AOA 2019 - Day 3 Report

Wednesday started out with the second heat of the Rocker Cover Races. Unfortunately, our fancied Presidential machine was ingloriously knocked out by a bitter rival, and being no avenue for a re-run, the umpire’s decision was final. Ken may return to Port Stephens with a new contender, probably using golf balls - his favourite sport.

In the meantime, it was a run to Kapunda, 37 kms from Tanunda. This was an easy run and most cars were parked in the grassed centre of the Kapunda Trotting Track. The cars were in rows according to the decade of manufacture and this was a great way to view all the cars from the grandstand area. It was here we were given morning tea and later, a baked potato lunch.

Narene Backhouse from Ballarat delighted everyone with period costumes to match her 1956 A30; she had a different one for each day.

Allan Hodges from NSW with his display of Austin A40 memorabilia, proudly holding up the calendar from the 2017 Ipswich AOA.

Some of us were ‘volunteered’ into the Funkhana (thanks Kev) to compete for our state. Two cars represented each state, with the Hayes 1934 Six Cabriolet and my Freeway doing the honours. I needed a navigator and in turn UK Freeway owner, Alf Grant was shanghaied into the passenger seat. I thought we did appallingly badly, so Steve and Bob Hayes must have done really well with the advantage of an open car as Queensland won the day.

Again, an easy run home in time for a barbecue dinner at the Chateau with a guest speaker from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.