ToranaFest 2017 - Gabes big weekend of cars

Moderators: Rosie, Jean, JFR, Peggy, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Joefnh

User avatar
Gabes-Apg
Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Posts: 8332
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia

ToranaFest 2017 - Gabes big weekend of cars

Post by Gabes-Apg »

this weekend was the bi-annual (ie once very 2 years) event of a certain model of aussie designed Holden (aussie brand of Chev) - Torana. Further this year is 50 years since the first model so the event was a bigger and better than any previous.

These cars were the icon of many aussies in the 70's and early 80's. They won a few major race car events in the 1970's. it is known that there are only 2 of these cars in the USA, based in L.A.
Friends of mine, husband and wife each have Torana. the hubby was away working (in the USA) and they asked me if I would drive 'Stinky' the green Torana for the events.

There was a 'cruise' on the Saturday afternoon over 200 cars doing a 40km drive with an end point of a 'drive in movie theatre' (that is still functioning)
Sunday was a huge 400 car show and shine event in the park. Torana's from all over Australia travelled to the event (some travelling over 1400 miles) with their vehicles to be at the event.

one of the highlights for me was for the sat night dinner I was at the table with the equivalent of 'aussie royalty' - All up it was BIG BIG weekend, early mornings, late nights, mostly LOTS OF FUN!! we had great weather

Sadly we have had very dry winter, with lots of frosts so grass is brown instead of green.. more photos to come as they are sent to me..

me driving Stinky on the Saturday (with Larry the Alien as my co-pilot)
Stinky is 1973 model vehicle, so none of the luxuries current day cars have! (ie power steering and good suspension)
Image

cars parked up at the Drive In
Image

Cars on display on Sunday
Image

Image

more photos to come..
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35078
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Gabes,

Well no wonder there are only two in the U. S. — somebody put the steering wheel on the wrong side. :lol: Everyone knows the steering wheel should be on the left side. I would probably be side-swiping all the other cars on the road. :lol:

Other than that :noworries: :australianflag:

You're looking good, as usual.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
User avatar
Gabes-Apg
Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Posts: 8332
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia

Post by Gabes-Apg »

Image


Image
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
User avatar
Gabes-Apg
Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Posts: 8332
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia

Post by Gabes-Apg »

Tex
the steering wheel on the 'other' side is not an issue here
lots of Chev's, Mustangs, Pontiacs, Thunderbirds etc that are left hand drive - we manage to handle it! I remember 20 years ago you had to have a sign on the back 'left hand drive' now we don't.

the 1957 Chevy Bel Air that I drive for my brother is left hand drive.
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
User avatar
LauraAnn
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 213
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:21 pm
Location: El Paso TX

Post by LauraAnn »

Wowwww!
Laura Turner
.........
"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in". - Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35078
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Gabes,

I was just joking. That's an old engineering joke. We used to rib the Aussies and the Brits back when we were in college.

To be honest, I didn't even realize that left hand steering wheel cars were even legal on highways in Australia. I assumed that even Chevys and Fords had to have right hand steering.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
User avatar
Rebecca2z
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 159
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:40 am

Post by Rebecca2z »

So fun to see these, I love 'Stinky' the green Torana ! What an awesome color. You look so beautiful & happy !
Pretty big event compared to what we have here.
...and you were at the table with the equivalent of 'aussie royalty'- well that is right where you should be ! Where are those pics ????

Thank You for sharing, I just love to see everyone's photos and it makes me feel like a friend !

:party:
User avatar
Pam V
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 184
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 3:32 pm
Location: Boston, MA

Post by Pam V »

What wonderful pictures, Gabes! And I love "Stinky". What a fun weekend - thank-you for sharing!!!
User avatar
Gabes-Apg
Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Posts: 8332
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia

Post by Gabes-Apg »

not sure when left hand drive became legal, but I think that was one of the key milestones of American classic cars becoming popular in Aus.
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
User avatar
Sue777
Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo Penguin
Posts: 448
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:07 pm
Location: Connecticut

Post by Sue777 »

Wow, what an event - and what an honor to be such a big part of it! And look how thin you are - you should proudly update your profile pic!
sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Marcia K
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 1397
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:39 am
Location: PA

Post by Marcia K »

Awesome pictures, Gabes! Glad you had such a great time!
Marcia
------------
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
User avatar
Gabes-Apg
Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Posts: 8332
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia

Post by Gabes-Apg »

I think I can put 'classic car driver' on my resume,
this weekend I have been asked to drive a 1970's Pontiac Firebird

will put some photos up next week!!
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
User avatar
Vanessa
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 640
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:03 pm
Location: Des Moines, IA

Post by Vanessa »

Gabes,

You look awesome next to stinky green. It's def your color! Looks like fun.
Vanessa
Janie
Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo Penguin
Posts: 410
Joined: Fri May 06, 2016 9:43 am
Location: Simi Valley, Ca.

Post by Janie »

Wow and Wow again. What a nice pic of you and the cars.
Janie
skp
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 214
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 11:51 am
Location: North Carolina

Post by skp »

Gabes, What a fun story and fun photos. It's so great to know that many of us are doing things away from home, having a good time, exploring new adventures. That's the way it should be. I await more pics. Maybe one day you will be racing!

Thanks,
Susan
Post Reply

Return to “From the Land Downunder”