http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...390469764.html
I remember my first ride in a Fairlane, I was probably about 16, the fanbelt on the family sedan had carked it on an empty stretch of highway on the way back from a country tennis tournament. Dad sent me back to the town with a passer by who dropped me off at the local dealer I purchased the new fan belt according to instructions and then walked to the caravan park where the others from the club were packing up.
One of the chaps, Alan, had a new Fairlane and drove me back out to the stranded family. It was big and FAST - I looked over at the speedo and we're doing 140, Alan gives me a wink and says 'do you want the sunroof open' and with a flick of the switch the electric sunroof winds back. I'm totally floored at the opulance, power, features - you name it.
Roll forward about 24 year and I was still looking forward to rides in Fairlanes, its early Monday dark and cold - the driver is waiting at the end of the drive and the only sound is the creak of the front door closing behind me and the low purr of the Fairlane engine. Driver takes the bags and gets the door and we head for the airport. I'm totally relaxed in the big armchair as sleep deprived disk jockeys or the BBC world service are talking and the first pre-dawn light turns the dark blue sky a shade lighter.
As we travel we encounter other leviathans migrating in the same direction and take our turns disembarking to spend another week away.
Best of all was Fridays return. Everyone has tried to elbow their way past on the way to the carosel, I maintain an even pace - stop at the chocolate shop to pick up a little treat for herself - arriving at the carosel the driver is waiting - takes the bags (despite feeble protests) and wheels out the waiting row of Fairlanes mostly white, some black - some going, others arriving.
If its John then I'm in the back seat, if its Mustafa (or practically anyone else) its the front seat. As we leave the airport I survey the taxi rank - if they only knew...
Going to have to nab a Fairlane while I can
LoBelly
Farewell Fairlanes
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