Singergram, May 2023

NATIONAL SINGER RALLY, GOONDIWINDI 2023

IT HAS been four long years since the national Singer Car Club last held a rally. The Queensland Club were our hosts for this 22nd Rally on 7-10 April. It was with a sense of adventure Ivan and I packed our things and ensured the trailer, Pajero and loved Singer LeMans were in good order to journey over flood damaged highways, staying over 3 consecutive nights at Hay, Dubbo and Narrabri, before arriving safely in Goondiwindi. It was a relief to have those overnight stays to recover from driving over many hours only stopping only for petrol and toilet needs. We had healthy snacks, water and nuts to alleviate pangs of hunger or boredom along the way. I dozed off sometimes whilst Ivan was driving. We don’t think we will do such a long trip again trailering the Singer when the roads are bad. Semi-trailers were more prevalent than ordinary traffic also adding to the strain of driving.

We arrived at our destination around 1.00pm on Good Friday. Ivan set about unloading the Singer, getting it under our sheltered verandah. A storm was building thanks to cyclone Ilsa playing havoc over large parts of our continent. Stephen, Wendy and Robert were still to arrive. We had seen drenching rain in Narrabri but our Singer was well sealed and came out of that unscathed. A particularly vicious rain and wind front then descended upon us, so powerful that I thought a large palm beside the pool looked like it would lift from the ground and fly away like a wayward balloon.

SINGER CAR CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA Inc

(To preserve the marque and unite the owners)

MeetingsareheldonthesecondMondayofselectedmonthsat:

Seven22 Bistro, 722 Port Rd, Beverley

Meet at 6.00 pm for a great meal or just attend the meeting from 7.00 pm.

OFFICERSFOR2023 President

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Editor:TrevorBailey,tel.0402434398

singergramsingergram@gmail.com

Please send all material for the next edition to the above email address by 18 August 2023

Note, it is not necessary for articles to be about Singers anything of interest to memberswillbeconsidered.

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Trevor Goondiwindi, continued…

It was a dramatic start to our rally as all participants stood under their verandahs, mesmerised by the sheer strength of Mother Nature. However, the sun eventually shone through and we were able to contest the first heat of the Rocker car races before the evening dinner. Our “racer” had mixed results.

Only five members from our Club ― Stephen and Wendy Bitmead, Robert Martin and ourselves attended the rally but we made our presence known. The Jolly Swagman Motor Inn was rally headquarters. We were all welcomed by the President of the Queensland Club, Derek Gardner, who wished us all a happy time enjoying the countryside of Goondiwindi.

We adjourned early as we were tired from the trip and knew it to be an early start Saturday for the obligatory Observation Run and also a visit to the “MacIntyre Cotton Gin” No, ’tis not an alcohol distillery but an enterprise which turns raw cotton into huge cotton bales. It was a most informative and enlightening tour. These days the process involves much scientific research to ensure the cotton is of the highest quality.

The observation run came next. Ivan and I travelled around much of the township in our Singer, attempting to answer our sheet of questions. It allowed us to also see the Botanic Park and the town river where we had to ascertain which way it ran! hah! hah! It was quite fun with no arguments between us over the questions this Rally.

[Ed: I hope the red car isn’t Queensland Police snapping you for speeding in your Junior, Stephen & Wendy!]

Goondiwindi, continued…

At lunch we met up at the Natural Heritage Water Park, where the Rotary Club and Goondiwindi District Vehicle Restorers’ Association looked after us with a Hamburger Sausage Sizzle. We enjoyed a relaxing time whilst our cars, all parked in their categories, were judged by members of the GDVRA for the prizes of Rally Champion, People’s Choice and Best in Show. We returned to Rally Headquarters arriving around midafternoon for the second heat of the Rocker Cover Races and to make ready for the Saturday evening raceday theme night.

We were invited to dress up as if we were going to a day at the races. Ivan wore a sports jacket with no shirt as he went as a gambling man who “lost the shirt off his back”. I thought that was most creative but would you believe Bruce McDonald also had the same idea. Some photos of our SA group were taken. We looked the part, to be sure. The boys from Geelong, Dean Handran and Jamie Whelan, won the best dressed, decked to the nines as “jockey and horse”. They were unrecognisable in full drag and totally entertained our gathering.

We had been bused to The Victoria Hotel for our Race night Rendezvous dinner. Raffle prizes were also drawn. We came away winning a standard fan. It was a good fun night. We arrived back to our accommodation around 10.00pm. Some of our neighbours kicked on under the verandah, but they were happy noises that did not stop us from entering dreamland.

Easter Sunday was a run of 56 kms to the small town of Yelarbon, departing at 10.30 am, followed by a visit to the Goondiwindi Customs House which was full of memorabilia from Colonial times. Morning tea was provided by way of damper, tea or coffee and after once more enjoying lovely hospitality, we commenced our journey to Yelarbon.

We had a good run in our car on a minor road arriving for a photo opportunity with 6 or 7 beautifully painted silos as our backdrop.

Goondiwindi, continued…

Following lunch at the Oasis Hotel and a talk by one of the locals we left this little township and journeyed back to Goondiwindi to rest up and make ready for another bus trip to the local O’Shea’s Royal Hotel, where the Rally Dinner and trophy presentation were to occur. Buses were our transport, which was good after all the driving we accomplished each day. After a pleasant alternate drop dinner came the trophy presentations.

The children’s final of the Rocker Cover Racers were won by an interstate participant’s grandchildren and the adult prize went to Terry Curtis of NSW. The Rally Champion Perpetual Trophy went to Michelle and Neil Walter Qld, for their Singer Special built by Jim Bertram. Unfortunately Jim was unable to make this rally to see the results of his vision of a road racer version of a Singer. Michelle drives it with love, as it should be driven with gusto. The best in show trophy went to Henry Kalazich of NSW for his immaculate 1935 Singer LeMans. Ivan thanked the Queensland Club for a great rally and then announced the 2025 Rally would most likely be held on a date other than Easter and Victor Harbor could be the venue.

Easter Monday saw us heading a short distance to a privately owned ‘Sculpture Park’ whose owners have created an astonishing garden, art gallery and homes alongside the riverbank. Morning tea again provided and a group of fellows from the Men’s Shed displayed their wares. I purchased a wooden bowl for my granddaughter now oiled with walnut oil. Beautiful. We enjoyed this event very much. As we attempted to depart for our next stop and lunch, the LeMans would not start so Ivan turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and guess what, no luck. An electrical fuse had also blown.

Thank you to the people who offered to help Ivan. Negative me said “let’s get the trailer”, but Ivan and others persevered tweaking here and there and we were on our way again. Several others had already departed on their homeward journeys, so those of us staying Monday night and departing Tuesday am travelled along a mainly straight sealed road to Toobeah for approximately 45kms for lunch at the Coronation Hotel. It was a great road for cars wanting to have a really good work out. We weren’t too sure about the Singer after its bad behaviour at the Sculpture Park. However it never missed a beat for the remainder of its time in Goondiwindi. It flew along the highway and we had an enjoyable lunch in the Toobeah Hotel with Kate and Steve Redford.

We returned to our motel mid-afternoon to begin packing for our homeward trip. Ivan and I decided we would bypass Narrabri and only stay at Dubbo and Hay, which we successfully negotiated and finally arrived home around 4.30 pm on Thursday night. We were very tired and glad to be home safe and sound after an enjoyable time catching up with fellow participants.

Well done Singer Car Club of Queensland! [Ed: and well done, Sue, for such a magnificent write-up1]

Susan Margitich

HUMOUR CORNER

A well-off retiree was driving her brand new BMW up to 100 mph along the motorway towards Scotland. Looking in her rear view mirror, she saw a police car behind her. She floored it to 140 mph, then 150, then 155. Suddenly, she thought, "I'm too old for this nonsense!" So she pulled over and waited for the police car to catch up with her. A policewoman walked up to the speedster, looked at her watch and said, "Madam, my shift ends in ten minutes. Today is Friday and I'm taking off for the weekend with my family. If you can give me a good reason that I've never heard before, why you were speeding... I'll let you go."

The woman looked very seriously at the policewoman, and replied, "Years ago, my husband ran off with a young policewoman ― I thought you were bringing him back!!” The policewoman left saying, "Have a good day, Madam!"

FOR SALE & WANTED TO BUY

Singergram is happy to display For Sale and Wanted to Buy ads for up to 3 issues, unless cancelled or extended by request to the Editor (see contact details p.2).

FORSALE

1933 Singer 9 Roadster, with Dickie Seat

Contact Peter Wright 0419 800 917 pedaw@lm.net.au

Did you know? ― The Singer Car Club of Australia 2023 Calendar has pictures of Ivan & Sue’s magnificent Le Mans on the April page:

More

pictures from the All British Day 2023

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Please advise Stephen Bitmead (Events Coordinator) of any changes or additions to our Calendar of Events (see contact details p. 2 of this Singergram).

MAY

7 British Classics Tour, McLaren Vale to Victor Harbor: https://britishclassicstour.com.au/

21 Picnic at Thorndon Park Reservoir, BYO from 11.30am

JUNE

4 Club annual dinner, Bridgewater Hotel, from 11.30am

12 Monthly meeting

JULY

tba Xmas in July Lunch (combined Rootes groups)

AUGUST

14 Monthly meeting

tba Combined Rootes Group event organised by Singer Club

SEPTEMBER

tba

Old Government House, Belair ― combined Rootes Group event organised by Sunbeam Club

OCTOBER

9 Monthly meeting

15 Bay to Birdwood

NOVEMBER

tba Combined Rootes Group event organised by Humber Club

DECEMBER

3 or 10 Club Xmas Lunch

FEBRUARY 2024

12 AGM

APRIL 2025

8-11 Singer National at Victor Harbor (formerly Singer National Rally)