Rag Top Review July to Sept 2024
The voice of the Mazda MX-5 Car Club of Queensland
The voice of the Mazda MX-5 Car Club of Queensland
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<strong>Rag</strong><strong>to</strong>p <strong>Review</strong><br />
<strong>July</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Sept</strong> <strong>2024</strong>
Welcome <strong>to</strong> our <strong>July</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Sept</strong> publication.<br />
I’m sure most of us go everywhere <strong>to</strong>pless - but while driving <strong>to</strong> Macs<br />
Bridge at 5am in the dark of winter, I was surprised at how much more<br />
comfortable my cocoon immediately became with the windows wound<br />
up...and I’m still jealous of those heated seats in Allans black NA...<br />
I trust you’re enjoying the online editions of <strong>Rag</strong><strong>to</strong>p, files on our website<br />
and Facebook Members page are under 2 meg.<br />
Thanks Bill for all your work and the great pic on the cover!<br />
Bot<strong>to</strong>m line this is OUR magazine. I’m open <strong>to</strong> ideas so<br />
anything you’d like <strong>to</strong> contribute or see, send it <strong>to</strong> Scoop:<br />
magazine@mx5clubqld.com.au<br />
The fine print...<br />
Re contributions:<br />
Views expressed in <strong>Rag</strong><strong>to</strong>p <strong>Review</strong> by contribu<strong>to</strong>rs and advertisers are<br />
not necessarily those of the MX-5 Club of Qld.<br />
Re copyright:<br />
No part of this online publication may be reproduced without written<br />
permission of the publisher.<br />
Re advertising:<br />
All advertisments are the responsibility of the advertiser. Advertisments<br />
are accepted on the understanding they do not contravene the Competition<br />
and Consumer Act. Responsibility is not accepted by the <strong>Rag</strong><strong>to</strong>p<br />
<strong>Review</strong> or The MX-5 Club of Qld for statements made or failure of<br />
any product or service <strong>to</strong> give satisfaction. Inclusion of an advertisment<br />
should not be construed as endorsement by the MX-5 Club of Qld.
Macs Bridge Show, <strong>July</strong> 14<br />
at Caboolture Airfield<br />
The alarm rang at 3.30 for this Gold Coaster and I wondered if Bill from<br />
NSW had bothered with bed! Thanks Trevor for organising the run up.<br />
Being on the road before the crack of dawn was a little chilly, but the<br />
six of us and the other 30 odd MX5ers that attended the event agreed<br />
that the hundreds of cars and aircraft on display were fabulous. How<br />
focussed must the driver of the Studebaker (below) have been at 85mph<br />
with its wooden wheels without brakes on the front?
Winter Wanderings<br />
by Ura Auckland, Brisbane, June<br />
On a mildly cool early Winter June Sunday morning, the club members<br />
gathered in the Repco Car Park by McDonalds Goodna, filling every<br />
available spot with our 32 MX5s.<br />
The first Brisbane Chapter run of the winter is traditionally Winter<br />
Wanderings and this year it was the 17th running under this theme, a<br />
hallmark offering of Denise Peck & Neville Fair.<br />
We had a great multi-chapter turnout, from the Gold Coast in the South,<br />
Darling Downs in the West, and with Terry and Marilyn Cutler from<br />
Maryborough able <strong>to</strong> join us while visiting Brisbane.<br />
We also had a young MX5 enthusiast guest attending in 12 year old<br />
Ahleah, joining with Brucey Scarborough who works with her mum.<br />
Ahleah was thrilled <strong>to</strong> be attending an MX5 run, surrounded by 31<br />
other MX5s, and got a big send off by her lovely mum and dad.<br />
As always Denise & Neville put <strong>to</strong>gether not just a run, but an education<br />
on the country we were travelling through, following the Cobb & Co<br />
Stage Coach Route through the Lockyer Valley <strong>to</strong> our Morning Tea S<strong>to</strong>p.
At our Morning Tea s<strong>to</strong>p at Apex Lake, the sun was out and a little baking<br />
in the sun seemed appropriate, with the coffee addicts and sweet<br />
<strong>to</strong>oths popping in next door <strong>to</strong> the Transport Museum Café. Fuelling up<br />
the humans at half time turned out <strong>to</strong> be a prescient move.<br />
The drive from Gat<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Rudd’s Pub at Nobby was via the wonderful<br />
MaMa Creek Gat<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Clif<strong>to</strong>n Road. Google Maps had us a bit<br />
confused at the start of the day as the road was closed through the night,<br />
and navigation before its opening time was showing it closed. Thankfully<br />
it was wide open when we got there.<br />
It is very scenic road, wonderfully winding, and little used, so that we<br />
didn’t have <strong>to</strong>o much problem with pace cars. There are however quite a<br />
few big dips and bumps, and I owe my co-driver Dave Reynolds a new<br />
cap, after we went about a foot in the air out of our seats and his cap kept<br />
going when the seat belts slowed our ascent.<br />
I do also love the wide open sweeping sections of road through Pil<strong>to</strong>n<br />
and past the Darling Downs Zoo, which did encourage my right leg <strong>to</strong><br />
stretch out a little, with the Waze App playing a metaphorical ‘lookout’<br />
<strong>to</strong> my ‘kid in the <strong>to</strong>ilet having a smoke’, not that I ever was a kid in the<br />
<strong>to</strong>ilet having a smoke. My Dad’s smoking in the car cured me of any<br />
desire <strong>to</strong> smoke for life.
At Rudds Pub there was plenty of parking down the road beside it, and<br />
our large contingent of now 33 MX5s as we were joined by Allan and<br />
Rachel from Toowoomba made quite a sight.<br />
The Pub was named in honour of Steele Rudd, the pen name of Arthur<br />
Hoey Davis, who wrote the book that the run theme borrowed from ‘On<br />
our selection’, creating the infamous Australian characters Dad & Dave.<br />
It’s a wonderful his<strong>to</strong>ric pub, and the club got the wonderful barn behind<br />
it as our private venue. Or large numbers did test the small team at<br />
the pub, and consequently we had a longer lunch than usual, and a late<br />
departure for those who got their meals last. Thankfully we’d put most<br />
of the Gold Coaster’s in Group 1 at Denise’s suggestion, so they got <strong>to</strong><br />
begin their long journey home at a reasonable time.
Dave (san’s cap) and I had a ride back <strong>to</strong> Brisbane with my NC playing<br />
up, as it had been a bit through the day, and I ended up dropping it <strong>to</strong><br />
Au<strong>to</strong>works at Salisbury and finishing my ride home in an Uber <strong>to</strong> Bribie.<br />
My issue turned out <strong>to</strong> be an ignition lead on cylinder one hanging on<br />
by a thread. All ignition leads, and coils were replaced <strong>to</strong> head off future<br />
issues. I do appreciate knowing that most failure points in my car have<br />
had preventative maintenance.<br />
As always, Denise and Neville outdid themselves in perpetuating the<br />
Winter Wanderings institution. They put on a great drive with meaning<br />
and value in the theme and I really appreciated experiencing the his<strong>to</strong>ric<br />
Rudd’s Pub - where the lamb cutlets are delightful!<br />
Thanks <strong>to</strong> everyone that joined us on our 17th Winter Wandering, see<br />
you all soon!
His<strong>to</strong>rical Blackjack Buggy Run<br />
by Mark and Sophie McConville Gold Coast <strong>July</strong><br />
The Gold Coast’s <strong>July</strong> run had a genuine point of difference. 30 cars and<br />
their owners came <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> celebrate a perfect morning and <strong>to</strong> be<br />
part of the inaugural His<strong>to</strong>rical Blackjack Buggy Run.<br />
We assembled at the Oxenford Square Shopping Centre for the morning<br />
briefing where drivers choose their first playing card for the day.<br />
Some disputed the rules when they turned their card and saw a two or<br />
a four and were <strong>to</strong>ld “5 under” wasn’t going <strong>to</strong> be a winning hand <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
So we smiled and instead of hitting the bottle, we hit the road.
We headed<br />
off for morning<br />
tea at the<br />
beautiful<br />
Wyaralong<br />
Dam picnic<br />
area.<br />
There we<br />
parked in<br />
perfect<br />
formation and<br />
then, chose<br />
our second<br />
playing card.<br />
The second<br />
leg <strong>to</strong>ok in the<br />
picturesque<br />
Mount<br />
Alford, before<br />
skirting past<br />
Moogerah<br />
Dam and<br />
taking in<br />
some amazing<br />
views on<br />
the way <strong>to</strong> our<br />
final<br />
destination,<br />
the his<strong>to</strong>ric<br />
Royal Hotel at<br />
Harrisville.
With both the picturesque front of hotel parking and a huge grassed<br />
area complete with old railway carriages out the back, it was a pho<strong>to</strong> opportunity<br />
not <strong>to</strong> be missed. Then we enjoyed a wonderful lunch!
During lunch we announced<br />
that Debbie<br />
Bryant was the Black<br />
Jack WINNER with<br />
both a King and Ace<br />
of spades.<br />
Nice work Debbie,<br />
hope you enjoyed<br />
the bottle of port.<br />
As always, another<br />
fantastic day out enjoying<br />
our beautiful<br />
part of the world, our<br />
fun little cars and our<br />
friends.<br />
The food was pretty<br />
good <strong>to</strong>o, thanks <strong>to</strong><br />
Jade and Cath from<br />
the Royal for looking<br />
after us.
Museum Mystery Tour<br />
by Di Kelly, Brisbane, August<br />
On a fine but cloudy Sunday morning, 23 cars with 42 willing drivers<br />
and naviga<strong>to</strong>rs were gathering at the start our August run.<br />
Ura our Chapter Leader welcomed everyone and Robert Howlett, (our<br />
run organiser) gave details on the days run before we left in four groups,<br />
five minutes apart.<br />
With very detailed instructions from our run organisers, no one had any<br />
problem sticking <strong>to</strong> the designated route. Yes there were many roadworks<br />
and one lane bridges, but these were all clearly listed on the Run<br />
Sheet.<br />
All eyes were on the lookout for any museums which was the point of<br />
<strong>to</strong>days run. The morning tea s<strong>to</strong>p was in Kalbar with the good weather<br />
continuing.
We continued on through the Boonah area with more one lane bridges<br />
<strong>to</strong> navigate. Everyone enjoyed the magnificent scenery and country<br />
back roads and there were many roads we hadn’t been on before - good<br />
job Robert!<br />
We <strong>to</strong>ok the road <strong>to</strong> Mt Tamborine <strong>to</strong> arrive at our lunch s<strong>to</strong>p at the<br />
Fortitude Brewery. There was live Sunday music which was a bit loud for<br />
some seniors who were seated closer <strong>to</strong> the band.<br />
We all enjoyed our lunch selections and catching up with members from<br />
other groups.
After due consideration of the Museum Mystery Tour answer sheets,<br />
there were only 3 correct entrants. Our Chapter Leader Ura drew the<br />
winners of the life changing prize, the winners were Marion and John<br />
Tait.<br />
It was interesting that one keen team listed five sites, one more than the<br />
nominated four required.<br />
The correct Museums were....<br />
- Harrisville and District His<strong>to</strong>rical Museum<br />
- Panorama Mo<strong>to</strong>rcycle Museum<br />
- Templin His<strong>to</strong>rical Museum<br />
- Beaudesert Museum<br />
The winning Taits at the recent Pink Concert<br />
Our thanks <strong>to</strong> Robert and Alita Howlett for organising our mystery run<br />
which was a lot of fun and enjoyed by everyone.
Yamba Dabba Dooo 2<br />
by Eric McColough, Gold Coast, August<br />
After last years Yamba success, our second four day getaway was highly<br />
anticipated - again, skillfully organised by Helen and Trevor Dixon and<br />
again, assisted on runs from two local Stephens, Carter and Hawthorn.<br />
41 people in 22 cars left from Jubilee Park, Beaudesert.<br />
Split in<strong>to</strong> three groups led by Trevor, Kevin and Richard, we went south<br />
<strong>to</strong> Casino. All <strong>to</strong>o soon the 10k “speed hump challenge” on the road <strong>to</strong><br />
Kyogle was behind us (good job Qld Roads lol) and we drove <strong>to</strong>wards<br />
the sunshine and warmer temperatures predicted for the days ahead.
Open country roads gave some the opportunity <strong>to</strong> work their throttles<br />
a little harder and in Casino, everyone enjoyed the shade, a drink and a<br />
good chat at Tattersalls Hotel where we had a hearty lunch.<br />
Our second leg <strong>to</strong> Yamba included a ferry across the Clarence River,<br />
great roads and more fabulous countryside <strong>to</strong> enjoy.
The<br />
Clarence<br />
River is<br />
big, but the<br />
flood plain<br />
affects a<br />
massive<br />
800sq ks<br />
of farms &<br />
<strong>to</strong>wns in<br />
north east<br />
NSW.<br />
Day 1<br />
dinner was at<br />
Yamba Bowls<br />
Club where we<br />
enjoyed the<br />
atmosphere,<br />
tasty meals,<br />
cool drinks<br />
and the odd<br />
tall tale...
Day 2<br />
Google predicted another sunny day of 32 and for a change, it was right.<br />
Kevin <strong>to</strong>ok our group pho<strong>to</strong> and after pondering the pollen on the cars,<br />
we were off on a 90 minute drive <strong>to</strong> the Laurence Hotel for lunch.<br />
The character of the region was on display on a busy Saturday morning.<br />
Maclean <strong>to</strong>wn centre was full of people, there’s beautifully renovated<br />
country homes and buildings for various purposes as well as decrepit<br />
old farmhouses built almost on the edge of the road. Also outside of<br />
<strong>to</strong>wn there’s very modern (and unexpected) rooflines beside sheds!<br />
There’s also 200 eye-catching and artfully<br />
painted tartan powerpoles around<br />
Maclean <strong>to</strong>wnship. Painted in 2000,<br />
they’re a reminder of the Olympic Torch<br />
being carried through the most Scottish<br />
<strong>to</strong>wn in NSW. While editing this, I’ve<br />
read this paragraph many times and I<br />
swear, there’s a Glaswegian inside, wanting<br />
me <strong>to</strong> sound like William Wallace...<br />
Lunch at the Laurence Hotel was great. I listened <strong>to</strong> Stephen Carter (one<br />
of the local run organisers) who said the chicken with bacon and camembert<br />
was great last year. We both went there as did Suzanne Barnes<br />
and we can all say, hand on heart, its a massive winner this year <strong>to</strong>o!
The half kilo of prawns was popular and Peter Cook found new love in<br />
his 500g <strong>to</strong>mahawk steak. His grin said “I had what she had - but mine<br />
was better”. Seasoned carnivores were jealous. Stephen Carter tells me<br />
the Laurence is less than a five hour round trip for Gold Coasters...hm-
Day 2 dinner was a BBQ at the As<strong>to</strong>n by the pool<br />
Day 3 - Sunday - HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!<br />
We assembled at 8.30 and drove <strong>to</strong> the Crown Hotel in Graf<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> dine<br />
on their impressive Riverfront Terrace. The run was planned by our pair<br />
of NSW Stephens who enroute, <strong>to</strong>ok us <strong>to</strong> a lookout over Yamba and<br />
after lunch, <strong>to</strong> the Tree Walk and fabulous lookout over Coffs Harbour.<br />
The Clarence floods again, this time in 1928.
Day 3 dinner was at the Yamba Golf Club which we thought was great!
Yep, it’s outrageous what<br />
the edi<strong>to</strong>r gets away<br />
with...<br />
I’m certain I got everybodys<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>, but I do<br />
apologise about not<br />
getting all the couples<br />
in pairs. Some things<br />
are just <strong>to</strong>o technical...
Day 4 - DEPARTURE...<br />
We came, we drove, we left.<br />
Two groups said goodbye <strong>to</strong> old friends before heading <strong>to</strong> Lismore for<br />
morning tea, then getting back in<strong>to</strong> Qld for lunch at the Cabarita Beach<br />
Hotel.<br />
Lismore 2022 Lismore 1883<br />
The run from Lismore <strong>to</strong> Qld had a lot going on, fabulous twisty roads<br />
with shade trees, roadworks, one or two potholes and a sweet hill that<br />
ran down <strong>to</strong> a sweeping left hander and the most magnificent scenery.<br />
But as good as that hill and corner were, we were all looking forward <strong>to</strong><br />
a cool drink and lunch at the Cabarita Beach Hotel, where more tales<br />
were <strong>to</strong>ld, more goodbyes were said and the ocean looks like this....<br />
BIG THANKS TO THE ORGANISERS,<br />
WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK!!
The Falls Drive<br />
by Ura Auckland, Brisbane, <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
It was a quite lovely Saturday that saw 18 MX5s gather at the Park Ridge<br />
Tavern for the ‘Fall Drive Run’. There was excitement with the welcome<br />
return of Steve and Erika in their Red NC, after an absence for some<br />
months while Steve was kicking the ass of some health challenges. Steve<br />
was in better spirits than ever, living life large, there were many hugs.<br />
The group was also graced with several new members, Connor Riza in a<br />
great, nicely set up Red NA who had his Dad along <strong>to</strong> share in the ride,<br />
George Cris<strong>to</strong>ffis in a Winning Blue NC, Stuart McVicar in his White<br />
ND, and Jackie Hermanns in her White ND.<br />
The three groups were ably led by Shane and Lori Davis in Maxi their<br />
NB, Steve & Julie Hodgson turning out in a beautiful newly acquired<br />
True Red NC2 PRHT, and John & Marion Tait in their trusty True Red<br />
NC. My thanks go <strong>to</strong> those who serve in this way.<br />
Your writer (whose MX5 was in at the Bump Shop following an incident<br />
with a Kangaroo in <strong>July</strong>) was playing pho<strong>to</strong>grapher for the day, setting<br />
up at a couple of spots on the roadside <strong>to</strong> get some pho<strong>to</strong>s and video<br />
footage with his new camera. Everyone went home with a pho<strong>to</strong>, or at<br />
least once they logged on <strong>to</strong> Facebook later.
Here’s the link if you’d like <strong>to</strong> check pho<strong>to</strong>s from Ura out....<br />
https://www.flickr.com/gp/200513903@N08/t14A94n6NH<br />
Sadly the return of Steve & Erika <strong>to</strong> the fold was short-lived on the day,<br />
with one of their tyres deciding it was throwing in the <strong>to</strong>wel, and as<br />
we know, MX-5s mostly don’t have a spare. A text from Steve later on<br />
advised they had got a brand new set of 4 tyres and will be back with us<br />
in their well shod NC next month.<br />
It was a great run through some backroads, and just near Teviotville the<br />
groups found the writer in a ditch <strong>to</strong> the right of the road, <strong>to</strong> capture<br />
each MX5 zooming by a farmer’s dam, making quite a nice shot.<br />
Note from the<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r:<br />
There were a few<br />
technical difficulties<br />
using Uras pics from<br />
Flicker, but here’s<br />
a farmers dam pic<br />
from Bartholomew<br />
& Co, and here’s the<br />
zooming MX5...
The groups made their way<br />
through Kalbar, and on <strong>to</strong> the<br />
always beautiful Moogerah<br />
Dam for morning tea, where<br />
was lots of interest in Connor’s<br />
NA, and where David<br />
Cookson got his new drone<br />
in the air <strong>to</strong> capture some of<br />
the beauty.<br />
Your writer didn’t spend<br />
much time there, running<br />
ahead of the pack <strong>to</strong> set up<br />
for the second group of pho<strong>to</strong>s<br />
on ‘Falls Drive’.<br />
The drive up ‘Falls Drive’ <strong>to</strong>wards<br />
Queen Mary Falls was<br />
a stunningly beautiful drive,<br />
and a test of cooling systems,<br />
with Connor’s NA appreciating<br />
a break at the <strong>to</strong>p of the<br />
climb <strong>to</strong> Carrs Lookout.<br />
At Carr’s Lookout the Writer<br />
awaited the gaggles of MX5s,<br />
capturing some video of the<br />
cars winding along a beautiful<br />
set of esses coming out of<br />
the forest. I just wished I had<br />
the 100 <strong>to</strong> 400 lens that I have<br />
since bought <strong>to</strong> get some<br />
better zoom.<br />
Queen Mary Falls<br />
by Nicky Clark
The beauty of the drive seemed not <strong>to</strong> be lost on anyone, and there were<br />
lots of wonderful adjectives shared by those new <strong>to</strong> this road.<br />
Lunch at the Killarney<br />
Hotel was an<br />
absolute joy, with<br />
good food served<br />
quickly and the<br />
club having its own<br />
space that more<br />
than adequately accommodated<br />
our<br />
group.<br />
The invite was there for those who felt inspired <strong>to</strong> do so, <strong>to</strong> visit Queen<br />
Mary Falls on the way home, and as I went past in my Mitsubishi AX<br />
rental car I spotted Tim and Nicky’s NDs in the carpark there.<br />
A good day was had by all, and our new members seemed quite chuffed<br />
with the experience, and looking forward <strong>to</strong> the next one.<br />
Ura P Auckland<br />
Brisbane Chapter Leader &<br />
Strange man in a ditch with camera and thanks Nicky for your pho<strong>to</strong>s.
Gold Coast Meet and Eat<br />
by Eric McColough <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
Peter and Alison Cook came up with a first for the monthly Meet and<br />
Eat, they hosted a BBQ by the Coomera river and even old mate on his<br />
bicycle dropped in for a chat. A local that lived 3 doors away, he liked<br />
our cars and camaraderie and when leaving, said he’d get one!<br />
As well as a great location,<br />
our hosts generously supplied<br />
some fine snags, bread, onions<br />
and sauces - and Peter did a<br />
fine job cooking them as well!<br />
Many said it was a great idea,<br />
(the location even had a tap<br />
for hot water) and <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>p it off,<br />
after the BBQ we enjoyed the<br />
3 sensational cakes, cream and<br />
cookies Fran Moore made!
Time <strong>to</strong> tuck in....
Fathers Day Run<br />
by Tony Unsworth, Sunshine Coast, <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
The first of <strong>Sept</strong>ember was “Fathers Day” and 22 drivers and naviga<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
were taking full advantage of the perfect weather as a dozen majestic<br />
MX-5s gathered at Pioneer Park, Nambour.<br />
After working through the finer points of the run, we got back <strong>to</strong><br />
enjoying the beautiful countryside of the Sunshine Coast and once<br />
more, our fabulous cars.
Another perfect Sunshine Coast day...<br />
The route planner did an excellent job, mapping winding roads through<br />
lovely countryside with driveable surfaces and after 1.5 hours, we were<br />
at Isaac Moore Park, Kenilworth for our coffee break.<br />
The rest rooms where a talking point. They were inspired by aboriginal<br />
fishing baskets, sponsored by the local community wishing <strong>to</strong> create a<br />
bush “dunny” with a difference.
The next section of hills, rolling paddocks and magnificent scenery <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
our group for a further couple of hours <strong>to</strong> the Cooroy Hotel <strong>to</strong> again<br />
experience a wonderful lunch and friendly conversation amongst the<br />
group.<br />
Thanks <strong>to</strong> Kerry Cook and Rod Barwick for organising and managing<br />
another successful MX5 run. Thanks also <strong>to</strong> visi<strong>to</strong>rs from other chapters<br />
and <strong>to</strong> the first timers. We enjoyed your company and hope <strong>to</strong> see you<br />
again.<br />
The run had a highlight in that the Cook family was represented three<br />
generations. Kerry, his son and two grandsons. Thank you <strong>to</strong> the young<br />
naviga<strong>to</strong>r Kyle and well-done young Ben for performing his first club<br />
drive.<br />
Another great Sunday had by all!
Wild Goose Chase<br />
by Steve and Annie McKell, Gold Coast, <strong>Sept</strong>ember<br />
This was our first time organizing the Gold Coast Chapter of the MX5<br />
Clubs monthly run and our beautiful climate didn’t disappoint. After<br />
Trevors address we set off from Mudgeeraba with 22 cars and 41 people<br />
on board, heading for Beechmont via The Panorama and boy what a<br />
spectacular view of the Gold Coast, up Beechmont with the fun twisting<br />
road that tends <strong>to</strong> bring out the enthusiast in a lot of us.
Once on <strong>to</strong>p, the views in all directions proves what a great part of the<br />
country we live in, then we were off down the other side of Beechmont<br />
heading for Henri Robert Drive which takes us up on <strong>to</strong> Tamborine<br />
Mountain.<br />
Once again more breath taking views as well as many film locations<br />
of some of the numerous movies that have been shot on the mountain<br />
including Beetle Juice, Runt, Scooby Doo, Thor <strong>Rag</strong>narok, Kong Skull<br />
Island and Dora Lost City of Gold, just <strong>to</strong> name a few.<br />
Then we went across the Mountain <strong>to</strong> our morning tea s<strong>to</strong>p at Geissman<br />
Oval.
After morning tea it was of back across the mountain <strong>to</strong> head down<br />
the infamous Mystery Road (not that bad really) in<strong>to</strong> the Guanaba area<br />
where there’s lots of horse properties and a couple of good roads as well.<br />
Then past the Gold Coast Mo<strong>to</strong>r Museum on<strong>to</strong> Tamborine Oxenford<br />
road for another climb up the mountain, then down through Gallery<br />
Walk with it’s cafes and boutiques <strong>to</strong> Geissman Rd <strong>to</strong> a second mountain<br />
descent on another fun road, <strong>to</strong>wards Tamborine Village.<br />
Then we turned in<strong>to</strong> Vonda Youngman Dr with its tricky blind crest<br />
which can put the unaware dangerously, on the wrong side of the road!<br />
From there it was a pretty straight forward run through Canungra in<strong>to</strong><br />
Clagiraba Rd for the last run <strong>to</strong> our lunch s<strong>to</strong>p at “The Beechmont”<br />
hotel, where they really love their smoker and their beef.
It’s in a great location and has very good food as the number in the Sunday<br />
crowd attested <strong>to</strong>. Many enjoyed their various cuts of smoked meats<br />
(have a look at the size of that smoker) and their unique burger made<br />
with a very generous slice of tender and oh so tasty, smokey brisket.<br />
Thanks <strong>to</strong> Beechmont management and staff for putting us on their<br />
elevated deck, it gave us all plenty of room. Also, big thanks <strong>to</strong> Trevor<br />
for the recce, the group leaders, tail end Charlies and those from other<br />
chapters that drove down for the day, it was great <strong>to</strong> see you all!<br />
We live on Tamborine Mountain and we’re so happy <strong>to</strong> share just a little<br />
snapshot of this spectacular place.<br />
The positive feedback was nice <strong>to</strong> hear, we hope you all enjoyed the run.<br />
Steve and Annie McKell<br />
P.S. We didn’t lose anybody.
Pho<strong>to</strong> Credits<br />
Winter Wanderings<br />
Sunrise pic: Hipcamp<br />
Rudds Pub: Trip advisor<br />
Road pic: Britz Campervans<br />
Lamb cutlets: Whats On Mudgee Region<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ric Blackjack Buggy Run<br />
Mount Alford and Moogerah Dam: PSMA Schools<br />
Museum Mystery Tour<br />
MX5s: MX5 Club Qld<br />
Boonah Golf Club Scenic Rim<br />
Fortitude Brewery: Fortitude Brewery<br />
Yamba Dabba Dooo Run<br />
Kyogle countryside: Kyogle Council<br />
Tattersalls Hotel: Australian Rural and Regional News<br />
Clarence floodplain: Research Gate, Peter Rose<br />
Tree <strong>Top</strong> Walk pics: Coffs Coast<br />
Ocean: CabaBreak<br />
The Falls Drive<br />
Twisty road: Unknown<br />
Queen Mary Falls and distant mountain pics: Nicky Clark<br />
Zooming MX5: Au<strong>to</strong>week<br />
Killarney Hotel: Trip Advisor<br />
Fathers Day Run<br />
Tree and Mt Pomona: Countryside Realty Noosa<br />
Cooroy Hotel: Eat Drink Cheap<br />
Steak at Cooroy Hotel: Trip advisor<br />
Wild Goose Chase<br />
Evening view from Panarama Rd: Realestate.com<br />
Daytime distant view <strong>to</strong> ocean: Booking.com<br />
Beechmont Hotel, burger and their massive smoker: Beechmont Hotel