Photos thanks to Syd Reinhardt

Syd, Caroline and I, Garth and Francis, and Mark all headed off to Cootamundra over the last weekend in August for the VSCCA’s annual Sprints, and had an absolute blast!

The drive there was beautiful. We headed out to Lithgow over the mountains and enjoying a clear run up the hill here, which apparently Syd could hear from behind me, before arriving at brunch at the Tin Shed.

Ashton Photo

From there it was back out of Lithgow and right down the road to O’Connell via Tarana, OConnell, Wimbledon, Newbridge to Blayney and on down the Olympic Hwy to Cowra, Young and Cootamundra in time for tea.  In a charming and well stocked with scones tea shop called The Olde General Store, for future reference.

The Road to Blayney alone is worth driving across the hills for.

Syd Reinhardt photo

Saturday was, er, cold, and windy. It had rained in the night, and muggins here had forgotten to take his helmet out of the boot, which had filled with water. So, I had to wear wet gloves and a wet helmet. But it was still a blast! More for the company and the fun and interesting cars than the competition (which was admittedly curtailed on account of the soaking wet outfield being too dangerous to run 240V electrics along – fair enough), so we repaired back to the The Olde General Store mentioned earlier, and ate more scones.

Saturday night’s dinner was memorable not so much for the food (we were on a fixed menu in a country town, so let’s not get too hung up on that) but for the company. For a room full of 50+ (OK, so a few might be more like 80+), we certainly made a lot of noise! Great chat, met some interesting new people, and reacquainted with a load more.

Syd Reinhardt photo

Sunday morning’s drive back from Coota to Jugiong was awesome! The rain had blown through, the sun was out, the birds were singing, the sheep were running away from four or five rather loud objects, and apart from the roo that decided to race me along a fence line (not to be recommended) we had an uneventful and thoroughly enjoyable blast to breakfast at the Long Track Pantry. Following lunch it was the slightly tiresome grind back up the Hume avoiding L-platers doing their requisite 130 hours or whatever, and the obligatory police presence raising revenue for their doughnut and coffee fund.

Thank you Syd, Garth, Francis, Mark and Caroline for your company – it was an absolute blast! And I hope I can persuade a few more of you to come next year?

Ashton Photo

And yes, it was a bit chilly. And no, that’s not a blown head gasket!

Photos thanks to Syd Reinhardt, story by Ashton Roskill