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The
Morris Eight Tourer Club
TEN FOUR GOOD BUDDY -, NOW WE HAVE A CONVOY.
Brrrrr, who in their right mind would leave home on a day such as this? I wondered as I flicked through the pages pausing at the weather notes. Stinks Stinks Stinks.
What to do? I pondered. The Morris Register has a combined driving test day with the Vintage Sport's Car Club at the Oaklands Park Driving Centre, I could go to Church with my wife, or, I did hear on the radio on Friday, of The Convoy For Kids this Sunday? Today..
Reading in The 'Register News Letter, "Unfortunately the Skid Pan is closed at the driving centre."
If only it was open. Then there would be no need to wash the Minor.
I did want to give the "Y" a run. That was in need of a wash too. But hey? It's raining an no one will notice
Think I'll be a devil, and join the truckies on their. Annual Convoy For Kids.
Better give my little 10 cwt Light Truck (As William Nuffield labelled it,) a quick wash in the rain.
That job done, and off I go out to Wesfield Arndale playing follow the leader with a little Austin A30 sporting a rainbow paint job. I was (to his dismay,) the leader.
I was later to find out that this A30 was sporting under the bonnet, a Morris 1100 motor, and a five speed box, and practically nothing else.
We two little gate crashers duly paid our donations, and were admitted to the carpark surrounded by Big Mac's of the trucking kind, Kenworths, Scannias, and Mercedes Freightliners to name but a few.
Our two little vehicles looked like something that had been discharged, or dropped from the exhaust of one of these monolithic monsters of the highway.
While we waited for the start all who came, drivers children, and interested
on lookers, were entertained to the strains of Country and Western Music.
The extremely polished group today was Wannia's Country Band. Boy they could belt out the favourites we country folk's remember.
The snags were sizzling on the Barbie's, not the doll type, the cooking type. Guess who had their fill ?.
Pretty soon the cry, "Gentlemen, start your engines," was called over the public address system.
Not one motor was to be heard. Well not until the noise from 420 air horns subsided for a moment. Only a moment mind you, the sounds of these horns never let up the whole of the trip from Arndale to Westfield Marion. A distance of about twenty K's, and roughly an hour of continuous trucks.
Car Freighters, Cement Trucks, Fire Engines, Prime Movers, of all makes and sizes, and A 1942 Morris Y Light Truck.
Despite the rain the streets were lined with cheering waving crowds, my little passenger who I picked up at Arnedale waved to any one and every thing that passed his side window. He didn't care he was in the smallest truck, he was one very excited little guy. His Mum and sister were riding behind in Mr. Squiggles A30.
After a while we arrived at Marion, and it was time to say farewell to my little travelling companion.
The venue at Marion, the shopping centre's undercover car park, whilst not an exiting site, was dry. The entertainment and food was there for all.
The entertainment was good too. The Police Rock Band knocked out some pretty lively music, their trumpet player was good, (Was it because he was my son I feel this way?)
Those who saw the opening of The Sydney Olympics, and thought Nicky Dwyer was good. Well let me tell you we have a youngster here in Adelaide who could give Nicky a run for her money.
This sweet little thing, Tory Horgan, a primary school student held the audience spellbound with her confidence, voice, and stage presentation as she went through her repertoire of current pop songs. Not to be out done, her twin sister Georgia, was wheeled on stage, and proved that this could be a sister act in the making.
The Convoy For Trucks, I've found out is a world wide truckies function. The truckies way of raising funds in support of Disabled and Disadvantaged Children.
Our Adelaide Convoy was the brainchild of truckie Colin Burford. (another "Soapy Burford"?)
Some years back Colin was delivering freight to Brisbane. His visit coinciding with the Brisbane Convoy For Kids .
This sowed the seed of challenge to Col.', who on arriving back in Adelaide set about getting the ball rolling, and with the help of The Crippled Children's Association, Camp Quality, TWU, and the Elizabeth Lions got the show on the road.
This year saw the ninth Convoy, with Colin at the director's wheel, the first convoy to the southern suburbs.
At the presentations for Best Rig, and others we new comers are unfamiliar with, Colin announced his retirement from the Convoy committee. A position that will be hard to fill. But no doubt will be.
All the best in retirement Col.
On the way home, I decided to just happen by the Oaklands Driving Centre on the off chance some Register members would be lingering.
Yep! Sure nuff a few tail enders were hanging around watching Bill, urging Joy, to crank a bit harder. Seems the Oxford had a flat battery.
Wonder. If that had been taken in to count at the end of the day, would they still have won the prize?
Once again though, every one was full of praise of John's organising such a great day.
He's still got to work on the weather though.
Barry Booth