Went on a run today to the Ruffy Produce Store Cafe with the local car club. They had quite a mix of machinery and apparently a lot more sitting in sheds around the region (the joys of club rego I guess). Seemed to be a nice bunch of people.

Made contact with a guy who owned an old generation S type and hopefully he will be interested in joing our JF group.












More pictures at:

Ruffy April 26 2015 Slideshow by yarpos | Photobucket

 

Nice slideshow Steve, was that an AP5 Valliant? I love those slant 6 motors. Haven't seen one since the 80's.

 

Yes there were two, a ute and the sedan. Same guy owned them both, he just lent one out to a guy whose car is currently without motor inside. I too like Valiants which is really weird as I have never owned one and have only ever ridden in one once. They always looked cool to me.

 

I did spot the ute too. My mate had a sedan when we were about 15 back in early 80's, we called it the "Staff Car" because it was army green(brush painted by his grand dad), was given to him to drive to school in because they lived 30 k's up a forestry road and couldn't get a bus to school. Many party's seen in that car, he kept it until he was 22.
His wife made him replace it when they had kids in 1991.

 

Great slide show Steve.

Ruffy produce store is a great day out.

On the same theme of great cars , if anyone can make it into the CBD , go and see shifting gear at the Ian Potter gallery at Fed square. Brilliaht expo and car collection.

PG

 

Went on another weekday run with these guys, quite an active group. Just for local info, we went to the Red Plate Cafe in Yea. Nice little place, set up for car and bike oriented people as the name suggests. Has indoor and outdoor areas and decent food and coffee.

Similar fleet to last time plus an XJ40 and a 1960's Bakery delivery Mini Panel Van with original signwriting :-)

 

During a discussion today I was talking with a guy from our local club. He recently sold an original low mileage Valiant Charger to a guy in Sydney, then goes on to say he has another low mileage E49 Charger, that he doesnt like to drive too much as it has too much grunt (the 6 cylinder E49 usually pulled better lap times than the V8 model)

We live in a quiet , alledgedly low/moderate income regional area. The stuff these guys have in their garages continues to surprise, I guess due to some good buying and long term hold.

For US viewers a Charger would like getting a pristine Roadrunner. Not sure what UK equivalence would be for a high performance , full size car in the 70s .....oh maybe a Jag?

 

J Creek Aug 2015 Slideshow by yarpos | Photobucket

 

Nice spot Jerusalem Creek.

Not exactly on topic, but brings back memories of when I used to launch my boat there. When Lake Eildon was very low - early 2000's - that ramp was one of few still getting wet feet...

 

You may not recognise it these days. New energetic owners, new restaurant/bar and deck, $10M govt project going ahead to connect sewer to Eildon. So boat park will expand and "eco cabins" to be built in the hills.

I like the windy road in and out, although at putter putter club run pace its more scenic than interesting driving :-)

That old Plymouth is an interesting car. Its the front half of a car and a ute tray built by some coach builders in Geelong way back when. Apparently the car got fire damaged on its way from the US so they got creative. Still has car suspension so pretty much useless as a ute, but looks cool.

 

Yeah, very cool, it's the first thing that caught my eye.

 

Run today to Hock the Ruby, in Tallarook up near Seymour. A few different cars on this run, so worth a few picks.

Nice little cafe restaurant, for those planning a run up north. Only open Fri-Sunday (keep an eye out for the Ruby Rose look alike staff member)

Hock The Ruby Sept 2015 Slideshow by yarpos | Photobucket

 

Nice line up. Especially like the XP Falcon, and I saw the green FB in Bunnings car park this morning (or its identical twin!!).

 

Steve

Were you heading North on the Melba Hwy around 2.30-3.00 yesterday?

Pete G

 

I used a tiny bit of the Melba Hwy at the T intersection at Yea, turning towards Mansfield. We were coming back from Shepparton and visited some people in Yea. If thats where you saw a red S3, that would have been us, time is about right.

 

Run today to Kerrisdale Railway and Steam Museum (between Yea and Seymour)

Share the venue with the Vauxhall Car Club so pics of some different cars. Very cool green Velox (I think) with V6 Commodore engine.

Kerrisdale 2015 Slideshow by yarpos | Photobucket

 

The old Vauxhall's bring back many memories. I think every member of my family had one model or another in the 60's. I got my licence in a white 1964 HA Viva just like that one, it even had the round driving lights. I remember the Viva's super-short gear stick and it's smooth shift. Unfortunately the tin worm loved 'em a bit too much, but they were great little cars...

 

I have no good memories of Vivas. I had three bad accidents in the same one over the space of 18 months as a passenger. My mate wasnt a bad driver, just dead unlucky. Had the same accident twice, car stops on left looks at us, waits till we are 10 metres away and then moves onto the road - bang. The 3rd one was a sheep on Parramatta Road at midnight (sounds funny now, but there used to be abbatoirs at Homebush). Guy behind us had no warning of panic braking, smashed the back in up to the rear windscreen. We ended up laying back looking at the roof as both of our seat backs snapped at the base. Ahhh, the good old days :-)

They are fugly little cars but pretty bullet proof in terms of ability to soak up abuse and keep going.

 

Went to the JCCV annual display day today. An amazing array of Jags and it was good to meet another forum member in person, I suspect others may have been there...will post a pic or two tomorrow.

 

The mighty Velox, cost me $100. Not a pretty car but my Dad got it running sweet just before I got my licence. Toured NZ in it twice before it was stolen.