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I asked John if he would like to come along with me. So we were off. About five minutes later we were off the road onto the dirt. Dave was leading. This was a recce run, as we were going to follow a few tracks off the main track, just to see where they go.
We found the first hill climb, and Dave made it look easy. Mark was next up trying out the new locker, no problems. Then my turn, I got half way up, and then got hooked up. Back down the hill, more revs slightly different line, and up. Then Phil in the automatic Forester. With no low range he was struggling once the engine revs started to drop. As Phil was trying to back down the hill, he got crossed up. We tried to get him straight, so that he could have another go, but to no avail. It was decided that a snatch up the hill was called for. So my car was moved out of the way and the snatch-um was connected to Mark’s RX. With the locker, and the turbo, and the extra weight of the Forester, the cars were soon up the hill.
The next hill was like the last, with a woe boy in the middle. I got stuck with a poor line, and couldn’t get over the woe boy. After a few attempts, I felt that I wasn’t going to get up. Unfortunately my UHF radio was in with Phil’s car, and I was now tail end. After trying to reach Dave on the AM set, Mark backed down the hill. He was wondering why we hadn’t answered him.
At the top of the hill was the lunch spot. As we were having lunch, the heaven’s opened with a light rain. It was enough to chase most people into their cars.
After lunch we were back on the track, and John spotted a track that went straight down. As Dave had already passed it we would have to miss it. At the bottom of the hill we went through a dry creek crossing, and then found a track back up to the original track. It was the one that John had spotted on the way down. Dave and Mark made it look easy, Phil attempted it and ran out of puff, he backed down to give it another run, and didn’t get as far, so out came the snatch-um again. I made it with my first attempt, with full noise, and little control. I re-bent my bulbar on the left bank of the track. Not as bad as when I bent the bar at Tamborine, but still I had only just got it straightened thanks to Dave and Peter Gates.
By this stage I am wanting to turbo my car, and try to find a Detroit locker (rare as hens teeth, about 30 ever made).
More tracks, with Dave leading. At one point I don’t think we were following a 4wd track, but a motorcycle track, as the track wasn’t wide enough for a vehicle and the lantana scratching down the sides. After about 5minutes on this track Dave calls over the radio “The track isn’t bad, a bit narrow, I hope you don’t object to getting some scratches”.
We came to a fallen tree lying over the track, so out came the saw, and the axe and soon had the tree out of the way. This was to be a prelude of what was coming the next day.
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It was getting late by the time we hit Imbil. On the way back to the campground most of us stopped in the Railway Hotel, for a coldie to settle the dust before dinner. We were able to watch the first half of the Rugby, all blacks versus the Springboks.
Back at camp to dinner, and an early night for some, John was out by 8:30, with Mark and Bryan not far behind.
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The next morning was another beautiful day. We were waiting for Jason to turn up in his Brumby, and Ron Penfold also arrived. Ron was looking at the river to see if he could launch his model boat. He had a scale replica of the HMS Sheffield. After a brief play we were on the way again.
We were travelling on the back roads to Charlie Moreland camping ground where
we were going to drop John’s touring wagon off for the day. As we went through
a creek crossing John’s car spluttered and died, a bit of water had been flicked
at the distributor. After opening the bonnet, he couldn’t believe that such
a small amount of water had stopped him. He got going again, and we arrived
at Charlie Moreland.
Leaving the park behind we were off the bitumen again, Mark knew a good 4wd track. The track that he directed Dave to just went up and up, with woe boys every now and then. Dave made it look easy, then Ron in the Challenger, then it was my turn, I had the lowest powered vehicle on the trip again. I gave it a good go, pulled up just short if the top. I backed back down to the last woe boy and gave it another shot, still no good. Backed down again, my passenger got out, gave it a boot full, dropped the clutch, and made it. But at the top my accelerator was stuck on momentarily.
Phil in the Forester decided to attach the snatch it up, instead of attempting the hill, and got snatched up by Mark, with a lot of wheel spin, the blow off valve going off and scrabbling of the RX.
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At one stage we met another trip coming from the other direction, a Rodeo which had been rolled, a Pajero, and a monster 80series cruiser. They were surprised at seeing all of our Subies on the track.
There had been fierce storms in the area before our trip, and that resulted in a few trees lying over the track. At one stage we were blocked by a fallen gum about 12inches in diameter. So we had to find a way around. After backing down the hill we had found our way again. More uphill, more snatching of the Forester.
We continued on and found more trees and branches over the track. As it was getting late, we decided to retrace our steps back to one of the main tracks leading to Charlie Moreland’s. By this time my fuel was getting low.
We made it back to John’s car, and after a couple of photos of the crew we said our goodbyes and headed for home. I was following Phil in the Forester, hoping to get fuel at Kenilworth, but they were shut. So I had to proceed to Eumundi. At Eumundi I put 50litres in. I only had about 5litres left in the tank.
All in all it was an excellent weekend. Thanks to Dave for organising it. If you are looking for a camping spot in Imbil try the Island Reach.
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