MG MGA Australian National Meeting 2017 and Tour BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net

MG MGA - Australian National Meeting 2017 and Tour

The 'White Lady' arrived in Adelaide from England and all manner of small issues followed: brake light switch failed [again!]; rear brake cylinder leaking; running rich; starter switch failed; zip on tonneau cover broke.. A rocky start followed by a fantastic Natmeet and Kimber Run to wine region McLaren Vale and Strathalbyn south of Adelaide. Great camaraderie and met up with many of the Aussies who joined Stuart Mumby's 2015 MGA 60 LE-JoG. Now on our own tour through to Victoria, the Great Ocean Road, stunning scenery but stormy and cold, sorry to say the hood was raised yesterday. Now onwards to Melbourne and will meet a few of the Victorians. Doug

Doug Wallace

As you know Doug we did the 1900 km round trip the easy way!

Mike Ellsmore

Hi Ian, I changed the starter switch before leaving Adelaide so that is fine now. This loud noise was a mystery - until I discovered a fan had been fitted within the large ducting from the grille to the air filters, and had been wired to the previously unused fog lamp switch {59 years never used}. I had inadvertently flicked on this switch and the noise of the fan could be heard above the engine running. Ian Cowen, so sorry Qld is not on the map for us now; we tried to see an orthopaedic surgeon in Adelaide for Yani's knee, no luck, so now we are in Melbourne and trying to arrange a consultation with a surgeon here, looks like next monday.. Cheers, Doug Pic. On the Great Ocean Road, with a bus load of Chinese tourists attracted to the MGA.

Doug Wallace

Aussie Tour After the spectacular Great Ocean Road we headed up to Macedon, north-west of Melbourne, to visit Ian Northcott and stay with Ian & Stephanie at their beautiful large property in the forest and enjoy Ian's MGs. Onwards to Melbourne for medical issues, a tour of the wineries of the Mornington peninsula, then up to the wineries of the beautiful Yarra Valley, but not beautiful weather! Tony Ford's suggestion to drive Warburton - Marysville was followed - surely one of the best drives ever in the White Lady. Return to Melbourne to meet the Victorian MGCC members at their monthly meeting tomorrow, with a pre-meeting dinner with Victorians who joined the 2015 MGA 60 LE-JoG. Before leaving Adelaide for the Great Ocean Road old Jakarta hand Dave Anderson surreptitiously displayed his professional skills: https://youtu.be/mLOmb7urBZU Australia: a great HUGE country! Doug

Doug Wallace

Gary, As we previously discussed, possibly the greatest hurdle facing overseas visitors planning to bring their own cars to tour in Australia is the Insurance issue: I found this the toughest challenge to overcome. If Shannons could change their inward-looking mentality and offer good insurance options for visiting car club members, this would be a first step forward. The fact that Stuart Mumby's 2015 MGA 60 LE-JoG attracted 20 Aussie MGAs and zero from North America {where the largest number of MGAs was originally exported and where NAMGAR is strong} and zero from Europe {with the sole exception of Charles from Madeira}, surely this says a thing or two of you Australians - the Antipodean spirit of travel and adventure is alive in your own country and extends to a desire to travel in Europe and visit the old country. When I lived in Earls Court, London, in the late '60s that part of London was referred to as 'Kangaroo Valley' with Aussies and Kiwis living and working, buying a camper van and travelling around Europe for months on end. On a different vein, we have yesterday been royally treated at the MG Car Club Victoria's annual meeting, President Ian Prior and his colleagues displaying extraordinary MG hospitality to Yani and me, making this 2017 Natmeet and Australian tour an experience we will always remember, And Tasmania beckons in 2018. Cheers, Doug Pic. MGA Register badge presented to us yesterday

Doug Wallace

We arrived back in Bali after late flight from Adelaide, and the 'White Lady' will ship from Port Adelaide mid-June back to UK. Our initial plan to join Dave Godwin and his Gold Coast members on their return home through Alice Springs and the Outback was changed at the 11th hour owing to Yani's knee. Our new route took us to enjoy the stunning drive along the renowned Great Ocean Road, built by returning Servicemen after the First World War; visit the wineries of the Mornington Peninsula; spend time with Ian Northcott and his MGs at his wonderful ranch in the woodlands of Macedon. An invitation followed to join the Victoria MG Car Club annual meeting and enjoy the warm hospitality of Ian and Pam Prior and the Victorians. One of the highlights in terms of MG driving must be the winding mountain road through deep forests from Warburton to Marysville {thank you Tony Ford for this suggestion}, a town which was virtually wiped out by bush-fires not many years ago. The Yarra Valley and more winery visits was well worth seeing, especially meeting an MG TC owner at the roadside in Healesville. In Melbourne we were fortunate to arrange an orthopaedic surgeon to carry out an operation on Yani's knee at short notice, necessitating a 10 day recovery before attempting to get into the MGA's cramped cockpit! A new route was chosen to drive back to Adelaide, longer and less stunningly scenic than the Great Ocean Road, but interesting and showing us more of Australia: Echuca, then following the Murray River to Swan Hill, Robinvale and briefly into NSW to arrive at Mildura, and a wonderful culinary experience at Stefano's Restaurant {thanks to Mike Ellsmore for the instruction to reserve!}. A few days back in Adelaide with Dave and further winery visits in McLaren Vale, hoping to meet Bob Bazzica, instead bumped into MGA Coupe owner, the enthusiastic Andrew McIntyre. Despite a number of minor hiccups with the White Lady after the car arrived from England, she performed superbly over several thousand kilometers, carrying us in comfort, weather changeable so hood up and open top alternately. An Aussie Adventure definitely worth the effort of bringing our own MGA. Our plans are afoot for joining the Australia MGCC National Meeting 2018 in Tasmania, and enjoying more of this vast country. MGA owners considering a trip overseas on your Bucket List please think of Oz, the MG Natmeet is held every year at Easter, a huge gathering of MGs, the MG folk are enthusiastic, helpful and hospitable with no limits; please feel free to contact me for any help or information.. it would be great to see a few more overseas folk at this fantastic event. Doug

Doug Wallace

Hi Doug and Yani Our daughter ,now with us in the UK visiting from Melbourne sent this picture of your car at Chandon in the Ybarra Valley on May 5th? Small world to catch you there. As an A owner she obviously looks out for A in Oz. Happy driving Wish we were there!!! Brian

Brian Paddon

Hi Doug We stayed just outside Hobart over Easter 2015 and our daughter hired a SUV?. She drove us around some outstanding scenic areas, ideal in an A. Guess you are back in Norfolk now waiting for your car to return. Here is a picture of our A as requested Brian

Brian Paddon

If anyone wants to combine MG's (especially T Types) with wineries in Melbourne then watch for our Maintaining the Breed rally to Domaine Chandon. Probably our biggest social rally which runs every second year. Next one will be next year, maybe April?, see MGCC of Victoria calendar to confirm the date. You can just make out the Priors green Y Tourer in the photo. Tassie is also brilliant MG driving country and we will be there next Easter for the National Rally. Matthew.

M Magilton

This thread was discussed between 27/04/2017 and 08/06/2017

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