Category Car Shows

Nov 6 2018

Brisbane Convoy for Kids

After 9 years, Brisbane’s convoy for kids has really started to make its mark on Queensland’s Calendar. Raising a gobsmacking 25 million in the first 8 years, this charity has started from humble beginnings to now become a much looked forward to event.

This year 547 trucks joined the convoy from Brisbane’s Forest Lake on the Southside to Redcliffe Showgrounds on the Northside of Brisbane. That’s not just 547 trucks, there were the drivers, their support crews, employers and families.

Truckies finish off an already full work week, polishing and cleaning their rigs ready for the convoy. Some working into the night to bring out every last bit of shine possible.Barnes Auto Co were one of the companies to send a number of trucks, their total was 8. Assisting a little with the clean up, I then rode along on the convoy.

The day was to prove interesting, exciting and, in places, humorous. Although I’m left wondering if the truckie, who whilst sitting waiting in his truck, amongst the many rows of rigs for the event to start, announced over the radio he was going to order Uber eats, would have ever received his meal! Certainly gave us all a laugh!

What an incredibly heartwarming experience the day was. Everywhere the public could, they lined the streets and sought vantage points to view this incredible spectacle. Cheering, waving and clapping those trucks and their drivers on.

Parents were showing the little ones how to pump their arms so the drivers would pull on those air horns. Kids faces were lit up with the sheer glory of seeing this rumbling, honking mass of sparkling steel on wheels bypass them.

Listening to drivers talking on their radios, we heard some saying how they were blown away with the sight of so many people supporting them in the cause they in turn were supporting. It was incredible.

More so when we live in a time and age where so many run the trucking industry down. And yet, here were these hardworking guys, giving up what for most of them was a precious weekend day off, to support this worthy cause and becoming the heroes of the day. Many had their own families along, with a number of excited kids happy to be riding in their parents rig.

The Showgrounds was a place of wonderment for the kids. There was a petting zoo, rides, big sandpit, all of which were free for those children today, as well as an array of food and general purchase choices. Around every corner there was something different, even displays by the Pine Rivers historical society..Many companies had donated goods to the auction. Some going for a very cheap price compared to their actual worth. However all funds were donated to the kids. Today was all about preserving our future.

The logistics behind the successful organisation of this event, would be the result of hard work and effort. Not an easy job. This year the increase in the trucks from just over 400 for 2017 made it harder for everyone to co-ordinate. Many trucks had left the Showgrounds by the time the trophy ceremony began in early evening. Only because those drivers had completed a long couple of days and needed to have those trucks safely back in yards for the night. Some would be preparing for a new work day,

I believe everyone involved from organisers to sponsors, participants, families, supporters, employers, employees and simply anyone who gave a piece of themselves or something to this event deserves a big thank you. It is truely an impressive day for a wonderful cause.

See you there next year!

For more on Brisbane and surrounds check:

https://snaptravelblog.com/brisbane-city-hall-clock-tower-tour/

Feb 27 2016

Queensland Auto Museum – Hampton

After an enjoyable Sunday Drive, our final destination for the day was this intriguing museum, located down a red dirt road in Hampton.   So much for those lovely shiny cars 😄!

Your first view are the cars from years gone by, lined up along the driveway, leading to the entrance.  They’re not clean, nor shiny, simply sitting there, rejuvenating those distant memories, associated with cars, from over the years.  Cars are joined by motorbikes, dinghys, and more memorabilia as you approach the Bobby Dazzler Cafe.

 Everywhere you look, including over your head, on tables, in the gardens, there is something else that will jog the memory cogs.  

  
We chose to fill the bellies, before venturing into the museum.   With quite a large group, we had let them know to expect us.   A simple menu, with revved up burgers the mainstay, plus a specials board, it still took some deliberation to decide upon your choice. 

  Reasonably priced, there were a few desserts, some cakes, soft drinks, and a variety of coffees available, with bushells tea for the tea drinkers.

Service was friendly, food beautifully fresh and most enjoyable, however unfortunately, on this occasion, the kitchen was unable to cope.   Meals were delivered two at a time with no rhyme or reason and very long gaps in between,   I had finished my fish and chip meal below just as hubby was delivered his burger.   Luckily though the quaility of the food was higher than expected for an out of the way cafe.    Not only was the fish tasty, chips just right, the salad was a superb coleslaw / salad style mix. 

 Hubby of course, chose a burger.   Today it was the Big Block Burger which looked like a small high rise building! 

 There were no complaints from hubby about his lunch, although he did start to struggle to finish!  The comment was passed that not only was the salad and contents tasty , the bun was also very fresh.

After lunch it was time to head the non-descript doorway, where a variety of bits and pieces were scattered around, and view the contents within.   At $12.50 per adult, the entry fee is reasonable enough.  Upon stepping through the doorway, you feel yourself immediately pulled back into the past.  It’s not just cars in here, there is everything from those bygone eras.    Any adult  who cannot find something in here to jog a memory or two, must have lived in a bubble.    From telephones that stayed in one place and you could only answer if you were home, to an old caravan kitted out with the basic essentials.   The old tvs that every now and then coped a thump on the side to restore the picture or provided the shelf for a well placed screwdriver as a threat to what would happen if they didn’t work.  Oh yes I remember the pain associated with learning to touch type on these… Not from the typewriter itself but from the strict typing teacher with metre rule in hand, stalking through the classroom, distributing well placed blows across the knuckles with said ruler if one was spied by her eagle eyes, even glancing towards the key.  You had no choice but to learn to touch type, and type fast!

There’s a corner dedicated to the vehicles owned by Peter Brock.  Always a draw card for those who enjoy keeping up with  racing legend history.
Fill in a day with an enjoyable drive out this way.  There’s a lot to see and do, even the kids find this stuff fascinating, until the novelty wears off anyway!