Z Touring North East Victoria

[silverz]

I know many of you are into motor sport with your Z or spending your time modifying them. I don't have the time/energy or probably ability for motor sport and while I will do basic maintenance and repairs any serious mods are probably beyond me as well. In the 5 years I have owned my car I have driven it basically as a daily driver and I have driven it in some pretty amazing places including the Northern Territory, North Queensland, Western Queensland, Outback NSW and Northern Victoria and I have never been stuck on the side of the road other than when I was stuck due to flooded roads (Ingham North Queensland). 

 

As with any older car my Z seems to require attention often to attend to little things that stop working or rattle and creak. Recently I thought I will never get around to giving the car all the attention it really deserves, so I started negotiating to sell to one of the people that regularly post on here looking for someone to sell. Turns out when the chips were down right at what I thought was near the end of negotiation they pulled out. Decided to buy some other type of car apparently. I was annoyed as I took their word for it they were serious and had been very honest with the potential purchaser.  However I think they did me a favour...........

 

Since then I thought I may as well enjoy what I have and have done some really interesting touring around North East Victoria. I went to Beechworth to the Old Cranks Car show about three weeks ago (saw a 260Z 2+2 on display) then went back via Yackandandah.

 

I had a great drive from Wodonga to Corryong the weekend before last, lovely mountain drive that one. Turned off at  Old Tallangatta on the way back and drove toward Bethanga, started off as narrow bitumen winding through hills above the back of Hume Weir before turning to dirt. I thought oh well it's not a show car (far from it) it's here to be driven and had a hoot on winding hilly dirt road for about 10Km before turning back to bitumen just before Bethanga, from there back to Wodonga, total 160+ miles.

 

Yesterday I drove to Myrtleford via Yackandandah, from Myrtleford to Porepunkah then up to Mt Buffalo. Other than bouncing me around with worn shocks and springs the  car went a treat, though it is a good thing the heater works, there was no snow but it was very cold. After driving around on Mt Buffalo I headed down the mountain and went to Bright. If you get the chance to check out Bright I recommend you go to the Old Tobacco Sheds just on the Porepunkah side of Bright. They have 22 rooms full of fascinating old stuff on sale including a "motor sport room" where I bought a picture of a sideways Z in a rally out the back of Bright. The man working there is into Valiant Chargers and he was very happy to talk cars with me. From Bright I went over the range to Mt Beauty, great drive that one. The view from the lookout on the top of the hill is magnificent. From Mt Beauty It was back through the Kiewa Valley to Wodonga, unfortunately it got dark for half of this final leg and my lights are not great. Total of 172 miles yesterday.

 

I hope I haven't bored you all but it has been a recent voyage of rediscovery for me and may just fire me up to get around to fixing those annoying little things, suspension, upgraded headlights etc.

 

Must start thinking about where to go next weekend....

 

Anyway I have some pictures I would like to share but can't figure it out just now (Old Computer Operator)..... hopefully later.

 

Regards

Peter

 

[silverz]

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[silverz]

[Jimbo]

G,day Silverz,

            I am in Omeo so I know what you mean about our roads up here. A good run is Bright, Mt Hotham down to Omeo for refreshments & catch up then the Omeo Highway past the Blue Duck  then up the Buckety High  Plains Rd to Falls Creek down to Mt Beauty then home. All in a good days drive.

            You would need to keep an eye on the weather forecasts & they shut the Buckety High Plains Rd for winter, so do it sooner rather than later.  Good Luck  Jim

 

[silverz]

Jim,

Thanks for the info. I checked it on the map, looks good. Depending on the weather and my ability to get my domestic tasks completed I might try this trip on Sunday. It will be a long trip though considering I will start and finish in Wodonga.

 

Regards

Peter

[luvemfast]

Even though you got stood up with selling the Z.

They did you a favour and you know it! 

[silverz]

Even though you got stood up with selling the Z.

They did you a favour and you know it! 

 

Yes as it turns out I think I would miss it too much if I did sell it.

 

I would still like to warn others be wary of these people  that post that they  "definitely want a Z and have money to spend etc" I was as fair as I could possibly be with this guy and held nothing back as to the condition of the car etc. I did not feel good to know this guy was never sure he even wanted a Z.

 

Anyway back to planning what I want to do with the car and where I want to go.

 

Regards

Peter

[nizm0zed]

I was as fair as I could possibly be with this guy and held nothing back as to the condition of the car etc.

 

dont be hard on yourself, that ^ right there is a mark of an honest person.

I do the same when im selling a car, i figure i would appreciate it if the same was done for me if i was a buyer, but too many people try to hide things.

Makes it a bit dissapointing when you get home and something unexpected falls off or breaks.

 

Either way, enjoy your car, like you said, its there to be driven.

You do have to ask, what would you be doing instead that'd bring more enjoyment? Golf?

If you cant really come up with a definitive answer, you know that you'll love the car for many more years to come.

[silverz]

G,day Silverz,

            I am in Omeo so I know what you mean about our roads up here. A good run is Bright, Mt Hotham down to Omeo for refreshments & catch up then the Omeo Highway past the Blue Duck  then up the Buckety High  Plains Rd to Falls Creek down to Mt Beauty then home. All in a good days drive.

            You would need to keep an eye on the weather forecasts & they shut the Buckety High Plains Rd for winter, so do it sooner rather than later.  Good Luck  Jim

 

Unfortunatley looks like I won't be able to take this trip this weekend. Snow showers in the high country predicted so roads probably closed. Window of opportunity probably closed now until spring.

 

Regards

Peter

[Jimbo]

G,day Peter,

                  There has been snow about on Mt Hotham & Falls Creek but some rain is forecast so that should wash it away unless there is a heavy dump of snow again. The Buckety High Plains Rd is scheduled to be closed on 14 June after the long weekend so you still might get a run in before it closes.

                    You could also bypass Falls Creek & stay on the Omeo Highway through to Mitta Mitta (about 26k's of dirt but they are preparing about 8-10k's for sealing now) & have no trouble finding your way home from there.            I will PM you..Jim

[GV260]

Hi Peter,

 

I'm a fellow Ovens & Murray person as well. Born and raised in Corowa, high school days spent in Albury. Parents and siblings still live in both. Great surronding area and great roads. Tarmac High Country vouches for that! Enjoy the drives as you have far less to travel then us city folk have to!

 

Cheers,

 

Graham

[silverz]

Thanks Graham,

Unfortunately the weather is ruling out any high country drives today. Might just go over Rutherglen/Wahgunya/Corowa direction for a look around.

Regards

Peter

[GV260]

Just don't drink too much of that red stuff - it's adictive!