Valla 2007
| This was going to be a special Valla. The 37
was returning after it left there back in 1999 on the back of a truck. It
was a great feeling to drive a rod that I had built to an event that is
regarded as one of the premium runs in the country. This was the ultimate
test. There were rodders that knew the 37 when it was last there. It will be
interesting to see if anyone recognises it.
Marg was happy to do the drive in one day. With an 86 litre tank, I knew we could make it with 2 stops, but I know Marg wanted a few "pit stops", so we had 4 scheduled stops. There was a delay when a fatality occurred involving a trike and a 4WD. That brought our excitement down for a while. Sad to see things like that. Both rider and passenger died. It took an hour or so for either of us to say anything. We arrived at Valla mid afternoon after a 7 1/2 hour drive. The 37 ran well, and the temperature of both the engine and gearbox was fine, even in the long traffic delay where we just crawled along for a few Kms. This is the first year where we didn't tow anything. We sold the camper trailer a few years back. This time, we booked a small cabin. It felt different not camping because being in a cabin seemed to be less social. Any way, it does have its advantages, like no setting up and less things to drag along. OK, where's the pictures I hear you say. They are coming, but I need to explain first that I like taking action shots, so many are just that. People actually driving them. The quality may not be perfect, but to get the feel of the run, I think it's better to show people having fun, either driving or partying. Most pictures are self explanatory, but I will add words where I feel something needs an explanation. |
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| This International pick up cruised a lot. Unusual to see, but looked right at home. The next pic is a radically chopped pick up, I'm told this was not only driven by a 19 year old girl, but she also built it. Great to see the fairer sex getting into it. Nice work as well. She cruised all week. |
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| Seems the fad of chopping and channeling to the extreme has reached Oz. Personally not my idea of a practical rod, but to each his own I guess. The next pic was my neighbour in the park, Dave. He built this from a pick up cowl and modified a Mercury front. Dave also hand built the bed. Powered by a 460 Ford. He had a few issues with fuel blockage and spent a lot of time working on it. Hope he sorts it out for next Valla. |
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| This 32? bus was very nice indeed and got plenty of attention. Well built with many fine touches. It was chosen in the top 10 best at the event, and deservedly so. |
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| This 34 Plymouth? looks a lot like a 33 Ford and fooled me the first time I spotted it back in the early 90s. This was very nice indeed, and I think was in the top 10 as well. |
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| Garry Ward, a prominent rod builder got this
37 finished just in time for Valla. His kids cruised in it most of the time. Next pic shows how some really got into the theme "Pirates and Wenches" doing their cabin up as a pirate's ship. |
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| This pic just shows some of the camping. Pic
was taken from my verandah.
The 37 as it was displayed at the show and shine, now topless.. I kept the stereo playing, that seemed to please many people. |
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| The theme night had many dressing up and ready to be judged. |
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| Some didn't need much work to look the part;-) |
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| Some weren't sure if they should be Pirates or Wenches..I think I picked the real wenches;-) Later on, the band cranked it up, so Marg and me hit the floor. |
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| This is a rare occasion when two original 37 roadsters are seen together. The other one is owned by friends, Pete and Lindy who live near Grafton. We cruised together to Bellingen for lunch, so I took the opportunity to take these pics. Pete's 37 is very nice indeed. Even though we had different visions of what we wanted our rods to be, I think they are both beautiful cars. Pete's 37 runs a Chevy with a modified Hillborn injection set up. Holden front end and Jag diff. It is also on air bags. A bit more traditional and accented pin stripes on the rear add the finishing touches. This was their first Valla in this 37 as well. Pete is lucky enough to also own another 37 roadster. I took pics of that at the last Valla we attended in 2004. How lucky is he?. |
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