(Rivers and Oceans Tour)

This year’s ‘RACV Rivers and Oceans Tour’, as with previous years, was for vehicles of a minimum 25 years old. There is no doubt that owners of classic, veteran and vintage vehicles in Victoria are benefiting from the renewed interest of the RACV in old cars. Brian Kelly, RACV’s Manager, Motoring Associations and his team did an outstanding job, with the assistance of the All British Car Club.

The previous tours have been very well organised and most enjoyable, and the 2006 tour was no exception (the third for the Lesters, the second for the Oaks). Approximately 200 vehicles were involved, so obviously the organisation needed to be of a high standard, to cope with the numbers involved – and it was! Starting in Melbourne, the tour ran north as far as Wentworth in New South Wales (theoretically, to Mildura), then southwest through Ouyen, Horsham, Warrnambool and Lorne, before heading back to Melbourne. Every night of the tour the RACV organised excellent dinners for approximately 450 people attending, together with entertainment and a briefing on the next day’s activities by tour organiser, Frank Douglas. Singers were well represented by two 9hp roadsters, covering well over 2000kms, with no breakdowns.

Day 1 – Saturday 1 April 2006 Melbourne to Kerang (392 kms)

We arrived early at Federation Square to enjoy a hot breakfast provided by the RACV. Flag-off at 9.40am, saw us heading north in cold, showery conditions – not the best in open Singers, with the temperature hovering around 9°c! Lunch at Shepparton, and then on to Kerang for the night, where we arrived in time for the ever helpful RACV to adjust the Oaks Singer brakes – much easier done on a workshop hoist!

Day 2 – Sunday 2 April 2006 Kerang to Mildura (294 kms)

At Kerang the RACV organised an excellent hot breakfast and we were back on the road in sunny weather with first stop Lake Boga. We spent an enjoyable hour there inspecting the Lakeside Flying Boat Museum. It’s hard to imagine that there were some 10,000 RAAF service personnel based in this little country town during World War II. Most interesting was an original Catalina Flying Boat, mounted on a concrete apron outside the Flying Boat Museum on the shores of the lake. On through Swan Hill and Robinvale to our motel in Mildura, where we arrived in time to clean the Singers in preparation for a riverside display next morning. Another well organised RACV dinner followed at the Mildura Settlers Club. Taxi transport meant we could ‘let our hair down’ and have one or three reds!

Day 3 – Monday 3 April 2006 Mildura (100 kms)

A day off! Weather warm and sunny - apart from a riverside vehicle display in the morning, there was only an optional tour to Wentworth, run by the local car club. Both Singers participated, and the occupants enjoyed a morning tea stop at ‘Orange World’ – most informative and interesting to hear about orange varieties and their origins and tour the large orange grove. Then back on the road to Wentworth, through outback Mallee scrub, enjoying the beautiful warm sun with side curtains stowed and windscreens flat! Wentworth Services Sporting Club provided a delicious lunch (courtesy again, the RACV!) Back to Mildura for a 4.30pm river tour on houseboats to Trentham Estate Winery for a sumptuous outdoor barbecue dinner, served on the tree studded riverbank lawns. The organisers will have to work hard to improve on this function. Returned to Mildura again by houseboat, where we arrived to find our taxi waiting to take four very tired people to bed! A tremendous night was had by all.

This was where things started to unravel for the Oaks contingent. Rey was unwell and unable to drive (or even load the car). Deirdre drove all day (and as things turned out, for the rest of the tour) Weather was reasonable, with both Singers hoods down and running well – we travelled through Red Cliffs, Ouyen and Warracknabeal, before arriving at Horsham late afternoon. The RACV dinner (high standards as usual) was at Horsham Town Hall, and it’s fair to say that all the Singer contingent were starting to feel the strain of driving our small Singers, dining out each night, loading and unloading and keeping the cars looking clean and well presented (there were regular inspections and prizes were awarded at the conclusion of the tour).

Up early for 7.30am breakfast (except for Rey). The first stop was at Horsham Hospital where Rey was checked out and was deemed to have ‘a virus!! Weather was deteriorating, getting colder, but still fine with cloud building in the south west. On through Stawell and then to the north Grampians Road. Really cold now and drizzling, as we threaded our way around countless corners, being lucky if we reached 20mph at any time. Constant gear changes – not very pleasant driving. Finally we reach Halls Gap and up go the hoods, under the friendly canopy of the local service station. Some hot food restored our dampened spirits! Leaving Halls Gap, we travelled along the Princes Highway at a steady 50mph to the Port Fairy turnoff, but kept straight on because of the rain and cold. We were anxious to reach our Warrnambool motel where hopefully we would and did, thaw out. Cold and wet in Warrnambool, but that didn’t dampen the festivities at the RACV dinner at the City memorial Bowls Club. Highlight of the evening was the fancy dress segment, where some very creative car buffs showed what could be done with plastic bags, paint masks and shower caps. Sydney Singer club members, Micky and Alastair Browne looked great in their French outfits (berets, striped tops, complete with garlic strings around their necks and the obligatory baguette!) - this to go with their Renault 15TS! Very international, Alastair!

At last, a day with under 200 kms to travel! Cold and wet still as we were marshalled into lines for departure from a planned display at Lake Pertrobe Reserve. Leaving Warrnambool, we travelled along the Great Ocean Road, at its best with the wild seas crashing against the windswept shore! Sounds cold? – it was! Lunch at Port Campbell was interesting, with the local eateries struggling to cope with the invasion of car fanatics. However, some hot food and coffee got us going again. Continuing our journey along the Great Ocean Road, we arrived at Apollo Bay in time for afternoon tea (or juice). The road from Apollo Bay to Lorne was even more spectacular, with grey rollers crashing into white foam. Deirdre only knows this, because Rey told her – she was busy driving along this road, pleasantly surprised at its width and gentle curves. We arrived at Lorne to our shared apartment with the Lesters. Boy, was this luxury, and we loved it! A split level unit centrally heated, with all mod. cons. The spacious lounge dining area allowed us to spread out, warm up and relax! So relaxed did we become that the thought of another ‘dinner out’, however well done, lacked appeal. We settled instead for magnificent takeaway pizzas and chips, with just a sip of red! A pity, since we were told the RACV dinner at the Lorne hotel was magnificent.

Day 7 – Friday 7 April 2006 Lorne to Keilor (138 kms)

Up in time to depart our lovely apartment for 7.30am RACV breakfast at Lorne Hotel – buffet style, very well done! Decided to give ourselves plenty of time over the remainder of the Great Ocean Road, leaving Lorne under grey skies about 9.30am. A very good run through Aireys Inlet and Anglesea – did not sight another car, except for two which overtook us. We stopped at Geelong for morning coffee, before making our way to the final destination for the presentation lunch at the Ultima Function Centre, Keilor. Again, this function was very well done. We heard speeches from tour organisers and awards were presented. We departed early afternoon for a hair raising journey along the Western Ring Road – never again, in a Singer. Everyone (trucks especially) drive flat out and they probably did not see us at all! Finally both Singers and crews arrived home safely in suburban Melbourne. A most enjoyable and stimulating tour, thanks to the impeccable organisation and planning by the RACV.

Will we be going next year?