MX5 Club QLD RTR The Year 2023

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Not - Meet 2023 7th to 10th April, 2023 Story by: Trevor Dixon Photography by: Trevor & Helen Dixon For those new to the club, Not Meet is a bi-annual event held between the NSW and Queensland MX5 Clubs. Historically organised by Steven Carter of NSW and held in Northern NSW over the Easter long weekend. In its thirteenth year or thereabouts, Not Meet is held on the year when the National MX5 Clubs Meet (NAT MEET) is not held, hence the name Not Meet. Not Meet is very well organised with runs and events scheduled for each day. Organised this year by John Purcell of the Hunter Valley Chapter, Not Meet was held in Armidale with 11 cars from Queensland and 19 cars from NSW in attendance. The Queensland contingent travelled to Armidale in 2 Groups, with Dennis and Dianna Kelly and Ross & Heather Cali meeting us there. Ivan and Margaret Schindler lead a trio of cars down from the Sunshine Coast, including Jerry Griffiths & Sue Clapman and Ron and Teddy Grove. Helen and I lead a 6 car group to Armidale, comprising Richard and Pat Varley, Henry and Maureen van Roden, Brian and Kathy Riches, Ray and Monika Rickwood and Jamie and Louise Thorburn. With Double Demerit points active in NSW over the Easter Long weekend, we were on our best behaviour, well……. most of the time (that will be the day Trevor!!!) (from editor). Day 1 – Easter Friday The main group met at Jubilee Park in Beaudesert and following a quick chat and sign in, we were on our way to Armidale. Our planned route was a tick over 400km that would take us via Boonah, Queen Mary Falls, Killarney, Tenterfield for lunch, then onto Armidale. Well you know that old saying, the best laid plans of mice and men. Contrary to several road checks on the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website and Google Maps on the status and condition of the roads, we found that Head Road between Boonah and Queensland Mary Falls (a fantastic driving road) was closed, only open to local traffic and according to a local, is only accessible by 4WD “you won’t get through there in those cars” she said as the roads are still being repaired from the March 2022 floods would you believe? So a quick U turn followed that cost about 40 minutes to return to Boonah, where we regrouped over morning tea. 32 The Year 2023
The new plan of attack was straight down the Cunningham Highway, through Cunningham’s Gap to Tenterfield. We were fortunate that a storm had passed through ahead of us, the roads were wet but we didn’t encounter any rain. As we approached the Stanthorpe bypass, we noticed the Sunny Coast trio just ahead of us and as we were closing in on them they peeled off to Stanthorpe for lunch. We pushed on for our lunch stop at the Tenterfield Tavern. The service was quick and the food was good, more on Helen’s meal of choice of Creamy Garlic Prawns in Mango Risotto a bit later (if you can’t pick the danger words, they are underlined). While we enjoying our lunch and conversation, the Sunny Coast trio snuck quietly past us. Walking back to our cars after lunch and under darkening and threating sky’s, debate pursued around tops up or tops down? Jamie and Louise put down the challenge to keep their top down and Helen and I followed suit. The wiser heads left their tops up. Not far into the journey the rain set in, Jamie waved the white flag and stopped to put his top up and we followed very quickly thereafter. It was fortunate that we did because the rain become heavier and heavier as we pushed further South into NSW, so much so it was getting a little hard to see with rivers of water laying across and on the side of the road. Once safely through the rain and approaching Armidale there were piles of hailstones lining either side of the road with Rainbows on the horizon showing us the way. Some 500km and 9 hours later (U turn included) we pulled into to the Country Comfort Motel in Armidale and surprisingly we beat the NSW group in and were also just ahead of the Sunny Coast trio who had stopped for fuel along the way. The car park filled quickly as the stream of MX5’s arrived one after another. In typical MX5 style, happy hour was held in front of the hotel rooms which allowed everyone to say hello to past acquaintances and to make new friends. A beautiful two course meal followed in the main restaurant and a great night was had by all……. except Helen, remember those danger words mentioned earlier.…. well from around 11pm to 3am the next morning Helen suffered a severe bout of food poisoning and spent the night hugging her new best friend, Bob the toilet bowl. Creamy Prawns from a remote country pub, seemed like a good idea at the time. Day 2 – Saturday Winds had picked up overnight and the sky was a little overcast initially but the rain held off. There was a choice of two runs available on the day, with both groups stopping at the spectacular Dangar Falls just north of Dorrigo for morning tea and lunch at the Bellingen Butter Factory, but at different times. The Butter Factory is famous for its selection of quality ice creams as well as being a great little cafe with good food, it’s certainly worth a visit if you are ever out that way. The Year 2023 33
Page 1 and 2: THE RAG-TOP REVIEW The MX-5 Clubs o
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS 8-9 Natmeet - XV Toowoomba
Page 5 and 6: Hi all, Presidents Report What a ye
Page 7 and 8: New Members Tim Peterson (Soul Red
Page 9 and 10: Social Runs, both long and short, a
Page 11 and 12: Happy Laps - Lakeside Photo’s Cou
Page 13 and 14: is…. back there!” Definitely th
Page 15 and 16: through the Panorama with spectacul
Page 17 and 18: Twilight Run West End to the BOO Br
Page 19 and 20: After regrouping and several pieces
Page 21 and 22: The Year 2023 21
Page 23 and 24: that later. As we went up Mt Glorio
Page 25 and 26: meet up with our 30 th vehicle, and
Page 27 and 28: Mudgee Shores Run Gold Coast Chapte
Page 29 and 30: Surprisingly, Group 2 caught up wit
Page 31: alive, even beginning to thrive. Th
Page 35 and 36: There was a bit of delay with the B
Page 37 and 38: South of the Border Gold Coast Coas
Page 39 and 40: Darra to the Gap Brisbane Chapter S
Page 41 and 42: My navigator Greg Stone and I met t
Page 43 and 44: chess board with meter high pieces
Page 45 and 46: That night dinner was at the Yamba
Page 47 and 48: Dinner was at the Pacific Hotel in
Page 49 and 50: to finish with lunch at the Mt Warn

MX5 Club QLD RTR The Year 2023

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