Run Report ....

Bob, Greg and Lexa's Excellent Queensland Adventure, 18/28 April 2006 ....

After months of planning the trip was finally underway, primarily to visit a Torana comrade located in Delaney Creek, Queensland, but also to meet-up with members of the Queensland Torana Car Club and Redcliffe Branch of the Ulysses Club by attending a combined run scheduled for Sunday 23rd April.

Setting-off at 9:00am on Tuesday, 18 April, Greg and Lexa in the white/black LH Weber-enhanced Torrie, and Bobby in the original Barbados Green L34 Torrie, followed the compass point north/west. We landed at our first nights accommodation in Tamworth having brought a fair amount of attention on our cars from the local constabulary, but being older and wiser and more responsible than most, the speed limits had been observed at all times, so no problems there. However, the stretch of road from the beginning of the New England Highway to Tamworth had deteriorated somewhat since our last journey, hence Greg’s new nickname of 'Sparky' due to a low-slung exhaust system. It is comforting to know that in these times of high fuel prices and registration costs that our hard earned dollar is not being spent on our roads. So the first night of the Fine Wine and Food Appreciation Tour was now officially underway, and we are proud to say from this time on we did our best to sample the local fare, but also kept up the high standards of the NSWTC that everyone would expect of us.

Day two took us from Tamworth to Tenterfield. A much happier time was had by the Torries due to a much-improved road surface. The scenery on this particular leg of our journey was breathtaking at times with the change of season upon us, however, still very dry conditions, but the occupants of the Torries did their best to alleviate any dryness from the individual within at night.

Day three was a cruisy drive from Tenterfield over the border into Queensland to the land of 'Sunday one day, Monday the next; now don’t you worry about that', and onto Warwick. Upon our arrival at Warwick the three intrepid travellers set off on foot to discover the hidden treasures of the local streets. To our amazement there seemed to be a bottle shop on every corner and adult novelty stores on the other – go figure?

At around 4:00pm whilst Greg and Bob were sampling the local ale we heard the familiar sound of a very angry mint julep SL/R 5000. Yes indeed it was our ex-pat Lance Haslewood down from red-neck country of Delaney Creek for the night’s festivities as he was to lead us the following day to the Haslewood five-Star Hilton that he and his wife, Karen, built and operate in Delaney Creek.

As Lance being the true gentleman that he is, he did offer to partake in Bob and Greg’s fine ale sampling upon his arrival, with Lexa doing a tremendous job stocking up the recycling bin. Dinner for this evening was had with our motel hosts, Ned the West Highland Terrier, and his owners, Wayne and Carmel. A terrific time was had by all, especially Ned who joined us in our fine food appreciation part of the journey.

Upon retiring to bed on our third night we were woken in the early hours of the morning to a typical Queensland downpour and were glad the Torries had their pyjamas on. It was reassuring to know that Bob kept in constant visual contact with the Torries in the car park at one-hour shifts, which Lance appreciated, even though at the time Lance was considering a suitable punishment for Bob for waking him from his peaceful slumber.

Day four saw us awake to a very thick fog, but thank God Bob was still keeping guard on the cars (on ya Bobby). After a quick breakfast and a pack-up of the Torries and a farewell to Ned, the fog had cleared, and we were on the highway again with Lance leading a brisk pace (but within the speed limit!) homeward bound to the Haslewood Hilton. Lance did a fantastic job leading our intrepid trio of Torries through the maze of Toowoomba (bloody Queensland drivers!) and on into Esk for a comfort and lunch stop, which was most appreciated by all. We arrived at Delaney Creek mid afternoon to be greeted by our hostess, Karen Haslewood, and son, Rick, who was on leave from the RAAF, and the proprietors of the Haslewood Hilton, Benji and Fonzie, who also double as small bouncers of the canine variety.

Greg and Bob felt obliged (and also a priority) to help Lance empty his fridge of any cold refreshments available (the NSWTC encourages responsible consumption of alcohol), after which the group sat down to a most spectacular curry beef and chicken dinner cooked by Karen in the traditional Malaysian style (thanks Karen). You’ll be pleased to know Bob’s internal organs with its copious amount of trapped gas are on the mend and we wish him all the best!

Day five consisted of a four-wheel drive guided tour in the Haslewood Hilton Courtesy Bus of the local sites, including Caboolture, Morayfield, Narangba and Bribie Island (just to make sure the millionaires aren’t doing it too tough there!). The rest of the day was spent preparing the Haslewood Hilton for the next day’s social activities with the Queensland Torana Club and Ulysses. Tonight’s meal consisted of a baked chicken dinner with all the appropriate accompaniments, again washed-down with plenty of ale and fine wine (thanks again Karen).

Day six saw us up early preparing for our run with the Queensland Torana Car Club and the Ulysses Motorcycle Club. Lance led us to the meeting point with the Queensland Torrie Club in north Brisbane where introductions and chit-chat occurred before the group of 15 Toranas took a leisurely drive to Dayboro to meet the Ulysses Club (a beautiful part of Queensland to drive through). Following a quick feed at the local bakery and it was then onto Mount Mee Road for our run to the Mpunt Mee Lookout. This is a great road to travel on, however, it is a known spot for mishaps with motorcyclists where there are at least two per month, so one has to keep an eye out.

Greg, Lexa and Bob’s travel tip is to visit the Mount Mee Lookout for a fantastic view of the Glasshouse Mountains and surrounds. On a clear day, visibility extends south to the Gold Coast and north to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

We were now off to the Haslewood Hilton for the afternoon festivities, which included, you guessed it, fine food, ale and wine. The New South Welshmen mingled amongst their fellow Torrie owners and Ulysses motorcyclists and came to the conclusion that even though they live in the wrong State, they are a very nice group of people, now don’t you worry about that!

The two NSW Torries received a fair amount of attention throughout the afternoon. Lance’s front yard had enough room for all to park and looked like a car yard for Torrie and motorcycle enthusiasts. As the afternoon wore on the guests started to head home so our intrepid travellers continued with the ale sampling and tall story telling until Lance made his famous Haslewood pizzas for our evening meal. Poor Bob, his internal organs (with trapped gas) were only just starting to mend and they were quickly sent back into spasm again – Lance uses curry powder on his creations, but boy aren’t they good!

The next day saw us pack up and head back south-west to spend another night with Ned in Warwick sampling fine food from his kitchen – thanks Ned.

The following day was Anzac Day, which saw us travel from Warwick back to civilisation in NSW and onto Tamworth. This was a big day in the Torries, but little traffic, except our friends in the white and blue Commodores with the flashy lights on their roof, saw us make Tamworth in good time. A stop over was made at Uralla, famous for the bushranger, Captain Thunderbolt, and classic touristy stuff was done, as in visiting Gostwyck Chapel (built in 1921), 11 kilometres out of town over three cattle grids, however, it was well worth being jiggled about when we arrived.

The boys spent the next morning letting their vital organs recover from the past few days before heading off to historic Nundle Pub, about 60 kilometres out of Tamworth, for lunch. We have officially notified Tamworth Council that a Torana warning should be placed on this road and to drive at your own risk (what a shit road!).

Our last night at Tamworth was spent sampling the fine fare at McDonalds (yes, it does all taste the same) before retiring to our motel and standing guard in the car park due to our indigenous brothers taking a particular interest to what was under the car covers. Full marks to Bob again here for doing the night watch of the car park, big thumbs-up Bobby.

Final day saw us travel from Tamworth down the New England to home stopping at Muswellbrook to see if McDonalds’ food was still the same; yes, it is, and heading back south to end our Excellent Queensland Adventure.

We discovered on our trip that the New England Highway is seeing a marked increase in traffic flow and is starting to suffer from surface deterioration, so care should be taken. Having said that it is still a glorious drive through western NSW with great country towns and friendly people to be encountered along the way.

A big thank you to our hosts, Benji and Fonzie Haslewood, and their staff, Lance and Karen, for the five-Star hospitality in Delaneys Creek, and it was a true pleasure to meet the people of the Queensland Torana Car Club and the local Redcliffe Ulysses Motorcycle Branch.

Greg, Lexa and Bob

Photographs.