Just 5 more sleeps till we head off, on what everyone tells us will be an adventure of a lifetime. It seems just like yesterday that myself, Glenn Foster, Angelo Gava and Bub Cuskelly purchased Merv Grebers 1978 Ford XC Station Wagon with a view of getting it ready for the 2008 XXXX Gold Variety Bash. In fact it has been just on 12 months and during this time the work that Fos and Angelo have put into "bash-proofing"  the car has been amazing. Of course, we have had a lot of assistance and we must thank a stack of people for getting our vehicle "bash ready". Tony Darragh and his team at Tonys workshop, Tony Johnston at Just Brakes and Exhaust, Tony Hatton Auto Electrician, Jason Goulding at Car Sound FX, Craig Ellis Panel Works, Glenn Armstrong Panel Works and Tom Soward Steel have just been a few of the blokes and businesses who have helped us out. 
So far our team has raised over $9000 for the Variety Club and along with the other 160 cars entered into the Bash the target is to raise more than $1.5 million in total. We must thank our two major sponsors, the Northern Co-Operative Meat Co. and the Casino RSM Club for the support of Car 2470 and hopefully we can spread the word far and wide about Casino and all we have to offer.

Our plan is to give daily updates of our journey and we would love to hear from you by emailing us at dschipp@casinorsm.com.au or bub56@bigpond.com

                       Itinerary

Day 1 Fri 3rd Oct - Toowoomba to Casino
Day 2 Sat 4th Oct - Casino to Dorrigo
Day 3 Sun 5th Oct - Dorrigo to Barraba
Day 4 Mon 6th Oct - Barraba to Mudgee
Day 5 Tues 7th Oct - Mudgee to Cowra
Day 6 Wed 8th Oct - Cowra to Temora
Day 7 Thurs 9th Oct - Temora to Lake Cargelligo
Day 8 Fri 10th Oct - Lake Cargelligo to Parkes
Day 9 Sat 11th Oct - Parkes to Bathurst

 Bash Eve Update

We met for a Bon Voyage Brekky with over 60 family, friends and supporters at Foscars and after many tears and a few crackers we headed for Toowoomba. We received a phone call after 10 minutes and were told we had forgotten to pack our dress-up costumes for tomorrows start and we promptly pulled into the Fairy Hill Hall and waited for our support crew to bring them out to us.
Worse was to follow about 3 hours later when Car 2470 bagan cutting out when idling at traffic lights in Toowoomba. A couple of phone calls to ace mechanic Tony Darragh and a quick change of a fuel filter in the Shamrock Hotel car park had us ready to pass scrutineering and prepare for our bash briefing. We thougt we had problems, until we met a team called simply the WOGS, whom Angelo immediately befriended, who were rebuilding their entire engine after a major mechanical failure. It also didn't look good for the team who arrived at scrutineering in  a taxi whilst their car was towed in on a stiff bar. Still eveyone is in good spirits and you get a feeling that we are about to embark on a real special adventure.

Our evening briefing was a good night and we met a team of special needs kids who are doing the bash with their carers. The kids on Team Baxter were recipients of funding from Variety Queensland some years back and are now hepling to raise funds for kids like theselves through participating in the bash.

The social part of the evening went a little longer than expected and caught up in the emotion of the occasion, 3/4 of our team didn't make it home until after 2am.

Day 1 Toowoomba to Casino - Fri 3rd Oct.

6am roll call for our team and it was a pretty ordinary turn-out. We had trouble finding somebody fit enough to take the wheel, however, we did make it to the Grand Central Shopping Centre by 6.30am for brekky and what a sight it was. 600 participants dressed up in various themes and 200 + bash vehicles joined by a huge public crowd for the start. I must say we did come up a treat in our Meatworks boning room outfits and the team dressed in cow suits were eyeing us very suspiciously.

It was great to catch up with a couple of Casino locals in Brian and Noelene Olive at the start and Noelene had actually prepared a survival kit for each of us,including some Panadol which were put to immediate use.

The event got officially under way at 7.30am with the lead cars heading off followed by Car 2470 at arounf 8.10am with a sufficiently well, yet reluctant Glenn Foster at the wheel. After travelling 600 metres we realised that we had forgotten to fuel up and pulled in for our very first pit stop. Worse was soon to follow when after 20 minutes of trying to decipher the route instructions Car 2470 stopped as if shot. Some more phone calls to ace mechanic, Tony Darragh, and some work by the guys in one of the mobile workshops and we were on our way again but not before nearly being t-boned by a bloke who locked up all four tyres and missed hitting us by a good 1 to 2 metres.
Leaving the outskirts of Toowoomba as the second last vehicle we then set about restoring our tarnished image. 

Details of the next part of our trip are sketchy at best as the enormity of the night befores premature celebration took full effect. It became a big worry for us all when Foster was physically unable to speak and it took some time and the coaxing of some bodily fluids out of Glenns stomach before he was to be of any use to us at all. 

The rally conditions were pretty tough for the early part of Day 1 with 14 creek crossings and some real steep climbs. It was no problem for Car 2470 which was now running like a dream, however, on more than a few occasions other cars had to be given assistance by support vehicles to get through water and up some slopes.

We visited a couple of schools near Killarney and the reactions of the kids and the looks on their faces when 210 bash cars turn up brings a smile to all bashers. It was amazing to see kids on isolated farms sitting on their fences, holding signs asking us to blow our horns, waving and smiling as we belted across the dirt tracks.

We survived without further dramas to lunch at Maroon Public School at aboy 1.45pm and by this stage had passed enough vehicles to not embarass ourselves. After lunch we headed to Casino via the Lions Road and arrived in town at about 4pm and were able to help out a couple of bashers who needed some repair work done to vehicles through our contacts with Tony Johnston and Tony Darragh. Tony Darragh gave Car 2470 a quick going over and gave it a clean bill of health which is good news for tomorrow. The bashers had dinner at the Casino RSM Club and at the function Rob Goodwin from Variety Queensland presented Robyn Townsend from Jumbunna with some special needs gym equipment and a pledge to build a new shade sail to cover the kids outdoor play area. That was great news and makes all our fund-raising effforts even more worthwhile.
Quiet night for the crew of Car 2470 as we were still suffering quite a deal from the night before but we will be back bigger and better tomorrow.

After just 1 day as a basher, I'm hooked. Surely having this much fun and doing so much good for the kids can't be legal.

We also went to the Darling Downs Zoo today.

It has only got one animal in the zoo.

It is a dog.

It is a shitzu.

Day 2 - Casino to Dorrigo - Sat 4th Oct

A beautiful day in Casino for Day 2 of the bash and I'm happy to report the overall health of Car 2470 and its team members is much better than yesterdays. Thanks to Tony Darragh and Tony Hatton for sorting out out a few problems we were still having with the car last night. Special thanks to our wives, Christine, Jo and Steph for taking us home early last night as well.

A great breakfast was prepared by the Footy Club and Jumbunna at QEP this morning and we were given the honour of leading the Bash out of our home town. The $500 bribe we paid was well worth the money to see so many Casino people out in the streets to wave us goodbye. I was given the privelage of being the driver on this mornings leg which saw us travel to Tenterfield via the Rocky Creek Road amongst other side tracks. The drive and view were sensational and if you have a 4WD I can recommend highly this alternate route. 

Lunch at Tenterfield Community Hall and we have just received good news over the two way that we won 10 bottles of wine in a local raffle. I'm sure we'll get a chance at some stage tonight to share that with our brothers and sisters of the Bash.

This afternoons leg was what the driving side of the bash is all about. 270km leg, 80% of which was on windy dirt roads, the likes of which I haven't experienced before. Even the most experienced bashers were commenting on how dusty the road was and at its worst, visibility was as low as 10 metres. Luckily for us we had Angelo driving for the 4 1/2 hour leg and despite the conditions it was a lot of fun. Plenty of beatiful camping spots on the Manning River which we were travelling alongside as we headed towards Dorrigo. 

We are starting to meet plenty of characters amongst the bashers and one of our favourites would be the 3 guys from Car 187 "The Highlanders" , which is a Scottish based themed car. At every opportunity the boys will pull out the bagpipes and pipe the bash cars into towns, schools and pubs. It is a great spectacle and my personal favourite is when they wake up the bashers at 6am of a morning by piping through our campsites.

Stopped at a lovely spot with about 20 others bashers including a guy called Plucka who is a 3 parts mad bugger who makes up events as he goes along the Bash to raise money for the kids. At this stop he had prawns shipped in from Yamba and was selling them to the Bashers. Here we were in the middle of nowhere cooling our feet in crystal clear water, having a XXXX Gold and eating fresh prawns. Priceless.

The tough drive and stops meant we didn't hit Dorrigo until 7.30pm and set up our campsite in the dark. Seemed like a lovely night so we just put up a tarp and did'nt worry about the tents. Wished we had have set it up at about 2am when it started raining and we got a bit wet. Still we did get 4 hours sleep which wasn't too bad.

Day 3 Dorrigo to Barraba - Sun 5th Oct

Lot easier drive today. 470 km yesterday in total and today only 370km and a lot straighter. Drive out of Dorrigo was pretty spectacular and we saw a lot of fly fishermen trying their luck in the creeks near the roads. 

Each day there are a couple of compulsory pitstops at small pubs and these are a great opportunity to have a coldie and spread some more bullshit with our fellow bashers. The publicans always tip in a few dollars for Variety as well and the locals flock down to check out the cars. We were required to swapped navigators between cars today and we were fortunate to be selected by a couple of ladies known affectionately as the old boilers. They are both experienced bashers and were a lot of good fun. Thanks Toni and Cheryl

We stopped at Green Valley Tourist Park about 8km ou of Tingha for lunch. It is a home made theme park and has some ingenious rides made out of steam pipe. The bloke built it in memory of his 10 year old daughter who died and he wanted to make a place where kids could always enjoy themselves. 

Pretty easy drive to Barraba (1200 pop.) for our night stopover. Watched the footy at the RSL with a dozen locals and a couple of the boys from the WOGS car. After the footy we went to the main street of Barraba which was closed to traffic where they served 600 bashers pies, peas and potatoes for dinner before the townsfolk of Barraba and the Bashers were treated to a performance of Buddy the Musical in the main street on a specially built stage. This is the show that opens in Sydney in Feb 2009 and I don't think the people of Barraba had ever seen anything like it before.

Accommodation was on the verandah of the Commercial Hotel which was excellent except for the fact that the band at the pub were playing on the street directly under us and didn't finish playing until after midnight. Also a bit ordinary when it rained at about 3am and Fos got a bit wet. Still we did get a solid 4 hours sleep again.

Car 2470 travelling sweetly at the moment and we are using about 22 1/2 litres of fuel per 100km.
Still having a great time and discussions are now taking place about whether we will continue travelling after Bathurst to Tasmania for their Bash in 2 weeks time.

I'm losing track of how many computers, wheelchairs and the like Variety have given away since we started. It really is a wonderful organisation and it is a privelage to be part of it.

Day 4 - Barraba to Mudgee Mon 6th Oct.

Awoke this morning and it is belting down rain. There was some talk that we might have to change the scheduled route for todays drive but the organisers decided to proceed and monitor the situation. With 200 cars involved and the dust now turning to mud it is dangerous but for us we turned to our most experienced driver, Angelo, for guidance. As we left Barraba we were treated to a spectacular ligtning show and as I write this it has been raining persistently for the entire hour and 3/4 we have been going so far and  we are now starting to hit water across the road. Our little wog mate, our go-to man, is however, handling the conditions superbly and a podium finish is not out of the question for this leg.

Arrived at Binnaway Public School for lunch and what a mornings driving it ended up being. After all the dust of Day 2, the conditions were so muddy, getting bogged became the order of the day. It was so slippery that cars were getting sideways on long straights and there were a couple of near misses with a few bash cars, not Car 2470, who ended up doing 360's and finishing up well off the road. Fos was beside himself when he hopped out of the car and saw the amount of mud caked on the 2470 and whilst we had lunch and headed to the Binnaway Pub to meet the locals, Fos befriended an old local bloke and went and washed the car from top to bottom.

The afternoon drive to Mudgee was pretty tame compared to the morning session and we arrived at the Waratah Hotel for the nights accommodation in rooms slightly smaller than a standard lawn locker. They were so small we had to step outside to change our minds and my position as accommodation officer is now under threat. Good night of presentations and music at some resort in Mudgee and an early finish saw us in bed by 11pm.

Day 5 - Mudgee to Cowra Tues 7th Oct.

Bloody cold awakening this morning with the temperature dropping to 1 degree overnight, hardly the weather for our shorts and pink Foscars t-shirts. Todays trip took us through back roads along the Macquarie River through the hills and was a spectacular drive on a pretty hairy road. Some outstanding camping spots on the river along the way and the campers who had settled in for the school holidays got a rude shock with 200 plus cars belting past their sites.

Arrived in Bathurst and I was then given the honour of driving Car 2470 on a lap of Mt. Panorama which was closed to the public in preparation for Sundays big race. We pulled up on grid position 1, let the bashers in front get a bit ahead and floored it. It was a great buzz and as we reached the top of the mountain the fans who had already arrived for the weekend  were going ballistic as we drove past. Hit Conrod straight and unfortunately after reaching 110 km/hr  we had to slow for the not so well performing bashers ahead of us. Got some great photos and it was for me the highlight of the trip and I must thank Fos, Angelo and Bub for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. 

I must metion that prior to the lap, Fos and Angelo gave the car another clean and I believe we are now recognised by the other bashers as having the best presented car in the bash and as being slightly obsessive compulsive.

Lunch was at the XXXX Gold truck "The Retreat" at the back end of the starting straight at Mt. Panorama where we took a group photo to be used on postcards for all the bashers. Licensing conditions meant that they couldn't sell any alcohol from the Retreat until Thursday. Crisis averted when one of the bashers purchased 900 cans of XXXX Gold from a local bottle shop and gave them away to his fellow bashers.

Pretty straight forward afternoon drive to Cowra and tonights  accommodation at the Imperial Hotel has the 4 of us in the same room. Dinner was at the local showgrounds and a special presentation to a beautiful little 3 year old local girl, Chloe. Chloe needed a specially built wheelchair and was on a 3 year waiting list until Variety came along and helped her out by getting the wheelchair in a couple of months. She was a little cutie and by the time she left the bashers had showered her with all sorts of gifts. Tonight for me really showed what the Variety Bash is all about and you really get the feeling we are helping to make a difference in peoples lives. Caught up in the emotion of the night Car 2470 purchased 1 of 10 remote control cars for $1000 which will feature in a race along the Temora airstrip tomorrow. Angelo and Fos are currently giving it a bit of a tune-up to have us ready for the night.

Day 6 - Cowra to Temora Wed 8th Oct 

Pretty cushy day of bashing today with just a short drive to Temora of 130km. We were able to sleep in until nearly 8pm and I must say it was enjoyable sleeping in such close quarters to Angelo and Bub who were in career best snoring form. After a 7th consecutive breakfast of bacon and eggs we handed the wheel to Bub for his Bash driving debut and was surprised to learn that Bub has no idea of, or regard  whatsoever  for speed limits. Made it to the Temora Aviation Museum for lunch after a quick stop for a new horn. We have been experiencing horn problems since Day 1. We were very lucky to have a young attractive young girl at the Auto One shop at Young help us fix our horn problem and after a quick rewire in the Aviation Museum carpark we have a brand new horn and siren system complete with external speaker and microphone. Fos is now making a lot of friends with the locals as we drive through the towns on the Bash. He is particularly good with women and small children.

The Aviation Museum was excellent and we had the opportunity of testing our remote controlled car on the tarmac in preparation for tonights race. Got to our accommodation at the Terminus Hotel in the early afternoon and set about meeting the locals and a few bikers making their trip home from last weekends bike races at Phillip Island. 

The nights dinner was held at the Temora Showground and a large crowd of bashers were in attendance to witness the 10 remote controlled cars race of for the coveted title of remote bash champion. 

I had the perfect preparation for the event and thankfully we were not breath-tested prior to racing. The event got underway in controversial circumstances when the starter tripped over in his high heels and fell on one of the cars. My reaction time was excellent and I was able to avoid the early scrimmage and at the top turn some 70 metres down the track, whilst leading , one of the officials stood on our car and the race turned into a debacle from there. It was, however, generally agreed amongst the crowd that the Car 2470 team entry was the winner.

Back to our pub after this and we caught up with our bikie mates and treated them to a short but impressive fireworks display before turning in for the night. The boys were very impressed with the two rooms I had arranged for them particular when they realised that each room only had 1 double bed. I don't know how Bub and Fos got on in their room but I noted there was a big space between Angelo and I as we cowered as close as we could to the edge of our bed.

Day 7 Temora to Lake Cargelligo Thurs 9th Oct

Morning drive from Temora to Barmedman of 160km mostly on dirt roads. We made one change to our team for the morning session swapping our 90kg wog, Angelo, for a 120kg wog from the Sunshine Coast, Mario. Mario is part of the WOGS team car and is a laugh a minute.
This stage saw the first serious accident of the Bash with Car 302 a 1971 ZD Fairlane, a classic amongst Fairlanes, ending up wrapped around a tree. There were no serious injuries just a few bumps and bruises but it doesn't look too good for Car 302 being able to finish the Bash, although the Workshop Crews will give it their best to get it back on the road. The mobile workshop boys are incredibly resourceful and it is amazing what they can do to get a vehicle back on the road and into the next town to undertake more thorough repairs.

We stopped at a little school in Bribbaree and made a presentation of computers to a couple of kids with learning difficulties. Despite the fact it was school holidays 20 of the 24 kids enrolled turned up to greet us and they had a great time checking out the 200 cars and collecting lollies, stickers, toys, hats and shirts of the Bashers.

Lunch was at the Barmedman Mineral Pool. The pool originated in the 1880's after the flooding of the Barmedman goldmines from an underground river and is said by some to have healing properties due to its high mineral content.

This afternoon we have a 202km drive to Lake Cargelligo. Our accommodation is at the camping grounds and the rest of Team 2470 is really looking forward to that. 

The organisation side of things from  the Variety side of things has been fantastic. The logistics of getting 600 people to and from each stop safely and then feeding must be a huge challenge. The Bash Director Rob Goodwin and Bash co-ordinator Erin Groenveld do a remarkable job and their enthusiasm never seems to wane. Their organisational skills are first rate and one of the main reason this bash has been so much fun has been because of the effort these two have put in.

Disappointing pit stop along the way saw Fos and myself get towelled up by two old boys from Caloundra in a billy-cart and vodka skolling competition. We actually rolled our billy cart on the final corner damaging our pride but little else.

Lake Cargelligo is a beautiful little town and our camping spot right on the edge of the lake gave us views of a magnificent sunset and sunrise. We are camped alongside a few interesting characters including the 2 mechanics who helped us out on Day 1 with our mechanical problems in Toowoomba. Car 302 which crashed yesterday is now operating under its own steam and again highlights the abilities of the mechanics who are following the bash around. Also nearby is a guy they call Mad Max who decided it would be a bit of fun to drive his car into Lake Cargelligo before entertaining us all with his efforts to get his car back of the sand and onto the camping site.

We had tea under the stars catered for by the local Footy Club before turning in for the night. I think I speak for all our team when I say we are looking forward to a night in a motel tomorrow night in Parkes where we can have a proper shower.

Day 8 Lake Cargelligo to Parkes - Fri 10th Oct

Pretty easy drive today of about 360km with the conditions whilst dusty not as bad as a couple of the legs we have endured. We have had another team change for the day with Bub being replaced by a Scottish bloke called Spud. Spud is part of the production team travelling with the Buddy Holly Musical show which is a major supporter of the bash. They turn up at the end of the day at our stops in their $600K Winnebago and whilst it is comfortable, Spud was keen to try out real bash life. 
Living up to our ability to deliver good old  Aussie hospitality we had Spud sound asleep by around 3pm after a couple of check point stops at some small country pubs. He was awake long enough, however, to check out my newly discovered driving skills which include the ability to get the car sideways in the dirt around corners, much to the horror of Fos. Under the expert guidance of the best driver on the bash, Angelo, I was also given the opportunity to take on a mud run rather than an alternate dry route which was offered. Thanks to the expert sdvice I received Car 2470 was successfully guided through the mud without getting bogged, unlike several other bashers.

Our great run of problems with accommodation continued when we turned up at our motel, which I had booked in February, and were told that they had no record of our booking. There was no other accommodation in town, but thankfully after several phone calls they found that thay had re-booked us in a motel further down the road. We were greatly relieved and despite the fact that Fos and I will be sharing a double bed we are looking forward to a nice shower and good nights sleep in a real bed. I am also comforted by the fact that despite being away from home for 10 nights I still don't find Fos at all attractive.

Bub spent the day playing around (of golf) with a great little sort from Bribie Island at Parkes. Lou Lou was her name and was everything Bub has been looking for. A successful, extremely good-looking blonde who enjoys golf. I'm not sure what happened after golf but Bub went and got a haircut and Lou Lou stood by the side of the road coming into Parkes, drinking Jim Beam and welcoming the bashers to Parkes by showing off her finely tuned butt.

The Bash Awards night at the Parkes Leagues Club was a very emotional night. It was announced during the evening that the 2008 XXXX Gold Queensland Variety Bash raised $1.9 million, a record for the Queensland Bash and something I feel very proud and privileged to be part of. The top individual fund-raisng entry raised a whopping $132000 and the top 10 were rocgnised on the night and will be given the opportunity to do a lap of Mt. Panorama on Sunday morning before the big race. 

A couple of Bashers I have mentioned before featured in two of the major awards on the night. Our old mate Plucka won the Best Basher for 2008, a very prestigous award, and I don't think I have anybody filled with some much pride when accepting an Award. Plucka spends his retirement raising funds for Variety and kids in general and is a real character amongst the Bashers. 

The award for "Spirit of the Bash" was awarded to Team Baxter and is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. I'm sure I've mentioned before that team Baxter is made up of four young special needs kids around 18 - 20 years old and 5 carers. They entered the Bash to help raise money for kids like themselves and did such a good job they ended up as one of the top 10 fundraising cars. These 4 young men have had the time of the lives and their smiles and spirits have lifted everybody at some stage of teh bash. When they were announced as winners teh entire room stood as one and cheered themselves hoarse. The boys revelled in the award and paraded it around the room as if it were the NRL premiership trophy. It was a particularly beautiful moment when one of the boys tapped out his acceptance speech on a translator which was read out by his mum and there was hardly a dry eye in the house. I just happened to be standing beside one of the boys carers when the award was announced and she just stood there crying tears of happiness and joy. She said to me words to the affect that this is what they had tried to help the boys achieve and the pride, relief and joy she felt had come about after years and years of hard work by a lot of people associated with Team Baxter. There really are a lot of special people out there and to be part of something which does so much good for so many has been a hugely satisfying experience for me.

Day 9 Parkes to Bathurst. Sat 11th Oct.

Last day of the driving part of the Bash with an all bitumen run from Parkes to Bathurst of about 160km. We crossed the finish line at the St Pats Footy Club at around 11am and it was great to see the Darragh, McKinnon and Schneider families from Casino in the crowd as we crossed the line. After a short stop we proceeded in convoy to Camp Bashurst right beside the Mt. Panorama track and our campgrounds. Our entry into the Bathurst races was included as part of our entry fee for both Saturday and Sunday and it was a great experience for myself, even though I am not a big car race fan, to be part of this uniquely Australian event.

I was amazed by the passion some of the supporters have for their respective car teams and our walk around the mountain on Saturday night, seeing all the campsites and over the top set-ups was great.

Day 10 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 - Sun 12th Oct.

Up early and headed to the track about 8am after breakfast. Watched the V8 Utes and Porsche race before cheering on the top 10 Bash fundraisers as they did a lap of the the Mountain as part of the pre-race parade. We had a great spot to watch the race at the end of the main straight and our walk around the mountain in the afternoon amongst all the fans was a real eye-opener. Blokes had plasma TVs running off generators, portable bbq's, lounge chairs and headphones tuned into race frequencies set up right alongside the track all over the top of the mountain.
After the race we made a quick decision to pack up our site and head towards Mudgee which will give us a head start on our trip home to Casino on Monday. 

We did a drive through the camp site saying goodbye to our fellow Bashers and it was with a touch of sadness that Car 2470 left the 2008 XXXX Gold Variety Bash in our rear view mirrors.

Day 11 Casino Mon 13th Oct

Up early and I think it is fair to say that we are all looking forward to getting home to our families, to get some fresh clothes on, sleep in our own beds and to feel clean again. I have missed Christine, Alexa, Michael and Rachel so much but at the same time it has been a wonderfully rewarding experience in so many ways.
 It has been a lot more physically draining than I anticipated with the regular 5.45am starts and late nights finishes taking its toll but we have met some great characters and I am coming home full of stories and memories. Our fellow bashers come from diverse backgrounds but they all share a desire to do something positive for people other than themselves. Thinking back about our adventure, one of the greatest memories I have is the excitement on the kids faces  when 205 bash cars turned up to a small community or school or pub and most times we were more excited than the people we were visiting.
I have been astounded by the genorosity of some of the Bashers and the effort they put into their fundraising and the joy they get out of helping others is inspirational. I lost count of how many kids and schools that Variety gave equipment to over the 10 days but I do know that the work they do and the gifts they give do change lives and that is something very special to be a part of.

The job that the organisers do in putting the event together is amazing and Rob and Erin, despite everyone chasing them for something 24 hours a day, manage to smile and talk to everyone on the bash and help them with whatever problems they have. The Bash officials and mechanics do a fantastic job and make you feel welcome and part of the Bash family from Day 1.

Once you have been on a Bash you do become part of the Bash family whether you like it or not. It gets under your skin and you can't help but smile and wave to your fellow bashers and anybody you pass. I'm pretty sure that I have caught Bash Fever and I have no doubt that at some stage I will go on anther Bash, after all, it is the most fun I have ever had with my clothes on.

My good time on the Bash was no doubt made so memorable because of the crew of Car 2470. To Fos, Angelo and Bub thanks for your company. If it weren't for laughing so much I reckon I probably would have put on double the 5kgs weight I have over the past 11 days. I have also learnt much from these wise gentleman. Before I left for the bash I couldn't change an air filter on a car, I didn't know you could wear the same pair or underpants 4 different ways and I couldn't tell an Valiant AP series 5 from Malvern Star bicycle. Now, however, I am well versed in these things and much much more.

The job that Fos and Angelo did in putting the car together was fantastic and I must admit that my heart swelled with pride when people would walk past Car 2470 and comment on how well it was put together, even though my contribution to construction was screwing 16 screws into the inside of the tailgate. (Nobody commented specifically on the tailgate unfortunately).

Thanks again fellas for helping me experience one of the greatest times of my life.

Well thats it.

12 months of planning,
4500 km of travelling,
4 air filters,
1 break down,
$1.9 million raised,
10 breakfasts of bacon eggs,
100 beers,
30 hours behind on sleep
and memories for a lifetime  - Priceless


This is Darren Schipp for Car 2470 signing off.