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The Amigos Claytons Bash Day one Glenelg to Renmark 7.00am Car arrives at start line - Running perfectly 8.00am Petrol starts running out -Bugger 8.30am Car moves towards the start line - more petrol leaking Three positions from the start - we pull out & park around the corner. Find - Fuel Tank solenoid switch is cactus & fuel is draining from the auxiliary tank and over flowing the main tank as it is full. We clamp off the fuel line between the two. - Ready to GO…. Not quite the buggar wont start…. Try Jump Starting 3/4hr later we are finally going. We go back past the Start Line - everybody has gone. We scab route directions from an Official Vehicle. 10.00am We belatedly Start the 2003 Bash. Up the S.E. Freeway. 1.30pm Rear wheel Smoking. MW7 to the rescue -Pull Wheel Off - Brake lining has given way from the Shoe & jammed in the other Shoe. Rip Brakes out & Clamp flexible hydraulic brake line - No more rear brakes. 3.10pm Bearing collapses / Rear right wheel comes out and breaks axle. MW7 arrives again. Mike Mason rings his son in law and organises a car trailer from Loxton. Also rings Graham from Barmera ( who's brother is a Chevy/ Pontiac nut ) he pulls an axle out of a car and brings it to us with a new bearing. 5.00pm We load the car onto the car trailer and tow it back to Graham's workshop in Barmera with MW7. 7.00pm At the workshop MW7 fitted the new axle and found it scraping on the brake drum - 10 people including the Amigos stood aside as Sparks flew when the angle grinder bit into the Brake Backing Plate. 11.00pm Bash Car 04 departed the Barmera engineering Shop & headed for Renmark 12.10pm Oh No ….. The other side wheel bearing collapsed & the wheel started to come OFF. Right in front of the Renmark Raceway. 12.50pm The RAA tow Truck arrived & the Amigos rode in reverse into Renmark. Day Two Renmark to Medindie Lakes 8.00am Breakfast - Our first Official Meal of the Bash. 9.00am MW7 replaces the offending wheel bearing. 10.30am The Brave Amigos head off on the Bash Track. 11.30am 1.5 Hrs out of Renmark BANG … BANG … BANG - WHERE Was ULTRA - TUNE When We Needed It ( They no Speaka my Language ). Mobile Workshop 7 Diagnose broken teeth off of the Crown wheel in the Differential. The Solution go back to Renmark ( Very Slowly 20 kph ) & Replace it. MW7 sent a SOS call to Graham at Barmera who promptly delivered a replacement Diff. 3.30pm The Amigos depart Renmark straight up the bitumen to Wentworth and then dirt to Pooncarie and on to Medindie Lakes some 560 kl with MW7 Sweeping. 9.00pm The Mexicans arrive at the Medindie Lakes caravan park long after dark. Lay out the Swags and make it to the community hall in time for dinner leftovers and Les Burdetts history of the Adelaide Oval. Soon the Amigos were drinking Black Rats at the Pub until a premature close at 10.30 pm. Back to the camp fire at the Park after witnessing the demise of the Greeks the Amigos settle in for the impromptu Bash sing along. At various stages of the night or morning the weary Mexicans made their way to their swags. ( 1.30 am to 5.00am.) depending on age. Day Three Medindie to Tilpa 8.00am The Mexicans loose the Egg & Spoon race and depart in the middle of the field of 87 Bash Cars. - Their best Effort Yet. 10.30am The only Fun Stop that the Mexicans were able to attend. - The Blind Driving Competition. ( we gave it a miss - Just in Case ) 1.10 pm Lunch at the rural paradise of Wilcannia - The Mexicans chose the Chinese Cuisine - a very brave move but well worth it. ( Our First Lunch so Far ) 1.40pm After battling the locals we filled with fuel and left Wilcannia with all the other Bash Cars. 4.30pm Every thing is going well 50kl to our destination for the night Tilpa. 4.40pm Disaster - another wheel bearing - Pedro Rob at the wheel & another Wheel Bearing Goes - Bugga. MW7 arrive and hook up the snatch Strap 4.50pm Under Tow 300 meters down the track the wheel Falls off. 5.00pm After immense discussion MW7 Calls MW2 and the Duck responds 1 hour later - Yes they will tow the bloody Mexicans into Tilpa. However the Duck and his trusty Crew are a couple of Hours way. 5.01pm It is so bloody cold the Mexicans light a fire on the side of the road for survival and bring out the tequila, cheese and metwurst. 6.20pm We see flashing lights and sirens and our hope of the saviours the Duck and the boys of MW2 arriving in the Fire Truck / Tow Truck are elevated to unbelievable levels. 6.22pm Wrong it is the MFS Fire Truck and with sirens Blaring and Pumps Pumping they enthusiastically extinguish our only source of warmth - Depressed Again we rub Sticks together to keep warm 7.10pm To the delight of everyone MW2 arrives and the Duck and his Boys take Control to carry the Bloody Mexicans the final 50 kilometers to Tilpa. 9.10pm The Mexicans and the ever patient MW7 arrive in the thriving metropolis of Tilpa for dinner. Day Four Tilpa to Bourke 10.30pm Running Out of Options for Parts - Pedro Rob thought he had an Idea….. a mate he knew owned a Station 60 kl south of Tilpa and he gave him a call…. " Sure said Murray Mc Lure I've got an Old Chevy Belaire in my Dump .,.. help yourself ". 3 Amigos hitched a ride with the Chev on the Tow Truck to Cockburn 250 k away, while the Good Guys in MW7 took Rob to find the only source of Parts for 400K. As fate would have it they both arrived in Cockburn at almost the same time …. MW2 with the Chevy & MW7 with the parts. By now the procedure of replacing an Axle & bearings took place care at the generosity of the local BP Garage & his Forklift. 2.45pm The Mexicans are mobile again bound for Bourke in far west NSW. Surprisingly they make it before sunset and all are optimistic they are back on the Bash. 5.30pm Arrive at the booked accommodation - The Old London Bank in Bourke, after check in at the Kidman Camp 7 k out - Unbelievable our first Official Check In. 7.30pm Dinner at the Bourke Bowling Club with Security Guards in the street to protect Bash Cars …. We are pleased we walked and left ours behind the Razor wire in the advertised secure car park at the Bank. 12.00pm The Mexicans are exhausted, but filled with hope as the car has done about 500k without a hitch - our best so far. 12.30am The lure of a log fire attracts even those who wanted an early night … We sit & Sip a Black Rat or Two ( Bundy & Coke ) as the resident Blue Heeler Dumps one of the Gamblers over a Park bench .. Much to everyone's mirth. Day Five Bourke To Lightening Ridge 7.30am Breakfast at Kidmans Camp ….. all Ok 8.30am We line up for the days Bash Route 9.00am To The Supermarket for supplies 9.30am The mandatory visit to see the Bourke Outback visitors Centre. ( Good Stuff however we want to do a days Bashing - Seriously ) 10.00 am We are on our way …… serious this time….. We are back on the Bash. 1.20pm Lunch ( please help me here I have no Idea - it was a basketball stadium in the middle of no where ) 3.40pm The Amigos attempt a furtive Tequila FUN STOP the only Bashers to enjoy the experience were of course Mexican. 4.20pm Another wheel bearing and MW7 waits with us until the MW2 arrives and the Duck tows Us into Lightening Ridge. 8.45pm We arrive backwards on tow in Lightening Ridge and check into the Motel. 9.00pm We make Dinner at the Lightening Ridge RSL Club and everyone dresses up in Glad Wrap…. Except US…… Lucky we are Late. 12.30pm The Amigos spy on some one from MWS 7 being friendly with a certain Red Indian.? 1.00am Someone suggests a walk to the Caravan Park is compulsory for all Mexicans. Then we almost all agree schnapps is better ? Day Six Lightening Ridge to Goondiwindi 8.00am Not Happening - Some have breakfast as others try to find not Opals but Diamonds ( Chevy Parts ) in Lightening Ridge. 1.00pm After an extensive search of Mining Supply Companies, Auto Dealers, Wreckers and an exhaustive but non productive search of the dump and 50 sq kl of mining sites we were buggered. Except for the ever reliable MW7 they found a whole rebuilt V8 Monaro rear end that may fit a Chevy for $500, Bonus it has Disc Brakes 2.30pm The Mexicans accepted the quote of $500 for the rear end & $200 approx- dollars to fit it. ( 4 hrs Labour ) 6.00pm At this time we were advised to book a Motel for the night as it was unlikely to be finished before 8.00am - and it was'nt. 8.00pm Pizzas & Black Rats plus very special PORT in the room - BRILLIANT 12.30am SLEEP Day Seven Goondiwindi to Tenterfield ( for Some ) 8.00am Some of the Car-Less Mexicans Breakfast 8.30am The Amigos walk to the workshop in downtown Industrial Lightening Ridge to find the Mechanics still not finished. And by the look of it are hours away from completion. 12.30pm Unbelievable - the wheels are going on 12.35pm The hoist is coming down and the Chevy is on it's own Wheels for the first time in two days. 12.40pm Gavin takes it for a Test Drive 12.42pm He's Back - all to quickly ….. The tail Shaft is scraping on the box chassis. 12.45pm Up on the hoist again and the wheels are coming OFF. 12.47pm More Sparks, Grinding & Welding. 1.00pm The Wheels are going on again…. Down Goes the Hoist 1.05pm Gavin takes Test Drive 2 1.07pm Oh O back too quick again - Tail Shaft still Scraping 1.08pm Up on the Hoist Again … Shim the Diff Housing Bracket. 1.14pm Down Goes the Hoist…. Gavin takes Test Drive 3 1.19pm Gavin & the Car are back ….. Scraping Slightly 1.22pm The Mexicans have hade enough of the hoist and Decide to be brave and take it as it is. 1.23pm Pay the Bill - $1,000 by now Say Goodbye & Give the Mechanics a Flame Show Stall the Car ….. Car won't Start … Flat Battery Back over the Hoist …. Earth Wire loose. 1.30pm Jump Start the Car …. Finally the Amigos Kiss the Opal wilderness Goodbye 1.31pm 740 k behind the rest of the Bash we head for Tenterfield … via a Breatherliser. Spring Rolls, Pies and Sausage Rolls 9.10pm We make it to the home of the Saddler. Book in to the Motel & walk to the Memorial Hall & rejoin the Bash. 10.30pm All the Bashers exits just as the local band begins to play & migrates to the local PUB ?????? To Bed Day Eight Tenterfield To Byron Bay 5.25am One lone Amigo emerges from the motel awaken by the noise of excited disabled folk as they line up for rides in a bash car. Top Gunners had promised them a ride the night before for 7.30am. A touch excited they were lined up more than 2 hours early. 6.10am The Chevy lives up to it's true reputation as a Chick Magnet when 3 women climb on board to join the convoy as it drove every street of Tenterfield. These 70+ carers had the time of their life just cruisin. 8.00am We drive down the main street on our way to the Bag Truck to drop off our excess baggage and collect our Formal Suits for the Last big night in Byron Bay…. Guess What…. The bag truck passes us going the other way …. Too LATE AMIGOS. 8.30am After a leisurely breakfast & entrusting car 500 with the return of their dirty washing to Adelaide, the Mexicans DRIVE up to CHECK OUT & get their route Map for the final Day. 10.30am Missing the Mexicans for just about the whole Bash Don radios the Mexicans for a Villi Break. We pull off the mountain back Track for a Pie and soon we are joined by about 50 cars. It was good to be back Bashing. 12.30pm We arrive at the Lunch Stop at a Race Track some bloody where. We wash the car for the final run down the mountain to Byron Bay. 1.30pm After a fine snitchzel Lunch we head off and Laugh as many Bash Cars take a wrong turn to the left and disappear in the dust. 2.10pm 10k further on our Navigator Pedro Mark takes us on a right Fork down a narrow track and we have to admit …. we too are cactus 3.00pm All the Bash Cars assemble at an Oval on top of the Mountains and line up for the orderly & Leisurely descent into Byron Bay. 3.30pm With Flags Flying, Lights Flashing and Sirens wailing the pride of Mexico complete with cactus parades through the streets lined with kids and down onto the Esplanade. Where handing out lollies to smiley children, Mums, Dads & Grandparents takes priority before we have a drink to celebrate. 4.00pm With great determination and endurance the Four Pedros have completed the 2003 Glenelg to Byron Bay 2003 Bash.  |
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