Flashback: Sheila's first trip to Australia in 2004

Monday 13th March - 2023

Hello again from your live correspondent Down-Under in the land of Australia.

Recently I wrote a blog about my friend Mal Bradley’s fully restored Model A Ford A400, I certainly hope that you have had the chance to read that story & view the superb photographs of one of the best (without a doubt) examples of a Model A Ford A400 anywhere in the world.

Participants in the 2004 Model A Ford National Rally in Perth,WA.

A definite blast from the past for my Model A Ford friends in America. One thing always leads into another & I thought that my Model A Ford friends in America would be interested to read & see some photographs about my research of some of those Model A Ford members that ventured Down-Under to Australia to attend the Model A Ford National Rally in Perth Western Australia in 2004.

See all the accompanying photographs to bring back those memories.

US participant's cars arriving on the docks in Sydney.

Before I go any further, I must apologise for the quality of the photographs because they definitely are not up to my high standards as you will witness.

When my friend Mal Bradley found out that I was going to write a story about that momentous 2004 Model A Ford National Rally in Perth W.A all those years ago he went back into his archives & came up with these photos.

Hopefully some of my American friends that attended that Rally in Perth in 2004 will recognise the people, cars & places where these photos were taken all those years ago & enjoy those wonderful memories.

Of course there is also a very special connection to this event because my very own 1931 Model A Ford slant Window Town Sedan “Sheila” that I now own which is on the high seas sailing towards Sydney attended this Rally in 2004 when she was owned by Clyde-Ross Morgan & his beautiful wife LeeAnn from Sedona in Arizona. (see photo below).

US participant's cars arriving on the docks in Sydney.

I have recently returned from my holidays in Phoenix Arizona & while I was there I caught up with a few of those Model A Ford participants that attended the 2004 Rally that are Club members of my Model A Ford Club in Arizona, I am sure that they will reminisce about this article I am writing & also bring back some delightful memories for them.

Mal Bradley was one of the people from the Model A Ford Club of NSW (which I am a member) that was very instrumental in the care of looking after the vehicles & organising committee that helped unload the American Model A Fords when they landed on the docks here in Australia.

Mal acquaints me that these photos were taken in the warehouse on the docks in Sydney & the other photos were taken in Perth, WA during the 2004 Rally.

I would appreciate any feedback from anybody that attended the 2004 Model A Ford National Rally in Perth, WA all those years ago, be it either Australian or Americans, I would love to hear from you.

Nothing else to report at the moment, I am looking forward to all of your responses.

Cheers for now,

Warbo.

Mal Bradley's gorgeous Model A Ford 400

Thursday 9th March - 2023

Hello Gang,

My friend, Mal Bradley, (the Model A Ford Guru from Down-Under) forwarded me these sensational photographs of his just completed & restored Model A Ford A400.

This is the Model A Ford A400 vehicle that I told you all about previously, & I put my reputation on the line about it being the best examples of the A400 anywhere in the world that I have seen.

Mal is the gentleman that knows Joop & Marlies Plaggenborg from Glendale, Arizona, my friends from the Model A Ford Club of Arizona.

Mal was also very instrumental in the organisation here in Sydney with the US Model A Ford members that shipped their Model A Fords across the Pacific from America to the National Model A Rally here in Perth, WA in Australia in 2004.

My 1931 Model A Ford slant window Town Sedan “Sheila” was one of those U.S. Model A Ford vehicles that made that journey to Australia when it was owned by Clyde-Ross Morgan & his beautiful wife LeeAnn Morgan.

Some of you old timers from America may remember him. Mal Bradley also attended the American National Meet in Reno in 1980.

As you already know, due to my previous posts & emails, “Sheila” is already on the high seas, once again heading across the mighty Pacific Ocean on a container ship, this time, crossing for good to the land of Australia, and the 2230 Postcode in the Lucky Country.

Enjoy. Cheers for now...

Warbo

Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tours continues...

Back-dated post: 17th February - 2023

Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tours continue...

Talk about the Wild West here in Arizona, l am right in the middle of it & lucky to be alive.

Just when l thought that l could kick back & relax for the remaining 12-days of my excursion over here in Arizona, guess what, no chance.

You are not going to believe what happened to the “Squire” recently. Everything that I am about to tell you about in this email is the gospel truth.

I was out & about in “Sheila” this morning running around finalising everything before I return to God’s country onboard Skippy at the end of the month.

Honestly l must have been born under a lucky star, either that or I have nine lives. On my way to Tempe which is a neighbouring suburb near Chandler where I live here, I exited the freeway at exit ramp No.52 (University Drive). The traffic slowed down because of the exit speed off the freeway. 

I was in a queue of about ten vehicles slowly driving towards a set of traffic lights to make a left hand turn.

Suddenly out of nowhere l hear a screech of tyres & then this big bang in the rear of “Sheila’s” rear left hand side. Luckily the impact was not too severe because l was still moving at around 15mph or 30kms, needless to say if l had been stationary it would have been much worse. I immediately pulled over to the side of the off-ramp & so did the person that collided with me.

He was a young Mexican guy in his early 20s. I asked him if he had insurance, his answer was No. This now creates a huge problem because it is against the law here in Arizona if your vehicle is uninsured. I called 911 as you do here in America if anything goes wrong (l have always wanted to call 911 to see what happens) & this was my life’s long opportunity to fulfil that dream.

The State Trooper was on his way. Because the other party is uninsured you need a Police report otherwise my insurance company will not cover any damage to my vehicle. Now this is where the shit hits the fan.

While waiting for the Arizona State Trooper to arrive to make his report of my accident, I was standing next to “Sheila” passing the time away.

Then all hell brakes loose, suddenly there was this horrible crash impact & noise of another crash within 30ft or 10mts from me. I looked around & all I could see was this Ford pick-up doing a barrel roll right in front of me. There were lawn mowers & gardening tools & other equipment flying all over the off ramp while this pick-up was in its barrel roll.

Luckily for the two guys that were in the pick-up (see photo) the vehicle ended up on its wheels after its barrel roll. I can tell you I needed a change of underwear.

Once the pick-up came to a stop these two Mexicans jumped out of their vehicle then they raced around & retrieved all of their equipment from the off ramp & road, threw it all into the back of their pick-up.

Obviously they also did not have insurance because they immediately fled the scene. Detective Sergeant Warbo had his finger on the trigger & managed to take a photograph of their ute as they speed away (number plate) & all (see photo) which I later gave to the State Trooper when he arrived.

Meanwhile there I was trembling in my shoes wondering what on earth I had just witnessed, I thought it was all a bad dream.

Really there is not that much damage to “Sheila” (see photo) however have a look at the wet backs Mitsubishi. Look at the front RHS of his car where he hit me, it is completely demolished, he had to throw away the front of his car on the side of the road, thank heavens l was in my 1931 Model A Ford, Henry Ford sure made them tough in those days.

Eventually I came back down to earth once the State Trooper made his report & l was on my way again with a change of underwear.

Now if that is not a good story, I do not know what is & I am alive to talk about it. Remember what my motto is: “Adventure before Dementia”. I just happen to have spades of adventure still left in me yet.

Stay safe. Regards

Warbo

Model A Ford Car Club of NSW - Maintenance Day

Sunday 5th March - 2023

Greetings all,

My Model A Ford Car Club of NSW held their maintenance day yesterday. I attended in my 1930 Special delivery Sedan (see second photo down) to give it a run since it has been well over 6-months since it left the storage factory.

It was wonderful to catch up with all my old mates here in Sydney to fill them all in on my recent travels to America. We had a decent roll up of Model A Fords as you can see in one of the photos (l counted eleven Model As in total) other members attended in their modern cars with a final head count of about 25 club members.

The two photos (above & Below) show you my 1930 Special Delivery Wagon plus some of the other club members Model A Fords that attended the maintenance day yesterday.

One of my club member mates Mal Bradley (l consider him as the Guru of the Model A Ford’s fraternity here in Australia) who l am sure a lot of you know here in Australia plus there are a few Americans that are still on planet earth would know & remember Mal from the 2004 Model A National Meet here in Australia.

We were all enjoying a sausage sizzle after the maintenance talks had finished & discussing the problems of the world that l can assure you we fixed.

Talk about coincidences again, well l am sure you all remember my UK trip last year from my blog stories. Here l go again, you are not going to believe this story.

My 1930 Special Delivery Wagon (left) plus some of the other club members Model A Fords that attended the maintenance day yesterday.

I was chomping away merrily on my sausage sizzle roll when Mal Bradley happened to mention the names Joop & Marlies Plaggenborg from Glendale in Arizona, immediately my ears stood to attention as they do because l have big ears.

As someone once said to me. You know Ken, your ears look like a V.W. with the front doors open. Very insulting, that person is no longer my friend.

Mal knows Joop because they have apparently had discussions about Model A Ford 400s of which Joop is the Guru in America. Mal has just completed a total restoration of his Model A Ford 400 here in Sydney.

Joop & Marlies Plaggenborg at home in Glendale, Arizona with their newest addition, a Model A Ford Cabriolet

Without a doubt and I am putting my reputation on the line here, my friend & sometimes foe, Mal Bradley’s Model A Ford 400 would be without a doubt the best example of that wonderful Model A Ford 400 in the world, trust me. Now here is the coincidence!

Now you must remember all this happened less than two weeks ago on the other side of the world in Glendale Arizona which is 7,800 miles or 12,550 kms from Sydney Australia.

Less than two weeks ago on our way back to Chandler from Las Vegas, Steve Core & myself enjoyed a very late lunch with none other than Joop & Marlies Plaggenborg at their beautiful residence in Glendale, Arizona.

Steve Core (left) with Joop & Marlies Plaggenborg in their home garage and workshop in Glendale, Arizona.

Not only that, now wait for this coincidence & it will blow your socks off. Joop had just purchased his new Model A Ford Cabriolet one week previously (see photographs of us in their garage with his new baby).

Right now as I type this email I am now safely home here in postcode 2230 in Sydney Australia having arrived back in the lucky country on Thursday this week. Now this is the money shot & I am sure that you will think that I am full of BS or exaggerating what I am also about to tell you.

Bring ‘Sheila’ into this amazing coincidence. Twelve years ago I purchased “Sheila” from Clyde-Ross Morgan & his beautiful wife LeeAnn in Sedona, Arizona on our way to Alaska with my son Nathaniel in our RV.

Joop & Marlies Plaggenborg newest addition to their stable, parked in their garage, a Model A Ford Cabriolet.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge in that time without a doubt. This is where Serendipity kicks in. In case you do not know what “Serendipity” means here we go: The occurrence & development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way!

Over our very late lunch that Steve & I enjoyed at the Plaggenborg’s residence in Glendale, Arizona a couple of week’s ago I wanted to know where they had purchased their new Model A Ford Cabriolet addition to their family.

When Joop told me that he had purchased his Model A Ford Cabriolet from a gentleman called (this is spooky) Clyde-Ross Morgan & his wife LeeAnn, you had to pick me up off the floor.

See photo above of 'Sheila' recently at Lake Havasu with the famous London Bridge in the background.

I said ‘No Way’ because that is the same couple that I had purchased my 1931 Model A Ford, Slant Window, all metal, Town Sedan (“Sheila”) from in Sedona Arizona 12-years earlier.

What are the odds, millions & millions & millions to one. That my friends is all she wrote. If that is not a good yarn, I have no idea what is.

Stay safe. Cheers from the “Squire” from the Shire back home in Postcode 2230, thank heavens.

Warbo

Now T-minus 7-months to go...

Friday 17th February - 2023

Today, marks exactly 7-months to go in the countdown to our 2023 Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show. 

Set for Sunday, 17th September, 2023 at the Council Car Park in Flora Street, Sutherland, NSW.

Since the outstanding success of our first Show in our new location of Sutherland in March 2022, we have been working hard on the 2023 Show to make it grander and more spectacular.

Please mark the date now in your Diary as it will be not one to miss.

Event: Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

Date: Sunday 17th, September, 2023

Location: Sutherland Council Car Park

Address: Flora Street, Sutherland

Time: 9:00am until 3:00pm

Food and Beverage vendors on site

Tombstone & Trumpstone, Arizona

Back-dated post from: 11th February - 2023

Hello to all my loyal followers,

Life on the road is real tough. It is almost impossible to keep up with everything that is happening in my life at the moment.

Check out the owners piece hanging from his hip, it definitely is real gun.

What I am going to try & do over the following few days is to send some photographs of my travels accompanied by a few words from the “Squire” so that you get some idea of what ‘Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tour’ is getting up to here in Arizona.

Last week Steve & yours truly hit the bitumen again & headed south towards the Mexican Border from Phoenix via Tucson-Tombstone-Nogales.

Just before we drove into Tombstone we stumbled across this store that sold nothing but Trump paraphernalia truly amazing. I was like a kid in a brand new toy shop. Absolutely loved it as you can see.

The photo below shows you Wyatt Earp & his brothers preparing for their gunfight at the O.K. Corral here in Tombstone.

Upon our return to Phoenix I managed to off load my 33ft R.V. Camper to my very best New Mexican friend Giovanni (photo below). Note the taped up broken front windscreen.

What a relief it was to finally dispose of my R.V. I have owned the R.V. for just over 10 years here in Phoenix & it was getting very, very tired like it’s owner.

Needless to say that it has served me very well considering that I have driven it all over America on my sojourns up here over the years.

Now all that needs to be done to finalise my de-cluttering here in the U.S. is to sell my Toyota Echo. Hopefully that will walk out the door next week when we return from Las Vegas.

I still have plenty of stories & photographs to show you, however that is about all for now.

Hope that you are all well, so until next time I will sign off for now.

Stay safe.

Warbo.

Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend

*Back-dated post from - 9th Feb '23

Hello again from Northern Arizona in Native Navajo Indigenous Indian Country.

Today, I turned the clock back 7-years.

Sheila at Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River in Page, Arizona

We have had a wonderful day here in Page in Northern Arizona. I went back over some old stamping grounds that l visited 7 years ago with my American friend David who I have traveled with over the years in our R.V’s.

Only this time I shared it with Steve, my Aussie mate.

Early this morning we visited Antelope Canyon I bet I know which photo you like the best. My rear end shot (above)…

We decided to bight the bullet & take Ken’s Tours of Antelope Canyon, I wonder why?

The tour was well worth the AUD$100 that we paid to have a local Navajo Indigenous Indian guide take through the Antelope Canyon.

Once we finished at Antelope Canyon we hopped back into “Sheila” & drove approximately 4 kms to Horseshoe Bend, this was definitely a blast from the past.
As you can see buy the photos the weather was brilliant.

Steve Core and myself in Antelope Canyon

We are now back at our Hotel relaxing for the afternoon.

Tomorrow morning we are out of here. Next port of call is Hurricane in Southern Utah. Steve wants to visit his favourite YouTuber which is Matt from Matt’s 4 Wheel Drive Recovery in Utah who has 1.4 million subscribers. We will overnight in Hurricane tomorrow evening.

Our small tour group inside Antelope Canyon

First thing on Saturday morning we will up anchor for the short drive into Las Vegas for a couple of days where we will watch the Super Bowl at Caesar’s Palace on their big screen on Sunday afternoon & also have a little fun.

That’s about all for now folks, stay tuned for more action on Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tour.

Cheers for now, looking forward to looking back.

Love you all big time.
Warbo.

'Sheila' leaving Arizona for the final time.

Wednesday 1st March - 2023

Here's 'Sheila' arriving at the California Border check station, leaving Arizona for the final time.

Just to let you know, we have just arrived safely here in California at Monica Mena’s house, where I am dropping off 'Sheila' because it is the designated drop point for my shippers to the prepare her for her sealed, ocean container ride down to her new home in Australia.

I departed Chandler, Phoenix at 4:00am this morning. Uneventful drive over here other than dodging thousands of semi-trailers along the notorious Interstate Highway 10, & I am not exaggerating.

I have no idea how America will adjust or cope to electric trucks if it ever happens. The transport industry keeps America going, trust me.

The drive from Chandler was 476-miles or 766 kms. A total of 8-hours with pit stops. 'Sheila' performed brilliantly again without a hiccup, as every Sheila should if they are worth their salt.

Fingers crossed I am allotted a seat onboard 'Skippy 12' tonight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

Cheers from the “Squire” soon to be back home in the lucky country.

Warbo.

From Phoenix to Page, Arizona via Sedona

 *Back-dated post from: 8th February 2023

Hello again from the high country in Arizona.

We departed Phoenix yesterday morning for another road trip in “Sheila”.

I decided to return to the beautiful Sedona in Arizona where all this began with the purchase of my 1931 Model A Ford, 4-door, slant window, Town Sedan, 13-years ago. Yesterday's journey bought back many wonderful memories for me.

Stopping for fuel in Flagstaff, Arizona. 'Sheila' surrounded by a little bit of snow built up on the station's driveway. Photo: Steve Core

Many years ago (13-years to be precise) when Nathaniel, my son & I were on our mammoth road trip in our RV from Phoenix to Anchorage in Alaska & return, Sammy my Model A Ford friend in Phoenix, mentioned that on the journey we should go to Sedona to meet another Model A Ford guy.

That is exactly what we did, for those of you that have been fortunate enough to visit this magnificent part of the world, this is where my love affair started with the purchase of “Sheila”.

Day 1 on the road in Flagstaff, Arizona. Looking up towards the ski area known as the Arizona Snowbowl. Which is located on the western slope of Mount Humphreys, the tallest point in the state at 12,637ft. Humphreys is the most recognizable point on the San Francisco Peaks, which are 11-miles north of Flagstaff.

Clyde-Ross Morgan & his beautiful wife LeeAnne welcomed us with open arms & looked after us like silk worms. However there was one catch to our visit.

When Clyde-Ross showed me his collection of Model A Fords, l (as l do) fell head over heels in love with his 1931 Model A Ford 4 door slant window Town Sedan that he had nicknamed “Sheila”. I asked him why she was called “Sheila” & you wouldn’t believe his answer.

Way back in 2004 Clyde-Ross & a bunch of other Model A Ford enthusiasts shipped there Model A Fords to Australia to attend the 2004 Australian Model A Ford National Rally & drove their cars from Sydney to Perth & return. While he was in Australia he just loved the word “Sheila” & hence that is where she got her name from.

The majestic view over the township of Sedona.

Once the Australian National Rally was over they shipped their vehicles back home to America. I said to Clyde-Ross that I wanted to buy “Sheila”. His response immediately was that it was not for sale.

You all know what I am like. I am like a dog with a bone & would not settle for his ‘NO’ response. After many hours of negotiations & most importantly the green vouchers that I offered him the purchase was completed.

That now gives you a little insight of how l came to own this magnificent 92 year old Model A Ford that I have had the pleasure to drive all over America for the past decade on my annual holidays here in the States.

In the Sedona Airport car park, located high above the township on top of the Mesa.

Now back to my story... Yesterday we drove the old girl 300 miles or 500 kms via our visit to Sedona arriving here in Page around 6:00pm, checked into our Hotel for a well earned rest before our adventures tomorrow.

Later on today we will be sightseeing the famous Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend River here in Page.

Tomorrow we depart Page, Arizona & move onto Hurricane, Utah which is the town that Steve’s favourite You Tube channel creator ‘Matt’s 4WD Off-road Recovery’ operates out of. Matt has 1.4 million subscribers on You Tube & Steve is hanging to check their operation out.

Steve Core and myself, having the 'Grand Slam' breakfast at Dennys Restaurant on special for just US$7.95. No need for lunch this day after such a huge breakfast.

Once we leave Hurricane, we will then head west & end up in Las Vegas, Nevada for the weekend. We want to check out the brand new Allegiant Stadium (nickname, the Death Star). Then on Sunday we will watch the 57th Super Bowl footy game on the big screen at Caesar’s Palace. Rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs to win.

That is just about all at the moment, stay tuned for more action from Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tours.

Catch up soon. Stay safe.

Warbo.

Tin Lizzie Ranch in lower Buckeye

Monday 27th February - 2023

Here's my final wash-up from Phoenix, Arizona after a pleasant 3-months stay here in America.

In 48-hours l will be behind the wheel of 'Sheila' for the last time here in North America for the 375-miles or 600 kms drive to Los Angeles for our final crossing of the desert on Interstate Highway 10.

Our host David Ker is one of our Club members & invited the Model A Ford & Model T Ford club members plus a few ring-in hot rods to attend his Ranch.

I'll be heading west for Hawthorne in Los Angeles, California to deliver 'Sheila' to my shippers, so that they can organise her safe passage back to Australia across the mighty Pacific Ocean to Sydney.

There were some very impressive Model T Fords & Model A Fords in attendance 

The plan is to depart Chandler here in Phoenix at 5:00am on Thursday morning to beat the traffic on their 6 lane Freeway (each way). Once it is light the 202 Loop Freeway is chock a block each way, sometimes it is like a giant carpark & I sure as anything do not want to be caught up in that sort of a traffic jam before I head to LA.

Hopefully if everything goes to plan I will arrive in LA mid afternoon drop the vehicle off then catch a taxi to LAX International Airport & wait for my flight on 'Skippy' later that evening arriving home into the lucky country first thing on Thursday morning the 2nd March.

It is still very cold here in Phoenix, especially if the wind is blowing. Early mornings it drops down to 5C or 40f very rarely does the temperature drop to that level in Sydney, however once the sun comes up it does start to warm up somewhat.

It usually turns out to be a very pleasant day until the sun goes down again in the arvos. Once the sun disappears the temperature immediately drops dramatically.

David has been collecting stuff all his life & as you can see by the photographs he has built himself a very impressive Man Shed or even better still a Museum.

I sure do not know how those Wagon Trains & those Cowboys heading west handled these conditions in the 1800s. They definitely were a tough bunch, trust me.

I really had no idea how cold it gets here in Phoenix until this trip. Usually I spend the summer months here (June-July-August) & it is stinking hot, day in day out, very rarely does the temperature drop below 100f or 38C (even in the evenings) for those 90-days continuously, this year’s adventure has been a very pleasant change.

Yesterday I attended my final event with the Model A Ford Restorer’s Club of Arizona. This years event was the Annual Round up at the Tin Lizzie Ranch in lower Buckeye, don’t you just love that name?

There will be no more live reports on ‘Warbo’s Magical Mystery Tour’ from me here in the States.

I certainly hope that you have enjoyed sharing my adventures while l was here on this trip, I have tried not to bore you with my stories & adventures.

It must have worked somewhat, because I have not received any negative feed back or nasty emails. Maybe it is because you all are much too polite.

Stay safe, I hope to catch up with you all in the not too distant future.

Regards,

Warbo