{"id":2842,"date":"2020-06-15T12:49:23","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T02:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/?p=2842"},"modified":"2020-06-15T12:49:23","modified_gmt":"2020-06-15T02:49:23","slug":"racv-12-cylinder-rally-rally-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/?p=2842","title":{"rendered":"RACV 1&2 Cylinder Rally – Rally Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

RACV 1 & 2 Cylinder Rally<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hamilton 12 to 15 March 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

(as experienced by an aged, forgetful and naughty New South Welshman) \u2013 Doug Fulford<\/strong><\/sub><\/p>\n

It was Tuesday night, the night Vivian and I were due to leave for Hamilton.\u00a0 The Clement-Bayard had been duly loaded onto its trailer.\u00a0 Time to check out where we booked our accommodation.\u00a0 The ensuing conversation went something like this.\u00a0 \u201cI thought that you booked it\u201d followed by \u201cNo it was definitely you and not me\u201d.\u00a0 Well one of us had booked it because we rang the caravan park and yes they had a cabin booked for us.\u00a0 But there was no record of us having booked into the rally.\u00a0 Oops!\u00a0 A pleading email was sent to Ben Alcock.\u00a0 The next morning we headed south and rang poor Doug Palmer, the rally director, en route.\u00a0 Luckily he saw the funny side of the situation (big sigh of relief) and assured us that he would accommodate us as best he could.\u00a0 Left the Hume Freeway at Violet Town heading for Murchison.\u00a0 The GPS had conniptions for a while but then settled down.\u00a0 But just short of Murchison it told me to turn left and, being a highly experienced husband, I naturally obeyed its female voice.\u00a0 Guess what? We ended back on the damn Hume Freeway.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t want to be heading towards Melbourne the next morning so we drove on to Bacchus Marsh and had a lovely evening.\u00a0 Could even have purchased toilet paper at the local servo!<\/p>\n

As a result on Thursday morning we had a lovely and peaceful scenic drive to Hamilton past the picturesque Pyrenees and, as we got closer to Hamilton, the Grampians.\u00a0 Arrived at the rally headquarters which was the club rooms of the Hamilton Veteran, Vintage and Classic Drivers Club.\u00a0 Lovely big club rooms (with a name as long as that you need big rooms if you are going to put your name on it in big letters) situated in the very interesting Pastoral Museum complex.\u00a0 The story of my failure to book had leaked out \u2013 actually it had more than leaked, it had spread like wildfire.\u00a0 Vivian and I scraped together the necessary cash (just) and attempted to pay to relieve our guilt somewhat but the treasurer was claimed to be missing.\u00a0 Was that just a ploy to keep us feeling guilty?\u00a0 Andrew McDougall asked if I took poetry commissions.\u00a0 I nodded in agreement.\u00a0 I should have guessed what was coming.\u00a0 Could I write a poem about people who forget to book into a rally?<\/p>\n

Thursday afternoon there was a shakedown run through Croxton, an area of German settlement.\u00a0 Peter and Judy Fitzgerald got shaken a lot more than most when their Maxwell suffered a severely shattered windscreen.\u00a0 Despite having the scars to prove it they were unperturbed.\u00a0 After a tip from the locals Peter had the Maxwell at a local shop at 7:30 am the next morning where a new polycarbonate screen was cut.\u00a0 As a result Peter, Judy, Marli and Ratty made the 9:30 start the next morning.\u00a0 That evening we enjoyed a barbeque dinner at the club rooms with beef patties, little sausages and a delectable selection of salads and other accompaniments.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s run was to the Victoria Valley, an overall distance of 116 km.\u00a0 This is a horseshoe shaped area nestled between two mountain ranges which form part of the Grampians.\u00a0 We travelled along beautiful, quiet but rather narrow country back roads with only minor undulations.\u00a0 The little modern traffic that was present was very polite in getting over for our cars.\u00a0 There were marshals at every turn which makes navigation that much easier as well as that much more reliable and probably forestalls the odd domestic.\u00a0 The first stop was at\u00a0 Sierra Park , a super fine wool producer using Saxon sheep.\u00a0 Bill Crawford gave us an interesting talk about the history of Sierra Park and its current operation. We then motored to the Grampians Golf Club where we enjoyed some healthy salad rolls and tasty slices.<\/p>\n

After lunch we travelled to Skene, a large rural holding which has been held by members of the one family lineage since the mid 1800\u2019s.\u00a0 The homestead is a magnificent bluestone\u00a0 building dating back to 1858 although there have been a number of additions since then.\u00a0 Don Robertson welcomed us having been almost upstaged by Peter Fitzgerald.\u00a0 He gave us a brief history of the homestead and its outbuildings, its Scottish heritage and the various additions and alterations that have been made.\u00a0 He also explained the need to change the mix of farming to match changing demand and hence prices and changing weather patterns.\u00a0 Then we were privileged to be able to tour his fine residence.\u00a0 There was an Alcock brand full size billiard table in an upstairs room supported by some massive beams.\u00a0 When some repairs were needed Don contacted the makers who asked for the serial number.\u00a0 When Don told them they went to their records and told him that the table had been delivered by boat to Portland in 1868 and they were delighted to know what had become of it not having known its fate for all those years!\u00a0 Peter Fitzgerald kindly gave Don a quick lesson on how to drive a Maxwell and let Don take his car for a spin.<\/p>\n

That evening we enjoyed a fabulous two course dinner at the Grange Burn Comfort Inn.\u00a0 The author got to read a poem or two and Doug Palmer gave a very interesting talk with pictures on motor garages in Hamilton since 1914, this being one of his great passions.\u00a0 Apparently there was some confusion amongst a group of entrants who decided to share a cab to and from the dinner.\u00a0 The author discovered this on Saturday morning when he received another poetry commission, this time from Claudia Holding.\u00a0 It was a fairly complex story\u00a0 and a lot to put into verse but the rumour mill was in full swing so by that evening pretty much everyone knew all about it.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s run was to Culleraine, a round trip of some 120 km km, and it was the author\u2019s Wife\u2019s turn to drive \u2013 after all it is Her car!\u00a0 Clem didn\u2019t appear to want to start despite the fact that all testing seemed to imply that it should run.\u00a0 In desperation the author installed two new spark plugs and Clem burst into life first pull.\u00a0 Old cars!\u00a0 The run to Culleraine was relatively flat apart from one steep uphill and one long steep downhill \u2013 the one bit of road, naturally, that council had decided to dig up so it was loose dirt.\u00a0 At least it wasn\u2019t raining (yet at least).\u00a0 Vivian was worried about pulling up at the T-junction at the bottom of the descent but pull up she did.\u00a0 She had slowed after the big hill to see if everyone was OK which paid off as it enabled her to miss a mob of kangaroos crossing the road which really pleased the author as otherwise he would have worn one.<\/p>\n

If you weren\u2019t at this rally then you missed out on the opportunity to see a really hot Humberette!\u00a0 No that isn\u2019t an oxymoron \u2013 well at least not in this instance.\u00a0 The little red car in question did struggle a bit on the hills\u00a0 until Sandra Splatt got out to push it up the big hill.\u00a0 Husband, Graham says she\u2019s a very good pusher.\u00a0 Maybe she\u2019s actually too good as\u00a0 the engine then burst into flames!\u00a0 Graham may have had 50 plus years experience with the Weering-Eurack fire brigade but no-one has ever seen him get out of his seat as fast as he did on this occasion.\u00a0 Meanwhile Sandra had calmly grabbed the fire extinguisher that is carried at the passenger\u2019s feet and started to attempt to put out the fire shooting through the bonnet louvres.\u00a0 At that stage the little car looked like it was a Saint Kilda supporter.\u00a0 (Translation for readers from the northern states \u2013 St George supporter).\u00a0 When that didn\u2019t have the desired effect she grabbed the Afghan rug that she made for Graham\u2019s 1914 Wolseley in the early 1970\u2019s. Once Graham had removed the bonnet and switched off the petrol she used the rug as a fire blanket.\u00a0 The last of the flames was extinguished with the dregs of an iced water bottle.\u00a0 Believe it or not the rug survived the ordeal looking no worse for wear although it had a couple of \u201cspringy thingies\u201d caught in it.<\/p>\n

Culleraine is a very interesting town.\u00a0 Nearly everyone checked out the antique shop,\u00a0 Vivian and I made a few purchases.\u00a0 There was also an op shop, a blacksmith\u2019s shop and a chocolate shop to check out.\u00a0 I was desperately trying to think of rhymes for my latest commission\u00a0 Then it was off to the football club for lunch \u2013 nice meat and salad rolls and some very tasty slices.<\/p>\n

On the return trip there was one big ascent to be conquered and I imagine everyone was down to first gear most of the way.\u00a0 There we learnt that Sandra wasn\u2019t the only loving wife prepared to give hubby a push.\u00a0 Denise Smith was seen helping Greg push the 1908 Sovereign motorcycle up the hill.\u00a0\u00a0 Actually Denise seemed to be doing most of the pushing, Greg having been a bit worn out from a lot of pedalling.\u00a0 Later on Clem\u2019s engine started making worrying noises \u2013 intermittent at first \u2013 but as they got louder and more constant we decided it was time to pull over and assess the situation.\u00a0 Andrew and Frances McDougall\u00a0 stopped to help and the decision was made to do the last 15 km home on a trailer.\u00a0 Russell and Warrick, the two tail end charlies who trailered our car, were very helpful and kept us in a cheery mood and we are very grateful for their help.<\/p>\n

Saturday night\u2019s dinner at Alexandra House had a hard act to follow but once again the food was terrific with the added bonus of a local band \u2013 a retired minister, a retired pharmacist and an undertaker.\u00a0 Doug Palmer and Paul Daley made the requisite thank you speeches and the author got to read 4 limericks (including a slightly naughty one) and the day\u2019s commission \u2013 verses 2 through 5 having been written during dinner.\u00a0 Paul Daley made the sad announcement that the Charleville Rally had been cancelled due to the corona virus but hopefully it can be run in 2021 at a similar time of the year.\u00a0 Peter Fitzgerald was announced as the very worthy winner of the Ron Hobbs Trophy which is awarded each year to a person who shows tenacity and perseverance in the face of adversity.\u00a0 The actual presentation will be made at a Natter Night although in the present circumstances it isn\u2019t certain exactly when that will be.<\/p>\n

Sunday morning those who didn\u2019t have to leave straight away assembled in the gardens at the rear of the Uniting Church to display their cars to the locals.\u00a0 The event was well attended and there was a lot of interest in our vehicles.\u00a0 Then there was an egg and bacon roll brunch at the club rooms before everyone headed off home.<\/p>\n

The author (and his Wife) want to sincerely thank Doug Palmer and all of his team on a very enjoyable and well organised rally.\u00a0 We would also like to thank all the participants for making us feel so welcome.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RACV 1 & 2 Cylinder Rally Hamilton 12 to 15 March 2020 (as experienced by an aged, forgetful and naughty New South Welshman) \u2013 Doug Fulford It was Tuesday night, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2842\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veterancarclub.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}