The QLDers Mudgee (via Albury) Nationals Roadtrip pics

[Stickman]

Didn't happen to get chassis numbers off the cars at Flynn's?

Sorry bro didn't think about that until I got to Gricey's that night
I was a bit overwhelmed with everything there was to see at Flynn's wreckers that the vin numbers completely slipped my mind.
Not like me to do that especially whenever I come across teardrops. I always check them against Donkeys number but this time I was totally distracted with all of that amazing metal

[GerryBellettGT]

Love your photo's Stickman,Donkey being a Supermodel dosen't surprise at all,I've seen the interest he can attract,Flynn's Wreckers,picked the Tear Drops,chrome strip for Davo,and early bumper,sad to see.A drink for you at the Christmas party if you can get a photo of Mr Orghanage shovelling snow in the thongs Gerry

[Stickman]

Might be a little while before I can put any more pictures up...... my laptop has run out of storage space and I can't load any more on.
Trying to remove a few files onto a USB atm to make some space but will see how I go

[BULLITT]

great photos you have the ''knack'' of capturing the moment well done sticky

[Stickman]

Righty O. I have free'd up a little space so here are some pic from Mondays cruise with Jim and Cheryl

We headed south east for a little country drive to Mt Beauty where we just so happened to bump into Craig Robinson's better half (toomanybelletts)
We had a brief coffee stop there then headed over to Bright for lunch and a meander though town.

We also bumped into Russel (a local icon of Bright) who just happened to have bit of a car collection himself and he was generous enough to let us out to his property for a gander and a chat. He had some amazing stuff in his collection including a particular little Japanese ute

.....but you'll have to wait till morning for those pics. Time now for bed

[67GT]

Oh c’mon Sticky, the suspense is killing me.
Love the photos, wish I could have joined you guys. Hopefully I’ll make it in time for Mudgee.

[Stickman]

OK OK here are some pics from Russel's place

He had stuff everywhere, in sheds, in paddocks, in containers, under tarps and even in gardens.
The very first thing I spotted was this garden Beetle. It is my absolute favorite model Beetle and one I tried to find for myself years ago when I had them, before Donkey came into my life.

It's a 59 Beetle, the last model with the semaphores, first of the bay windows (first after the ovals)

Next was Donkey's redneck Valiant cousin...... but he was still in bed hungover after a big night on the turps so we only peeked under the covers for a quick look

Then we started in the first shed...... you could barely move for the amount of gear he had in there, cars, bikes, vintage, hotrod, ratrods, toys, tins, signs, bowsers, bottles, legless mannequins......
It wasn't easy taking photos in there but here are a few that worked out ok

Just outside the shed there was a little Japanese compact car........ or should I say "COMPACTED" car

Apparently a Honda Civic, Accord, Prelude ????? can you work it out?

Did I tell you he also has a particular little Japanese ute there too


Pictures of that later


How about some paddock cars instead

Argh bummer it won't let me add any more attachments
Well I guess you'll just have to wait for the next installment then hey because it's time to pack my mule and hit the road again


By the way, we even saw his particular little Japanese ute while we were there too

[Early GT]

I left the Gold Coast this morning. No doggie send off this year as they had already gone off to spend the day with Donna playing at Canine Cubby.
So i put my new Subie to bed for the week and headed down the highway. I got to Ballina and thought this big prawn who's hiding a big Bunnings store is telling me to go a different way. So I headed inland through Lismore and Casino connecting onto the summer land way. What a beautiful drive, mostly flat and scenic before arriving at Grafton into peak hour traffic.
Back onto the PAC hwy through lots of roadworks and Fast sections before arriving at my aunty's place in North Haven tonight.

[67GT]

Hey Lewis,
Good to see you’re on your way. Ironically where you are tonight, our club founder lives very close. As it is she lives in Lakewood next to Bob Baileys brother in law
Small world.

[Stickman]

You beauty The second wave is on it's way

We spent last night in Gundagai and have now teamed up with Steve and Peggy for the final leg into Mudgee today.
I think Gricey and Cheryl catch up with us this morning too so we should have a decent conga line going as we roll into town this afternoon.

I am a few days behind now with pictures due to bad internet coverage and lack of storage space on my laptop but I will pick right back up with our tour of Russel's place where we found a particular little Japanese ute........ although before we get to that, we have to see my other highlights

Like this rad L300 van among other beautiful things

Holden sprint car with some serious front bar work and mega dished rims

More vintage under wraps..... but check out the fuel tank in the 3rd pic

And some more interesting random stuff inc a Volvo 142S coupe (I LOVE these)

.....and one final teaser......... a preview of what I'll show you more of tonight

[67GT]

Gee Sticky, I’d hate to be your “lady interest” .
WHAT A TEASE

[GerryBellettGT]

Luv your work Stickman,how did you get onto this bloke,and does he carry a shotgun,?Keep an eye on those hub caps Lewis ,cars looking good,Gerry

[Stickman]

Gee Sticky, I’d hate to be your “lady interest” .
WHAT A TEASE

No time for a lady interest mate...... too many cars and besides, there's not enough room in Donkey


Alrighty enough teasin'

We met Russel in the main street at Bright , he used to own a wrecking yard there years ago.
He stopped to check out Gricey's Florian as he'd never seen one before so we got to chatting. He knew what the Bellett's were and then said "I have a Wasp, the ute version of what you're driving, but I've never seen one of those Florian's before so had to stop and check it out"
He then said "I know a bloke in Albury that has a heap of your Isuzu's" Cheryl was standing beside me at this point and said "that's us"
Next thing Jim is along side us and organizing a tour for us through Russel's Aladdin's cave and paddock of wonder

The Wasp was sold new in Bright and has never left the area (and if my impressions of Russel are correct..... it never will) It has had 3 previous owners to Russel and one of them had beat the tub guards out to fit bigger Landcruiser rims and tyres but...... it still has tail lights, reverse light, fuel cap, tub ID tag and it's tailgate badge
The LH front guard was very beat up (would have to be very committed to fix it) and missing it's badge but the RH was fairly good and had it's badge in place. Drivers door a bit banged up too.
Interior was all there as was orig motor and radiator. Motor turned over by hand and no reason it wouldn't fire up with a few little thing reconnected.

It is BEAUTIFUL
But check out the pics and assess it for yourself.....and sorry but NO!! there will be no specific contact information or location details for Russel given to anyone by me. His privacy request will be respected.

So with no further adieu, here is Russel's Wasp in all it's wondrous glory

[BULLITT]

WOW what a find and it shows they are still about 50 years later like bam bam which is coming to the nationals as well as the others scattered round our nation unknowingly someone would love to love them thanks for all the shots sticky and thank gricey for catching his attention in your flo cheers davo

[Early GT]

Sydney to Mudgee leg to arrive for this year's Isuzu Nationals. A great sunny drive up the blue mountains stopping at a few places....Katoomba, The 3 sisters at Echo Point, The renovated Art Deco Hydro Majestic hotel for morning coffee, then on to Mudgee. Even had time to stop at Petersons Winery in Mudgee for a brief tasting! #isuzuinthevines #bellettnationals

[Stickman]

I'm a bit behind the 8 ball I know but I don't want you to miss out on, what you missed out on

Here are a few more road trippin' pics.
These are taken the day we left the Grice Hotel in Albury and headed further west to Echuca.
With a morning tea stop at a winery along the way and a short train ride was had by all the kids too

A must visit in Echuca is the "Thong Trees" down by the paddle steamer docks..... and who better to have in your company at such a sacred place than the one and only Mr Thong himself - GT Orphange, thong aficionado extraordinaire (he even tried a couple on for fit)

And then there were more road trippin' family members to join in on the fun
We met up with Steve and Peggy at Gundagai and they joined in on our journey toward Mudgee..... and yes there were detours of the side tracked explorer yet to come

more pics to come........ We still haven't made it to Mudgee yet