| 2013 |
7,8,9 February 2014
First event for 2014 was a nice drive over the range into Orange for the Gnoo Blas Classic, a big car show and drive at the historic old Gnoo Blas circuit location. The original plan was to take the Mustang out for a drive. Matt and his dad were coming and I thought the extra room and poke to get up the hills would be handy. But on taking it to town Thursday night for fuel, there was a hissing from the radiator. The seam on the top tank had sprung a leak. So plan B was implemented. Old Betty was rolled out and checked over. Ran her into town Thrsday night for fuel. Realised it was Nov 2012 since her last proper trip.
Then Friday morning Trev rings and reckons he can get the radiator to town to get fixed in time. So I crack on and pull it out. But by lunchtime its clear its not going to be ready. So Betty gets a hose off, just a quick one cause she was going to get filthy on the drive up. Then at 3 it was over to Matts to pick up him and his dad. It was a bit of a squeeze in the Escort, but they were ok. Then we headed off up the road. We met Steve, who had come up from Goulburn in the KA Laser Sport, at the highway at Picton Rd. Then it was up the M7, onto the M5 and up on into the Blue Mountains. Was getting on a bit and we got peckish, so we stopped at Wentworth Falls shops for a great hamburger. Then some fuel for Betty, and we pushed on. It got dark as we came down the pass at Mt Victoria, and by the time we were through Lithgow it was proper dark and a little hard to see things with Bettys rubbish headlights. We rolled into Bathurst at about 9:30pm and stopped for another break. Were looking for a beer for Matt and stopped at the pub for a little bit. Then back into the cars and pushed on to Orange. Got to the motel at about 10:30. Unloaded and then we ducked over to the pub for a well earned beer.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Saturday morning I got up early and took Betty down to the carwash to hose the bugs off the front of it. Then picked up the others and we headed to the oval. Saw Geoff and Neale at the bakery so stopped in there for a pie and a drink. Then to the show. There was a great turnout from the SFCC, plenty of excellent cars. Had a chat and went for a wander to get some pictures. Kept getting distracted and missed seeing a few things. And then after lunch we decided to jump on the shuttle to town to get out of the heat for a bit and find a nice cold beer. After a couple we tried to get the bus back, but it didn't seem like he was coming. Got back after the presentations, most people had left so I missed out on catching a lot of cars that I meant to go see.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
After a casual start Sunday morning we ducked down the road to Bathurst. Up to Mt Panorama to check out some action from the 12hr that had started at 6:15am. We got in about 9:30 so there was still a long way to go. We parked up the top of the mountain and set up the seats. Had a wander about to take some pics and check out the action. By 1:30ish we were hungry again and thinking about heading home. So we found another bakery and then filled up with fuel and headed home. It was pretty tough going in the heat and Mt Victoria was hard work for old Betty. 1st gear and less than 40kmh watching the temperature needle climb towards the red, we made it to the top just in time. Once on the downhills she was away again. And after a stop at Blaxland for a cool drink and ice cream we bombed the rest of the way home. Betty roared down the freeways at 100, and rounded up cars left right and centre. It was great to get her back out again and seeing the waves and thumbs up while on the road was cool.
| 2013 |