Austin Champ Camp, Glenburn, Australia, 1998
A total of 19 champs were in Glenburn for the weekend, these are some of the early photos grabbed from my video while we wait for the real photos...
Thursday 16th April
After what seemed to be weeks of waiting the first of the Champs started to arrive to help with preparations. Mick Hobson and son Bass arrived in their Champ with trailer at 1030hrs.Russell and Rose Altmann arrived from Stawell at 1400hrs. They brought with them 2 Champs on a huge tri-axle trailer. Travelling with the Altmann's were brothers Wally and Harry Bowers also from Stawell. After setting up camp we swapped stories and planned the work for the next day.
Friday 17th April
I arose at 0600hrs and put the final touches to a computer slide show of 320 Champ photographs that I have gathered from around the world for Malcolm's Austin Champ Website [http://website.cwi.net.au/dexter/champ]. These are current photos that I have had sent to me in most cases via the Internet using email.
At 0730hrs we began work on an outback latrine for the use of the attendees. At what seemed amazing speed, a large hole was dug, a frame was built and by mid afternoon the structure was taking shape. At 1605 young Robert Hayes (3 years old) tested the long drop and declared it safe to use.
With darkness fast approaching, a maze of extension leads provided power for the campers whose number had increased during the day with Sid Hayes arriving from Phillip Island arriving in his restored Champ. At 1930 hrs we tested the slide show on some of the campers and discussed restoration procedures with Mick who has restored 4 Champs and a couple of Humbers. We retired at 2330hrs.
Saturday 18th April
The morning of the 18th started off foggy at 0600hrs but by 0800hrs the fog had cleared to a fine sunny morning. Martin Dasler with wife Tracy arrived in their FFW Champ, it was one of only 2 of this rare (In Australia)2 speed generator model that attended. During the morning more Champs and owners arrived until by midday everyone had arrived.
At 1330hrs 12 Champs with Drivers and passengers set off for a 30 mile Bush drive through the Black Range State Forest which is 5 miles from the camp site in Glenburn. We stopped to regroup before leaving the highway and were spotted by military historian Mike Cecil, author of Australian Military Equipment Profiles,who was on his way to the event, quite a sight 12 Champs in convoy he quipped.
After a dusty run through the bush and a visit to the Murrindindi Scenic reserve we returned to the campsite at 1530hrs and assembled in an empty paddock on the farm for a photo session.
At 1800hs The Gourmet BBQ began and we feasted on the food expertly prepared by a team lead by Kerri Hayes and cooked by Martin and Tracy Dasler. We listened to a couple of presentation speeches and presented to Mick Hobson the special prize of a book about British military vehicles. The book was sent from the UK by Champman and author Gus Gowers to be presented to the person travelling the furthest in a Champ driven and maintained by themself. We retired at 2300hrs
Sunday 19th April
0600hrs on the 19th was a foggy start to the day, we inspected Champs which had participated in the event and there was a good deal of interest in the Austin powered WN3 belonging to Sid Hayes, most other Austin Champs have the Rolls Royce designed B40 Mk5a engine, so this was the first time most of the participants had seen the civilian variant.
At 1130hrs 6 Champs left for a quick 4x4 trip into the forest navigated by Mike Cecil who had arrived during the morning in his F15 Blitz. Returning to camp at 1330hrs we lunched and began to pack for departure, with the final group to leave being The Altmann entourage.
We are all looking forward to next year's Austin Champ Camping weekend to be held at Russell and Rose Altmann's property at Concongella via Stawell April 10th & 11th, 1999.
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