DOUG ASHDOWN Winter In America

ELIMINATORS show, Beenleigh.

 Love the look of this...

 Plenty of swap sites, but nothing much of interest to me.

 Another new coupe, and Dions roadster is off to a new owner.

 Ronnie!.....the roadster sees the light of day again...been way too long hidden in the shed!

 Always like these.....but think I would have to put a Model A grille surround on it..

 Either I'm getting forgetful, or are their more cars getting registered...don't remember seeing this one before..

 Lookatit....flat attack....

 FUGLY.....I don't think so...I love these cab-overs

 Reminds me of the FJ I had when I met Anita....this was one of the best lookers there!

 And where did this steel deuce pop up from...another one I don't know about!

 And another two....who owns all these hot rods.....and with Valla on, I'm surprised at just how many hot rods there were at this show.

How much green paint must Scrivo have mixed over the years.......

 Now that's different....that F600 was immaculate, as was the F100..

Top coupe again...congrats for a well deserved win...must have been the new steelies.

More Mid-September Stuff.....

 Now, if you want to follow Dale Grau s travels, he blogs his hot rod trips on www.thedeuceguy.blogspot.com ...he's the one that got me started on this...here's Dale (L) with Charlie (r) at the Deuce Reunion, at Lost Pines, Texas....

 And happy birthday to my good mate ,Charlie.....70 years old today....have fun at the reunion next weekend...I'll send some aussies to keep you under control!!

 So, today (Sept 19) was another of my mid week runs to somewhere....a nice drive through the backroads from Marburg until we ended up at Lowoods Club Hotel...not a bad roll-up, a dozen cars, 23 people, it was great to see the interest in these mid week runs, just a low key drive with lunch with friends....next one is to Montville!

 My brother in law Col took his Camaro along, and his brother in law Brian came in his 64 Fairlane coupe.......nothing like keeping it in the family........we even Ten Pin Bowl together every week!!

 Girls..Boys...Gotta keep em separated....sounds like a song.....food was great here, just nice to sit and catch up for a couple of hours....left Brissy at 9:30, home by 4, perfect!

Wirrrrrrrrrr.......what's that?...can't here for the quick-change! Daves roadster always looks great, can't wait to see the Tudor when it's done.

This is a good week!...regos and birthdays!

September always seems to have lots of birthdays.....must have been those end of year parties...anyway, happy 33rd to my son Chris...I was always proud of what he did, but sure glad he doesn't do the freestyle anymore...scary to watch!!

 Also, while we're well wishing...happy 60th to Mal, "The Carbalah Kid"

 Last minute to do jobs before rego on the roadster, was to quieten it a bit, and the easiest was to make some inserts for the 2 1/4' pipe. had Scott at Cleveland Exhaust pump some 2" up until it fitted neatly inside the 2 1/4"..then radially drilled some expansion holes...this wasn't enough, so I welded another scrap piece, cut angled tabs into the pipe, and bent them inwards, so it disturbs the flow, and now, it is noticeably better....I just drove them inside the existing tailpipes, and hello...job done!

 Dumb-ass me never thought to check the drive gear for the toploader...I had an XE pulse sender, and thinking it was C4...it would fit the 4 speed..wrong!!..the one on the right is correct...but after fitting it all up, it didn't seem to send the right message to the TPI speedo.....quick call to Darren at Oz-Rods is needed!!

 Darren sent me the new pulse sender, Glenn connected it temporarily, we put a drill on the end, and presto....needle started moving.....had to saw off the excess brass so it would clear the exhaust, but it all went in and it works...had to have the speedo reading for rego purposes, they wouldn't accept it without!

 So, down I go...three trips, but that's 'cause I didn't take ALL paperwork needed...double check this to save some grief....so I put it on LH9 limited rego, and with the new $4 per hundred stamp duty....the $190 or so yearly fee cost me $1553 for the initial payment....who says Queenslands going broke!...also decided to tack some insurance on to my existing Tudors policy..Shannons does great coverage,cost $466.

 My hiccup was the plates that I have owned for 15 years...I forgot they are in BOTH names, so back to get all Anitas particulars added...I could have just taken the "S" plates, but wouldn't look right without the OOO 032 on it...first job I did...took the wipers off and stored them under the seat for a rainy day!...Might even take it for a cruise this Sunday to the ELIMINATORS show/shine/swap at Beenleigh.

Good last minute news from tonight...Darren has had the TAC done and it all passed on the coupe...rego Friday morning..Valla Friday arvo, that's the plan....this car would have to be one of the coolest hot rods ever built in Aus...No need for "bling" ..just a clever combination of original patina, with high quality detail and finish underneath ...Top Ten everywhere, I'd say!...I hope it never gets painted, just leave it original! 

Overdriven Hotrod Downunder

Mid September!....the time gets by so quick..

 Reminder about Thursdays run to Lowood, we will end up for lunch at the Club Hotel...plenty of parking opposite.

 Hope the weather is nice for the drive ....it's pouring here at the moment, but should be clear for the 19th.

 Meeting place is at the KFC, Redbank Plains..around 10 a.m.  will leave about 10:30.

 Travel up the road to Marburg, then across to Lowood on the Glemorganvale Rd.

 Getting closer....have the seat trimmed and installed, as well as the carpet....I just have some Ford Toploader/pulse sender/TPI Tech gauge issues to solve first, I will photograph all the bits later to show how easy you can get mixed up with LH or RH driven gears, 2 or 3 wire senders, ....maybe I should have stuck with the old cable driven speedo........anyway, my research should help others solve this mix n match deal

 Coffee moring last Sunday...another good roll-up, even though it clashed with B'desert Swap....this improved A had a Donovan 4 cylinder....lots of dollars here!

 Think there was about 30 this time...some new faces (and cars)..good to see.

 Next month, the run is on Bathurst day....we (might) be having the carspark over in front of the Auto 1 behind...maybe a big TV so we can watch the start.....will advise!!

Had to use the sedan to bring Johnny and Cara back from the wedding reception...congrats on your marriage, and thanks Doug, for also bringing your 57 Hardtop down to get them there...

Todays blog has been brought to you by the letter "A"

 Les Winter has used most of Winter-time to get his sedan delivery ready for the road..

 So, he has re-vamped the frame a few times over the years....but it's nearly done.

 Tri-carb SB, with a Toploader, and Quickchange......nice!

 This time next week....should be back on the wheels with the body on again!

 Darren has a deadline to meet....Valla Park rod run is now only a week away...lots of late nights here....Andos wiring is first class...uses the ribbon style harness

 Rumpity small block sounds tough.....original patina is great as well.

 Here's how you get away with big offset rims, floater kit has been made to work with the drum brake 8" rear.

Soon to be new Dad, Gary Mole has done a lot anyway on his roadster....this will be another great car when finished.....