News and Views from ROAR - May 2007

President's Report

GREETINGS ALL,

Autumn is a lovely time of year in Canberra, as it is across much of southern Australia. In Canberra, the colourful display of deciduous trees is always spectacular, days are warm and sunny. Easter is often the pick of the weather, but even as I write this column (in mid-May) we have yet to experience our first frost of the year. Over the Easter weekend Sue and I travelled to Mildura to visit Sue's relatives (she grew up at Redcliffs, just outside Mildura). This had been a longstanding commitment, so sadly we could not attend the Peugeot Easter Pageant in Cowra. On Easter Friday we drove our 306 HDi from Canberra to Mildura (about 840 km), via Yass, Gundagai, Junee, Narrandera, Hay and Balranald, easily making the distance on a single tank of fuel, at an average of around 6 litres/100 km. 

Total trip time was just on 9 hours, a bit long for one day, but necessary to make the most of the weekend in Mildura Among Sue's Mildura relatives (whom I met for the first time), I immediately warmed to Ted Page, who is a pillar of the Mildura Vintage Vehicles Club. Ted drives a classic 1946 six cylinder, side valve Pontiac (black, of course). Like the 203, it has suicide doors, but unlike the 203 they are hinged so that the rear doors are the suicide ones (open one at speed and you will know what I mean). Ted's car also sports a Holden badge because the bodywork, like all imported American cars in those days, was built by Holden Bros in Australia. As luck would have it, the Mildura VVC had an Easter rally, including a lineup of cars at the Botanic Gardens on Easter Sunday. 

After admiring the cars (an early 30s Stutz was very eye-catching), we strolled through the gardens and then adjourned to town for a leisurely lunch while tasting some local wines. The next day we retraced our route to Canberra, again in glorious autumn weather. Meanwhile, back in Canberra, our newly acquired 203, which featured in the April edition of RoaR, will return home after spending several weeks on display at Melrose Peugeot. Sadly my 203 wagon must be sold to make space in the garage, so if you fancy owning an unusual Pug I'd be pleased to hear from you. Our regular monthly meeting will be held at 8 pm on Tuesday 22 May at the Canberra Services Club, the day before Sue and I head off to Western Australia for a month of travel to and from the Kimberley region in the far north. I will report on the trip at the June meeting. 

Planning is well underway for our visit to the Mogo Zoo to see the Peugeot-sponsored white lions on the weekend of 30 June /1 July. This should be a terrific weekend, so be sure to contact John Phillips to confirm your participation.

Keep on pugging,

Brad Pillans

brad.pillans@anu.edu.au

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