Club Cruise to Tatura Show 'n' Shine
Sunday 21st October, 2018
Sunday 21st October, 2018
The only thing that could've stuffed up this run would have been bad weather. The day before - it was raining. But - as in the past - the Events Guys had picked another perfect day as the sun rose on Sunday morning, the forecast was for clear skies with the birds singin' and the flowers flowerin'. We had been invited to Tatura by the Goulburn Valley "Fins & Fenders" Car Club for their annual Show 'n' Shine held at the Tatura Racecourse. Market, live band, green grass and a lot of vehicles not usually seen around Bendigo. So it was going to be a good day.
It was great to see a number of new members on their first run - like Dave in his 2 door XR Falcon (should I mention epic 11 year build Dave? Oops, too late....) and Paul "only been a member for 3 weeks" driving his Brock HDT Commodore. Then there was Trent in his 350 powered Chev truck on it's first run. Maybe people thought he was a new member, but he's actually Club Member No. 1 - been around since the club was formed, just never seen before. And congratulations Trent for what must have been a mega trek across the Nullabor in the Chev - you recently drove the truck all the way back from Broome?
We listened to some detailed instructions on which direction we were leaving the Clubhouse - to avoid the embarrassment of members all going different ways (like last time). Dean was lead car today and gave clear instructions on our route away from the Clubhouse although over a couple of beers we had jokingly discussed it'd be funny to say something like:
"If ya can't listen or can't follow instructions, then ya gotta keep up. If ya can't keep up and ya go the wrong way, then it's your fault. If that happens and ya get lost, then ya gonna have to hand in your licence, ya Club Membership, and we're gonna take ya car."
But he thought better of it - it's probably not fair to have to hand in your licence. So with a quick look at the printed route map on the Clubhouse doors, we fired up our horses and pulled away from the Clubhouse.
We all stayed together through East Bendigo and Ascot (no traffic lights) before finding our way onto Barnadown Road. With all 28 of us grouped together we cruised along the blacktop towards Tatura. There was precautionary re-group just before turning right at Chance Lodge followed by another stop coming into Colbinabin. Apparently Deano up the front had a some smoke trailing behind and also coming out from under the bonnet of the Statesman and seeing this was the first Club run since the engine re-build, there was most likely a worried look in his eyes. However, oil pressure was good, temps were good and after popping the bonnet he discovered the A/C clutch had destroyed itself - even though it wasn't switched on. With the belt cut off, it was all good to go. It was a really nice run through sleepy Rushworth, then skirting around the edge of Waranga Basin and in to Tatura. After a rather lengthy wait at the gates to sign in, we were ushered in to a grassed area and shown where to park with more than 100 other classics.
Checkout the photos below, it was a really good turnout of cars from around the Goulburn Valley and across to Benalla and we spent several hours wandering around the grounds. After lunch Members began to leave but we waited to see if they had a "Best Convertible" award seeing we were the only one there. But they didn't. Musta been rigged. And ya gotta ask how could a Kenworth win "Best Truck" when it was out in the spectator carpark? Bad luck Trent.
It was a leisurely cruise home - with the sun in our eyes, the wind in our hair and the wonderful sound of a V8.
As always, thanks Events Guys for a fabulous day.
It was great to see a number of new members on their first run - like Dave in his 2 door XR Falcon (should I mention epic 11 year build Dave? Oops, too late....) and Paul "only been a member for 3 weeks" driving his Brock HDT Commodore. Then there was Trent in his 350 powered Chev truck on it's first run. Maybe people thought he was a new member, but he's actually Club Member No. 1 - been around since the club was formed, just never seen before. And congratulations Trent for what must have been a mega trek across the Nullabor in the Chev - you recently drove the truck all the way back from Broome?
We listened to some detailed instructions on which direction we were leaving the Clubhouse - to avoid the embarrassment of members all going different ways (like last time). Dean was lead car today and gave clear instructions on our route away from the Clubhouse although over a couple of beers we had jokingly discussed it'd be funny to say something like:
"If ya can't listen or can't follow instructions, then ya gotta keep up. If ya can't keep up and ya go the wrong way, then it's your fault. If that happens and ya get lost, then ya gonna have to hand in your licence, ya Club Membership, and we're gonna take ya car."
But he thought better of it - it's probably not fair to have to hand in your licence. So with a quick look at the printed route map on the Clubhouse doors, we fired up our horses and pulled away from the Clubhouse.
We all stayed together through East Bendigo and Ascot (no traffic lights) before finding our way onto Barnadown Road. With all 28 of us grouped together we cruised along the blacktop towards Tatura. There was precautionary re-group just before turning right at Chance Lodge followed by another stop coming into Colbinabin. Apparently Deano up the front had a some smoke trailing behind and also coming out from under the bonnet of the Statesman and seeing this was the first Club run since the engine re-build, there was most likely a worried look in his eyes. However, oil pressure was good, temps were good and after popping the bonnet he discovered the A/C clutch had destroyed itself - even though it wasn't switched on. With the belt cut off, it was all good to go. It was a really nice run through sleepy Rushworth, then skirting around the edge of Waranga Basin and in to Tatura. After a rather lengthy wait at the gates to sign in, we were ushered in to a grassed area and shown where to park with more than 100 other classics.
Checkout the photos below, it was a really good turnout of cars from around the Goulburn Valley and across to Benalla and we spent several hours wandering around the grounds. After lunch Members began to leave but we waited to see if they had a "Best Convertible" award seeing we were the only one there. But they didn't. Musta been rigged. And ya gotta ask how could a Kenworth win "Best Truck" when it was out in the spectator carpark? Bad luck Trent.
It was a leisurely cruise home - with the sun in our eyes, the wind in our hair and the wonderful sound of a V8.
As always, thanks Events Guys for a fabulous day.
We'll see you on a cruise somewhere!