Cygnet Sojourn

Friday 29th January - 2021

Hello everyone,

Happy New Year to you all, this is my first blog for the new year.

Late last year l finally got my wings back, & let me tell you it was such a wonderful feeling. With this wretched China virus we have all been very restricted with our movements as far as any travel is concerned. However just recently the government has started to ease their hard line approach due to very low numbers of positive tests, thank heavens.

ln early December 2020, authorities lifted restrictions for us New South Wales folks to travel to Tasmania, l immediately took advantage of the situation & booked a flight to Hobart in Tasmania to visit with Pam, an old friend of mine. Pam and I travelled the world for 3-years in our VW Camper van 51-years ago (read about it here). Not knowing how long this travel window of opportunity to Tasmania would exist, l jumped at the chance.

 Pam and I enjoying a cuppa on the Tassie road
at the Blowhole in Bicheno on Tasmania's east coast.

l departed Sydney on the Qantas morning flight to Hobart on board a Boeing 717-200, after take off, looking out the window l said to myself "how good is this?" l felt like l had been released on parole, that is how wonderful it felt.

Our flight landed into Hobart early afternoon, Pam was waiting in the terminal at the baggage carousel for my arrival. l must admit that l was nervous, after 50-years, it had been a very long time between drinks, l had no idea why l was nervous, however l was.

 Pam's homey cottage in the picturesque village
of Cygnet, in southern Tasmania

Fifty years is a long time especially after the long & winding highway of life that we have both been on, she has had her life & so have l. Anyway, to cut a long story short everything turned out perfectly, we greeted each other then hopped into her Honda Jazz for the 2-hour drive to the southern tip of Tasmania to a little village called Cygnet, in the Houn Valley, where Pam lives.

Pam lives in a beautiful home with a superb cottage garden (see photos) that she has built & manicured herself over the past 10-years. Luckily for me, the weather upon my arrival was near perfect & they had forecast the weather to be most pleasant for the next week. Looks like l already kicked my first goal right there & then.

 Pam (far left) and her merry band of friends gather in her kitchen
to provide a welcome meet & greet luncheon in Cygnet for me.

That evening we sat & chatted & tried to catch up on each other's lives over the past half a century. l really did not want to let the grass grow under my feet as time was limited & there was so much to see & do over the next few days. 

Pam suggested that l could borrow her car, l jumped at her offer & decided that l would drive to Port Arthur on the Friday. That left the next day Thursday spare to discover the picturesque town of Cygnet & meet up with some of her local friends.

Pam's patio in Cygnet awash with the colours of Summer 

Friday morning I departed her residence a 0600 for the 3-hour drive to check out the Port Arthur Historic Site. Pam could not join me as she had pre-arranged plans & what's more she had been there on numerous occasions.

Upon my arrival at Port Arthur l decided that l would engage a personal guide, it turned out that it was the best decision l made all day. Lyndon (below) turned out to be a walking, talking encyclopedia on the history of Van Diemen's Land & especially Port Arthur Historic Site, we really hit it off together. 

 Me with my personal guide to the Port Arthur
Historic Site - Lyndon (on the left).

We rode around the site in his golf buggy as he explained everything about this former place of hardship and punishment in the broadest of detail. He spent 4-hours as my very own personal guide (because it was not very busy with tourists) & no one else had booked a tour with him. 

Total cost including Site entry to Port Arthur & Lyndon's personal guidance services $70.00. Now if that wasn't a deal l have no idea what is.

 Port Arthur Historic Site is a large site holding a great many stories.
 Places like the Penitentiary, which was originally constructed as a flour
mill and granary in 1843, before it housed hundreds of convicts
in dormitories and solitary cells.

The Port Arthur penal station was originally established in 1830 as a timber-getting camp, using convict labour to produce sawn logs for use on Government projects. From 1833 onwards, Port Arthur was used as a punishment station for repeat offenders from all the Australian colonies. 

By 1840 more than 2,000 convicts, soldiers & civil staff lived here & Port Arthur was a major industrial settlement. With convict transportation to Van Diemen's Land ceasing in 1853. The penal settlement closed in 1877, tourism began almost immediately after the closure of the penal settlement.

Today, the site is managed by the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority, which was formed in October 1987.

Port Arthur is now one of Australia’s most important heritage destinations,
where the story of Australia’s colonial history is written in stone and brick. 

On Sunday, 28th April 1996, a tragic chapter was added to Port Arthur's history when a gunman took the lives of 35 people & physically wounded 19 others in & around the Port Arthur Historic site. 

The memorial Garden incorporates the shell of the Broad Arrow Cafe, where 20 people were killed during the massacre. The garden has been created as a place of remembrance & quiet reflection. (below).

What a great day, l continued to explore around the Port Arthur Historic Site soaking up the atmosphere until late afternoon & then drove leisurely back to Cygnet arriving home before the sun had set.

 Beyond the reflection pool is the outline of the former
Broad Arrow Cafe - the site of the horrific 1996 massacre 

Saturday, 12th December, Pam had organised a luncheon for me to meet 15 of her friends, Wow!!! what a spread, the 'Squire' sure does not get looked after like that here in the Shire.

l can assure you, Pam & her friends made me feel like a Maharajah (an Indian Prince) the company & food was absolutely magnificent, & l would like to add that most of the food & fruits came out of Pam's garden. How good is that?

Saturday evening we attended a fundraising event for refugees in a Town Hall in another village approximately 30-minutes from her residence in Cygnet. The weather was still hanging in there.

 Me outside Dale's Scamander Beach Surf Shop directly
in front of the famous surf break at the Scamander River Mouth 

My good friend Steve Core that spends quite a bit of time in Tassie & is also my personal Tour adviser here in Australia & the USA, recommended that if l have enough time to drive up the East Coast of Tassie on the Tasman Highway towards St Helens l could also drop in & visit a friend of his in Scamander Beach. 

We planned to overnight in that area so l booked accommodation in Scamander Beach on the Sunday evening so that l could kill two birds with one stone & say hello to Steve's friend Dale who lives right on the beach and has his Surf Shop in his driveway. As luck would have it Dale's house was only 500 mtrs from our Motel. 

The perfect natural settings of the Cataract Gorge
located on the South Esk River near Launceston

Monday morning we departed Scamander at around 0800 because l knew we had a huge day ahead of us because l wanted to check out the Cataract Gorge in Launceston & also l wanted to visit the town of Longford where the famous motor racing circuit is & that was only just a starter for the days sightseeing as there was more to come.

Here's a tip from the 'Squire'. The drive up the Tasman Highway is truly magnificent passing through wonderful small towns along the way especially the highway from Scamander to St Helens & then onto Scottsdale, you won't see any better scenery anywhere in the world.

Alexander Suspension Bridge - wander across the footbridge that 

links the two areas or take a chairlift ride across the expansive Gorge. 

Further upstream is the historic Duck Reach Power Station.

We arrived at Cataract Gorge in Launceston late morning, Pam had never visited the Gorge & nor had l. The weather was really hot so when we entered the Gorge there were loads of people swimming in the river cooling themselves down. ln one of my photographs you can see the Alexander Suspension Bridge first built in 1904.

From the Cataract Gorge our next port of call was to Longford about a 20-minute drive south of Launceston. Longford is situated just off the Midland Highway heading South. Now the reason why l wanted to go to Longford was for purely for automotive nostalgia purposes. 

After our visit to the Cataract Gorge it was time to head
south to Longford in my quest to uncover the old Australian
Grand Prix motor racing circuit of the '50s & '60s 

This little story is for all you old petrol heads & those of you that can still remember this once very famous motor racing circuit of a now by-gone Golden Era in Australian motor racing history from the '50s & '60s.

We're talking about the Longford Street Circuit, set on public roads. In its day the biggest Motor Sports event in Tasmania. Drivers and bike aces who came across Bass Strait from the mainland on the Princess of Tasmania ferry enjoyed not just the challenge of the circuit, but also the unrivalled hospitality of the locals.

 The local map illustrating the layout of the old

Longford Circuit, many sections can still be driven on

l wanted to check out the Lex Davison Bar that is situated inside the Country Club Hotel. This Hotel is famous because in its day it was the place to be seen & it's where thousands of photographs were taken at this 90-degree corner with the Hotel in the background and the speeding race cars negotiating that tight corner around the Pub's façade.

Inside the current Country Club Hotel is the Lex Davison Memorabilia Bar (below). As a young apprentice motor mechanic Lex Davison was a regular visitor at Ray Morris Motors in Taren Point where l was employed. Lex Davison was tragically killed at Sandown race track in Victoria in 1965. (at that time l was only a young 18yo whipper snapper). 

The memorial plaque dedicated to Lex Davison
in the Country Club Hotel in Longford, Tas.

Many experts considered Lex Davison the greatest driver of his time. ln one of my Blogs when l wrote the story about Stirling Moss's brush with fame, yours truly, Stirling Moss told me that when he was here in Australia to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Australian Grand Prix he & his wife stayed with Lex Davison's widow.

My visit to this famous Longford motor racing track bought back many wonderful memories for me during this Golden Era of motor racing in Australia during the '50s & '60s. Unfortunately, a list of former Longford Event winners like, Jack Brabham, Bruce McClaren, Graham Hill, Jim Clark & John Surtees - all are no longer with us. 

 The Country Club Hotel, whose very right-hand corner was once

a 90-degree cornerstone turn on Longford's long lost GP circuit

Even in '60s terms, Tasmania's former super-fast street circuit had it all. It featured flat-out blasts down straight country roads. It had a dramatic S-bend under a railway viaduct, a jump over a not-very-level crossing and bumpy trips across two narrow wooden bridges, with long & fast straights in-between... even its own trackside Pub.

I was very disappointed when l visited the former Longford track on this trip because there is almost nothing left of the original circuit, so don't waste your time & effort. Today it’s just open fields, the wooden bridges have gone, and there are no clues that anything of significance once stood here, apart from a single concrete block that once formed the base of a footbridge.

A former Targa Tasmania rally car on permanent
static display in Longford's Country Club Hotel 

Displayed in the front window of the famous pub is a former Targa Tasmania race car No.53 (above). Are you bored yet?

Once we departed Longford heading south on the Midland Highway towards Hobart, Pam suggested that we check out a beautiful little town named Ross, which is just a short distance off the highway. Pam has friends there, so we dropped by & enjoyed a cuppa tea & home made scones with fresh cream & jam. Simply delicious.

 Red Telephone boxes stand as potent symbols of the past
on the historic streetscape in the town of Ross.

The stunning Colonial charm of the Ross main streetscape cannot be ignored. Uniquely, you can stroll amongst the splendid buildings erected in Australia’s earliest years or walk across the sandstone carved bridge that was finished in 1836. 

The stonemasons and their apprentices who laboured on this sandstone bridge over the Macquarie River were all convicts.

The Cenotaph in the main street features a Boer War era, 19-Pounder,

1896, Field Canon set on two wooded-spoked wheels with iron rims.

Vintage red Telephone boxes & a Cenotaph slap-bang in the middle of a main road intersection in Tasmania's finest heritage village in the main street of Ross, plus this 200-year-old Ross Bridge (below) just on the edge of town.

  Built in 1836, the Ross Bridge is an exquisite sandstone bridge, built
by convict labour & quarried from local sandstone by chain gangs

It was starting to get quite late in the afternoon, Pam was concerned that we should head for home because she didn't like driving at night because of the wildlife that came out at dusk.

We managed to miss a few Wallabies & Wombats on the highway heading home to Cygnet, arriving home around 2100 safe & sound. We were exhausted after a very eventful & satisfying couple of days on the road collapsing into bed for a good night's sleep.

 Colourful flotsam and jetsam around the
twin slipways of the Port Cygnet Sailing Club

Tuesday, 15th December, was my last day on the Apple island, however l had one more adventure before my departure from Hobart back to Sydney at 1800 this evening. 

One of Pam's friends is a member of the Port Cygnet Sailing Club that has a very enthusiastic group of rowing members, with two St.Ayles skiffs, 'The Swan' & 'The Cygnet', active six days a week. 

 With well over 100 registered moorings
the Port Cygnet Sailing Club is a popular spot

Our coxswain, John from the skiff 'The Swan' called Pam & asked if l would be interested in going for a row with his skiff crew because one of his team called in sick & he required another willing crew member. 

In for a penny in for a pound, so l said sure, count me in. l walked down to the Port Cygnet Sailing Club & joined John & his crew. John is a 82yo and talks with a very stiff upper lip because he is British & was a Submariner in the Royal Navy in WWII.

Here I'm acting as a replacement crew member, called out on

stand-by to man the No.3 oar on our way to the Port Cygnet Sailing Club

What an adventure that was, thankfully the wind was not howling in the morning. We rowed up the Cygnet Bay for approx 30-minutes then turned around & headed back to the Club for a well-earned rest.

St Ayles skiffs are a kit built to a 2000 design by Australian Ian Oughtred, based on the Fair Isle style & similar skiffs that have been in use around Britain for hundreds of years. There are now around 200 of these vessels world-wide. Measuring 6.7 metres long, with four rowers & a cox, they are a fast, stable & dry boat. To keep costs down, the design is simple, non-sliding seats or feathering oars.

 Me working hard on the No.3 oar of the St Ayles skiff, 

'The Swan' and John the ex-Royal Navy Coxswain, yelling orders

There are now several of these skiffs in Tasmania: three at the Living Boat Trust based in Franklin, Imagine, Billie & Freya, along with the Chiton at Taroona & they all often compete in local, interstate & even international regattas.

That my friends, is my adventure visiting Pam in Cygnet, Tasmania. l spent only six full days on the island, thoroughly enjoyed myself, my travels & all the people l met. We drove back up to Hobart so that l could catch my flight home to Sydney at 1800. 

 A Tasmanian Scallop Pie is chock full of fresh Tasmanian Sea
Scallops in a creamy mild curry sauce and baked to perfection

Along the way back up to Hobart Airport l could not help myself as I had one last personal treat in mind. We stopped off to purchase eight Tassie Scallop Pies. Believe me, these pies are full of fresh Tasmanian pristine Sea Scallops. Baked to an original recipe that started on the wharves & docks of Hobart in the 19th Century.

The spare pies I brought home for family & friends, as edible gifts from Tasmania. What a perfect way to end my six-day adventure to Tassie.

Guess what? A couple of days after l returned home to Sydney the authorities in Tassie closed the border again, so how lucky was l that my adventure was fulfilled.

Cheers for now, from the 'Squire from the Shire'.

Warbo

The First Season of a Sweater's Lifetime Journey

Tuesday 22nd December - 2020

Have I got a good story to tell you about the world's most well travelled, beautiful Cable-knit Sweater, that my girlfriend knitted for me before I immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia on the 5th October, 1969. You're not going to believe the story that I am about to tell you.

This story begins way back in another century, on the 5th October 1969, when I immigrated to Canada as a 22-year-old young man, still wet behind the ears. If you are old enough to remember & still have your marbles, that was a mere 51-years ago. In those days Australians traveled to the 'Old Dart' England or to North America to see the world. 

The SS Oronsay arriving into Sydney Cove, note the

Sydney Opera House is still under construction.

I chose to head towards Canada in North America, the main reason was that the wages were much more superior than what the Poms were paying for a fully qualified motor mechanic & what's more I loved snow skiing.

My girlfriend at the time was a beautiful young lady named Pam, we had met in the snow fields of Perisher Valley, NSW, in the winter of 1969. As luck would have it once we started hanging out together we realised that we had a lot in common.

Me and a sporty Mustang GT 500, at Mount Seymour,
North Vancouver, Canada. 1970. Photo: Pam

To start with I had been planning to immigrate to Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, once I mentioned my future plans to her she was so excited she asked me if I needed a traveling buddy. Well what was a young chap to do, so we started planning our trip as a couple.

However, my trip was all but finalised & I was due to depart Sydney on October 5th, 1969. I was ticketed to travel onboard the P&O Ship SS Oronsay from Sydney. Needless to say we could not depart Australia together because Pam needed to arrange her working Visa for Canada plus everything that is required for such an adventure. 

So we decided that I would depart as planned on 5th October '69 & she would follow 3-months later to arrive in Canada for a White Christmas that neither of us had ever experienced, sounded like a good plan to me.

My skills as a fully trained motor mechanic came in handy
on our world travels, keeping our VW Kombi running smoothly.
September 1971. Photo: Pam

I already had employment arranged upon my arrival into Vancouver, I would be teaching the mechanical staff of this organisation that were employing me how to install Mark 1V car air conditioning units to their customers vehicles. Pam was a key punch operator & would not have any problems securing employment no matter where she traveled to in the world, that would make our partnership work very well.

As the October 5th departure date grew nearer, I received a magnificent going away present from Pam. A couple of days before I boarded the ship for the 17-day voyage to Vancouver, via Auckland & Honolulu, she appeared at my place with this hand-knitted Cable Sweater to keep me warm until she arrived at Christmas. 

With camera and binoculars at the ready, I'm in the main straight
grandstand, poised to take in my first Indianapolis 500 in 1970.
 Photo: Pam

This magnificent Cable sweater that she hand-knitted for me (with love) all those years ago (51-years, to be precise) as a going away present is still worn by yours truly whenever required. I would say that without a doubt this sweater would have to be the most traveled sweater in the world. Because not only did I wear it on our 3-year working holiday around the world from October '69 - December '72, it also accompanied me on almost every international flight I ever flew with Qantas as a 'Trolly Dolly' for 32-years. 

As you can see in the photograph (at the very bottom) there is some wear around the neck & also at the cuffs. Not too shabby for a piece of clothing that is now 51-years young. Many 100's if not 1,000's of people the world over have commented about my sweater & still do whenever I wear it. I get great delight telling them the story of how this sweater came about.

Pam and myself at the Grand Canyon in 1970. Me wearing my 

sweater that has outlasted every passport I have ever had in my life.

I honestly think this sweater would have to claim a world record for longevity & miles traveled throughout the world. It is so warm & being a neutral colour, it will never go out of fashion.

Just in case there are people out there that think this story is a bit far fetched, I have also included a photograph of Pam & myself (above) visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona in 1970 wearing this garment & holding a Super-8 Movie camera in my right hand with the backdrop of the mighty Grand Canyon behind us.

2020: The world's best travelled sweater today
and it still has plenty of miles left in it.

Now if that is not a good story I don't know what is. That's all folks, I sincerely hope that you enjoyed the story about the most traveled sweater in the world. Definitely different.

Please stay safe & look after each other during these exceptional Covid times. Always remember my Motto. 'Adventure before Dementia'

Cheers
Warbo

Coming up next: I travel to Tasmania to catch up with Pam after we have not seen each other in 51-years. Stay tuned.

Symbols of Distinction

8th December - 2020

Everyone of us car enthusiasts have plenty of these unfinished wet weather day jobs that, with best intentions, we have been meaning to complete for ages. l decided this week to get up off my BIG fat Covid 19 butt & do something about it.

This photograph shows you the radiator protector grill that l 
have fitted to my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Deluxe Sedan

Ever since l became a Model A Ford 'Tragic' in 2009, l have collected various club badges & Model A Ford National Meet badges from past events that l have participated in, plus a couple of very rare badges that l have acquired over this period of time that l think you may be interested in.

Here's a more detailed shot of my badge collection on
my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Deluxe Sedan

The badges above are: Top line L-R: 

* 14th National Model A Ford Rally held in Windsor, NSW, in 1996. (l did not attend that rally because l hadn't become a 'Tragic' until 2009)
* Model A Ford Club of NSW Club badge.
* Celebrating 90-years of the Model A Ford (1928-2018) 
* Model A Ford Club of Queensland.

Bottom line L-R:

* 22nd Model A Ford National Rally held in Ipswich, Queensland in 2012. (This was my 1st National Rally that I attended in my completely restored Model A Ford towing my Teardrop Caravan - see photo below).
* 21st Model A Ford National Rally held in Launceston, Tasmania 2010. (I attended this Rally in Tassie without my car because l had only just purchased the vehicle the year before & it was still in my workshop in hundreds of pieces waiting to be restored.
* 50th Anniversary Model A Ford Club of NSW badge (1970-2020)
* Australian Bicentennial Castrol World Rally badge
* 25th Model A Ford National Rally held in Murray Bridge, South Australia in 2018
* Bay to Birdwood entrant in Adelaide, South Australia in 2018.

The first National Rally that I attended in my completely
 restored Model A Ford towing my Teardrop Caravan

The yellow Bay to Birdwood experience is a 'Bucket list' event that attracts interstate & overseas enthusiasts from all over the world. Driving through the beautiful Adelaide Hills is one of the major delights of the Bay to Birdwood experience.

By 1990 the Bay to Birdwood Run had established itself as Australia’s premier historic motoring event and had earned Australia wide recognition by winning the National Tourism Award as the best special event or festival staged in Australia.

The front of my 1929 AA Ford Truck (Hoover)
which was used to build the Hoover Dam in Arizona, USA.

The photograph above illustrates to you the front of my 1929, AA Ford Truck (aptly named Hoover) which was used as a work-horse to help construct the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River between the US States of Nevada and Arizona during the Great Depression of the early '30s. 

l manufactured a special bracket to retain my badges to the front bumper bar as you can see in the photo.

The detailed shot of my 1929 AA Ford Truck (Hoover)

Details of these badges L-R:

* Bay to Birdwood badge that l have already explained.
* 50th Anniversary Model A Ford Club of NSW badge. (1970-2020).
* Australian Bicentennial Castrol World Rally badge that l found under the front seat of my 1931 Model A Ford 2-door Tudor Deluxe Sedan when I purchased it in 2009.
* Golden Anniversary of Rotary International. (1905-1955).
* NRMA badge, & there is quite a story behind how I came by this very rare badge. This 3" or 90mm badge was made by Craftsmen Enamellers for the NRMA way back before 1935.

If you care to read the writing on the back of the badge it reads like this: Registered No. H114. This badge is the Property of the National Roads & Motorists' Assoc (NSW) and must be returned to the Secretary immediately on the Holder ceasing to be a Member of the Association. Craftsmen Enamellers Sydney.

The back-side of the pre-1935 NRMA badge
[click to enlarge]

The story of how I acquired this automotive artifact goes like this. 

I was visiting an old employer of mine (John Dodd) in Kempsey, NSW in early 2010. John owned the Caltex Service Station on Port Hacking Road in Lilli-Pilli, NSW. John employed me as his No.1 Motor mechanic to run his mechanical workshop after I returned home to Australia in 1972 from my working holiday around the world. I worked for John as his right-hand man right up until the day I joined Qantas as an International 'Trolly-Dolly' on the 5th June, 1974.

John had heard that I was now the PROUD owner of a Model A Ford & graciously gifted this unique NRMA badge for me to install to my new, old vehicle once l had restored it. These badges were made for the NRMA up until 1935, so it is very appropriate for this badge to be installed to one of my Model A Fords especially because this was the era of the Model A Fords (1928-1931) & you would like to think perhaps this badge may have previously been fitted to another Model A Ford back in the day!!! Who knows...

That my friends is another story in the life of a 'Tragic' Model A Ford enthusiast.

Cheers for now, stay safe in these extraordinary times.

Warbo


MORE READING: To read my history with my 1929 AA Ford Truck (Hoover)

Squeaks that need expensive attention...

1st November - 2020

How do you handle squeaks in one of your Babies?

This week l decided that it was well overdue that l went trouble shooting to find out where this annoying & persistent squeak was coming from the right-hand side front suspension of my 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe.

The story really begins way back in 1979 when my ex-wife & l flew down to Melbourne, Victoria to check out this 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe that was on the market by a friend of a friend of mine.

If you are interested to read the full story on my history with this car click here to view that Blog page of mine.

This shows my Porsche jacked up on stands in my 
garage waiting for my TLC treatment.

Here are some details about this particular vehicle: 1977, 2.7 Porsche Coupe, 4-speed manual. Australian delivery from Hamiltons in Victoria. This treasure is now 43-years young, and l am just only the vehicle's 2nd proud owner.

Right now, after 43-years the speedo reads (genuine kms) only 175,000 kms (109,000 miles) or 4,070 kms (2,520 miles) per year. When l went to school that works out to be 77 kms or only (48 miles) per week. Hardly run in, wouldn't you say?

ln another life before l became a 'Trolly-Dolly' for Qantas in 1974, l was trained as a fully qualified motor mechanic, little did l realise at that time how beneficial this education would be for me down the track once l retired from Qantas after 32-years service. 

This photo shows the RHS front suspension after l replaced
the wishbone bushes to eliminate that annoying squeak.

Thank heavens l have this knowledge because with the fleet of motor vehicles that l own, there is no way l could afford to pay the repair bills at say a minimum of $100.00 per hour for any decent motor mechanic.

Anyway to cut a long story short, l tracked down the annoying squeak to be in the right hand front wishbone bushes and that required me to completely remove the front end suspension, while l was at it, l decided to overhaul the left-hand side also.

A friend of mine who owns East Coast Suspensions in Taren Point, pointed me in the right direction to purchase the correct parts & also helped me with his hydraulic press to replace the worn out bushes.

This photo shows front (large) & rear (smaller) brake pistons.
ln this photo you can clearly see where l had to weld
the slide hammer puller to the piston to remove it.

Seeing that l was in the mood, l also decided to completely overhaul the brakes, because a couple of the brake calipers were frozen & required major surgery. As you can see in one of the photographs, l had a major job to overhaul the calipers due to the pistons being seized into the caliper itself. 

ln the photo (above) you can see where l had to weld a slide hammer puller to the piston itself so that l could extract the piston from the caliper, that is how seized it was. ln that same photo you can see one of the front brake pistons (larger one) in good shape.

Now for the good news, because the vehicle is 43-years young, it is very hard to purchase these brake pistons off the shelf. Luckily for me l am still well connected in the motor trade & another friend steered me in the right direction to one of his suppliers that saved me a lot of anguish, time & money.

This photo shows you the RHF machined brake
disc or as some people call it a brake rotor.

Wait for this! those little brake pistons & there are eight of them cost me (trade price) almost $100.00 each, adding to that cost you have to include: Front wheel bearings - brake pads - overhaul kits for the calipers - machining of the discs - brake fluid - high temperature black paint for the calipers, l was left with very little change out of $1,400.00 just for parts.

As l mentioned earlier, thank heavens l can do the work myself otherwise it was a trip to the Commonwealth Bank for a loan.

These are the inner & outer front wheel bearings.

l still find it very satisfying to do all my mechanical repairs, l just wish that l had a work shop hoist so that l could raise my cars off the ground while working on them instead of crawling around my garage floor on my creeper board, that was OK when l was a spring chicken, however now that l am in my 70s it sure gives the old body a work out & the following day l am looking for the bus that hit me the day before, if you know what l mean.

My friends that's about it for now regarding my story overhauling the brakes & front suspension of my '77 Porsche.

Hope you enjoyed it, so until my next adventure stay safe & healthy.
Cheers for now.

Warbo

Once a Polar Bear...

Sunday 27th September - 2020

For those of you that are unaware... l used to be a POLAR BEAR in a previous life.

Yes, that was back when I was young, fit & handsome with a full head of hair, l was a proud member of the Cronulla Polar Bears Winter Swimming Club during the long gone halcyon days of the 1980s.

The 2020 line-up of Polar Bears in front of their home pool
the Cronulla Rock Pool which was built in 1941
That young fellow in his Dad's arms is definitely a future Polar Bear.

Cronulla Polar Bears is an ocean swimming group who have been active between May & September every year since May of 1953. The members are a unique group of people that swim every Sunday, rain, hail or shine, no matter what the weather conditions are. 

On Sunday 27th of September, 2020, l turned back the clock 40-years to attend the 'Warbo 200' swimming time trial that my father first introduced to the Club 40-years ago.

As you can see by all the photos the weather was absolutely magnificent, with Cronulla Beach & the famous Cronulla Point in the background. How good is this? It doesn't come any better than this anywhere in the world.

The Cronulla Rock Pool is a salt water ocean pool that is
flushed out twice a day by the natural high tides.
Today's water temp was an icy 10°c

Action shot (above) of the Polar Bears diving into very cold water (10°c) in another heat. 

The Cronulla Polar Bears Winter Swimming Club started way back in 1953 (67-years ago), in that time the Cronulla Polar Bears have won the National Australian Titles on 12 occasions, they have also competed in the South Metropolitan Champions in NSW & have won 24 out of the 26 Titles. 

Something that this Club should be very proud of & a tradition that hopefully will pursue into the future with the younger generation filtering through their membership. 

The guy that l have my right arm over is Andrew Kerr (four-time
Olympian who represented Australia in Water Polo). Andrew by
coincidence was the winner of this year's 40th Anniversary 'Warbo 200'.

(Above) The guy that l have my right arm over is Andrew Kerr (four-time Olympian who represented Australia in Water Polo). Andrew by coincidence was the winner of this year's 40th Anniversary 'Warbo 200'. The gentleman standing in front of Andrew is his brother Peter Kerr, his claim to fame was that he delivered the 'Official's Olympic Oath' on the opening night of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Nathaniel my son & l were in attendance at the Sydney Olympic Stadium on that auspicious occasion.

The photo above is quite unique, reason being that when l was a Polar Bear in the '80s l swam against all these larrikins, the guy holding the shirt ended up being my divorce lawyer when l pulled the pin on my marriage in 1994.

My Dad, second from the left, while competing with the Polar Bears
at a inter-Club Challenge on the NSW mid-North Coast 

You're not going to believe this, the inaugural race winner in 1980 was none other than my Dad, Al Warburton. He swam within .5 seconds of his nominated time.

Dad was a staunch member of the Cronulla Polar Bears through the '70s - '80s - '90s. l can still see him preparing the catering for Sunday's meetings at home with Mum as his offsider. They would spend hours upon hours cutting fresh vegetables making a vegetable soup (in a huge tub) to feed upwards of 40-50 hungry, cold shivering Bears after their swim in the ocean rock pool at Cronulla. The menu also included a diet of potatoes, Chili & beer to wash it all down.

The fridge that my Dad donated is still being used to
this day in the Clubhouse and named in his honour

ln the photograph (above) you can see a Commercial Fridge (Warbo's Bar) that is situated inside the Club house, please notice the Polar Bear on the side end of the fridge, how cool does that look? My father collected thousands upon thousands of aluminum cans & bottles over a couple of years to raise enough cash to purchase this necessary accessory to keep their liquid refreshments cold & is still in use today. 

Before the fridge was donated to the club by my father, Club members had to use ice in large containers to keep the supplies cool, which was completely over the odds & used up unnecessary man power as you can well imagine. 

Andrew Kerr (four-time Olympian that represented Australia
in Water Polo). Andrew by coincidence was the winner of
this year's 40th Anniversary 'Warbo 200'.

l was absolutely delighted to present my friend Andrew Kerr (four-time Olympian) with the 'Warbo 200' Trophy. l believe that he swam within 1-second of his nominated time for the 200 mtrs. 

The Bronze plaque (above) that is situated on the sea wall behind 

the rock pool explains the history of Cronulla's famous rock pool, 

which l didn't know existed until last Sunday.

The current Club President, Scott Simmons, or Simmo as he is affectionately know, contacted me during the week & asked me if l could present the trophy to the winner of this year's 'Warbo 200'. This event was started by my Dad 40-years ago, is four laps x 50 mtr. = 200 mtrs. Hence the name: 'Warbo 200'. What you have to do is nominate a time that you think it will take you to swim the 200mtrs. The person who swims closest to his nominated time wins the trophy. 

I was delighted to catch up with the
Club's Patron, 90-year old John Suann

(Above) Enjoying a chat with the Cronulla Polar Bear's (90-year old) Patron, John Suann, who was a dear friend of my Dad, it was great to catch up with him & reminisce about the times we cherished all those years ago.

The banner is out for another Sunday, proudly 
signaling another day of swimming competition in Cronulla

On Sunday, l asked Paul Cavanagh if the Bears had any old photographs of my Dad when he was a Polar Bear all those years ago because l did not have any. Sure enough on Monday morning l received various photographs that Paul had found in the Bear's archives. 

The 80-year old Cronulla Rock Pool where all the
Polar Bear swimming action has happened for 67-years

One of my favourite photographs of Dad is (below) a sprightly, tanned looking 61-year old with two of his mates at one of the Winter swimming meets. Without a doubt l just love the close up photograph of Dad's face, he looks so healthy & happy, it is priceless & pure gold. 

When l received this photograph from Paul l immediately started crying because his memory is still very raw in my memory after all these years.

From the good old Polar Bear days, my late Dad on the far left
looking fit, tanned, happy and healthy

You know something, nobody is dead until the memories fade away, & rest assured the memories have not faded away. He was one hell of a human-being, if the world was full of Al Warbos it would be a beautiful place.

With those final few words l will finish off my story about the 'Warbo 200'. l certainly hope that you have enjoyed reading my trip down memory lane because l have enjoyed writing it.

This is a very emotional photograph for me looking North towards
the Cronulla rock pool were the Bears have swum for 67-years,
unfortunately my Dad passed away 13-years ago in 2007,
one of Dad's final wishes was for his ashes to be scattered in the sea
in front of his favourite swimming hole for over 85-years,
a request that l did fulfil.

As l mentioned to the Club membership before l awarded the Trophy to Andrew, let's hope that the 'Warbo 200' will continue for another 40-years.

Please stay safe & good luck to everybody into the future. Yours sincerely,

Warbo Jnr.

NB: For those of you that are wondering, l did not swim on Sunday.

Related: Check the Cronulla Polar Bears Winter Swimming Club Facebook Page

In Sydney... Spring has sprung.

Wednesday 2nd September - 2020

On the second day of Spring for 2020, l decided that it was about time to bring my 'Babies' out of hibernation. It has been almost 6-months since l have had the pleasure to drive any of my Vintage & Classic Vehicles, so last Monday l decided this must come to an end.

Five of my cars resting in storage, they have not
seen the light of day for many months

As you can see in the photograph (above) l ventured down to my factory & removed the covers from five of my little treasures, it was now well overdue for me to check the tyre pressures, engine oils, water levels, battery condition, replace stale petrol from the fuel tanks etc, etc, etc, firing up the engines before venturing out onto the highway so that the wind could blow through my hair once again (l wish). 

My '31 Model A Ford 4-door (all metal) Slant window
Town Sedan alongside the Connections Garden
Photo: Steve Core

Last week l received a call from one of my mates in the Model A Ford Club, he said to me, OK Warbo, it's time that you joined a couple of us silly old buggers on our Wednesday Wanderers outing to the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan. l needed all of 1-second to say 'l will be there'.

That is all l needed to get motivated & the inspiration to get off my butt & prepare my '31 Model A Ford 4-door (all metal) Slant window Town Sedan for the outing during this week.

It's not unusual to see Kangaroos and Wallabies bounding

around inside the gardens on the many walking trails

Photo: Steve Core

Once l decided that l would join a few other Club members on the mid-week run to the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan, l immediately called my mate Steve Core to see if he would like to come along for the ride. Steve wasn't working on Wednesday so he accepted my offer like a rat up a drainpipe.

Wednesday soon rolled around, the weather was absolutely perfect, 29°C (90°F), not a cloud in the sky. l was up nice & early to pack a picnic morning tea & lunch.

Steve Core (left) and myself enjoy our morning tea
in some warm morning Spring sunshine in Mount Annan
Photo: Steve Core (selfie)

Steve was raring to go with all his camera gear, l picked him up from his residence at 8:00am. We hit the open road & before long within an hour we had arrived at the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan. 

To our surprise when we arrived at the Garden's main car park, next to the Visitor Centre, it was almost full at 0915 in the morning, we thought that being a weekday there would not be too many people out & about enjoying themselves. 

View of our arrival into the Connections Garden area of
the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Anna.
Photo: Steve Core

Well!!! Let me tell you, there were heaps of young mothers with their small children in strollers, many retirees strolling around the many walkways, paths & trailways in these pleasant surroundings.

Like a Qantas Airplane - we were early, not on time but ahead of schedule, so l said to Steve; "Let's have our morning tea before the small group of other punters from the Car Club arrive." We immediately set up our chairs in the car park, in the warm morning sunshine & waited patiently for the rest of the troops to arrive & join us.

The Bottlebrush Garden - a nice remote location to practice
some safe social distancing within the greater Botanic Garden
Photo: Steve Core

Apparently, we were at the wrong location within the Garden, so once we had established where we should be we then had to move onto the Bottlebrush Garden where we met up with another small group of Club members. This garden was where we would enjoy our picnic lunch that l had so lovingly packed at 0600 in the morning.

Lunch Menu: No Choice, only the following. Ham, cheese, & Three Threes (333) spreadable pickles on fresh bread rolls washed down with a cup of extra hot Bushell's Tea, not forgetting the Anzac biscuits.

Fellow Club member, Peter Butler, brought along a 
model 38 Class locomotive that he has recently restored.
Photo: Steve Core

l suppose we spent around 4-hours catching up with other friends from the Club that we had not seen for nearly 6-months due to this wretched virus business and it's strict social distancing requirements. 

Another one of our Model A Ford mates (Peter Butler) who is a Steam Locomotive driver and is also into flying drones. Guess what, Steve had his first lesson on how to fly one of these machines. Steve already has his pilot's licence so he took to it like a duck to water, needless to say he is completely hooked on these drones. 

l suppose it will turn out to be an expensive day for him. He is seriously considering purchasing a Drone at approximately $2,000.00 to add to his photographic equipment so that he can take aerial photographs & video. 

My '31 Model A Ford 4-door (all metal) Slant window 
Town Sedan alongside the Connections Garden
Photo: Steve Core

The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan is located 100 kilometres south west of Sydney, this Botanic Garden is located in a hilly area that covers an area of 416-hectare (1,030-acres). It is the largest Botanic Garden in Australia, specialising in native plants, with a collection of over 4,000 species.

That my friends is another enjoyable experience in the life of the 'Squire from the Shire'. Remember my motto - "Adventure before Dementia".

Cheers for now
Warbo

Lunch trip to the Headlands Hotel

Thursday 3rd September - 2020

Today, l decided to drive the boys to lunch in my ‘57 Chevy Bel Air, 2-door, Coupe so that we could work out the problems of the universe. 

I decided to make the 1-hour, easy drive south from 'The Shire' down through the Royal National Park to the Headlands Hotel at Austinmer, this multi award winning venue located on the picturesque South Coast of NSW.

Good friends; Stuart on the left, Gary in the middle and
yours truly on the right at The Headlands Hotel

Content with our magnificent coastal views, in the first photo (above) you can witness all three of us hoeing into our lunch starter course of super fresh Sydney Rock Oysters. 

These two guys are my friends that I toured the USA & Alaska with back in 2016. We especially went to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 100th running of the famous Indy 500 motor race.

You would not know that we are Rednecks, Gary is wearing his TRUMP hat & if you look closely you can see my TRUMP socks under the table. (you can also check out my socks in the other photos).

At Brickyard Point, right on the headland
where The Headlands Hotel is situated in Austinmer 

As you can see, Stuart is the loose cannon!!! We still need to do some more work on him before the US elections to be held on November 3rd, 2020 so that he joins us on the TRUMP Train.

Once we finished a most enjoyable lunch and a few beers at the Headlands Hotel, we decided to move on to another watering hole. However there was a couple of photo opportunities I needed to take advantage of.

Our seaside stetting for lunch was
at the Headlands Hotel, Austinmer

Winter has just finished here in Australia three days ago, today the day-time temperature reached 30°C. (90°F) not too shabby for the very start of Spring. 

If you look closely at the photo with the ‘57 Chevy looking out towards the coast line, you can see two punters swimming in the pristine Pacific Ocean, did you notice that social distancing was also being adhered to in this shot.

The local constabulary obliged to park
his patrol vehicle right next to my '57 Chevy

Before we drove off from Austinmer, we had a friendly visit by the local NSW Police, l asked the Constable if he could park his patrol vehicle next to my ‘57 Chevy, and as you can see he obliged with out a second thought.

By now it was time to hit the road once again, so I suggested to the boys that we should visit the Centennial Hotel in the tiny township of Helensburgh for a couple of thirst quenchers as this watering hole is on the way home, they did not say no.

This brought back some good memories for me, as eight years ago when I completed the total restoration of my ‘31 Model A Ford Delux Tudor Sedan we visited this very same watering hole, so it was really a blast from the past.

The boys pose by the ocean after a
great lunch at The Headlands Hotel

The Centennial Hotel at Helensburgh is a great example of a typical country pub & real people. The clientele is blue collar, working class, with 95% being coal miners from the local mines, so you can imagine the reception we received from these Rednecks when we pulled up in the Chevy, with Gary wearing his TRUMP hat & yours truly with my TRUMP socks.

If this is any indication of what will happen in the US elections come the 3rd of November, 2020. Listen up you anti-Trumpsters!!!

The Centennial Hotel in Helensburgh was our last stop
for the day on our way home to 'The Shire'.

In the Centennial Hotel at Helensburgh we were immediately accepted with open arms, our opinion of the upcoming elections in the US. Not only that... we were cheered by the mob in the Public bar as we departed the premises in the Chevy.

Does that tell you something ???

The silent majority are not stupid here in Australia or in America. Remember what happened in our own Federal Election last year. As far as the experts were concerned it was a foregone conclusion that the Lefties would walk it in. Need I say anything else.

That’s all folks until next time. Stay safe.

Cheers from the ‘Squire from the Shire’.

Warbo