CORVETTE CAPERS IN THE CAPITAL – EASTER 2015
This year’s Australian Corvette Convention was hosted by Corvettes of Canberra. Seven South Oz Vettes made the trip over for an Easter of Corvette fun and socialising. The first group left Adelaide to take three easy days driving to get there. Led by John & Jenny were Ruthie & I, Gary & Cathy, Dale & Barb and Alan with Tina hitching a ride. The next day Neil & Christeen with Margaret and the Little Leaf Eater - Laurie took off with the plan to catch up with us and a number of other Vettes travelling from Melbourne. We all met up at Gundagai and it is great when a plan comes together. All cars made it there safely and within a half hour of each other. After a quick pit stop, we were off for the last leg into Canberra and meet up with Doug & Jan who flew in.
This year, the Convention was based at the Pavilion on Northbound which made for an easily accessible and easy to find base. After the usual registrations, finding our rooms etc., it was a quick car wash and settle in at the bar for a sherbet or two. That evening was the ‘Gutter Party’. Atmosphere was ‘as normal’, friendly, relaxed and people from different clubs mixed well. This feel was carried on through the whole convention, which was a credit to the Canberra organiser’s.
Saturday morning and it was off early for a quick photo shoot in front of the Old Parliament House and then park the cars up for the Show & Shine. The weather was threatening but other than some brief drizzle, luck held out and the rain stayed away. Saturday was really the only opportunity for a good look around the Australian War Memorial, so a group of us headed off looking for a bus to take us there. Oh, this was all too hard so some taxied it there and Ruth, Christeen, Neil & I legged it. Seemed like a good idea at the time! A visit here is a must for all Australians, and it was great way to spend the day.
That evening, the Canberra club had pulled off a good one. We were all bussed back to the War Memorial some elected for a private guided tour before our dinner, which was under the wings of G for George, the famous Lancaster Bomber. A special once in a life time experience.
Sunday came and we were off again, this time in the Vettes heading for the town of Temora. Temora has a great Aviation Museum with two flying Spitfires and a host of other rare aircraft. While we were there, Alan was asked if he could supply his Vette for a photo shoot in front of a rare Vietnam war era army aircraft owned by the head of Australia’s armed forces. This doesn’t happen every day. Later in the day during lunch, the local newspaper’s photographer showed up and asked Ruth & I to pose with our car and a C1 for their write up on the Corvettes coming to town. Could this because one of us is a ‘Hottie’!
At Sunday’s presentation dinner, the Canberra guys surprised us all with the trophies. Their thinking was “Everyone’s a Winner” when you have a Corvette. How true. So on this, they presented everyone there with a trophy. A really cool gesture.
Hats off to the Canberra Club. They are a relatively small club members wise but put on a really good, friendly and relaxed convention. Well done guys.
Monday was departure day. Laurie, Neil and the girls took off for home. Gary & Cathy then left to visit friends on the way back. The rest of us had a slight delay while Alan found ways to improve his fuel economy. Fix the two leaks in your fuel tank, works every time! A special mention must be made here. Two guys from the Canberra club came to the aid of Alan. Terry was one of the convention organisers and made his workshop available to repair the C3. Then there was Craig who Alan had already met over a Corvette forum but not in person until this weekend. Craig supplied Alan the required O ring and tools to do the job. Terrific guys. “Thanks”.
All made it back to Adelaide safely and were happy we made the effort to go. A great trip and a really great convention.
Article by Stuart van Doorn