G'day guys.

Ken "Cat as Trophy" and I were putting our heads together and thinking of meeting up for those who would be keen, around the QLD/NSW border.

Early stages of planning and simply throwing ideas around but we thought perhaps somewhere on the New England HWY like Stanthorpe or Tentefield.

No dates yet but I think Q2 2017 (April May June) may work well as it is starting to cool down for those girls that like to play up in the heat as well as having all the Christmas/New years things out of the way. Would also be best to avoid anything around Easter as the roads are a nightmare.

Possibly drive up/down, stay overnight at a B&B and head back the next day.

Thoughts?

p.s It will be good motivation for me as currently my old girl isn't on the road at the moment, so it will give me a goal to have her ready by the date we finally decided on.

 

Good to see the pot boiling Paul . . . Well done, that man!
Jim, I see is across it also. Keep in mind I have relocated from Coffs Harbour to the Sapphire City of Inverell . . . home of the National Transport Museum in the heart of the NW Slopes! Museum is rather short on Jaguars (except an S3 E-Type owned by former priest who used it on his pastoral duties!) but plenty of rare vehicles on show.

So, I am a definite starter, as I am sure Clarke will be also. Stanthorpe/Tenterfield is a great area . . . superb scenic backdropos for a country drive in the Grand Touring tradition . . . and Paul, I like your ideas of timing . . . although late Autumn should not be discounted unless the snow, blizzards, and wind chill of Winter along the New England border country prove overwhelmingly popular. My experience is that snow chains on the XK8 are not a good look!

I suggest that as numbers grow, I will post a companion to this thread in the NSW section. Our previous combined meet in Ballina 2 years ago was a great success, so let's make this follow-up a real winner.

Cheers and best wishes,

Ken

 

We are going to Port Macquarie in April/May sometime (whenever its not school holidays). If the dates overlap we may drop in just to lower the tone a peg or two :-)

 

I'll be in for sure...posting in the NSW section as the numbers grow is a great idea as we have many members close by.

 

Paul....An overnight stay for wife and I would be a must so any advice on a nice motel in the area would be appreciated.

 

Hi Jim; great to see we meet up at last. I reckon your note requiring overnight accommodation speaks for most, if not all, of us. Perhaps we can suss out a range of options . . . but, at this stage, keep the ideas, suggestions, availability and support rolling in.

Hey Steve; great to have your support. What started as a "2 Stater" now looks set for an Eastern Seaboard Convention . . . TOMORROW, THE WORLD!!!

I wonder if "The Tenterfield Saddler" is still doing business there? I fear my latest to join Ken's Kattery may need some new leather work . . . and I know where there are a few dozy cows who might shed some skin . . .

More importantly, does anyone know of any media contacts in that area. For our Ballina meet, local JF member Mike Dean set up great coverage for our beachfront display of Jaguars . . . Love to arrange JF banner, pics and media coverage again. Clarke is a good front man if cameras are involved!

Cheers,

Ken

 

I'll take a wild guess this wasn't taken at Easter.

Graham

 

Ha ha....just a random picture of a road I found

This is probably more like Aussie back roads at Easter:

 

Yep! +1 to that.
Not a bunny in sight!

Cheers,

Ken

 

The Henry Parkes Tenterfield Best Western isn't too bad, has it's own restaurant or an easy walk to the Tenterfield Tavern for meals.

Tenterfield Hotels - Motel Accommodation - Best Western Hotels Australia

https://www.google.com.au/#q=tenterf...28458987621421

 

It really depend on who you are trying to attract. Two clubs that I know of, have a 4 state run one at Easter (biannual) (the other is a tri annual event) which allows a lot of people to come from other states, day to get their two days for run and car show one to return home. But they both meet in central NSW for the convenience of all, the other event is held whenever usually Aug/sep it's usually cooller for the old girls, got about 40 odd old jags at the one, so you need a larger motel that could supply breakfast & dinner at night,

Because of the distance travelled to get there we get 3 nights accom over a weekend, but most of the people are taking a couple of days off work or retired,

Remember it a full day drive to get to Dubbo or a comfortable two days, but to get the southern states to attend travel is a big consideration.

It takes just as much effort to plan the all state as a two state

 

Sounds good Clarke.

Looking at the map we could meet near your way and go Gatton, Warrick, Stanthorpe and arrive at Tenterfield yeah? Some nice country drivin!

 

a

 

Agree whole heartedly with this one. Top spot indeed & having previously lived in the beautiful New England region, i used to own a property just out of Inverell, I would like to tag along on this one dates depending. Late May to Mid June is no good for me, i'll be on Hamilton Island

 

Coming together nicely, eh?

April/May best for Steve [yarpos],
Late May/June no good for Rick [rickxj6] . . .
So, if plan is to avoid school holidays (cheaper accom etc),
. . . then late April to early May is looking good.

For 2017 -
QLD school holidays are 24th March to 11th April;
VIC school holidays are 31st March to 18th April;
Easter is Friday 14th April to Monday 17th April;
NSW school holidays are 8th April to 25th April;

Mother's Day is Sunday, 14th May . . .
. . . and in our home, a shopping list appeared of presents deemed suitable on a 2ft square piece of cardboard sticky taped unobtrusively on frig door . . .

Contacted Best Western Henry Parkes Tenterfield, who advise -

• 22-23 April; big local wedding, only 7 luxury rooms still available;
• 29-30 April; all booked out; big Ducatti convention;
• 6-7 May; only 2 rooms booked; all else is available.

Suggest we book the latter (Fri night 5th May + Sat night 6th May). If so, I will get package prices (some do 3rd night free or nominal charge) and advise. Pls post a quickie if suggested weekend suits, you want in, and state your accom needs (ie need dble room; single and prepared to share etc) - all subject to prices of course.

Other factoids on Tenterfield -

• 3hrs south of Brisbane;
• 3.5hrs west of Gold Coast;
• 3hrs north of Tamworth;
• 5hrs north of Port Macquarie;
• 7hrs north of Waitara, Sydney;
• and only 24hrs from Heathrow, London;
• a bl**dy long way from lots of other places;
• excellent scenery, bush walking and rock climbing (oh, yeah?)
• great wine producing region (far smarter than above!).

Cheers,

Ken

 

Great job Ken!

Well looking at my current standing roster for next year, I will still be offshore on May 5th & 6th and actually home May 9th (for 1 month then).

But, if the majority CAN make the above date then stick with that I reckon.

 

Paul, work it with your roster and the ones travelling, the rest of us can probably make it work with having normal jobs or retired. Always a bit of cushion if you don't work offshore.
No need to go through Gatton, straight run from my place to Warwick(Willowbank/Cunnnghams Gap). Gatton will take you to up to Toowoomba and back down to Warwick. Really easy 2.5 hour run from western suburbs.

You are the man planning it, you got to be there. Run with it. I will help with group messages for Qld members as will Jim (Daf11e) for NSW and Steve (Yarpos) for anyone down south.

If we are lucky Grant Francis will plan a holiday and come along.

 

Just a quick thought Paul, Uralla is another great spot for an overnighter. Five hours from Brisbane. Still on the New England Highway.
The "Top of Town" pub does the best meals. We have done it just for lunch! (often)

And Thunderbolt is the man, not the horse! I never new for years until I went to the museum there.

 

Grant Francis? As in THE Wizard of Oz? Now that would be awesome! I would even hitch hike for that just to say I met the man in person ha ha ha!




Yeah well if May works for a few people I am home for these weekends:

13th/14th May (but we'll can that because Mothers Day is on the Sunday)
20th/21st May
27th/28th May

 

No excuses from the wizard, I have offered him(and wife) a bed, airport transfers and a chauffeur driven trip in "Miss Fireball" to New England.