Oka owners group newsletter
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Also, Bob has found a supply of modern Codan 9323 HF transceivers, complete with Auto tune Antennas 9350 with selcall & direct dial facility for $1500 ea. All have been over the bench and should be available in October. I am at work at the moment so can’t write more just now. Regards
Sue Etherington Technical Bits In reply to Hal & Liza enquiry about rims, I looked up some of the info. I had from Mullins Wheels. I think their rims are made in Adelaide, but they have branches in most States - 83 Belgravia St, Belmont, WA 6104 is closest to you, (PH: 0892776266). Maybe they only make steel rims, at least that’s all I’ve seen. Yet at Oodnadatta having a flat fixed last year the gentleman told me a regular tour leader to the area ran on alloy rims and had remarked on how cool they ran. So even if Mullins don’t make them they may be able to tell you who does. It might pay to check that changing to alloy doesn’t stuff up your insurance if you are unfortunate enough to have a problem. We have had enquiries from people interested in intercoolers. John Graham of Qld. Has devised a way of fitting one to his OKA without any major structural changes, and is thrilled with the outcome. Can anyone else tell us about their experience? Also there has been much interest in adding on an aircompressor. No doubt there are many ways of doing this, so if anyone has ideas, we would like to hear from you, then the individuals can adapt what suits them. Gordon Rollinson has discovered that the New Process transfer case in some Okas could be the same as the Ford light truck, with only slight differences in the housing. Maybe the internal bits are the same. Research is still going on. Too late to help me, I have just replaced all those expensive parts! Gordon also makes a mod. for the fuel caps to stop them from leaking. Most of the complaints we hear about OKA rims are the problems people have balancing them. Of course the best way is if you can find a truck place that has the gear to balance them on the vehicle. What we have been trying to find out is if there are any engineering works that can spin them, skim a bit off, put a bit on those split rims and give us a sporting chance of getting them somewhere near the mark. 8 It never ceases to amaze me how much talent we have in the Group. Some we know that we have not yet tapped into their knowledge. Better still, they are all willing to share their experience. Gordon Rollinson has developed a way to make the windows wind up more easily, John Graham had developed a central locking system, and so on. We hope to be able to pass on information about these and other innovations at a later date. Macquarie Marshes Discovery Weekend. 4th & 5th October. (Bookings Essential) Activities: During the weekend a range of activities will be available, to meet the needs & abilities of all ages. These included guided marsh walks with opportunities to observe birds in their natural habitat. Local woolshed tours and entertainment may also be available. Activities change depending on the conditions and access to the Marshes. Accommodation: Camping facilities and amenities (showers & toilets) provided at Quambone racecourse, 1 km south of Quambone, from Friday night to Monday. Meals: On the Saturday & Sunday nights the Quambone Resurces Committee will cater a BBQ dinner t the Quambone Hall. AT other times food & meals will be available at either the Quambone Store or the Sundowner Hotel. General: As numbers for the weekend are limited, bookings and pre-payment are essential. Please fill in the attached booking sheet and send it back by the Monday prior to the Long Weekend. In the event of wet weather access roads to the Marshes can become impassable and activities may be restricted or called off. If this occurs, pre-payments will be partly or fully refunded depending on the level of disruption to activities. Things you can bring: As well as camping gear, old sandshoes for walking in water (gumboots fill with water and become cumbersome), shorts, long sleeved shirts, hat, chair, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, water bottle and back-pack. Don’t forget cameras, binoculars, (waterproof bag recommended for carrying), field guides, etc. Snakes, mosquitoes and other insects are common in the Marshes, so you may need an insect-proof tent or mosquito net if you have them, and maybe gaiters for leg protection. Camping Fees: $10.00 per adult per night (school age children are free). NPWS Tour Fees: $10.00 per adult per day (again children free) Meal Costs: $8.00 per adult per meal: $5.00 per child per meal (Sat.& Sun. nights). BYOG (soft drinks can be purchased).A slide show will be held after the meal on Saturday night; art & craft Booking Form: Camping $10.00 per night: NPWS Tour Fee $10.00 / day: Meal Costs $8.00 Sat. night: “ “ “ Sat. night; Meal Costs $8.00 Sun might: “ “ “ Sun night: Number of adults: Number of Nights Total: Number of adults: Number of days: Total: Number of adults: Total: “ “ children: : Total Number of adults: Total: “ “ children: Total: Total Costs: Cheques or money orders can be made payable to: Quambone Resources Committee And sent to: ‘Moblar’ Or ring: Marg Garnsey (02) 68242089 Sue Jones (02) 68242097 Quambone NSW 2831 exhibition both nights. 9 Hi everyone, OKA OWNERS GROUP (PUTTING PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST) NEWSLETTER October 2003 We are running a bit late with this newsletter. For one thing we have been trying to find out about insurance for OKA’s. While we were waiting, there have been various bits and pieces come in for the newsletter, so we have included these as well. Mid September saw us meet up with Gordon and Laurel Rowlinson at Glasshouse Mountains, Qld., then we went on to Petrie, a northern suburb of Brisbane where we met up with Walter and Ellie Hess and Peter and Chris Morgan for the Aauswide Motorhome Club ralley, staying for a few enjoyable days. The reason for this exercise was to find out what went on (we have never been to a ralley before) and to listen to their guest speakers. One spoke about Solar power, gas and refrigeration, the other on insurance. That’s what we were interested in, thinking we may have been able to do a deal as a group. We organised a meeting between the Oka owners present, and the agent who handles insurance for the Auswide Group. Its amazing to know that most insurance companies don’t know what an OKA is and don’t have them listed on their computers. This gentleman was no different, saying “Oh that’s what an Oka looks like”. You can nearly hear what they are thinking.(They are a rugged looking vehicle, and these blokes are probably going to try and wreck them, and use them like a D8! Could be a bad risk!) We haven’t heard any more from him, even though we sent him some more information about Oka’s. The other companies we have rung have given us the same answer. It is as though they don’t even want to know us. NRMA (or IAG as they now want to be known) will insure, but their premium is expensive. Lumleys insure motorhomes for the C.M.C.A. and would probably insure Oka’s for for a reasonable price, but they will only deal through a broker. We are going to try our local insurance broker to see if he will do a deal for us, and will keep you posted. Have any other Oka Owners had some success in this field? The first weekend in October saw 4 Oka’s turn up here, and we then went to the Macquarie Marshes for the Marshes Awareness tours. Before man started 1 building dams and irrigating, the Marshes was somewhat like the Everglades in America, but is now only a fraction of the size that I remember. Anyway we spent a day paddling around. More about this from Michael Hession. Vidas Ridikis turned up one weekend since then – without his Oka or his wife Rita. We should have chased him off the place with a shotgun, but he stayed the night anyway and we had an enjoyable time. In reply to John Hendriks query about the cable gear change, we have one we bought from Oka and are very happy with it. It is very smooth with no vibration. The original gear change was pretty sloppy and was almost impossible to put into 2nd gear especially when cold. However, if your original gear change is working OK, I wouldn’t change it for the sake of change. Ron & Lyn Quigley are looking for a viscous fan – does anyone know of a common type from another vehicle that will fit or be made to fit the Perkins? If you could let us know shortly, he can get back on the road. Discussion is still going on about air compressors, intercoolers etc. Please let’s hear your thoughts on the subject so others in the Group can decide what suits them. We look forward to hearing from you. Lloyd & Marj Parsons TRIP TO CRAIG'S HUT/MT STIRLING Hi All, I am currently planning a trip up to Craig's Hut/Mt Stirling area on the weekend of the 10th - 11th January 2004 (or a day longer if possible) and was wondering if any members would like to join me on a tag along tour? The idea would be to meet in Mansfield early Saturday 10th January. From Mansfield we would head out towards Mt Buller until we reach a little township called Mirambah - 32 km's from Mansfield. From Mirambah we would turn off and head down the circuit road, which leads around Mt Stirling. This trip is roughly 160 km's return trip from Mansfield. If you have seen the film "Man from Snowy River" you will be familiar with Craig's Hut and the beautiful scenery of the Victorian High Country. The circuit road that leads around Mt Stirling can be driven in a 2WD vehicle, but the track leading up to Craig's Hut and across to Mt Stirling is 4WD only. We can camp for the night amongst the snow gums at Craig's Hut or if it's too windy there is another camping area nearby, down from the Hut on Clear Hills Track. If anybody wanted to stay Sunday night, there are plenty of camping areas around the area including Pineapple Flat & King River Hut etc (4WD access). Many of these camping areas are situated on the King River, where you can go trout fishing or bush walking. I plan to take 4 days (9th until the 12th) and head up to Mansfield on Friday 9th possibly staying in the local Caravan Park (maybe we could meet up early if anybody can make it Friday?). These are my ideas/suggestions. If anybody is interested in coming along for the weekend I would really like to hear from you. Any of your ideas or suggestions are very welcome. Hoping to hear from you! Kind Regards Rowena Paterson Ph: 03 5823 2732 (ah) 03 5833 5710 (work) email: rowenap@g-mwater.com.au 2 SYDNEY GET TOGETHER Let us get together to start off the New Year. Come along and meet other OKA owners, Check out each others vehicles, See the latest toy? Check out modifications some have made, Discuss what we can do as a group and swap ideas, and make some plans - Training days? - Trips?
- Exchange Information? - Where best to buy parts? - Annual Rally? - Coonamble Rally in October? WHERE? Michael and Virginia Hession’s Home – 36 Nelson Road, NELSON NSW (If you have never heard of Nelson, it is close to Windsor) Phone 9809.5754(Bus) 9679.1463(Hm) WHEN?
Sunday 8th February, 2004 1.30pm to 6pm WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
in getting together on a regular basis. • Bring something for afternoon tea TRIP to Victoria, and the January Long Weekend From the 1st/2nd January we are planning to travel to Victoria to spend some time in the High Country and to link up with Rowena’s Trip, listed elsewhere in this newsletter. We will be visiting some friends, potato farmers, in Thorpdale (Gippsland). This is one of the prettiest parts of Australia. We plan to be back in Sydney by the 17/18 of January. The itinerary is quite flexible, and you could come and go as you wish. If this appeals to you, please ring to discuss with Michael. Also the January long weekend 24-26th, if you would like to participate in a trip, let me know. Some areas we could visit – Barrington Tops, Abercrombie National Park, Hill End-Sofala, or do you have a suggestion. Both trips will be bush camping and quite relaxing. Michael Hession - 9809.5754 or 9679.1463 a/h. • • • • • 3 Looooooong Springs! In June 2003 we were on our way to the Sandy Blight Junction Road in the OKA when we stopped off at Yulara for a night. Always having an eye out for ‘proper’ vehicles, I noticed a 2 door, matt green Hummer trying to sneak into the camping area and I quickly resolved to have a chat with the driver. The owner was one John Faulkner, a weathered man of very small stature but significant presence. He had just driven over from the West, cruising the Hummer at around 120kph along the Great Central Road via Warburton and Docker River. John was camping out of the back of the Hummer. He had a single burner gas cooker, a small bag of personal belongings and a swag. Two spare wheels and a tool kit occupied most of the balance of the cargo area. A pair of jocks was drying on the campground fence. Not withstanding a four tonne plus vehicle, this guy travelled light! We chatted about Hummers for a time until he noticed my OKA a short distance away. He had purchased OKA #4, the first OKA ever sold. Because he had contributed significant effort and advise to the Company during development, they agreed to waive their ‘white only’ policy for that first vehicle and had painted it (you guessed it) matt green for him. I had seen this vehicle in a used car yard in Sydney just two months earlier. It had had a body change and had been painted white. John had obviously enjoyed the OKA. When the new model was released, he bought one. It was in that vehicle that he had driven into a remote Aboriginal community in the Western Desert and he told me the following story. After he had pulled up and alighted from the vehicle, a full-blood Aboriginal Elder had wandered across towards the vehicle and spoke to John in broken English, “Is dis one of dem four cylinder ones mister?” John replied “Yes it is” “With dem turbo charge?” John responded “Yes, that is correct, it is turbocharged” “Dis one got dem Chrysler transfer or dem Rockwell transfer?” Gob smacked, John replied, “As a matter of fact, this is one of the latest models and it has a Rockwell transfer case.” To which the Elder responded with much waving of the arms “And dem looooong springs that make it like a bitumen aaaaaall du way!” There are lessons in this tale: Don’t make assumptions about people because of their age or appearance. John Faulkner at near 80 years young has more off road experience and knowledge than anyone else I have ever met (except Len Beadell). That Aboriginal Elder in the remote community owned an OKA and he knew very well why they performed so well in the bush. Peter Wright. COONAMBLE LONG WEEKEND with EXTENSIONS (October 4, 5, 6) 4 Participants: Michael, Virginia and Sophie Hession – Nelson (Sydney). With visitors Pam Carlier, Michael and Hazel Cottee. Multi-Cab with Covered Tray. Lloyd and Marj Parsons – “Eulalia” Coonamble. Single-Cab plus Tray with a Bolt on Camper Ron and Lyn Quigley – Greystanes (Sydney) Dual-Cab with a Camper Body, “under-contruction”. Peter and Chris Morgan – Tamworth Dual-Cab with covered tray and camper van. We decided to make our trip back to Coonamble a family affair. We visited for the first time last year. Virginia invited her sister Pam, brother Michael and sister-in-law Hazel and along with our 17 year old daughter Sophie, we had a truck load. We left early Thursday the 2nd travelling up through Lithgow, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Gilgandra, Coonamble and finally “Eulalia”. The countryside was looking beautiful after recent rains. In fact we travelled on and off through very heavy rain between Capertee and Dunedoo. In some places there was water on the road. We arrived late in the afternoon and put our tents up on Lloyd and Marj’s lawn. We had a lovely night catching up and telling stories around the lounge room fire. On Friday Marj had to go and visit her Mum in town so Lloyd came with us and gave us a personalised tour of the town of Coonamble and surrounds. We had a great day. That evening Ron and Lyn arrived with their friends John and Nick. And we had a bar-b-que and checked out Ron’s camper “under- construction”. My brother-in-law, Sam, runs a puzzle competition in our local area newsletter and recently he listed a number of cryptic sayings that represented towns in NSW, one of which was “Cheese Slow Walking”. Can you guess the answer? Saturday was an early start, to be in Quambone for 7.45am, for our Macquarie Marsh Walks. After hearing all the descriptions of the four different walks available, we choose the North Marsh Walk, as you had to “drive through 100 meters of water, 300mm deep, and you would possibly have to walk through waist deep water”. This sounded great to all the guys, “just the thing for us OKA owners”, and the girls got dragged along. We drove for about 80kms to where we left the vehicles. But on the way we stopped at a number of scenic spots, where Ray Jones, the head NP Ranger, explained about the Marshes, the floral and its fauna and bird life. The road was muddy, after over night rain, and provided entertainment for some with sideways motoring down the middle of the road. We commenced our walk into the Marshes walking in ankle deep water, then up to our knees. As we moved more into the Marsh we were soon up to the tops of the legs and if you were shorter up to your waist. It was boggy and hard going in a few places and some of the participants even experienced the marsh up to their armpits (including Virginia, Marj and Hazel) when they fell over. BUT, what a great place. Ray explained the importance of the Marshes to the environment and the farmers, the plant life, the birds, the effect that damming the Macquarie River had and the subsequent management of water flows in the Marshes. We witnessed hundreds of acres of dead trees and areas of land made useless for the environment and farming due to uninformed bureaucratic decision-making about the management of 5 the Marshes and water, in particular. The Marshes today are less than 50% of what they use to be, and the community of Quambone is struggling to have their concerns heard, let alone acted on. After lunch some of us went on a second walk “To the Lakes”. This was a much dryer walk and we saw and heard lots of bird life and saw a red-belly black snake right on the edge of our track. It was a Great day. And as Virginia said “A once in a life time experience”. For Virginia I think, she also put the emphasis on “once”. The evening was spent at the Community Hall in Quambone, where they had a number of displays and craft articles from the area for sale. They put on a meal for everyone, $8 per head, and Ray put on a slide show and talk about the area and the Marshes. Was a Great Day and Night spent with real country people. The community run this event each year on the October Long Weekend to raise money for the town and to educate people about the Marshes. During the evening we caught up with .Peter and Chris Morgan and family and in-laws. They had only just got to Quambone, after having to work on the Saturday. Sunday found us back at “Eulalia”, checking out Lloyd’s vintage engines, he must have more than a dozen. This is how he has been spending his time during the drought. He started up the four wheelers and insisted that everyone have a ride. He got my brother- in-law, Michael, on the ag-bike. He had never ridden a motorbike before. After lunch Lloyd took us to meet his neighbours Anthony and Joan O’Brien. We checked out the 12 Tyred Tractor, the $500,000 Harvester and learnt that he had 12,000 acres of wheat in, plus a number of other crops. We had afternoon tea with Sponge Cake, Cream and Strawberry Jam. Then Anthony took us on a tour through his property and that of his son’s, next door. After travelling into Quambone we headed back to “Eulalia”, where Lloyd couldn’t help himself. As soon as we got back he towed out the Cessna 180 and was soon in the air, with only about 30 minutes to sunset. After a number of low-level passes over the airstrip for pictures, he buzzed the boys on the quad-bikes, going pig shooting, scaring “the ---- out of them”. He then disappeared for some time. We learnt later that he flew to Quambone and had dive-bombed the camping grounds where everyone from the weekend were staying. As Lloyd said, he is not supposed to fly below 500 feet except in bad weather and the weather was “real bad” that afternoon. That evening we had a great meal back at Marj and Lloyd’s with the Hession’s cooking on a camp fire. Another Great Day. If we had to pay for it, it could not have been better. Monday morning Peter and Chris Morgan arrived and so there was much talking and looking and checking each others’ vehicles out. Peter is a TAFE Teacher/Diesel Mechanic and has some great ideas, in particular how to add an intercooler, which is his next project over the next few months. Will be looking forward to hearing how it all turns out. Peter has access to a dyno, so will be able to accurately give “a before and an after picture”. Lloyd and Michael checking out one of Lloyd's vintage engines 6 We had decided to move on and so packed up and moved off just as drizzly rain was starting. We were off to Lightning Ridge. We arrived mid afternoon, looked around the town and decided to camp at “The Lorne Farm Resort”, 5km out of town. The advertisement in the tourist info paper looked impressive. But, “First Impressions?” When we arrived it looked a little run down, bit remote, not many other campers, bare ground, dusty, already the troops were getting nervous. The most Important Question was “Do they have Hot Showers?”. “Goodness me! We are in the outback, what do you expect, someone to turn the covers down for you?” But, “yer-brave-Capitain” decided to ask, “Do you have any Unpowered Sites?” Reply “How many would you like? There is 6,000 acres to choose from.” “How much?” “$5”. “What is that $5 per person?” “No $5 per site”. Thus this clenched the deal. $5 for 6 adults for 1 night has to be the bargain of the century. The toilets were clean and the showers, so I am told, were hot. Despite the concerns, it was one of our best nights with a real campfire under the stars enjoying good food and good company. Tuesday after packing we visited the Hot Baths just out of town. The water is fed by a bore and is kept around 41degrees C. Another great experience. We toured around the town, bought some things at the IGA and after lunch set off for Bourke. We travelled by back roads seeing very few others. We passed through Brewarrina, saw the ancient aboriginal stone fish-traps. Unfortunately, the Cultural Museum was closed. It looked run down. We reached Bourke around 5pm and camped at “Kidman’s Camp” Caravan and Camping Park on the Darling River, just north of Bourke. We had stayed here before and it is a great spot, very clean and pretty and well appointed. Well recommended. That evening there was a slide show about the history of the area, the flora and fauna, put on by the National Parks. Yüklə 2,02 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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