18th Chryslers on the Murray

To start this report, first we need to back track 3 years. We were at Oddies Creek Reserve and full to capacity. Wodonga city council approached our club to cross the River and use their newly cleared activity ground at Gateway lakes. It seemed an ideal solution, still close to the river and twice the size of Oddies Creek Reserve.

Unfortunately severe drought and less than perfect preparation left the ground in poor shape. That led us to Sumsion Gardens for two years. To say we got out of gaol would be an understatement. Fast track to 2010 and a new groundsman was appointed to the job, as well as the breaking of the drought gave us a reserve in great shape. Three inches of rain the week before helped too.
Show week stats with Goodie Bag night at Dave Aggenbach’s place on Tuesday night. This year we didn't have to place COTM T Shirts in the goodie bags which sped up the process considerably. With Gordon Gotch relocating to Melbourne we were coming up short on magazines for the bags until Christine Cooper managed to get 400 Mags for the Dodge Goodie bags donated by Chrysler Australia.
Wednesday morning and the last of the Pre Entries were collected by Kristy B. A new record of 425 Pre Entrants. Her entrant matrix sheets were filling up fast. Also the paper work for the road closure (no right turn from Albury) was finally official after 6 weeks of frustrating work from Brett Saggers and Game traffic control dealing with government departments.
Thursday morning we arrived at the reserve to find a dozen or so Wodonga City Council workers swarming the area, mowing, whipper snipping and generally cleaning. The ground was looking magnificent. Bregg Saggers, Shane and Aaron Cogdell and myself helped out with fencing the site. Maybe next year we could get a forklift on site. It would certainly speed up the process and lighten the work load.

Friday morning, we arrived at the ground to find a council worker giving it one final low mow. After that we could mark out the positions of the irrigation pipes that run around underground. Not long after that, the Hire mob turned up and began putting up the marquees. This year the Fire Brigades set out the parking lanes on Friday afternoon, as well as setting up the entry lane fencing.
As the day wore on, more and more vendors arrived and set up. The Shannons Insurance big rig pulled in and all of a sudden the reserve started to take on a carnival atmosphere. By now a steady procession of entrants were driving by, taking a look to check out the new venue. In the late afternoon, road signs were placed out by Rick Taylor and mate Haydon. The newly rescued (from the wreckers) VE ute was about to get a fair workout over the weekend.

Each year we buy more signs but there never seems to be enough. At this point we must thank Tim Knight at Signs By Knight who owns a 1957 Plymouth Savoy for donating the signs this year. Anyway, by dark everything was ready for the onslaught of entrants on Saturday morning.

I didn’t go cruising this year on Friday night, but they tell me there was plenty of action along Wodonga place. Most were happy to soak up the atmosphere while some had to over do it and conservatively paid the price by having their Chrysler confiscated for the next three months.

Saturday morning before the sun rose, we headed to the reserve to find swap site vendors already lined waiting to get in. Good thing Gordon Wells and the rest of the crew from the Kiewa CFA were on the job, keeping things safe, secure and organised.
Around 8.00am Dave Aggenbach, Kristy Blackham, Troy Holt and Neville Nettlebeck allowed pre entered vehicles to enter the reserve and to check in new arrivals. They were kept busy until the main rush subsided around 10.00am. It seems they must have their systems down pat, as check in flowed very well. The two lane entry worked well, but we may add a third lane (exit lane) next year.
The swap vendors continued to roll in, with Darren Leitch handling the paperwork. Darren was kept company by his latest arrival to the family, no not his new baby girl, but a VJ Charger.

The girls in the Merchandise tent set up a great display selling COTM T Shirts, Mugs, Posters, Hats and Key rings. They had their hands full all weekend as they also had to answer all sorts of questions and muster up additional people to perform duties outside the main tent. Coffee and tea were sold as well. Well done to Sarah Wathen, Jenny Taylor, Karen Cogdell, Christine Cooper, Lyn Carroll, Bev Hooper and of course Esma Saggers.

The drinks van was of course in full swing (as always) with Naomi and Glenn handling the bulk of the work over the counter, whilst Brett Saggers and Jim Gibson restocking when they were not dealing with the other food vendors or general bits and pieces like refueling generators etc.

At the same time all this was going on, the two Top Five pro Judging was starting. John Carroll was overseeing the Shannons Insurance Top Five American, and Darren Quilty oversaw the Chrysler Action Top Five Australian. Dave Blackham had the difficult job of judging the Top Five Australian.

At lunch time most entrants that were going to register, had done so. The swap meet area had settled down, so it was time to take a breath and take it all in. The rows of Chryslers looked great. Graeme Dennis and the fire brigades did a great job at the parking. But it was only a practice run for Sunday.

Next on the agenda was the Ettamogah Pub Photo Shoot run. Kent Wathen, Rick Taylor and I headed out early to keep control of the parking at the back oval. This year we decided to let US Muscle cars park as they arrived. This took the pressure off by not having to park all the cars at once and kept the front car park free for all the other Chryslers. So we started to let the Cudas, Chargers, Dusters, Darts, Road Runners, Coronets, Polara and even a Superbird park...Just when we thought we had them all, you would hear a rumble as another would turn up. All up we had 62 US Muscle cars take part.
After we cleared every body out of the way for the photo, the 09 Dodge Challenger turned up as well and we had to do it all over again, but nobody was complaining. Now all we had to do was get every Mopar out again.

We left at about 3.30, with a big crowd at front entry. Back at the reserve all was calm, so we headed home to get cleaned up before heading back to the Three Monkeys Tavern for tea and the band.
Shane and Karen Cogdell had been organizing the nights entertainment, with great success. The Tavern served up 290 meals which they tell me was equal with Christmas day. The band, “No Brakes” played well and towards the end of the night climbed up on the tables and rocked on amidst the crowd. It was good to see the representatives of Chrysler Australia turn up, including CEO Gerry Jenkins and his family. After a long day it was time to hit the hay.

Next months newsletter, I will cover Sunday Show & Shine, and Monday’s Media.
Rod Taylor.
 
Part 2
 
Sunday, once again before daylight, we made our way to the reserve and once again we were met by a line-up of swap vendors eager to get in and start their days selling. At least most things were already set-up, so it should be less stressful?
Not long after, Entrants vehicles started to rumble in and soon the reserve began to fill with Chryslers of every colour imaginable. I didn’t get much past the swap meet alley until 10.00, but once I did, I could not believe the crowd over towards the front row. Speaking of rows, it was surprising to see how much space was used up by the Chryslers of all models. Already it was obvious that next years parking will have to be a little more careful.
Scanning across the field there was so much variety with Australian and American manufactured vehicles in attendance. There was something for everybody’s taste, if you go time to look.
By now it was time to report in for Judging. Kent & Sarah Wathen and Jenny Taylor at the Merchandise tent have the not so envious task of coordinating the judging. As always it is a mammoth job. Fortunately, we have been getting a few more volunteers to help, but it is never enough.
Check-in was left open a little longer, so as to reach the magical number of 600 entrants. It didn’t take long. It’s now a long way back from the back gate to the front entrance. I managed a ride on the drink cart on the way over, but on the way back it was swamped by people wishing to buy drinks, so it became quicker to walk, leaving Amber, Rhiannon and Aaron to continue on with their sales.
Having all the Top Fives parked together meant that at least I and other Club members could get a decent look at them before presentations. Congratulations to John Carroll for making the Shannon’s Top Five American with the De Soto. A little birdie tells me that a magazine article may be on the way.
Walking past the cars, you do get a look, but not in any real detail. I remember being surprised to see a Valiant hardtop with it’s bonnet open and there was a Long Ram manifold and carbs splayed out across the engine bay. He had to notch the inner guards to make it all fit. That must of taken days to get it all painted and looking good. Each car has its own story to tell. All the blood, sweat and tears.
What about the CL Charger with the 300C running gear and interior? Four years of hard work. Imagine all the work to get the wiring to work. One problem with the ABS brakes alone, stumped them for nearly a year.
No doubt there were cars that we would like to take home with us, or parts from the swap meet that needed a new home. I missed out on the super sales that the boys at the Chrysler tent were having every so often.
After lunch, it was time to hand in the Judging sheets and let the judging team sort the winner. Presentation time always seems to roll around very quickly. Once again the new venue required some thought about the lay-out for the trophy awards. I think it went reasonably well. Presenting the three cheques for a total of $11,500 to the three fire brigades lifted the profile of the Club in everybody’s eyes. Once that was over, it was time to pack up after a very exhausting weekend. As always, our members pitched in and get the job done in quick time. Satisfied that another Chryslers On The Murray has been run in a professional manner by our very small Club.
Monday morning, not so early, I drag myself out of bed and jump into the shower, trying to wake up, when the phone rings. It’s a local Radio station wanting to know all about the Hoon behaviour on the weekend and could they get a statement. As I wasn’t fully awake yet, I ask them to ring back in an hour.
Gathering up my thoughts half an hour later the phone rings again. It’s another Radio station, “Will this be the end of COTM?” says the cardigan wearing reporter. Grrrrr, I bite my tongue and let that go. Instead I mention the positives of the show, including the new venue, the record breaking number of Entrants and the donations made to the Fire Brigades. They are not all that interested in hearing that and the conversations ends.
Not long after the first Radio station rings back. “Yes there was a very small amount of people who did the wrong thing, which we don’t condone, but with thousands here for the week end, the economic benefits of the show was great for the border area”. They seem happy with that and hang up.
Enough of all that, time to go and help with the fence removal back at the ground. Some ones got the Border Mail newspaper, Hoon Behaviour all across the front page. Three pages in, is the coverage of the actual event complete with colour photos and then ten pages in, is an editorial that praises the new venue, and the amount of Entrants it attracts.
Not long after a TV reporter turns up. “We wish to ask you some questions about the week end”. First question - “What’s a Chrysler?” I think to myself, this is going to be a battle and answer as best as my patience will allow me. Further into the conversation I mention that we donated money to the Thurgoona Fire Brigade, the reporter cuts me off and asks “where’s that?” I give her a puzzled look, she replies “I am new here.” Anyway it didn’t come across too bad on TV.
After a long day, it was time to go home, thinking it was all over for another year. That was until the following Monday when the local newspaper found footage of the burnout on YouTube and plastered it all across the front page (again.) This started another media blitz. Here we go again. (your turn next time Brett)
Rod Taylor