Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[roverdriver]

This is Part 3 of the story. Part one can be found here-
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18371

Part 2 is here-
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18375

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Early on the third morning of our trip, after packing and loading the car once again, my wife decided to capture some sunrise photographs along the river.



After a short drive around Horsham we took to the road again, heading mainly towards the South aiming for Balmoral



There was no castle, and therefore no sign of Her Majesty, so we continued to Coleraine, and called at the Railway Station which saw its last train in 1972, but is now a Tourist Information Center.



We knew of a couple of waterfalls further along the road, but were told that with the long dry season, we were unlikely to see any water, let alone the falling variety. They were right!



Even so, the rock formations were interesting. We pressed on to the town of Hamilton and the Ansett Museum.

Reg Ansett (born 1909) tried a few occupations in his younger days, one of which, in 1931, was starting a motor car service, using a second-hand Studebaker car. Firstly the service was from Ballarat to Maryborough, but soon he changed to Ballarat to Hamilton. This was upset when State Government legislation banned service cars in order to favour the State owned railways. Reg, it is believed, circumvented the regulations for a short while by transporting the passengers at no charge, provided they each bought an orange, which strangely enough cost the equivalent of a fare.



Reg was already a pilot, and air travel was under Commonwealth control, so State regulations would not apply. Using a six seater Fokker FX1 plane he inaugurated a daily service from Hamilton to Melbourne



And so the fledgling business started. It quickly grew until eventually Ansett Transport Industries not only operated a vast Australian air operation, but also a fleet of long-distance coaches, all of the most modern style.

Here is one of the earlier REO articulated units-




A glass case in the museum held a selection of models of Ansett aircraft.



As well as the actual transport exhibits, uniforms of aircrew form part of the displays.



Perhaps the story of the oranges influenced the colour of the Hostess uniforms.

After a couple of pleasant hours at the museum it was time to set off again. Our plan was a leisurely drive to Queenscliff to stay overnight, but an internet hunt showed that we had inadvertently chosen school holiday time, accommodation was severely limited.

The Hamilton Highway, through to Geelong is in reality just a well formed country road. There was fairly light traffic, so a steady 100 kph was held. The speedo showed just under 70 mph, but we had tested it and found that that was actually about 100 kph which is the State open road speed limit.

With only a few pauses we made good time to Geelong, passing Mount Elephant on the way.



We threaded our way though Geelong City and thence about half an hour later arrived at the ferry terminal at Queenscliff with plenty of time to board the 4 o'clock sailing.



The ferry provides a handy short-cut to the other side of Port Phillip Bay. Once landed on the Sorrento side, we started for home, arriving there at about 8.00 p.m., driving the latter part in the dark. A total of 370 miles for the day.

We had a most enjoyable tour with only a small reoccurring problem with the car. Our odometer told us that we had covered 821 miles in the three days, and fuel consumption was 25.1 mpg.


On the Sunday of this excursion, Polly developed a bad habit. Every so often, quite unaccountably the engine would cut out. After coasting to a halt, the starter button would bring it back to life and we could continue our drive. Intermittent faults are the hardest to find, so we did not curtail the trip, but continued on knowing that whenever the problem occurred again, it would help to point to the cause. After our trip I started by changing the 18 month old SU electronic fuel pump for an old but working points type pump. Today we went for a short (50 mile) drive and there was no sign of the problem. Perhaps it it fixed.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Riley Blue]

That's what a classic car is for! Thanks, really enjoyable to read. I hope Polly behaves herself from now on!
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Penman]

Hi
What is that behind the Studebaker?
There is another picture with it in found by Google images under Ansett museum and it shows it with the top hinged up from the back so it looks a bit like a trailer or teardrop camper with a lid but I can't see any wheels under it.
Could it be a car roof top sleeping compartment?
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Ashley]

FWIW, and I think my son would agree with me, I believ SU Fuel pumps are the most vicious and spiteful mechanical device ever contrived. You're very lucky if they just bring the car to a sudden and unexpected halt. They can do so much worse than that.

They can cause misfires, loss of power, hesitation at high speeds. All sorts of things that fool you into thinking coils have failed etc. Only safe bet is a new one or and alternative and to suspect it first.

Otherwise it's a great report, most interest for someone from Gloucestershire that is gridlocked today. Why do th come out on Fridays and just get in the way.

[Rick]

Appreciate you spending the time to put these roving (Rovering?) reports together Dane

RJ
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[roverdriver]

Thanks for the comments, Gents.

Penman, I am sorry to say that I did not study that item at all. My other photos in which it can be seen don't help either. Maybe I'll have to re-visit one day to answer your question.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Penman]

Hi

[roverdriver]

That was clever, Penman, glad you got a result.

In the 1950's the son of an elderly friend was employed setting up Link trainers in various capital cities in Australia. I never got to see, let alone experience one.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[colwyn500]

You do some amazing journeys and your write-ups are excellent.
I wish more drivers of classic cars would do what you (and me) do and leave the safety of the single marque convoys and gatherings more regularly.
It's good to see classics out and about in unexpected locations.