couples decide to get married there and take their marriage vows overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the spectacular southern coast line.

As you can see my 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe parked in front of the dedicated ceremonial area with the Gazebo in the background using this spectacular backdrop overlooking Wollongong and the surrounding suburbs below.

The newly refurbished ceremonial Gazebo
with stunning backdrop views over the Illawarra coast.

Once I had correctly diagnosed the gear box problem with John's Ford Mustang it was now time to drive back to Sydney. All in all, today turned out to be just one of those perfect days that you could not organise in a pink fit.

I was starting to forget how beautiful our country is with all the horrendous smoke haze that we have been experiencing all over our State of NSW for near on 5-months, today's adventure bought back all those wonderful memories.

I will sign off wishing and hoping that we have a lot more of this beautiful weather that l was fortunate enough to enjoy today. That's all for now, so until my next adventure.

Cheers for now.

Ken

READ MORE: about my 41-year history with my Porsche 911
LEARN MORE: about Panorama House, Bulli Tops, NSW

The 6th Annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

21st January - 2020

6TH ANNUAL SYLVANVALE PRE-WWII VINTAGE CAR SHOW

Hello fellow Car Club members and all car enthusiasts. Yes, it's that time of year again.

Please make certain that you keep Sunday 5th April 2020 clear for another exciting event to be held in Cronulla Mall.

Model A Fords lined up in front of the Cronulla Post Office
in the Cronulla Mall from our 2019 Show.

Our event is supported by the Sutherland Shire Council along with the involvement of our very own Chrysler Car Club, also including many other car clubs along with all the privateers that enter their vehicles is one of the Shire's largest and most popular community events on the annual calendar.

Featuring a spectacular array of more than 80 Vintage and Classic cars exhibited on the tiles of Cronulla Mall, including food stalls and kids Adventure area.

Classic cars lined up in front of the old Art Deco
Commonwealth Bank building - now the Banc Restaurant.

The huge crowds, in excess of 20,000 people - as well as the extensive media coverage that our event attracts - makes this the perfect way to showcase your pride and joy within the community. 

Once again this year we are fundraising for the Sylvanvale Foundation for a brand new project for children and young people with disabilities to reach their potential.

The tiles of the Cronulla Mall make for a unique setting for a
Car Show with plenty of retail & food services available.

So please support us once again this year to make our event a BIGGER and BRIGHTER success than in previous years.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support.

Looking forward to catching up with you all on Sunday 5th April, 2020, 9:00am until 3:00pm, that's the weekend before Easter.

Cheers for now.

Ken Warburton. 

Event Founder & Organiser.

To check the Car Show's Facebook page CLICK HERE

Promo for 2020 Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

17th December - 2019

A now a short word from our founder about our 6th Annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show to be held in Cronulla on Sunday April 5th, 2020...





EVENT: 2020 Sylvanvale Vintage Car Show.
DATE: Sunday 5th April, 2020.
TIME: 9.00am - 3.00pm.
LOCATION: Cronulla Mall, Cronulla Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
COST: Free of entry fees for display entrants. Gold coin donation for spectators.

The Boys' Day Out

Wednesday 11th December - 2019.

Reporting live from the Bundeena Community and Services Club (Ex-Bundeena RSL).

Bundeena 'Photo Shoot' with my Classic 1931 Model A Ford, Slant Window, 4-door, Town Sedan (all Steel Body) accompanied by two retired Qantas 'Trolly Dolly' friends of mine from another life.

At the Bundeena Ferry Wharf with my 1931 Model A Ford.
It's a 4-door, Slant Windscreen, Town Sedan.
South Cronulla peninsular off to the left & Bate Bay to the right.
Photo: Steve Core

Steve Core, who helps me organise the Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show in Cronulla Mall every year has recently purchased all the goodies that are required to take an interesting photograph, so we decided that today would be the day to adventure out to test his skills and his new toys.

Last week, Steve informed me that an old mutual friend of ours, Dave Shaw, would be coming to Sydney from his residence in Kiama on the NSW south coast and that it would be good if we could all get together.

Steve Core on the left, Dave Shaw in the middle 
and yours truly on the right.
Selfie

Today was the day that we ventured out with my newly registered Model A Ford for a road journey through the Royal National Park (incidentally) this park is the largest National Park in the Southern Hemisphere.

We picked up Dave from Sutherland railway station then drove through the GREAT Royal National Park that is located on our back doorstep, finally ending up in the lovely picturesque township called Bundeena.

My 1931 Model A Ford at the Bundeena Ferry Wharf
as the ferry unloads a boat-full of day-trippers from Cronulla
Photo: Steve Core

As you can see by Steve Core's set of five photographs. They are just GOLD!!! Steve mentioned that while we were in the mood we should shoot some video in preparation for promotion of the 2020 Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show.

So stay tuned... Steve is in the process of editing the footage that he shot today for me to make a welcoming speech in the build up for our 6th Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show. Planned to be held on Sunday 5th April, 2020 in the Cronulla Mall and once again to be extended into Perryman Square right by the ocean.

Myself and Dave Shaw [right] enjoy sensational food and
delightful views across Port Hacking and into Bate Bay
Photo: Steve Core

Once we had finished telling lies, taking photographs and reminiscing of those wonderful days gone by, etc, etc, it was now time for lunch. We found the Bundeena Community and Services Club and decided that we needed to eat. Ironically we parked right next to the Club on Tom Jones Way - but that's not unusual!

As you can see in the photograph above, the food and the setting was superb. If you are ever in this part of the world ‘Do yourself a favour' and drop into this very special part of the Cosmos so close to our back door across the Port Hacking River from Cronulla as you can witness in Steve’s photographs. 

Time was against us as we needed to deliver Dave back to Sutherland Station for the 2:55pm train that takes him south to Kiama and home sweet home. Today was just one of those days, all the holes in the cheese lined up just perfectly. 

My 1931 Model A Ford at the Bundeena Ferry Wharf
in the background is Cabbage Tree Point
Photo: Steve Core

A big thanks to my ex-Qantas flying friends Steve Core and Dave Shaw for making it a wonderful relaxed day, catching up on the old parts and the new stories in our lives makes one realise how lucky a life we have had flying around the world as a Qantas Flight Attendants for all those many, many years.

So for now I will sign off and hopefully continue to travel down that 'Highway of Life' for a long time to come.

Cheers
Warbo

(NB:) Now if that is not a good story, I don’t know what is.

2019 Bathurst Wrap up

Thursday 17th October - 2019

Reporting live from the ‘Shire’ once I arrived home from a truly wonderful day at Jim & Sancho’s residence to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Motor Enthusiasts Group Car Club.

I made it home in time to watch the last 30-laps of the ‘Great Race’ of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Roger Penske (left) chatting with Supercars legend Dick Johnson
at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, NSW

I also heard on the news that Roger Penske Co-Team owner of the winning Ford Mustang team wants to get the (Kiwi) Scott McLaughlin (winning driver) to try his luck in the US to drive in the NASCAR Series or evening better still to have a shot in the seat of an Indy car.

Not a bad rap from none other than the ‘Legend’ Roger Penske. If this ever eventuates I think this guy (Scott McLaughlin) can make it in the USA with the support of Roger Penske.

Scott McLaughlin getting high-fives from his pit crew
after winning the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Listen up, how about this for a great story.

This year’s Supercheap’s Auto Bathurst 1000 was won by a Ford Mustang, driven by Scott McLaughlin (a Kiwi), his co driver was Alex Premat (a Frenchman). Race car team owners, Dick Johnson (an Australian) he was a 5-time Australian Touring Car Champion and a 3-time winner of the Bathurst 1000.

Scott McLaughlin pilots the #17 Ford Mustang
down through the esses at Mount Panorama

The world famous Roger Penske (an American) who I am sure does not need any further introduction to the world of motor racing was at the track to witness this outstanding victory and event was the other half owner of the victorious Ford Mustang race team.

Roger Penske commented after the race, that victory here at Bathurst was on his bucket list, and compared it to winning (can you believe it) the Indianapolis 500.

Part of the huge crowd packed in around Turn One at Bathurst,
also known as Hell Corner, the cars then hurtle up Mountain Straight.

Roger Penske has won the Indianapolis 500, 18-times, an unrivaled record by any team owner at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So if that is not a ‘HUGE’ recommendation & rap for our Bathurst event coming from somebody like Roger Penske, I do not know what is.

Warbo

MEG 10th Anniversary Run to Wilton

Sunday 13th October - 2019

Today’s run was south of Sydney, to Jim & Sancho's 25-acre rural property in Wilton to celebrate our Motor Enthusiasts Group's 10th Anniversary.

Club Members arriving outside Jim & Sancho's house

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

A Red 911 Porsche parked beside my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door
Delux Tudor Sedan, plus the other Mercedes are owned by fellow Club
members are parked in the tranquil rural setting

As you can witness in the accompanying photographs, this amazing place owned by fellow MEG Club members Jim & Sancho is where they are raising old cars.

Vehicles of various makes and models and conditions, neatly parked
in this shed just waiting to be restored and then transferred
to their other ‘Man Shed’ in Revesby

Club members met at Sublime Point lookout at 10:00am [see earlier post] and from there it was only a short 30-minute drive inland to Wilton where we arrived just in time to watch the start of this famous Mount Panorama 1000km race.

Complementing the cars, a great collection of signed Australian Team 
cricket bats - all signed by members of the teams

Once the great race had started and the cars and drivers settled down on the Mount Panorama Circuit for the next 6-hours of high speed wheel to wheel motor racing it was now time to check out Jim & Sancho's man shed and other classic motor vehicles that had been scattered around the property.

Plenty of Mercedes on display and one Rolls Royce

We were in for a magnificent afternoon of food & drinks, beautiful motor vehicles, catching up with old friends, and also admiring this wonderful rural property that Jim & Sancho had offered the MEG Club to celebrate our 10th Anniversary in fine style. 

We were all spoilt rotten, they treated us all like 'silk worms'.

We were well catered for with plenty of food to go round

As you can also see not only do they collect classic vehicles, they also have some of the latest mean machines in their stable, from the latest Ford Mustang ‘Bullitt’, various Porsches, Chevy Chapelle, Chevy SS, 351 Ford Falcon, plus so many more treasures that are not in these photographs.

Highly collectable cars lined up on the driveway

In one of their other sheds they had display cases full of Model cars, not to mention the Cricket paraphernalia that you would die for, as you will see in the photographs.

Quite a few Mercedes lined up in the Man Shed

I would say that Jim & Sancho have a very soft spot in their hearts for all makes and models of Mercedes Benz, after walking through their ‘Man Shed’ this afternoon.

The photograph showing the Red 911 Porsche parked beside my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Delux Tudor Sedan, plus the other Mercedes are owned by fellow MEG Club members are parked in the tranquil rural setting.

The #12 Ford Mustang of Fabian Coulthard
competing live at Bathurst

I managed to snap this photograph off the TV screen [above] that Jim & Sancho had set up for the punters to view the race.

Also today I was pleasantly surprised to see this mirror [below] in their collection, & here is the reason why; Way back in the middle ‘70s when I was a young ‘Trolly- Dolly’ with Qantas, I was known as the ‘Mirror Man’. (Leave it with me and I will look into it for you).

A classic Coca-Cola mirror brought back a piece of history
 and many personal memories from the past for me

There is always a reason & here it is... as a side line to my flying days to make extra money, I also ran a business called ‘CHEWIE NEWGUTT’. I imported English Pub mirrors (Coca-Cola, Southern Comfort & various beers) etc, from Leeds in the UK. 

We would import 10-ton of these glass mirrors of various designs in wooden crates, when the glass arrived here in Australia, I had a 5000 sq.ft factory in Peakhurst where we would manufacture the wooden picture frames and then on-sell the finished product to the retailers.

Plenty of cabinets chock full of model cars

If you are old enough you would remember these mirrors circulating in all the shops throughout Sydney. (Well that was me, the ‘Mirror Man’). So needless to say, when I saw this Coca-Cola mirror displayed in the Man Shed today, it bought back many memories for me.

Just a small part of the household collection of cars on display

So my friends that is the end of another weekend adventure, I certainly hope that you have enjoyed this report, because I sure have been delighted in sharing this great MEG 10th Anniversary BarBQ with you all.

Thanks once again to Jim & Sancho for making the effort to make today such a smash hit.

See you soon. Cheers

Warbo.

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...