Variety Bash 2008 - Car # 92

We made it! The “Q” almost let go like Herbie!!!
The day saw Ross again at the wheel and Baz not willing to
take the navigator seat. After almost 4000kms ( 3,720kms)
The bitumen, the dirt, the ups, the downs, the airborns and the
bottom outs! The most memorable thing has been all the DUST!
We have met alot of people ,and seen alot of sights. Today did
end up alot of fun with the “HQ” full of cornflakes etc. Car #420
versus Car #92 but the main thing was that we made it to Yeppoon
with minimal problems. It is amazing as i sit here writing the blog people
everywhere congratulating each other on their achievement. 90 odd cars,
over 1.4 million raised for kids and seeing the outback schools along the way.

We would like to thank our families for their support in achieving this goal.
We fly home tomorrow and leave the long bashers for two days run
at Rydges. (Believe me they can have some fun)

Hi to Johnm Elaine, Benjamin and clan.

Thanks to all who logged on and shared our jouney.

Day seven started at dawn as per usual, with a few
problems ( someone snores very loud)
The HQ suffers from tuning problems but the boys
from the mobile workshop helped out and has us
ready for the road while we ate breakfast. Car 420 paid
more money to keep car 450 behind them, and they were
 extremely upset to say the least ( 2 days in a row).

First stop was a school at Jerico with 12 students , had a
great time Mike Brady and Wilber playing tunes and singing.
On to lunch about 200kms down the road, out in the middle of
nowhere and out pops the barbie and a couple of kegs and
party time. Struggled to leave lunch but got going to another school
at Tresswell with only 7 students!, Baz pulled out $100 for the
school and the principal was speechless ( fell in love with Baz).

On the road again and lots of dust and dirt with heaps of
kms covered and ended up in springsure which turned into an hour
or so long party at the pub with lots of locals and frivolity!
Just a short trip to Emerald and WOW, mobile phone service!
So phone running hot after two days. The HQ running well so just
a short trip tomorrow across the hills to Yeppoon.
More Tomorrow!

Hi to Taya, Joel and Jed, Jimmy, Mitch and Maddy.

Love you all!

Car #92

Day five in Charleville was a layday which ended with
four good tyres ready to rol, the “HQ” washed and seemed
to be ready for the journey to Barcaldine, although we did have
 a fair afternoon session at the pub ending in dinner with a band
at the showgrounds.

Day six saw Baz make it to the drivers seat after a quiet
layday drivin with style and dodging the mass of
kangaroos all over the road.

Lunch today saw us visit one of the most amazing
towns, i was so small and remote with a population of
just 24! The hotel was Indescribable and the cattle yard/sports centre
was out host for lunch. The cowgirl demo of cattle mustering was great.
Off for more dust and more “Q” vibrating. We have done 2700 kms
so far and worked out theair conditioning wworks properly on the
second switch!!

A quick dinner ( roast) at the showgrounds. With no mobile service
we returned to the cabin for more!

Our good friends the mecedes boys in cars #450 and #420
finally arrived at Barky at 8.30pm after Mick (owner 420) bribed
car #450 with $2,500 to remain behind them all day otherwise #450
wold have to pay $5,000, “i’ts for the kids” ( as they say). We made an
attempt at bribery on Day 3 with $50.00 to make cars #420 & #450 start
from the back of the field only to have them make us start 3rd last by paying $100.
“It’s for the kids”

Day Seven sees us off to Emerald.

Hi Kelly,Joel,Jed,Taya and Michael.

Day three ended with a dinner in Mooree and onto a local Hotel,
for yet another late night. Sunday heading for Charleville Baz was
meant to be navigating today only to decided the bistro back seat
was a better option. Joined by Dean to then create day four cabin fever!
After a quick team meeting driver Ross doing the best drive day yet pressed
on and hopefully no more faver. Dave stepped in the navigator seat to
only make one error(which almost turned into a 15km error) More dust, 600
plus kms made us push hard, the bistro continued to have us pause after
a risky passing.

We seem to pass the same car ten times a day. Today saw airborn grids
and dried up creek crossings which created excellent pictures. Finally after
having to borrow some more refreshments for the “bistro” and only
100kms to go, the fun stops were longer, the bash has taken its toll
with roos, axles, head gaskets and punctures it is quite amazing what
mechanics can achieve. The “Q” just got a flat arriving in Charleville but
mechanically purring along. Day five is a layday in Charleville only to have
our team of four reduced to three with Dave (Dick Johnson) having eaten
enough dust going home.

Will repair the tyre and get some rest today. Special thanks to Ross and Dave
whom are really good at chainsawing in Bed!!!
Hi to Amanda, James, Mitch and Maddy.

Hi All,

Day started well with all out of bed at 6am but no hot water,
just a short trip to the communal showers ( Thanks for the cheap cabin Dean)
Off to breaky at St Thomas Public School for egg and bacon rolls and ‘HOT’ tea
and coffee. Bribes and corruption started with car 450 and 420, we paid for
them to start last, (Great fundraiser for the kids) Then after trying to bribe our
way out of the start line early we eventually got going with Dave ( Dick Johnson)
at the wheel and Rosco navigating, Deano and Baz in the back seat doing what
they do best!!! Few dirt roads and out to macquarie marshes for blood pressure
and sugar level checks, Ross had the best reading of the day becse the rest were
too scared to get tested! Then on to lunch at Carinda with the locals putting
on a fine lunch in the local hall. Car #450 ( Jonathan) came to greif with skippy but
as always skip dies and the car goes on.

Lots of dirt and some great driving from Dick Johnson we made it to Rowena to
Myrie Molland Generl store( Too bad she died Rosco) and a car wash from
the locals (Great hospitality) Then back to the dirt, plenty of beers in the back seat,
plenty of toilet stops ( OOPS and smoke stops for Baz) and made it to Mooree
in great time thanks to Dave ( Dick) for a great drive and Dean for his best back seat
navigation wihtout a mistake.

Thanks to all who read and give generously to Variety, and thanks to the future son
in law for the landscaping!

Car #92 Over and Out.

Hi all,

We had a nice meal at the RSL and about 6847 raffles - fantastic!
Baz won a cool $600 on the pokies. After a few hours sleep we headed off
for a big day in the HQ. A total of 680kms! Had breakfast at Corowa Public School
and hit the road at about 7.30am. Dean was in control today and pushing hard
a few stops and a few beers as we wound up at Lake Wangyou for lunch.
Then headed north for Nyngan but things went down hill fast, dirt, dirt and more
dirt! but with Dean at the wheel we pressed on, must have passed almost everyone
about ten times (Fly past - stop for a wee - more beer) we were setting a cracking pace
even sliding past Jonathans 450 Mercedes at one point. Dave in the navigators seat,
Ross and Baz demolishing the esky in the back. We stopped along the way at Colembly,
Lachlan Downs, Nymagee and finally Nyngan. Big open fire, band, good food and beers,
Nyngan was our sort of place.  Then our last stop - the caravan park, this is where Dean 
copped more of a pounding than the HQ. Talk about crap - if the HQ needed triple chromed 
mud flaps for $500 it would get them but he didn’t consider spoiling the team - a bloody
cabin! no hot water,shared amenities block and that metioned all the positives. Oh well
time to make tracks for Morree.

A special thanks to Taya for all the blog work and a special mention to to highway patrol
“oh Dear” is what they said as they bounced off one and onto the flat bed tow truck.

Hi All,

Started off with all the speaches and official stuff at Moonee Valley,
special mention to Bill Shorten for the political speech.
Then loned the “NO TICKET NO START” sign!

Great to see Merv Hughes, Shane Warne and the very special John Bowe.
We managed to get off on time, although Deano had
us lost about 200 mtrs from Moonee Valley
but a team effort had us back on track in no time also thanks to CityLink
for the “free trip”. We blasted
along the ring road to Ford Performance Racing to wave to
Pete,Michelle,Benjamin,Elain,John and Uncle Bob.

From there headed to the Kalkallo pub for refreshments
and then went north to Winton motor
raceway,had to make many stops to drain the unwanted
beer from the system.

Baz cut the quick laps around Winton, even past some goose
in a holden. We had a quick lunch then off to “NEDS” at Glenrowan pub for more beers!

Time to fill up the old girl so Dean heads into the
garage and says ” I’ll go to the toilet and pay on the way out”,
next thing some lady is chasing us down the road - Dean the tight
arse forgot to pay, OOPS!
Nice smooth drive to Corowa, great drive Baz,
or as he is now known, BOZO! Had a few
 more beer and then off to the rig for a feed.

Thanks to Tina, Carmel and Wardy for your comments
posted on our site and a big hello to Kelly,Joel,Jed,
Michelle,Larry,Dee,Jess,Amanda,Benjamin,Mum & Dad,James,Mitchell and Madison.

Day One Pic:

 

Hi all, as you are aware 2008 is already halfway over.  Sorry we didn’t get around posting anything in May! Since then we have had the airconditioning fitted by “APOLLO AUTO ELECTRICAL Greensborough”.

Now we find the Mighty HQ with a solid roof rack and VS Berlina bucket seats (ahhh luxury!) thanks to Ross “VALLEY STEEL SALES Research”. The signwriting looks great by Peter “AAAA SIGNS Eltham”. The new Diff, Tailshaft, Carbie, Manifold, Radiator, and Clutch have been lots of garage hours for Baz (thanks to the wood heater from Phil).

All in all the HQ is just about ready, we have only left the most important peice till last, the trip meter!!! Maybe we should just take the compass! A new speedo fitted by Howards and work on the Theme (WILD HOGS) and we a ready to go!

WILD HOGS Car 92, T-Shirts and Jumpers now available please see Dean.

Thanks to some more sponsors

           POWERBUILT                FISCHER Fixings  

                          
                                   

                                  Flexovit

                                                

We do really thank all the supporting sponsors, as we would not be able to do this and lots of special needs children would not benefit. Thank-you

Day 1   - Thursday August 14     - Melbourne to Corowa
Day 2   - Friday August 15          - Corowa to Nyngan
Day 3   - Saturday August 16     - Nyngan To Moree
Day 4   - Sunday August 17        - Moree to Charleville
Day 5   - Monday August 18       - Charleville Layday
Day 6   - Tuesday August 19      - Charleville to Barcaldine
Day 7   - Wednesday August 20 - Barcaldine to Emerald
Day 8   - Thursday August 21     - Emerald to Yeppoon
Day 9   - Friday August 22          - Yeppoon Layday
Day 10 - Saturday August 23     - Yeppoon Layday 

Well its already April and August 14 is just around the corner and we begin our trip from Moonee Valley then all the way to Yeppoon QLD.

A big hello to all our new visitors and we hope you’re enjoying the blogs!

As you are aware each Car must raise $7550.00 for the special needs children to start the bash. I am pleased to say we are not far away! It’s with great Thanks to the following sponsors for their financial support: