4,5,6 February 2010
It was Small Ford Sunday time of year again. I had talked Steve into driving down with me rather than trailer the cars. So Friday night I packed up and headed to Goulburn for the first stop over. It bucketed down the whole way. Stayed out at Lee's place with dad.
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Saturday morning I was up early to get ready and head in to Goulburn to meet Steve. It was still grey and drizzling with rain when we left at about 8am. Steve had some walkie talkies that came in very handy on the whole trip. We motored on past Yass and stopped in Gundagai for a fuel and food stop. Then it was on to Albury. But about 50km out Steve ran into trouble, losing all power and coming to a stop. The rest of the SFCC crew caught up with us and met us by the roadside. Between everyone there the problems were diagnosed and temporary repairs made. The dizzy was loose and the cap rattling around didn't help the spark. So when we stopped in Albury for lunch Steve headed up to Repco for a new cap, rotor button and plugs. Once they were on Suesie was running sweet again.
After fueling up we headed into Vic for the run to Melbourne. It was Bettys turn for some problems. The long slight uphill haul out of Albury meant she was getting hot, and by Glenrowen we needed to stop again to let her cool down. It was here I realised I'd left my fuel cap on top of the pump in Albury. So we rang the servo and asked them to hang on to it till tomorrow. After the cool down we were able to pick up the pace a bit. And it was plain sailing all the way into Melbourne. We met the SFCC guys at the motel and then headed over for a well earned steak and beer.
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Sunday was show day, so we were up early and down to the car wash for a quick hose down. Then on to Bundoora Park for the show. As per usual it was an excellent show, so much to see and so many different cars to look at. It was warming up a bit by midday, but nowhere near the 40 degree temps of last year. After plenty of wandering and a heap of photos, and picking up some more gear from smcka, by 3pm Steve and I decided to head back to the motel.
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After a shower and packing up, we were on the road by about 4pm. We stopped just outside of Melbourne for some food to keep us going, then hit the road to Albury. Its a long boring slog to there, and Steve taught me how to jump in behind trucks and get a nice tow from them. It was good for the fuel consumption and the speed went up to 105kmh. It wasn't the most comfortable feeling though. We made Albury just on sun down, stopped in at the same servo and picked up my fuel cap. Luckily they still had it. Then it was off into twighlight. There were a few showers north of Albury, but no problems on the road. More truck drafting was done too :) The run into Yass was a bit of a worry. Looking at my fuel gauge at Gundagai all looked good for another 100km, but it soon dropped pretty quickly once we hit the hills. Steve jumped in front and I slip streamed him into the services at Yass and grabbed some much needed fuel. Think it was about 11pm by now. I said that if we got to Goulburn by midnight I'd keep going to home, so when we rolled in at 11:55pm I said cheers to Steve and kept on going. Another stop for fuel at Sutton Forest, and a cheeseburger and I was down the mountain and through the fog to home. Another awesome weekend road trip.
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22 August 2010
Events for old Betty were few and far between this year. After the big trip to Melbourne, the only other time she was out of the shed was to take her down for a pink slip and get her registered in May. But the Eastern Creek Classic was on and its always a great show with so many different makes and models to check out. So Betty got uncovered and driven to Sydney for the day. She didn't even get a wash!
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22,23 October 2010
After missing the ACT Capri Muster for the last 3 years I thought it was time I got back down for it. The orignal plan was for me and the girls to head down in Betty. But after a couple of hectic weekends, and lack of child seat mounts in the car, in the end it was just me and Betty. I picked her up from Trevs on Friday morning and she got the first ever park in the new garage. It was looking like rain and I was trying to keep her clean(ish). She has already dropped one oil spot on the floor too.
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After filling up at Bomaderry I headed off at about 3:30pm. The cruise up the mountain and down the freeway went well and I made it to the meet and greet at bang on 6:30. After catching up with a few people and signing on Drew and Nick said they were on their way. I met them and old George at Braddon at 7:30. We cruised around a bit looking for somewhere for food, and found a nice parking spot right outside a burrito shop. Then on to the servo for an ice cream, and a chuckle at the fast'n'furious crew that were hanging there. I should have taken a few photos, but was too busy relaxing and having a gas-bag with good mates.
The next morning I got up early and Drew let me use his hose to give Betty the worlds fastest washdown. There was a couple of showers about while I was doing this, but that would be all till later in the day. Got up to the breakfast by 8:45am. After a feed it was time for the observation run. We all headed off at 10, up Belconnen way, past the uni, over commonwealth bridge for a lap of the V8 track, then out to Queanbeyan. It was on the way to Googong dam that problems came for a couple of cars in the group. There was a nasty crash involving one of the mk1 Capris and an SA Capri. That put a dampener on things. I hung around to give the couple in the SA Capri a lift back to the show'n'shine. We were back late so missed the bbq and the judging which was a bit of a shame.
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Once it all wound up I went for a visit to Wintons place to check out his Escort stuff, as well as his MX5 and E30 318is. He's got a great new garage setup and plenty of parts and good bits floating about. I headed off into the rain, had a quick stop in Goulburn on the way and then got back home at about 8:15pm. Betty went well but there is an interesting vibration from the drivetrain somewhere that I think could be something to do with the auto box. I'm taking it to south nowra for the guys to have a look at it tomorrow. Hopefully its nothing expensive.
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7 November 2010
The guy at the transmission shop reckoned the auto was ok. Thought the vibration might be tailshaft or something else. I dunno. With the fluid leaks out of it I still reckon there is something up with the auto. Anyway, Betty was dusted off and given a wash and cleanup ready for the 2010 concourse day. I wasn't expecting a trophy, but hey, you never know. She motored up the freeway at a good 100kmh and we got there before 8:30. After rain north of Berry of course. It was a great day out and good to catch up with everyone again. Steve was there with old Suesie too.
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At 2 the trophies were handed out and people started to leave. I dropped in at Matts place at Ingleburn on the way home to pick up my new purchase, an 1800 Zetec. The head went in the front and the block in the boot. Poor old Betty was loaded up now. Didn't do much for the handling either. We had a cruisy trip back and made it by 5:45pm. Betty got to park up in the garage too. Can't wait to finish it off so she can stay here all the time.
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