Monday, 28 February 2022

Sydney Tramway Museum Festival

Sunday 27th February - 2022

To promote our upcoming Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show on Sunday 20th March, 2022. We arranged a bunch of Vintage cars to be on static display at the Sydney Tramway Museum's Festival at Loftus on Sunday 27th February.

The Tram operating past us is No.1740 and is a 1933
R Class model built at Clyde Engineering in Sydney.
Photo: Steve Core

(Above) We parked Warbo's 1929 AA Ford truck in a perfect high-profile position at the Sydney Tramway Museum annual Tramway Festival Open Day.

Part of Tram Museum's tram lines and heritage building and facades.
And the cluster of Vintage cars we helped round
up to make up the static displays.
Photo: Steve Core

On Sunday the 27th February, the Tramway Museum were having their annual Vintage Tramway Festival and with their 'Open House' they were operating numerous heritage and vintage trams along their few kilometers of private track. Anyone who paid the entry fee was free to ride on the Vintage trams, unlimited all day.


(Above) Hopefully, this Vintage double-decker bus, No.1579 from the Sydney Bus Museum will also be on static display at our upcoming Car Show. This is yet to be confirmed due to the Sydney Harbour Bridge's 90th Birthday festivities. Photo: Steve Core


Every year for the past few years we have helped the Tramway Museum out by providing a display of Vintage motor vehicles to help recreate the era of the early trams running along Sydney's streets.


(Above) The Tramway Museum's own double-decker bus is a AEC Regent 3 Double-Deck Half-Cab No.2619. Built in 1952 by Clyde. One of the last traditional double-decker motor buses in Sydney upon withdrawal. Acquired by the museum in 1976. Restored in 2016. This bus will be on static display at our Show on Sunday 20th March, 2022. Photo: Ken Warburton


I took my '29 AA Ford Truck nick-named 'Hoover' to the day because we have the back tray panels adorned with our corflute signs advertising our Car Show in two weeks time at Sutherland.

Saturday, 26 February 2022

'29 Packard prepares for its Sutherland debut

Saturday 26th February - 2022

With less than 3-weeks now until the Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show it is such a pleasure & relief to know that the government is starting to remove some of the regulations & restrictive conditions that have hindered all of our lives over the past couple of years.

I have been very busy this past week attending three Car Club general monthly meetings. Car Clubs have not been able to hold their monthly meetings due to the Virus for more than eighteen months now, so this week I attended & spoke to many members of the Chrysler Restorer's Club of Australia, Buick Owners Club of NSW & the Chevrolet Club of NSW about Sylvanvale's Pre-WWll Car Show. 

John Hewitt's 1929 Packard 4-door Club Sedan

All the Clubs were well aware about our upcoming show on the 20th March, however it was just nice to meet, greet & rub shoulders with many of my petrol head colleagues once again.

One of the magnificent cars that will be making it's Sutherland debut by attending our 2022 Show is this 1929 Packard 4-door sedan owned by John Hewitt.

As you all know there is always a story to accompany all of these Vintage Vehicles.

The '29 Packard sports this elaborate and ornate
hood ornament.

John purchased this 1929 Packard when he was only 22-years old (he is now over 70) with the help of his uncle they restored the car way back when.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the car was reluctantly sold in 1980 & purchased by Green's Motorcade Museum in Leppington, NSW. Unfortunately the Museum closed its doors in 1984.

John Hewitt's 1929 Packard 4-door Club Sedan


From its home at the Museum in Leppington it was once again on-sold to a gentleman in the Northern Tablelands of NSW where it remained for 30-years. 

As I say "the wheel always turns" & guess what, somehow John was once again fortunate enough to re-purchase his original 1929 Packard back recently. What a journey.

John was once again fortunate enough to re-purchase his original 1929 Packard back recently. What a car - what a journey.

Ken Warburton


Photos: Steve Core


Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show 
Date: Sunday 20th March, 2022
Venue: Sutherland Council Car Park, Flora Street, Sutherland
Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm
Admission: $5.00 per adult




Monday, 21 February 2022

There's plenty of history in Hoover

Monday 21st February - 2022

Keep your eyes peeled around the Sutherland Shire's major roadways over the next month in the lead-up to our Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show on the 20th March, 2022.

You may just spot my 1929 AA Ford truck nick-named 'Hoover'. This past week we've just added the promotional corflute signs to its rear tray side panels.

The 1929 Ford AA Truck of mine that actually worked
on 
the construction of the Hoover Dam

We will be parking the truck in high-profile locations as a promo for our upcoming Show. Nothing like the sight of the 93-year-old 'Hoover' to grab someone's attention.

'Hoover' was named after the Hoover Dam project which is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. It was referred to as Hoover Dam after President Herbert Hoover in bills passed by Congress during its construction, but was named Boulder Dam by the Roosevelt administration. 

The Hoover Dam name was restored by Congress in 1947.




 


Wednesday, 9 February 2022

February '22 - Informational Update

Tuesday 6th February, 2022

Hello to everyone from the coalface here in the Shire.

At the moment it is head down & tail up with preparations for the 6th Annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show to be held in Sutherland on Sunday 20th March, 2022.

Example of our 2022 Car Show flyer


From Tuesday the 8th of February it will be a short 40-days until our extravaganza on the asphalt of the Sutherland Shire Council car park that is situated on Flora Street, Sutherland. For those of you that do not know the area there is no way that you could possibly mistake it for anything else. (The Car park is huge).

I must also inform those entrants that wish to trailer their Vintage vehicles to Sutherland on the day that there is plenty of off street parking for your car trailers, or in one of our exhibitor's case; to park his semi-trailer that he will use to transport his vehicles to the show.

Entry to the car park will be via an entrance (clearly marked below) on Flora Street Sutherland, where either myself or other parking officials will meet & greet you from 7:00am to guide you to your parking position. The earlier you arrive the more time you will have to settle in & enjoy your day.


Satellite image of the Flora Street Car park with 
indicators of our main entry points on Flora Street.

For those of you that have not as yet contacted me with a commitment to attend our 6th Annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show on Sunday the 20th March'22, there is still plenty of time left & heaps of room (not like Cronulla). 

The main reason why we had to relocate our show from the tiles in Cronulla Mall to the asphalt in the Council car park in Sutherland is that we have outgrown the venue in Cronulla. We have the room to facilitate up to 150 Vintage Vehicles in the Sutherland Car park.

I know that I am dreaming, however wouldn't it be a blast if we could fill that Car Park with our Vintage vehicles, what a spectacle that would be!


Examples of our Entry Form and Judging Category form

Please read all the following information to familiarise yourself with our procedures, it will make things so much easier for yourselves & us on the day to help things run as smoothly as possible.

Upon arrival at the Flora Street carpark you will be greeted at the entry gate by one of our friendly staff, everyone will need to pay their $20 entry fee. You will be handed an Entry Form (above) that you will need to fill in.

We will also hand you a Judging Category Card (above) with the list of 17 different categories printed on the reverse side of that card. If you wish to have your vehicle judged please complete the form & return it to the judges desk near the community hall.

If you do not wish to have your vehicle judged, that's OK too.


Examples of our Partnership & Sponsorship documents


Our BarBQ Sponsor ($2,000) has already been taken up by one of our loyal followers, however, there are other levels that you may be interested in.

That's just about all for this week's informational guide, if you require any more details please do not hesitate to contact me immediately on 0438 692 737. (24/7)

Stay safe, I want to see you all & your Vintage Vehicles in Sutherland on Sunday the 20th March '22.

Regards,

Ken Warburton

NB: If it makes life easier for you, you can pay your entry fee of $20 at the gate when you arrive on the day. Or if your require any of our forms or documents, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Tuesday, 1 February 2022

South to Pheasant Wood

Saturday 29th January - 2022

This is what happens when all the holes in the cheese line up.

In my quest to bring you exciting & unusual Pre-WWll Vintage motor vehicles to our annual show I am very fortunate to meet many enthusiast car owners that have the most extraordinary vehicles parked in their sheds. This week was one of those occasions, however, the story that I am about to tell you will blow your socks off as it did mine.

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a fellow that I used to fly with at Qantas. His name is Ben Powell, he wanted to know if he could enter his 1948 Riley Special into this year's Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show, this vehicle was built by his father (Ray Powell) way back when. Unfortunately I could not accept his entry because Ben's beautiful Riley Special was not built before WWll.

I have not seen Ben for at least 16-years since we both hung up our wings working as Trolly Dolly's for Qantas Airways. We got a chat on, as you do when you haven't seen someone for all those years. He mentioned that he will be attending & driving his magnificent 1948 Riley Special at the "All Historic Racing" meet at Pheasant Wood Race Circuit at Marulan, NSW, on Saturday the 29th January '22.


The boys and myself at Pheasant Wood Race Circuit, Marulan, NSW



Immediately my ears pricked up because my neighbor Steve Shelley who lives here on the Insular Peninsular at Burraneer just happens to own this race circuit & I have heard so much about it I really wanted to check out the circuit for myself. This would be the ideal opportunity for me to take a leisurely 2-hour drive south from the ‘Shire’ to meet up with Ben once again after all those years to watch him race his Riley Special & take a bird's eye view of the circuit for myself.

Now this is where the story starts to get exciting & all the holes in the cheese start to line up. Less than 5-days later I just happened to check my emails before retiring for the evening for my beauty sleep & (believe me I definitely need my beauty sleep).

I opened the email & there before me was this magnificent photo of a Vintage Vehicle plus the following message. "I'm just wondering if you are the same Ken Warburton that I knew from the Sutherland Shire Automobile Club back in the early '60s. I now live in Mittagong & have a few old cars including this 1924 Lancia Lambda".

Well I almost fell off my chair, I could not believe what was before my very eyes. This gentleman's name is Greg Mackie & we had not laid eyes on each other for 60-years.

Greg sitting behind the wheel of his magnificent 1924 Lancia Lambda


Greg & I exchanged a few emails to & fro. I mentioned that I would be coming down to his neck of the woods on Saturday the 29th January to watch my long lost flying mate drive his 1948 Riley Special in the Historic Races at Steve Shelley's race track at Marulan. Greg said, why don't you come to my residence first in Mittagong, you can leave your car at my place & I will drive us to the circuit which is approximately 40-minutes from my place & we can have a good old chinwag on the way. How could you knock back an offer like that when we hadn't seen each other for 60-years.

Everything went to plan, I arrived at Greg's residence in Mittagong at 9:00am Saturday morning. I must be totally honest with you that I did not recognise him nor him me. The only thing that we remembered about each other was our names. One cannot forget it has been 60-years since we have seen each other & a hell of a lot of water has passed under the bridge in that time, trust me. What a blast that was, we caught up with each other's lives. This has never happened to me before, where on earth do you meet up with someone you haven't seen for 60-years. Usually one or the other is pushing up daisies, if you get my drift.

We finally arrived at the circuit in Marulan, Ben was there playing with his 1948 Riley Special to make sure his "baby" was road worthy because he was just about to hit the track for a run. You wouldn't believe it, I also bumped into another old Trolly Dolly friend of ours, a chap by the name of Ron Reyn, he is also from the Shire & is interested in Historic Car racing. I thought to myself Wow! What an opportunity for a great photograph (below).

Photo of the four of us outside the official office at the track.  
LtoR. Yours truly, Ben Powell, Greg Mackie & Ron Reyn.

It was now time for Ben to hit the asphalt to show us his worth, unfortunately his car threw a wobbly & lost a rear right wheel, so that was the end of the day for Ben. As the professional motor racing drivers say; "that is motor racing".

Myself & Ben standing beside his very sick 1948 Riley Special
without the R/R wheel

Greg & myself stayed at the circuit for a few more hours & then it was time to head back to his place in Mittagong for a Ham & Cheese Roll washed down with three cups of Bushells Tea. Now for the money end of this beautiful story.

I was chomping at the bit for Greg to show me his "few old cars" as he had mentioned in his first email to me. After lunch he took me out to his shed. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he opened his shed door. Inside his shed he had four absolutely mind blowing very, very rare sensational motor vehicles. Where do I begin to start telling you about them, what I will do is let the photographs tell you the story.

1923-60 Vauxhall still shod with it's original
NSW number plates (39-988)


My favorite vehicle (I think) is his 1924 Lancia Lambda, closely followed by the 1923-60 Vauxhall still shod with it's original NSW number plates (39-988), then there is the magnificent specimen of his British 1938 4/4 Morgan. It's '4-4' designation stood for four wheels and four cylinders.

In the background tucked in behind the Morgan you can just see his original black 1958 VW Beetle with only 60,000 miles (96,560 kms) on the clock. If my arithmetic is correct that works out to be 937.5 miles per year or 1,508.75 kms per year over that 64-year period.

Hopefully if all the planets line up on Sunday the 20th March, 2022, Greg will join us at Sutherland to display his 1924 Lancia Lambda in our 6th annual Pre WWll Vintage Car Show. I am so excited I just can't wait.

The magnificent specimen of Greg's
1938 
British-built 4/4 Morgan


What a day, I really had to pinch myself to see if all this was true. By now it was late in the afternoon, Greg had been invited to a party & I had a 2-hour drive back to the Shire. 

I arrived home just in time to watch our very own Ash Barty clean up her American opponent Danielle Collins to win this year's Australian Open. I must admit that I was very concerned when Ash was down 5-1 in the second set.

That my friends is all she wrote.

Stay safe & look after each other.

Cheers for now from the "Squire from the Shire".

Warbo.



Wednesday, 26 January 2022

My Australia Day message...

Australia Day - 26th January - 2022

Hello everyone,

Wishing you all a safe & wonderful Australia Day.

I was so moved watching Dylan Alcott's acceptance speech last night when he received his Australian of the Year award, I couldn't wait for today to put pen to paper.

Dylan Alcott is a true inspiration to me...

It is so refreshing to see a normal person receive this prestigious award, instead of a politician or some trumped up person in the know who really does not deserve it.

Dylan Alcott is an inspiration to me, it is people like him that make me want to get out of bed in the morning so that I can be part of something in our community. Most of you already know that I am involved with the Charity Sylvanvale here in the Sutherland Shire, so Dylan's message is very close to my heart.

Sylvanvale wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the hard work of its founding families & the Warburton family is one of those families that started this long journey in 1947 (75-years ago) at a Baptist church in Flora Street Kirrawee.

Related: The Warburton Story.

"A true champion is not who wins the most tournaments 
It's about your purpose"


Listening to Dylan's speech last night took my mind back 70-years & reminded me of my father's words of wisdom all those years ago, he used to say to me.

"Son, don't ever think that you can't make a difference in this world".
Dylan also used these words last night, very powerful indeed. Thinking back to those very humble days (1947) when those parents did not have enough money to rub two copper coins together, we (Sylvanvale) now look after 750 children & adults with disabilities to live in the community, with over 40 group homes in the Sydney region & Blue Mountains, staffed 24 hours a day, 7-days a week.

If only my parents were alive today to see the legacy they started, I am sure that they would turn in their grave.

From those very humble beginnings in the Baptist Church at Kirrawee in 1947, Sylvanvale's Revenue for the financial year 2020-2021 is as follows:

Revenue. $73,190,000 (M)
Operating surplus of $7,295,000 (M)


The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison awarding
Dylan his 'Australian of the Year' Award.

You are probably asking why I am telling you this story, well I am just about to tell you.

At the AGM of Sylvanvale in 2015 (in general business) I had this bright idea that I would organise a Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show to raise money & help promote Sylvanvale to the general public throughout the 'Shire' & the Sydney region to be more aware of people with a disability, exactly the same message that Dylan Alcott (Australian of the Year) is trying to convey to everyone & is very successfully doing so.

Here we are now in 2022 & my dream has evolved. On the 20th March'22 we will be organising our 6th annual Pre-WWll Vintage car show that has developed into one of the Shire's premium community events of which I am very proud of. Unfortunately we missed out holding our spectacle for the last couple of years due to this wretched Covid Virus. Let's hope & pray that this year's event goes ahead as planned.

I would just like to remind everyone that by entering your very special Pre-WWll Vintage Vehicle in our event at Sutherland on 20th March & all the many thousands of spectators that will attend this extravaganza, all proceeds will be going to a good cause.

Entry fee: Adults $5.00 Family $10.00 Children under 12 free. Show Vehicle entrance fee: $20.00.

I think you've made it when your face gets
projected onto the Sydney Opera House 30m high

Please pencil in to your papyrus diary our Pre-WWll Vintage Car Show to be held in Flora Street Sutherland on Sunday 20th March '22. (9:00am-3:00pm).

Our event could not possibly take place without the many volunteers who willingly put their hands up to make our event such a success, I believe they are the social thread of our community & should be recognised in our society as many have been in this year's Australian of the Year awards.

Congratulations Dylan Alcott, apart from being this year's 'Australian of the Year' I am so happy that you have received this decent honor for a decent human being.

Thank you for all you do for supporting people with disabilities, to reach their potential.

Regards

Ken Warburton

Bounty Inducements

Wednesday 26th January - 2022

This year's Show will be our 6th Edition of the Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show. The Show creates a field where up to a hundred of historically significant vehicles are displayed and now will be vying for various awards and accolades.


I have previously mentioned to you, that this will be the first year that we will be introducing judging of the Vintage Vehicles entries & awarding trophies for all the seventeen categories of vehicles.


To help build a sense of pride and achievement that accompanies a prize winning entry there will be a First Prize and Runner-up Prize awarded in each best-of-category. Both winners will be rewarded with a trophy to take home to add to their collection on their mantle shelf.


John Keats (left) from Trophy Mart and me
sorting out the award trophies for our 2022 Show
Photo: Steve Core

For the outstanding car that steals the Show, I've created a one-off 'First Choice Vintage Vehicle of the Show' that will be chosen by me. Not only will they win a really nice piece of large, shiny silverware - they will also receive a bonus $200.00 cash in the hand, not to shabby!


Recently, I was fortunate enough to win trophies at this year's All Ford Day with my 1931 Model A Ford, 4-door, (all steel) slant window, Town Sedan, I was so impressed with the quality & design of these trophies that were supplied by Trophy Mart.


Keeping all this in mind Steve Core and I decided that it was time to take a drive out to Leumeah in Sydney's growing south-western suburbs to check out John Keats at his business. (see photo). I decided that John Keats from Trophy Mart was our man and they are going supply us with around thirty-five trophies for our Show.


Warbo


Thursday, 20 January 2022

Vintage Brakes & Grease Guns

Thursday 20th January - 2022

Question: Who was the first Car Company to install Hydraulic brakes to their vehicles?

Being the Model A Ford 'tragic' that I am & for all of you vintage car enthusiasts that have had the pleasure or displeasure to drive a vintage car with mechanical brakes - you will completely understand where I am coming from.

The 4-wheel braking system using Hydraulics was first introduced in 1918 by Malcolm Lounghead, this specific braking system was adopted in nearly every vehicle by the late 1920s, except by Henry Ford.

When I recently spotted this photo the very 
sentiment of it tickled me pink

In 1924 Chrysler introduced Hydraulic Brakes to their vehicles, it was not until a staggering 15-years later until Henry Ford introduced Hydraulic Brakes to his world famous Fords in 1939. I find that statistic unbelievable, however it is the truth.

Elsewhere, I received an email from a friend of mine a couple of days ago, he is an old ex-Qantas work college of mine from the days when we were fortunate enough to be 'Trolly-Dollys' flying around the world with champagne tastes on a beer income for Qantas Airways.

Recently he had received a gift from his next door neighbor who was 93-years of age (who has since passed) twelve Vintage Grease guns (photo below), he is aware of our Sylvanvale Pre-WWll Vintage Car show coming up on the 20th March, 2022 & has decided to donate these vintage relics & highly sort after pieces of the automotive history to our cause to raise money for Sylvanvale.

These twelve vintage era Grease Guns could easily be yours,
they're available to the highest bidder out there

Surely there is a keen collector out there in Cyberspace that would love to own these automotive treasures, so what I suggested to him was that I would include a photograph of these vintage grease guns in one of my newsletters. 

To raise funds for Sylvanvale, we are going to conduct a blind auction. If there is anybody out there that would be interested in purchasing these items to get in touch with me via my e-mail address:

warbo47@gmail.com or you can call me directly on 0438 692 737.

I'm sure that there is somebody out there that would really appreciate owning these twelve pieces of automotive history and would like to add them to their nostalgia collections and your money is going to a brilliant cause.

Thanks as always for your continued support, 

Ken Warburton


Oh, and the answer to the brake question: None other than Fred Duesenberg to his Duesenberg Model A in 1921.


Thursday, 6 January 2022

Tracking down the '30's era Survivors

Wednesday 5th January - 2022

I am very pleased to advise everyone that the initial response for car entries I have received so far for our Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show in March 2022 has been way beyond my expectations.

Many of our previous entrants are only too happy to support us once again, however, what has surprised me the most is the response that I have received from first time vintage vehicle owners that want to exhibit their "Pride & Joy" in our very exclusive & unique exhibition in the Shire come March.

The three themed 'Survivor' Model A Fords that will be coming to
our Show in March 2022. 
Left: '28 'Depression Car' ex-tourer.
Middle:'28 Tourer 'Shitty Chitty'. Right: '31 'Handyman Hauler'.

Where else in Sydney can you go & see a Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show with all the vehicles on display that were manufactured before 1939, with many of these cars in their original condition. This is the reason why our Car Show has proven over the years to be so popular with men, women & children.

We're all here now in the 21st century. It seems that everyone these days wants to be retro or part of this bygone era. How good is it to step back in time to witness vehicles built in the very early 1900s with the most recent built in 1939. If my math is correct, that makes the "baby" car of our show a spritely 83-years young.

The sprawling front lawn of the property we visited
with the three Model A Ford survivors on show.

Why is this so? Our lives these days are so fast & complicated we hardly have time to scratch ourselves.

When we can have the opportunity to walk around at our own leisure inspecting these glamour's & chatting to the friendly vehicle owners it is a treat to behold.

This era of the motor vehicle industry from the early 1900s until the beginning of World War II that started on the 1st September 1939 must have been an absolute hoot, when life was so much more simple, I think this is why our followers & owners of the Vintage car era are so passionate about their hobby & love the opportunity to keep this special moment in time alive & well.

Inside the real man's Shed which can house
up to ten working projects at a time

Long before dashcams, mobile phones, air bags, electronic lane sensors, reversing cameras... the list goes on & on.

Yesterday, Steve Core & myself, (Steve helps me out running the social media side of our event because I really am a computer illiterate), we were invited to a friend of mine's rural property on the western outskirts of Sydney with the intention of inviting he & his wife plus some of his Vintage vehicles to support our show in March. 

Some of the tongue-in-cheek additions to these '30's era vehicles
include 
an original, low-tech, '30's Kodak Box Brownie 'Dashcam'

We arrived at his magnificent property at 9.30am, as we drove into the driveway of his semi rural property we were greeted by a troop of real live Kangaroos, there were probably twenty or more of them scrounging around in his front paddock, 

Wow! I thought to myself what a pleasant surprise, I have never been welcomed by a herd of Australian native animals before. This only happens in the movies.

Above: The '31 'Handyman Hauler' - featuring an 
original 'Australia Post' pushbike mounted on the side.

Upon arrival we were invited into his Man Shed, (let me tell you it is some Man Shed) and three cups of Bushell's tea later, the three of us old farts had fixed all the troubles of the world & then we decided to get down to business to discuss our upcoming Vintage car show.

Before us, we had nine Vintage Classics vehicles to choose from, I was thinking to myself this is definitely Model A Ford heaven, & here I am standing at the Pearly Gates.

On our arrival, we were greeted by wild Kangaroos peacefully
grazing on the property's front lawns

I chose three of his Model A Ford survivors, because I have a very soft spot for Classic old cars that have not been tampered with & they would fit in perfectly at our upcoming Car show.

We then parked the Vintage Classic vehicles onto his manicured lawns & Steve went to work photographing them in all their glory so that we can use the photographs of them for promotional purposes for the show.

Ready for any job... the '31 'Handyman Hauler'

By now it was around 2:00pm & we were all famished, we decided that it was time for a counter lunch at a nearby hotel washed down with a few cool beers, so off we went to the local Pub in my 1931 Model A Ford, 4-Door (all metal) Town Sedan.

During the afternoon my mate did a call around on his Al Capone to some of his mates that own vintage cars, he received commitments from six of his friends that put their hands up to support us & our Charity, Sylvanvale, on the 20th March, 2020. 

This collection of unique 'Survivor' vehicles will make up
an incredible range of vehicles from Concourse to Survivor

In summary, I reckon we had a very successful day, with a further nine Vintage vehicles to add to the ever growing list. What's more we all had the time of our lives BS-ing to each other as you should do at our age.

Keep your enquiries coming in as we still need more Pre-1939 Vintage Vehicles entrants, it will be a huge effort if we could fill the Sutherland Council's Car Park on Sunday 20th March, 2022.

Ken Warburton

All photos: Steve Core


Tuesday, 28 December 2021

Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Sunday 26th December - 2021

Reporting live from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Rushcutters Bay in Sydney on Boxing Day 2021. I suggested to my partner in crime Steve Core that we should make the effort & venture into Rushcutters Bay to check out the crews preparing for this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

We arrived at the Cruising Yacht Club at 7:00am, lucky to jag a parking spot for the ‘81 Ford Bronco a short stroll away from the club. We walked down to the Marina only to be informed by Event Security that there was no public access onto the jetties until 10:00am. That meant we had 3-hours to kill, so I put my thinking cap on & came up with this wild idea to attempt to wriggle our way into the exclusive press & media area.

Being ex-Qantas Trolly Dollies with the gift of the gab, we wangled our way into the sacred echelon of the press overlooking the multi million dollar yachts & marina right in front of the Club House.

Me and the always comical and mirthful Channel 9 News Reporter
Mike Dalton. Mike confirmed he'll be covering our Car Show in March.
Photo: Steve Core 

There was plenty of action in this area due to the numerous National News networks from around the world doing their pre-race interviews to their respective outlets. 

We needed to keep a very low profile because neither of us had Security passes & did not want to be evicted from our ring side seats where all the pre-race action was happening.

Steve noticed our friend Mike Dalton from the Channel 9 network interviewing various high-profile sailors about their tactics for the run down the east coast to their final destination in Hobart in a couple of hours time.

The race attracts entries & competitors from around
the world for this international classic

In between interviews I decided it was time for me to get off my butt, bite the bullet & approach him & re-acquaint myself with Mike.

I first met Mike in July 2020 when I organised a farewell to the Qantas “Queen of the Skies” Jumbo 747. I was interviewed by him on the Northern Concourse of the Sydney Opera House. Click here to see that story.

On that day I mentioned our up & coming Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show & asked him if Channel 9 would be interested to do a segment on our big day, at that time he showed a great deal of interest, however that was 18-months ago.

Anyway to cut a long story short I grabbed my opportunity to remind him of our conversation 18-months ago. To my delight he told me that he did remember our conversation. Mike also mentioned that he had received a Media Release from me last week & would definitely be at our show in Sutherland with a camera crew on Sunday 20th March 2020.

The main silverware up for grabs in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart
blue water classic.

Never to let a chance pass me bye I also managed to take photos of the precious silverware on display for the world' s media. The Trophy on the left is the Captain J.H. Illingworth Challenge Cup that is awarded to the first yacht to finish the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race with line honours, on the right is the George Adams Tattersall’s Cup awarded to the Handicap winner. 

This is the most significant & historic perpetual trophy awarded in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race. Now recognised as one of the great ocean races in the world, despite there being no prize money for winners, just some impressive silverware & monumental prestige. Magnificent silverware to say the least.

In this 2021 event there were 88 yachts that started the race from Sydney Harbour. The fleet was battered by strong southerly winds, and due to these arduous conditions, more that a quarter of the fleet has withdrawn from the race with broken rigging & torn sails.

Entry fee to compete in this race is $9,500.00. Maluku (built in 1932) is the oldest & smallest (31ft or 9.5mtrs) yacht, compared to the Super-Maxi’s that are at least (100ft or 30.48mtrs).

The Cruising Yacht Club's Commodore Mr Noel Cornish
during pre-race media engagements

The Super-Maxi’s, Blackjack, Scallywag, Law Connect are predicted to take line honours in this year's blue ribbon classic event.

As the small hand on the clock pointed to 10 & the large hand struck 12 we put on our running shoes & headed straight towards the dock. The security guard was no longer stopping spectators from entering the jettys, we were now permitted to enter the earlier restricted areas.

Steve was in his element with his camera, we took full advantage to get up close & personal with these magnificent offshore racing yachts, we even took the advantage to have a good old chat with some of the competing crews.

We spent the following couple of hours drooling over these multi-million dollar, high-tech craft until the time it was for the competitors to depart their safe moorings & head out onto the Sydney Harbour to prepare themselves for the start of the challenging race to Tassie at 1:00pm.

Steve suggested that we hit the road & head for home back in the Shire, not before a quick detour via Bondi Beach for another photo shoot.


Me and my '81 Ford Bronco at North Bondi Beach
Photo: Steve Core

I took the opportunity to give one of my classic vehicles a trip into the city today. Due to this wretched Corona Virus my 1981 Ford Bronco needed the cobwebs blown out of her. The big 351 Cleveland V/8 engine had been in bed asleep for almost the last 12-months, so believe me I sure enjoyed pushing the pedal to the metal. You can keep your electric cars.

When we arrived at Steve’s special photographic spot at the world famous Bondi Beach he was relieved to know that there was no one parked in the perfect spot on Campbell Parade that overlooks the beach where he wanted me to park the Bronco.

As you can see by the photo my classic ‘81 351 Ford Bronco looks pure gold with the world famous Bondi Beach in the background, doesn’t come any better than this, & that my friends is all she wrote.

Remember my motto: ‘Adventure before dementia’.

Cheers for now.
Warbo