![]() |
![]() |
2007 GPA Swim in and Military Vehicle Rally This report and photos are from Richard G (member 129) who travelled up to Corowa with his Wife Rebecca in their Series 3 from Tasmania for the 2007 event. On Tuesday we set off for the 100 km trip to catch the ferry to victoria, bound for Corowa, NSW for the GPA swim in. Also in convoy with us was a willys jeep, a slat grille Willys on a trailer and a troopy whose owner is doing up a white scout car. The boat trip was pretty uneventfull, however the drive out of melbourne was .... ummm .... interesting . We hit the western ring road at about 8:15 am on a wednesday morning, peak hour, and lots of stop starting traffic. not really an issue except that when I pulled up to a stop, the engine would stall . We stopped at campbellfield for some breakie and screwed the idle speed out a bit, and no problems since then. Onwards through the day, and roll on 2:00 that afternoon and we were setting up camp at the Caravan park. Already there were quite a few vehicles there, however they would steadily increase in numbers over the next few days. Thursday saw a trip to Tooles disposals in Wodonga, and then on to the Museum at Bandiana. Tools is an incredible store, not so much a disposals store, as a museum where the stuff is for sale (although usually at quite a price). Bandiana was similarly incredible, but nothing was for sale . I had contacted Major Docksey previous to my trip and asked if I could record and photograph their collection of Land Rovers for REMLR, which he agreed to, and said to ask for him when I arrived. After a quick chat with the Major he grabbed a CPL who took me out to the storage shed for a look around. From there is was off on the clark tow motor to the workshop where the current projects, including 2 Bren Gun Carriers were underway, as well as more storage. Amongs the vehicles there was a 2A workshop vehicle, a 101 that was used as a rapier tractor, and the prototype 6x6 Perentie. Back to the museums storage yard beside the museum to check out the S2 ambulance, S3 GS and S2 and 2A wreckers parked in their yard. Inside the museum was quite a collection of bits and pieces. I could have taken home so many vehicles, although Rebecca quite tool a liking to the Moke, as well as the Haflinger, although the Moke was defenitely a favorite. Whilst I was getting chassis numbers and taking photographs a bloke approached me and asked what on earth I was doing, I guess I did look a bit suspicious, and I was trying to get teh job done as fast as possible so that I could have time to look around as well. as it was we didn't have any lunch untill almost 3:30 that afternoon. Turns out that blike Was Neale D, one of our newest members, who was also taking notes on the Gunbuggy for reference details for his own vehicle. Friday saw a trip to Toucomuwl (spelling) Airbase where I thought was an aircraft museum. more accurate would have been airfield museum. At the time when the Brisbane line had been decided as the fall back to defend Australia from the japanise invasion (a line from Brisbane to Melbourne), this airbase was built in 5 weeks as a bomber base in the line of defence. However the US airforce only used it for a month or 2 when it was obvious that the invasion wasn't happening. Whilst the wooden structure was impressive, they have a lot to do before they will really attract people to have a look there. More aircraft on display would be a good way to achieve this, or even start a restoration workshop. Saturday in many way's was the big day. The parade and Swap meet were this day. The parade was pretty smooth, and we even had a Harvvard fly in for the line up of vehicles at the airport. The swap meet was something to behold. I was amazed at the ammount of NOS parts there for sale. I managed to find some wingnuts for my gardening tool brackets, and 2 NOS mirrors for one of my vehicles. arms included. That afternoon we all had a bit of a rest, as we were all nackered. Sunday was the day to head back to melbourne to catch the boat. we had to be carefull with timing though as there was not really any parking in town due to the F1 at Albert park. We were going to stop at the Tank museum at Puckapunyal on the way back, however despite the assurances of one of the members in our party, we arrived to find that it isn't open on weekends. not hapy jan. So we stopped in at Seymore for a bit of a rest and headed back to catch the boat and head home.
|