Trip to Innisfail from Alice
 

Hi there Blair, There is a good chance I will be driving the Cobra to Innisfail in September, Should try to catch up.

Also will be passing through (probably stay the night) in Townsville and Mt Isa, So any other members want to catch up?

Blair my short memory has me struggleing to remember, but I think early September is still as dry as the North Qld coast gets (less rain?)

If there is any time to drive the Cobra in the 'Fail, it is September!! Chances are only 50/50 that you will get wet.

I should be around in September (apart from going to the Cape) so when you know the dates let me know and we'll organise a cruise with some other Cobras in Cairns.

Was told by the minister of funds that it will be more like first week in October when heading over.
ronda is going to a friends birthday party at end of October, but will be there for 1 month.
She is flying home approx 1st November.
Ronda will be arriving about the 4th October, so I will be leaving Alice around 2nd October, 3 days to get there, stay about 9 days then head back with 3 day travel aim to arrive home on Saturday 16th.

Detour
 

Could always leave a few days earlier, do the Nationals at Goulburn then a quick scoot up the coast to Innisfail. **)
Cheers
BJ

The thought has crossed my mind, If I did do it though, I most likely would not be racing.
Need to be sure I could make it home, I only have 1 Ford bit (the diff) and would hate to be stopped because of it (I am happy the Holden bits will survive :)

Hey there Qld guys, what are your plans on return trip from Nationals to Brisvegas?

Boxhead
Love to see you when you come through Townsville. I'm sure we can find you and your wife a bed and get some of the guys together for a meet etc (we have 12 cobra's in Townsville and surrounds along with blair and a few in cairns). let me know your dates when you get them finalised so we can organise to meet.

give me a call sometime. home 07 47887016 or work 07 47213522

colin

Ok, this is all locked in for me now.

I am leaving Alice Springs on Friday 1st October and driving to Mt Isa on that day, Saturday 2nd is Mt Isa to Townsville, Would be good to catch Townsville Cobra guys either Saturday arvo/evening (wont be a late one as I reckon I will be a bit second hand after driving the Cobra 2077kls in 2 days on my own), or we can meet early on Sunday 3rd if that suits beter.
I am also catching up with some Chrysler guys some time on Sunday.
I need to leave Townsville at about 2pm so I can drive upto Tully and catch my old golf mates walking off the course before continuing the last 50kls to Innisfail.


Now a question to anyone who has done a big drive with limited space.
I have a sat phone, I have 4 new tyres ordered (fitted before I leave) and I will be joining roadside assistance, I will take a small tool chest with an array of spanners, screwdrivers tools.
Also carry water and engine oil.
Will also have spare radiator hoses and blank off connectors on heater hose.
I honestly will struggle to find room to fit a small multifit tyre and rim but will take one if I can.
I have never had to change a tyre on any of my cars on the side of the road (touch wood) and have done many long long drives around most of Australia.
Is there anything else I should think about taking?

Colin, I will give you a call probably early next week.

"I honestly will struggle to find room to fit a small multifit tyre and rim but will take one if I can."

What will you do with the big tyre and wheel if you get a flat :eek:

Cheers and good luck.

BJ

That was another reason not to carry a spare.

Throw in a couple of cans of fixa-flat. You might want to look at some of the other tyre repair options. I've seen in one of the bike mags a kit with screw in plastic inserts. You pull the nail or whatever from the tyre and screw this thing in, snap the end off and jobs right. I'll probably get one to throw in the boot of my cobra.

Cheers

I have 4x4 versions of the kit your talking about Mike, You push a rubber plug through the hole in tyre.
I will also need to get a small 12v air compressor I guess.

Chatted with Colin in Townsville earlier this week.
Sounds like plans are being made for a trip to a tea house in the hills for a coffee and chat, Colin is going to try and rouse a few of the other Townsville guys for the trip, Thanks for that Colin, looking forward to meeting you and any other Townsville guys.

Changed oil and filter in the Cobra today, then had plans for yard work in the afternoon, but sadly, The Red Centre, is still very much The Wet Centre. So I decided to make some brackets and attempt to fit some spotlights, not that I wil need them as I plan on no night driving.
But I was enjoying myself in the shed playing with the Cobra so I stayed out there looking for things to do.
Here they are all fitted up, I have removed them and painted all brackets to refit tomorrow.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s005Medium.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s006Medium.jpg

Also a few weeks ago I fitted some auxillary battery connections, I fitted these as I had a flat battery a couple of months ago (car sat in shed without being started for about 3 months - damn rain)
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...s008Medium.jpg
There is one on each side of the battery.

Boxhead,
You need one of these. It has done well for me
over the years. You will have to put in an auxiliary
power plug (cig lighter) for it to work.
Slime is the best there is in fix a flat.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...&ci_sku=134777

If you really want to get on the road quicker then do this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSDPHjo1zRU

Hersh:)

Thanks Hersch, I have emailed them chasing a shipping cost.
Hope I get answer soon as I head off in less than 2 weeks.

If you have Autozone or Checker Auto parts store, they will have these in stock. Most franchised auto parts dealers carry them.
If you can't find the compressor then go to a motorcycle or ATV shop. they carry the real small compressors that pump up to 300PSI. They might also have a product similar to slime.
The only place that had the kit was in Perth and you ain't going that way.

Garland Cycles Pty Ltd
87 Canning Hwy Unit# 18 South Perth Wa
Australia, 6151 Australia
Phone: +0894701990


Hersh:)

Well, I have made it to Townsville.
I have managed to stay dry and safe and all is going well.
The long drive has told me I need to relocate my pedals deeper into the foot well and cruise control may get fitted before the return trip.
Travelled 1165kls on day one, average speed on GPS said 128kph (130 zone in NT) and I used 146 litres over that distance, so just under 8 klm's per litre, I have not done the sums yet but when I hit the QLD border the limit dropped to 110 - 100 and fuel economy improved maybe 1klm per litre.

Pics to follow when I reach Innisfail.
Catching up with some Townsville guys tomorrow morning.

I managed to get my laptop going again (was using brother inlaws desktop)

Here is a picture showing the car at cruising speed in the NT
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y013Medium.jpg

And here we have the NT equivalent to the Hay Plains, it is the Barkly lake Eyre basin.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y017Medium.jpg

Refueling at Barkly Homestead.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y016Medium.jpg

Getting closer to Qld, and the chance to straighten out my legs.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y020Medium.jpg

Getting a hamburger from my favorite burger shop.
FJ's diner in Hughendon.
I have never driven past without getting one, I actually was not hungry this time but it has become a "tradition" that each time I drive through Hughendon I stop for a burger and a milkshake, they are very yummy. :)
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...y023Medium.jpg
There are a whole heap of bugs and grasshoppers in the radiator, I cleaned them out when I refuelled, You can also see that there is a big white bit in the nose above the oil cooler, that is a stone chip, the stone then went up into the radiator, there are some bent fins and damaged tube, it was at this point I was glad I had a modified Commodore brass radiator and not an alloy one. (brass will bend alot more before breaking, unlike alloy)

keep the updates comig, doing nicely!

Hi Boxhead
Looks like you're having a great run with the weather, might be pushing it at Innisfail though. Thanks for the pics and story.

Neil Armstrong.......... first man on the moon.

Boxhead....................... first cobra in Hughendon.

Doesn't seem to have created too much excitment amongst the locals for such an auspicious occasion.:LOL: