PRESIDENT'S REPORT - FREDHOON MEMORIAL DEEP SOUTH BANJO RUN - PICTURES
In preparation for the forthcoming trip to the really, really deep dark south (Tasmania) we had a short Run today of just 320km which took us across the border ranges into New South Wales, then returning to God's Country via the famed Lion's Road border crossing. This Run was in honour of a much younger Fredhoon and his days spent in the border country honing his banjo duelling skills and learning to paddle canoes down rivers.
Even though a number of members had already cleaned their cars for the Nationals and didn't want to take them out of the garage in case their chrome plated grease nipples became dirty, the Run still attracted a good sized group with all three car models represented.
A submarine - sorry, Subaru - piloted by Knightrous and friend also accompanied us on the Run, plus as the photos reveal we meet up with our Toyota-supplied Club Recovery Vehicle at the Border Loop Lookout.
Thankfully no-one needed help, although one person who will remain nameless did think that he was having really bad suspension problems, having never heard Bell Birds in the wild before.
On the Run we encountered the normal Sunday road hazards, but there was one "Learner" driver weaving along at 30kph with three other people in the car whom everyone agreed should not have been on that particular narrow mountain road.
We are not prejudiced against "Learners" at all, but it does make you wonder how safe driving instruction can be given when it was obvious that everyone else crammed into the small hatch was singing, waving out the windows, talking on their mobiles, passing drinks backwards and forwards, and generally distracting the person behind the wheel. Maybe they were in training for when the "Learner" finally gets their licence and they go out together on Saturday night. At least attaining this level of trainee driving skill keeps hospital staff and ambulance crews employed.
Apart from the "Learner" and the three other prospective organ donors in that car, everyone else we encountered gave us a friendly wave, and there were lots of long looks as we went through various towns in an MR2 convoy. The weather was nearly perfect (it wasn't Queensland but it was close
) and the twisties were fantastic. A number of Club members can now say with some pride that they have done The Lion's Road at least in one direction, just never forget there's always a future opportunity to do the reverse route.
I'd like to thank Fredhoon for helping us with organising this Run, Danny for supplying the new high power UHF radios, and everyone else who travelled with us. Enjoy the photos.