Reporting live from Panorama House

Tuesday 21st January - 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers for now.

Ken

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

The 6th Annual Sylvanvale Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

21st January - 2020

6TH ANNUAL SYLVANVALE PRE-WWII VINTAGE CAR SHOW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to everyone for your continued support.

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

Cheers for now.

Ken Warburton. 

Event Founder & Organiser.

To check the Car Show's Facebook page CLICK HERE

Promo for 2020 Pre-WWII Vintage Car Show

17th December - 2019

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





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

The Boys' Day Out

Wednesday 11th December - 2019.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers
Warbo

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

2019 Bathurst Wrap up

Thursday 17th October - 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

Listen up, how about this for a great story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Warbo

MEG 10th Anniversary Run to Wilton

Sunday 13th October - 2019

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

Club Members arriving outside Jim & Sancho's house

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plenty of Mercedes on display and one Rolls Royce

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

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

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

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

Highly collectable cars lined up on the driveway

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

Quite a few Mercedes lined up in the Man Shed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plenty of cabinets chock full of model cars

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

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

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

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

See you soon. Cheers

Warbo.

Run to Wilton; 1st stop Sublime Point

Sunday 13th October - 2019

Hello once again fellow enthusiasts.

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

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

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

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

My 1931 Model A Ford at Sublime Point

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

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

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

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

Part II, Wilton - coming up next... 

Stay tuned

You Tube: Warbo's Model A Ford Grenfell Weekend

21-22 September - 2019

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

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

The last of the photos from Grenfell, NSW

21-22 September - 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The heritage listed Grenfell Railway Station

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

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

Warbo

Visit to the Japanese Gardens, Cowra, NSW

Sunday 22nd September - 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So until my next Adventure before Dementia, stay tuned.

Cheers for now...

Warbo