Australian Buick National Meet and Tour

[50jetback]

Have sorted a few photos from our trip to the Buick National Meet and Tour held in Tasmania during the month of May.

Most of the photos were taken by Delys and most have an element of activity ( i.e. not static shots of cars on display ) or local scenery.

I'll post a few at a time - if you get bored with them yell out and I'll stop.

We headed off back on April 29th by boarding the Indian Pacific ( train ) to travel from Perth to Adelaide ( South Australia ). This journey includes travelling over the worlds longest straight stretch of railway track across the Nularbor Plain. Two days later we off loaded in Adelaide and headed for Melbourne ( Victoria ).

The first 2 photos are of the scenery both sides of the track across the Nullarbor Plain and the 3rd shows what you do during this time - a drink in the Club car of course!!

A stop at Forrest where you get to stretch your legs and a photo of the old jail cells and a sign from an old camp which took my fancy.

Next is the vehicle wagons in Adelaide and our cars about to be off loaded and 3 anvious Buick drivers watching proceedings. It was all too hard for the rail staff so guess who wound up driving their own cars off!!

The 1946 decided not to start so was pushed onto the ramp, the 1939 fired up straight away as did the 1950 Jetback.

[50jetback]

So down the ramp and off to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Rd. We were off loaded by 0730 and headed straight out of Adelaide in the midst of peak hour traffic. Adelaide drivers are very courteous and were happy to give us plenty of room!

1st photo is of Pete and Bev Nicholson's recently imorted 1976 LeSabre Landau which was the 4th car attending from Western Australia.

A few shots of the scenery along the southern Victorian coastline and then some photos after it started raining on the Great Ocean Road. This road is narrow and in places carved out of the cliff face. Interesting driving made even more interesting with rain. I had contemplated taking the 1934 Roadster on this trip, about now while the wipers were working nicely, as was the underseat heater and demister, I realised I had probably made the right decision to use the 50 Jetback.

Last couple of photos are arriving for Security and Quarantine checks before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania ( ship ) to take us on the overnight run to Davenport, Tasmania.

Well I'm 'putered out so will add more later in the week.

[shadetree77]

Some beautiful scenery and some beautiful cars. Love that camp sign!! Thanks for taking the time to share Stuart.

[MrEarl]

OH MAN, what a cruise. And I love these people and their Buick pictures, and the scenery. Lord please let me make it down there some day. Keep the pics comin, haven't seen any fitty fo's yet.

[jscheib]

Yes, Mr. Earl,

The Australian spirit is a wonderful thing, and especially translates well to older Buicks, in my opinion.

There is just no way we could make an equivilant trip in this country, but if you took a stretch of the Maine Coast, then perhaps from Florida to Texas to New Mexico, Nevada and into California, skipping the big cities, it might be close. I think you need to ship over one of your 54s for their next trip, to prove a 54 could make the journey.

I also am hoping for more photos, and stories.

John

[First Born]

Stuart, way to go! I can almost hear the ocean and those BUICKS.
Thanks.

Ben

[buick840]

Yes, Mr. Earl,

The Australian spirit is a wonderful thing, and especially translates well to older Buicks, in my opinion.

There is just no way we could make an equivilant trip in this country, but if you took a stretch of the Maine Coast, then perhaps from Florida to Texas to New Mexico, Nevada and into California, skipping the big cities, it might be close. I think you need to ship over one of your 54s for their next trip, to prove a 54 could make the journey.

I also am hoping for more photos, and stories.

John

Hey John,
Mr Earl has already sent a '54 Down Under....... IRENE is here and waiting for him

I'm sure Ken (Rooster) would enjoy a visit from Mr & Mrs Earl and I'm also sure there would be some driving involved

[jscheib]

Yes,
I forgot about Irene.

John

[50jetback]

To continue!

Arrived in Tasmania and were unloaded from the Ferry by about 0700 and directed to a local pub for breakfast and registration. Numbers were down on previous National Meets and this could be attributed to the current global finacial situation.

It was great to see 2 American couples in attendance, Everett and Sheryl AYRES and Dale and Dianne WILKINS from Seattle, members of the BCA North Cascade Chapter. I had met both couples in 2003 when I joined that epic caravan from Seattle to Flint to attend the Centenary celebrations ( thanks Brian - Centurion ).

After breakfast it was on the road again to travel to Hobart and the Wrest Point Casino - the host venue for the National Meet.

West Australians get a bit carried away with bridges. We don't have a lot of rivers in the West and our bridges are just plain boring. Tasmania on the other hand has many beautiful old convict built bridges - so there are a few bridge photos in this lot!!

The first photo is of a bridge. I had stopped to investigate a rattle under the hood and thought I had found a quiet spot out of town a bit. Of course once you lift the hood an instant crowd appears as in the 2nd photo. Couldn't find the rattle so I turned the radio up a bit more and continued.

Then another bridge, a bit more scenery and a shot of the pub carpark where some of us had lunch.

Yet another convict built bridge in a town called Richmond. This is a particular favourite of mine, built in 1826 it was already 3 years old before the Swan River Colony ( which became the State of Western Australia at Federation in 1901 ) was founded in 1829.

Some Tasmanian Devils are in the next shot - snarly little characters especially when food is involved.

Then back on track - while stopped having morning tea ( it goes breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner = KILO's/pounds ) a fellow came up to me and out of the blue tells me there is a car just like mine in a garage over the road. A quick investigation reveals a 1950 Super model 51. Drive train has been replaced with Chev motor etc but externally the car looks original. A very neat job and is looking good.

[jscheib]

One thing I wanted to do on one of my frequent trips to Australia some 17-20 years ago was to get to Tasmania, but unfortunately never did. So thanks for the photos. If I was younger I would love to have made this trip. A lot more fun than museums. I also did not realize that they used so much convict labor on the public works projects and the bridges are quite unique. So, thanks again for the stories and photos.

John

[MrEarl]

I've got Rita following this thread Stuart so keep the scenery pictures coming. Maybe throw in some Australia gardens pictures. If there is a '49 Roadmaster convertible down there, throw that in too, she loves 49's. Might help bring our trip down closer to the top of the bucket list.

[MrEarl]

while stopped having morning tea ( it goes breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner

what comes after dinner, not more tea I am sure

[Mark Shaw]

Stuart,
Love the photos... Keep em coming...

Sorry I missed it this year..., but glad to see Everett and Sharyl Ayres made it down... I heard lots of stories about their last trip down under on the way to the Nationals in Minnesota a few years ago.

I didn't see your intrepid leader Dave the tuna man in any of the photos yet...

[JohnD1956]

Stuart, Looks like you had a wonderful and sceanic time . Thanks so much for what you've shared so far. Too bad so many in the BCA will never see this because they are not here, on the forum. But it's their choice and loss. Please, keep sharing. This may be the closest I'll ever get to your wonderful homeland.

[50jetback]

I've got Rita following this thread Stuart so keep the scenery pictures coming. Maybe throw in some Australia gardens pictures. If there is a '49 Roadmaster convertible down there, throw that in too, she loves 49's. Might help bring our trip down closer to the top of the bucket list.

At each National Meet ( every 2 years ) delegates from the Combined Buick Car Clubs of Australia meet to decide which state will be responsible for the next National Meet and Tour. As a result the next Meet and Tour will be hosted by Western Australia ( Buick Owners Club of W.A. ) in Spring ( September ) of 2014.

So anyone with a trip to Australia on the bucket list this may be worth looking at, a chance to visit the remotest capital city in the world and a State that consists of nearly a third of Australia and a group of people with a common interest ( that would be Buicks! ). I'll keep you posted with another thread on what we have planned.

In the meantime Mr Earl and Rita here are some photos of what you could expect to see in the West in Spring, my passion is Buicks and Harley Davidsons but Delys is into gardens, particularly Daylillys and Clivia, so Rita - a few photos of Dels garden from last spring.

A 1949 Roadmaster convertible I couldn't do at short notice so will this 49 belonging to Phil Green ( Buick Club N.S.W. ) from the previous Tassy Tour back in 2002. Maybe Phil will bring this one to the west in 2014.

[50jetback]

what comes after dinner, not more tea I am sure

That would be strong drink!!

A bit more of the tour.

Yep, another bridge, this one is called " Spikey Bridge " because of the interesting use of stones to create a fence to stop cattle falling or jumping over the side. Also convict built. Naturally a few of us had to park our cars on it and make use of the photo opportunity.

A typical morning tea stop - thermos and biscuits and the usual engine bay check. In Tassy you have to do this when you find a flat bit of ground, motel carparks tend to slope a lot making oil level checks hard.

Heading towards Launceston we visited St Columba Falls which is in rain forest, an interesting narrow road type drive followed by lunch at the Pub in a Paddock where we got to see a pig drink a stubby of beer ( a real waste!! ).

We had been invited to display our cars in the Launceston Town Square while we attended a reception put on by the Mayor so I thought I should give the car a wipe over.

The last photo is of a nicely restored 1952 Special Riviera Coupe which was on the tour.

[MrEarl]

Those should work Stuart. But you don't expect me to believe you let Del do all that gardening work herself do you? And speakin of Harley's, did you get the siren on yet?

But probably looking at '16 instead of '14 as too many projects in the barn that gets first priority to the Buick piggy bank.


OK, now let's get back to Buicks in Australia.

[50jetback]

Stuart,
Love the photos... Keep em coming...

Sorry I missed it this year..., but glad to see Everett and Sharyl Ayres made it down... I heard lots of stories about their last trip down under on the way to the Nationals in Minnesota a few years ago.

I didn't see your intrepid leader Dave the tuna man in any of the photos yet...

Here you go Mark - Dave the tuna fisherman! Dave was chauffering Everett and Sheryl Ayres around in the 1948 Super Sedan which he purchased from Everett a few years ago.

Dave was the main man organising the Meet down in Tasmania.

The 1930 Series 40 Roadster is a Queensland car and had driven from Brisbane to Melbourne to catch the Ferry - pretty good effort considering the weather ( winter ). The current owner hasn't had it over long and is slowly working through it and has it running nicely. He assured me it is his intention to drive it ( along with his brother currently restoring another 1930 Buick Roadster ) to Perth for the 2014 National Meet.

The next photos are of a very interesting 1919 Buick with a Tasmanian built all aluminium body. The car was prepared for show in 1920 and was used to display the body building skills of the company. It is in possession of the body builders family and is all original except for the top which was replaced a few years ago. Looks great and the owner assured me it would not be restored only preserved.

[50jetback]

Might wrap this up with just a couple more.

Rear of the 1919 showing original upholstery and the required comprehensive tool box when driving Veteran/Vintage cars!!

Another open hood shot gathering a crowd - this time Phil Greens beautiful 1947 Super Sedan.

A view of the Tamar Valley.

Buick people doing what comes naturally - scounging in a " fossil shop ".

We then drove down the West Coast to Zeehan and Strahan, very remote mountainous rainforrest area. Camera must have broken because I can't find any photos of that area.

Back to the Ferry and another rough trip across to the mainland after a couple of weeks in Tassy enjoying all it has to offer.

Delys decided she needed to get back to her garden so flew home from Melbourne. A mate flew over and co drove the 50 back home. The road follows the coastline across the nularbor which is several hundred kilometers south of the railway so the scenery is different than on the train - as you will notice if you compare the very first 2 photos with the last 2!!!!

[Mark Shaw]

Stuart,
Many thanks for the super photos of great cars in a beautiful country & terrific people to be with on tour....

[First Born]

I thank you also, Stuart.
Picture #5 & # 6 are of my favorite view, looking over the hood of a magnificent 1950 Buick.
Ben