Tuesday 26th March was the leave date with Jenny and I having an early start to cram everything in the Corvette to meet Catherine and Jim, Kathy and Phil at the Shell servo at Tailem Bend for morning tea. A 37degree day meant it was hot for travelling with Ouyen a welcome stop at the bakery for lunch. Here we caught up with a few Jaguar people travelling to Woolongong for their nationals.
The Bidgee Motel in Hay was our overnight stop where we commandeered their BBQ to burn a chop with salad and dessert from the local supermarket during a relaxing beautiful balmy Riverland evening.
An 8.30 start on the Wednesday, 35 degrees forecast, across the bumpy Hay plains went OK. Stopped at West Wyalong for a latish morning tea. After having the biggest chocolate éclairs ever at the bakery we went back to the cars to get back on the road again.
Phil's car alarm up to here had been ensuring we did not let his car go unnoticed by chirping every time any one came close. However now it decided not to let the engine start but a jump start fixed that. Then 40kms north the 40th Anniversary broke a rear spring left side bolt which stopped us for about 2 hours while a similar bolt, make shift rubber and washers were sources from an agricultural machinery shop back in the town. Thanks goes to Jim for taking me back to get the bits as well as visiting the local hotel to get a carton of gold to pay the bill at the machinery shop. Catherine, Kathy and Jenny were very patient waiting in the heat with the car while all this went on.
We got into Coonabarabran a bit later than planned after a narrow encounter with a kangaroo which jumped in front of Phil's car hitting its tail, knocking it off balance causing it to summersault into the bush then get up and hop away. The evening meal was in the Chinese restaurant which was recommended by Phil who is a regular traveller this way and located across the road from the Country Gardens Motel where we were staying.
Warwick, a distance of around 600 kms, was the destination for the Thursday which was achieved hassle free with lunch at Mac's in Goondiwindi then across the Cunningham Highway onto our destination and a great stay at the Comfort Inn.
Friday 29th was an easy day only having to travel about 85 kms into Toowoomba so a late checkout and a cruisie drive was welcomed. Lunch at Subway in Karara, 50 kms out of Toowoomba, arriving at the Burk & Wills Hotel early afternoon. We then registered and checked in ready to put some time back into the Corvettes to make them spick and span again with a couple of trips to Super Cheap to obtain car covers for those not organised enough to bring one.
Due to the Queensland liquor laws the dinner had to be sit down in order that alcohol could be served with the buffet meal up until 10pm. Well organised with Queensland committee members on each table to make us all feel welcome.
Saturday was the Show & Shine event where we were set up by 8.30am on the Village Green a block away from the hotel. Unfortunately it drizzled rain early morning but that lifted and it was warm and humid for us South Aussies for the rest of the day. Again well organised with a circle of cars in the centre representing each series with info boards for the public to view. Jenny and I were honoured that our car was chosen to represent C4's.
With around 110 cars on display, trade stands and special interest Corvettes there was a great deal of interest for all concerned as well as the passing public. We all moved back to the hotel around 3pm and had an easy afternoon.
The evening dinner was at the Golf Club about 15 minutes away in the bus's provided. A buffet meal was served along with trophy presentations. Unfortunately no trophies for South Aust this year but it is a bit more difficult to present as well as others when there is 1,800km to drive.
Sundays event choices were a track day at Morgan Park, just out of Warwick, or a scenic cruise which all of us SA people were involved in. This included a visit to the Oakey Army Air museum where there were plenty of historic planes to view under cover. Then onto the historic village of Pittsworth where if you were hungry or not you just had to sample the scones and pikelets with jam and cream prepared by the local cancer fund raiser ladies for morning tea.
The lunch stop was the historic Dad & Dave's Rudd's Pub in the little town of Nobby where we were well fed with a country roast. More intermittent rain drizzle however it was much wetter for those at the track calling it a grass cutting event.
The evening dinner was at Picnic Point one of Toowoomba's major tourism lookout destinations, not that the viewing was good due to poor misty weather with darkness falling, however the venue was impressive with the Queensland Down Under committee doing a brilliant job to dress up the function room. Further trophies were awarded for the track day with one entrant getting an award for giving his passenger Eric Millette from the Corvette Bowling Green plant a view of the same scenery three times in the one lap.
One of the highlights for us technical buffs was the talks Eric Millette did over the three nights on the Corvette factory, their history and the new C7.
Also was the handover of the perpetual trophy, first established by the Corvette Club of South Australia Inc, by the Queensland President Garth Eaney to our Vice President Catherine Neagle who you can be very proud of for the way she promoted our 2014 event "Vettes in the Vines".
Queensland Down Under did an impressive job to stage the 25th Year Convention in the 60th Year of Corvettes and it was great to have the opportunity to travel with such a great group of people.
Our return trips all varied with Catherine and Jim coming straight home via Broken Hill, Kathy and Phil travelled up to Hervey Bay to stay with family for a few days and us coming down the NSW coast to see family in Bellingen then Sydney before heading home. For us a 4,000km round trip.
In closing Jenny and I have been lucky enough to have been able to attend the last four interstate conventions and have seen the effort they have all put in and the great results achieved.
Accordingly we encourage all Corvette Club of South Australia Inc members to get behind our club to ensure we make a great impression on those attending our 2014 event as well as assist the organizing committee in all the many tasks necessary to put on a great "Vettes in the Vines".
John and Jenny