Rescuer, rescuee and other strange happenings on the road.

[V8Ian]

Not wanting to hijack Bulletman's thread, here is a place to regale tall tales and true, of misadventures on the highways and byways of this strange land.

[scarry]

Relatives of ours were changing a tyre somewhere in the NT.
They had the GU jacked up and a large wild pig came over for a look,and wouldnt go away.

So they got back in the car and waited until it wandered off.
Once they thought it was gone,they continued on with the wheel change,and it reappeared and came very close again.
So they got back in the car.

This happened 4 times before they eventually had the wheel changed and were on their way.[biggrin]

[Hogarthde]

Good topic Ian, When I work out the difference in “tall tales and true” , I will join in .

[Bulletman]

1 of my very first 4wd experiences was a friend had a Suzuki ( I think ) something or another and we were mad surfers in those days, being teenagers and it being the early / mid 80s , we were chasing waves somewhere around Margaret river in WA and had consumed to much alcohol and managed to get bogged on this track.

We spent the day recovering and then tried to get out only to find ourselves unable to move, we eventually came to the conclusion to push the Suzuki onto its side , build up the road and then push it back on its wheels.

After doing that and getting back in the Suzuki sober we realised someone had put the transfer into neutral .

There is a lesson somewhere in there .... maybe don’t buy a Suzuki :)

Bulletman

[V8Ian]

True tale.

It was about 0200 hours, 70~80 kilometres south of Wycliffe Well. I had loaded three trailers with
Opal petrol, at Birkenhead, for delivery and storage in the Queensland Gulf.
I noticed flashing, amber lights in the distance and prepared to stop, not knowing what happening, roadworks, prang, hijack??
As I approached the fiasco a saw a large Mercedes van with headlights and hazard lights ablaze and an old XD Falcon with caravan, in darkness.
Once stopped, I was asked if I would swap batteries with the Falcon, as his was flat. Apart from the physical impossibility of that, my truck was mere months old, IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!
Making enquiries I established that the young couple and toddler were German tourists, on the way to Adelaide airport, where they intended to abandon car and caravan, to fly back to Europe. The older fellow in the van had stopped to help the broken down family.
I had jump leads and offered to jump start the Ford. Then it was revealed that the alternator had failed and the car driven until the battery died.
I explained that even with a new battery, without an alternator they wouldn't make Adelaide and the best option would be for me to tow them to Wycliffe Well, where a second hand alternator would be easily sourced.
The van man and I turned the Falcon and caravan around with the Benz and I tied it to the back of my last trailer. The German bloke seemed to be totally lacking in any practical skills.
Doing a final check to make sure everything was as safe s possible, the German chap approached me,asking if his wife and daughter could ride in the cab with me, as he had just noticed the petrol placard on the trailer and was concerned that if he crashed into the trailer, it might explode with his car. I agreed without telling him that if he took out the back trailer, the other two, the prime mover and everything for a few hundred metres would be toast.
I got him safely, to as close as possible to the workshop and had a short conversation with him, as I untied his car. He opened his wallet, revealing the biggest wad of cash I'd seen for quite some time and asked how much I wanted. Tempting as it was, I told him we didn't work like that in Australia. Just doing my bit for Australia's reputation and tourism industry. [biggrin]
He also revealed that he was an electrical engineer! :Thump::Rolling:

[V8Ian]

Good topic Ian, When I work out the difference in “tall tales and true” , I will join in .
Just wing it Dave, I'm sure you have a few good yarns in your repetoire.

[V8Ian]

Another electrical engineer.

Cairns airport was being upgraded and every company involved with the construction had a forty foot donga, from which to coordinate their part in the project. This hub was nested in a closed off section of the carpark.
I was tasked with delivering the last donga required, hired locally, with a forty foot tilt trailer. I loaded in Portsmith and only had a fifteen minute drive to the airport. The hire company told me that every other hut had been craned in to place, due to space constraints and if it looked the slightest bit dodgy or awkward, to bring it back and they would insist on a crane unload.
I arrived at the destination, incident free and located staff from the electrical company, hiring the unit.
To unload a forty foot donga, over a hundred feet, in a straight line is needed, then space to manoeuvre out.
I was shown where the wanted the shed, piece of cake. Fortunately it was in line with the entrance to that section of the carpark. All I needed to do was drive into the carpark opposite, backup, tip it off, drive back into the first carpark then blindside reverse onto the road and be gone. I had half a dozen sparkies and T/As to do traffic control making the job a doddle. Once out of the public's way, I walked to the back to fine tune the placement and establish a method with the foreman. He wanted it as close to the fence as possible and sat on Besser blocks. Looking at the units already in place, six inches from the fence, I explained that I wouldn't be able to get it as close ae the rest, but if I tipped it to a couple of inches from the ground, then backed up, he could let me know when I lightly touched the fence. I would then lower the tray enough (raising the overhang) to put the Besser blocks under, I would move forward and he was to stop me when he wanted his fellows to put anothe block under. Pretty simple and straightforward, we all knew or role and proceeded to unload. Halfway through, the job's going as smoothly as planned, the ginger beer comes racing out, arms flailing. He doesn't want it there, he wants it closer to the fence! All the explanations, demonstrations, gestations and animations from the practical blokes doing the job, could not convey the concept that tipping creates a triangle between the wall and fence. He kept arguing that as the other buildings were six inches from the fence, I should be able to follow suit. He only backed down when I suggested that I'd take it back and have it redelivered and craned off at his expense. I and the blue collar fellows were left shaking our heads and laughing at his utter lack of practicality.

[Tombie]

So many stories like these with Engineers of old.
Luckily, for some reason in the last 10-15 years they seem to have stopped stripping them of their humour and personality whilst studying, and there are many more sensible and likeable Engineers out there now.

Just have to keep them practical, not theoretical [emoji41]

[350RRC]

While we're on the subject of engineers............

An ex-engineer by the name of Johann bought a high end boutique hotel, in a coastal town, previously run by a family with generations of experience in hospitality.

One of the first things he did was renovate the gents.

He proudly told me that he'd designed it all himself and had them custom made for about 15k. No idea what installation cost.

cheers, DL

176163

[JDNSW]

It was in the Simpson Desert, in 1966, I think, possibly the previous year. We had sent a truck (a 6x6 Zeligson water truck, but with a load bed on top of the tank) into Alice for supplies. Remember this was before ubiquitous communications. Our camp had SSB HF radio to our Alice Springs office, but the truck had no communications.

About a week after they went to town, we called Alice to ask when they were returning - and were somewhat surprised by the response "They left four days ago; oops! Did we forget to tell you?"

A search party was quickly mustered and sent on its way. They found the missing truck in the middle of the road about a hundred miles from camp. The driver and his assistant were remarkably cheerful - they had plenty of supplies, after all, the truck was carrying several weeks supply of food for 25. Including a dozen cartons of stubbies. At least it did include......

They were "stretching out their supply of drinking water".

The truck had been disabled when the neck of the LH swivel ball had broken, followed by the half-axle. The mechanic, who was obviously part of the rescue party, welded the break, and reinforced the job by making a buttress of 1/2" plate top and bottom between the ball and the mounting flange. He later did this mod to the other side.

We had several of these Zeligsons. They were Korean War vintage Diamond T 4 ton truck, remanufactured to new standard by Zeligson in Tucson Oklahoma, uprated to 12 tons and fitted with 20x20 single sand tyres. The engine was the largest six cylinder IH petrol engine, 504 cui if I remember correctly. They had power steering and air brakes. And gave endless trouble, I suspect mostly due to the poorly thought out increase in GVM. My final experience with them was when returning to Brisbane - coming down Minden range it distributed a number of key bits of its engine over the road, including a sumpful of oil. Knowing the engine was well worn after two years in the desert, the governor had been screwed down to 1800rpm. It may have been over-revved using engine braking.

[Tins]

Around 40 years ago a few of us went on a trip to Mitchell’s Station ( I went back a month ago, it’s called Mitchell’s Flat now ). Nice spot. Interesting drive in. The cars were an FJ 40, a G60 Patrol LWB with a Holden 308 in it with the original Nissan 3 speed, and a Series IIA 88. Bloke who owned that was the only bloke who could actually drive it, as the steering relay was nearly seized, and he was a Maori blacksmith, if you get my drift. Now, the drive out, going kinda North, is also interesting, because it’s bloody steep. And rough. You cross the creek then it’s basically straight up. For miles. So, Nissan in the lead, Tojo second and Series as tail end Charlie. After about 150 metres, what do you know, the Landy broke an axle. No way it was going to make the climb like that. So, hook the Tojo up. Nope, wouldn’t pull it. Ok. Let’s hook all three together. That worked, although I reckon we lengthened the Toyota.
Anyway, we churned, slowly, up the hill for a bit until we came to a bit where it widened and people could get past, and pulled up to give the cars a blow. We all stood in front of the patrol for a fag ( 40 years ago, remember ). A bloke and his Mrs came up behind us in one of those Daihatsu f55 forbies. He snuck past us on the left, but instead of just easing back on to the track he turned sharply. The little thing just tipped. The four of us caught it. The look on his face remains with me. His Mrs, who was not, err, a small lass, bailed, which didn’t help as she was ballast on the other side of the car.
Dunno, but I reckon if it wasn’t for the aforementioned blacksmith we may well still be there. Still, nobody got hurt, no damage was done, we got him pointed back up the hill and went on our way. Except that up at the slate mine I had to take the bit of broken axle out ( ex RAEME LR mech, so nobody else was going to do it). We then had to get the thing down the other side, which is also bloody steep so it was still hooked up, only between the other two cos we all know what Series brakes are like. Took it all the way to Mansfield. He took off in front wheel drive and got as far as Bonnie Doon when a free wheel hub broke.So, he did about 75% of the trip being towed…. He bought a Patrol when he got home.


That trip is why I went back there last month. I have always wanted to, but Jan didn’t do steep.

[cuppabillytea]

What a great thread. Pity I won't be posting any stories here as I never get into trouble, never see any either and recovered very early from the bug that would have seen me become an Electrical Engineer.

[jonesfam]

SWMBO & I were driving from Cairns to Doomadgee, all the way we had been playing tag with one of those hire Merc vans turned into a camper.
About 50k East of Nomanton we came across them with a flat rear left & as I slowed I noticed the bloke was trying to get the jack under the van but really struggling. I said to SWMBO we better give them a hand as he didn't seem to know what he was doing.
Turned out they were a young Dutch couple with virtually no English. He was tall & bearded, she was tall & gorgeous in the tiniest shorts I think i have ever seen.
Anyway, after a dirty look from SWMBO I turned my mind to changing the tyre, the road had a very steep drop on the left, not much room to work & my Dutch mate didn't have a clue. I'm under the van locating the jack when the young Dutch lass decides to stumble over the jack handle & go sliding down the road embankment taking a heap of bark of those long, lovely legs.
After helping her back up the embankment SWMBO got our first aid kit, water & a rug & starts cleaning up her legs while I went back to changing the tye, I did suggest to SWMBO we swap jobs but was ignored.
We both finished our allotted duties around the same time & I must say I did the better job. The tyre looked great, young ladies legs not so much, SWMBO is a bit of a rough bush nurse it seems.
Bloke tried to offer me money which amused me, I, after much waving of hands & arms, got them to follow me & directed them to the hospital in Normanton.
SWMBO went on about me being a "Pervert" all the remaining 200k home. My explanation that being at ground level while changing the tyre hardly left me any options did not cut the mustard?
Jonesfam

[V8Ian]

I'd unloaded in Townsville and needed to be back in Brisbane as soon as possible, so was returning empty. I'd run out of driving hours, but was not the slightest bit tired. I decided to get a start on the southward journey and pull up when I felt I could get to sleep. I would do some creative accounting the following day.
I was driving a truck with no speed limiter, so had to be careful not to attract unwanted attention. I settled into a leisurely 100 kay pace, behind a charter coach. After a few miles of following the charabang, he offered to back off, to let me round. I declined, explaining that I'd deployed the Denning speed limiter. A conversation ensued and I learned that he had forty scool aged girls and five coaches, on their way to Hervey Bay for a netball carnival.
Before departure the driver (Jim I think [bighmmm]), had checked the conveyance over, to make sure it was trip ready; he'd overlooked the loo. Cast your mind back to the passengers, there was no dunny roll!
I always keep bum fodder, in my truck, in case of emergency. I offered this to support the cause, if Jim could find somewhere we could both pull over. The transfer of treasure was completed with military precision and we continued the journey. Then the UHF lit up with a female choir, forty-five strong, reciting "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". [bigrolf]

[Tins]

When I drove coaches the loo was the bane of my existence.

[V8Ian]

I'd unloaded in Townsville and needed to be back in Brisbane as soon as possible, so was returning empty. I'd run out of driving hours, but was not the slightest bit tired. I decided to get a start on the southward journey and pull up when I felt I could get to sleep. I would do some creative accounting the following day.
I was driving a truck with no speed limiter, so had to be careful not to attract unwanted attention. I settled into a leisurely 100 kay pace, behind a charter coach. After a few miles of following the charabang, he offered to back off, to let me round. I declined, explaining that I'd deployed the Denning speed limiter. A conversation ensued and I learned that he had forty scool aged girls and five coaches, on their way to Hervey Bay for a netball carnival.
Before departure the driver (Jim I think [bighmmm]), had checked the conveyance over, to make sure it was trip ready; he'd overlooked the loo. Cast your mind back to the passengers, there was no dunny roll!
I always keep bum fodder, in my truck, in case of emergency. I offered this to support the cause, if Jim could find somewhere we could both pull over. The transfer of treasure was completed with military precision and we continued the journey. Then the UHF lit up with a female choir, forty-five strong, reciting "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". [bigrolf]
Goes to show, nothing's new. There were toilet paper desparados over twenty years ago. :toilet:

[Tote]

True tale.

It was about 0200 hours, 70~80 kilometres south of Wycliffe Well. I had loaded three trailers with
Opal petrol, at Birkenhead, for delivery and storage in the Queensland Gulf.
I noticed flashing, amber lights in the distance and prepared to stop, not knowing what happening, roadworks, prang, hijack??
As I approached the fiasco a saw a large Mercedes van with headlights and hazard lights ablaze and an old XD Falcon with caravan, in darkness.
Once stopped, I was asked if I would swap batteries with the Falcon, as his was flat. Apart from the physical impossibility of that, my truck was mere months old, IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!
Making enquiries I established that the young couple and toddler were German tourists, on the way to Adelaide airport, where they intended to abandon car and caravan, to fly back to Europe. The older fellow in the van had stopped to help the broken down family.
I had jump leads and offered to jump start the Ford. Then it was revealed that the alternator had failed and the car driven until the battery died.
I explained that even with a new battery, without an alternator they wouldn't make Adelaide and the best option would be for me to tow them to Wycliffe Well, where a second hand alternator would be easily sourced.
The van man and I turned the Falcon and caravan around with the Benz and I tied it to the back of my last trailer. The German bloke seemed to be totally lacking in any practical skills.
Doing a final check to make sure everything was as safe s possible, the German chap approached me,asking if his wife and daughter could ride in the cab with me, as he had just noticed the petrol placard on the trailer and was concerned that if he crashed into the trailer, it might explode with his car. I agreed without telling him that if he took out the back trailer, the other two, the prime mover and everything for a few hundred metres would be toast.
I got him safely, to as close as possible to the workshop and had a short conversation with him, as I untied his car. He opened his wallet, revealing the biggest wad of cash I'd seen for quite some time and asked how much I wanted. Tempting as it was, I told him we didn't work like that in Australia. Just doing my bit for Australia's reputation and tourism industry. [biggrin]
He also revealed that he was an electrical engineer! :Thump::Rolling:

That started so well too - 02:00 near Wycliffe Well with orange flashing lights on the horizon :alien::alien::alien:
Regards,
Tote

[Bulletman]

That started so well too - 02:00 near Wycliffe Well with orange flashing lights on the horizon :alien::alien::alien:
Regards,
Tote

Knowing the wycliff well mob, I bet they were praying to the star god and then relaying another tale of the yellow flashing lights in the night sky..
Wycliff Well , The UFO capital of Australia

Cheers Bulletman

[3toes]

Everyone has a different idea of what is essential when planning and packing for a trip. Mid eighties was on the Telegraph track and came across a stranded Daihatsu 4x4. Seems the rear diff had decided it had had enough and so they were not going anywhere in a hurry. Talking to the occupants they had planned the trip for 2 years and the navigator had a very detailed schedule and maps to go with it. One of the comments was that as part of the planning they had been able to keep the load to a minimum to keep the weight down. Which comes back to everyone’s idea of essential differing. On top of the vehicle was a golf trolley and clubs. Seems one of the must do events on the trip was to play the Weipa golf course

[JDNSW]

A bit off topic, but this reminds me - in 1964 I was living in a caravan park in Roma. Across the road was a service station/roadhouse that served a good cheap breakfast, so that was where I was usually to be found at breakfast time.

One morning a FIAT 600 (might have been a Multipla) rolled in to refuel. It appeared to have on board mum, dad, a couple of kids, and most of their worldly possessions. And was topped by a roofrack whose main load was a large plywood dog kennel - with a large dog in it!

[V8Ian]

Doesn't seem off topic John, unless you don't find that odd.[wink11]

[jonesfam]

Another rescue story, I have done a few over the years.
In the 90's I'm nicely tucked up in bed when the phone rings, thinking the shop alarms have gone off I sleepily answer the phone.
It the local CDEP controller, his deputy (Clinton) & family have broken down on the hills road, Clinton has walked into Gregory to phone for help & the CDEP bloke has little fuel in his car. Would I mind going to get them?
So, at about midnight I get in the Tojo single cab Ute & head off. Back then the roads were all dirt & not often graded, 3 rough hours later I pick up Clinton, an hour after that I pick up his Missus, 6 kids including a baby & all the shopping they did in Mt Isa. A quick look at their car showed a rear bearing had disintegrated.
With all these people only Mrs Clinton, baby & youngest child could sit in the cab, all the rest went in the back tray.
Now I'm tired, the road is rough & I'm pushing it because I just want to get home.
Back then the Grids were all built up like a sharp hump in the road.
I hit one of these way to fast, much screaming & yelling from the tray, reverse & collect shopping which had landed on the road.
Next grid I slowed down, all good, next grid, Umm, bit quick again but everything & one is still in the back.
Finally got back to Doomadgee after sun up.
Clinton said thanks very much but next time could I borrow the CDEP bus!
He did look a bit cold, wind burnt & bruised, but, hey, I got them home.
Jonesfam

[Toxic_Avenger]

Returning from the easter Melrose shindig one year with Disco Muppet in his mighty D2. It was probably 1 or 2am. We were approx 40km west of Goolgowie on the mid western highway, NSW.

We come up behind a horse float filled with miniature ponies. Pulled over with hazards on- the tow rig was a X-trail or similar. The bonnet was up, the radiator cap was whistling like a kettle, and the vehicle was still idling with a heap of white smoke from the exhaust. Driver was a typical horse person, content with 1HP and enough arrogance to think that that was enough, with little to no clue mechanically.

After a bit of diagnosis, muppet and I guessed that the head gasket had gone, probably dumping the coolant into the cylinder, and the cooling system was now running on steam, minutes from being fully seized.
Driver was adamant that it 'needed some water' and that they (him, wife and small kid) could make it to Tamworth NSW for a horse show, over 700km away. We convinced them to limp to Goolgowie and re-evaluate their choice, given that engine was on it's last legs as it was.

After declining a flat tow, we trailed them for a very slow 40km or so, and eventually made the town of Goolgowie. By this stage the engine was red hot, and you could discernibly hear the movement of each conrod with the distinctive 'clack' of the cooked big-end bearings. Driver was going to let it cool down and keep going...
We rolled into chateau-de-muppet around sunrise, having left Melrose SA the previous day approx 1400hrs.

[scarry]

A mate of mine used to go from Beenleigh to has favourite fishing spot at Jacobs Well,very often,something like 3 times a week,he was retired and a mad Fisherman.
Being a tight arse he was always running around in an old XC falcon low on fuel,but he knew exactly how much he needed to get from home to the boat ramp and back.

Anyway,phone rings one day,around 4.00am,out of fuel,he says,fuel guage must be playing up.
Off i go with the Jerry,etc,get him going.

Long story short,the float had sunk in the carby,it still sort of ran OK,but that is what caught him out.
It was guzzling the fuel.


Just a note,be carefull helping people,a mate of mine stopped to help a couple broken down on the Gold Coast HWY many years ago,and never saw his box of tools or his sunnies again[bigsad]

[350RRC]

....................
Just a note,be carefull helping people,a mate of mine stopped to help a couple broken down on the Gold Coast HWY many years ago,and never saw his box of tools or his sunnies again[bigsad]

Did his sunnies have prescription lenses?

[austastar]

Hi,
I stop well away from said vehicle and approach with a hand held radio till the situation is sussed.
Last one was a restored 1950s American something and a vintage caravan stopped on the highway in blazing sun with the bonnet up and someone lying underneath.
Dirty fuel had blocked his you-beaut stainless filter which he couldn't undo with out a vice or another large spanner.
Loaned him a large shifter for the job and had a cool drink in the shade with his Mrs while he disassembled and cleaned the filter.
One happy chap!
Cheers

[V8Ian]

I was driving an older, but still life left in it, Kenworth SAR. It was a quick gadget, good for 150+ kph. I was doing a weekly Cairns-Brisbane return in a leisurely fashion, leaving on Sunday evening and getting home on Friday.
For some reason, now forgotten, I uncharacteristically took my logbook out of the truck one Friday. Upon realisation I decided there was little risk of being caught, as long as I wasn't silly.
The trip had been uneventful to Miriam Vale, where in the early hours of the morning, I came across a Cruiser wagon towing a large, enclosed trailer. It was maintaining a decent, 95~100 kph on level ground, really struggling uphill. Back then, the section to Gin Gin was winding and on the southern end, very hilly too. I made the decision to bag him up before the hills but he had other ideas and sped up, whenever a safe passing area occurred.
I knew the road well, knowing there was a good overtaking stretch about ten kilometres ahead, I dropped back 4~500 metres, biding my time.
As I approached the chosen spot, I unleashed every horse the 8V92 Detroit had. Before old mate realised what was occurring, I sucked his doors off at 140kph. :burnrubber:After clearing the mobile speed hump I settled down to a steady 100k.
South of Gin Gin a couple of northbound trucks alerted me to the local copper standing on the centre traffic island, in Childers. He was checking logbook, but also had a hairdryer. Uh oh, I was thinking I'd have to stop at Apple Tree Creek and wait him out, a bit inconvenient.
As I was slowing for Apple Tree, old mate and his wobbly box came into view, behind me.
Plan B, I made the sharp turn right and dawdled toward Childers, deliberately letting the truck labour. The Toyo had caught me up and was obviously itching to pass. At the overtaking lane, just before Childers, I allowed the desperate Toyota to inch past me, belching enough black smoke to do a Mack proud. Once in front of me, I tucked in behind him and gave him some encouragement.
By the time I got to the south side of town, the cop was busy with the only other vehicle on the road.
As I passed, I was tempted to give a friendly, pip pip, thank you, on the horn, but thought I'd better not push my luck. :twisted:

[JDNSW]

Not exactly a rescue -

I mentioned above working in Roma. Our workshop used to get regular visits from Repco, and the mechanic got to know the rep quite well.

One day he turned up on foot and looking somewhat the worse for wear, instead of his usual Holden panel van. It seems that he was coming back from the west, and was stuck behind a truck, eating its dust. The truck driver obviously could not see him through the dust. After a few miles the truck pulled over and he planted his foot - and found out why the truck had pulled over; there was a lump of rock, described as "the size of a suitcase" in the middle of the road.

The Holden cam to an abrupt stop, with the front crossmember, engine and gearbox up against the back axle. (No seat belts, hence the "worse for wear".

Seems to be a common sort of Issue with the EK Holdens. A few years later, must have been about 1967 I was in charge there, and my boss came up from Brisbane with the client. They borrowed my company car to look at an area east of Injune where more work was proposed.

Several hours after they were expected to return, they were dropped off back in Roma, by a cocky. It seems the road was not too good - I am assured the speed they were travelling was not excessive. But they hit a small bump, and the engine fell out. It was a ten mile walk, or so I am assured, to the nearest house. No mobile phones in those days (maybe none today in that area).

[scarry]

I was driving an older, but still life left in it, Kenworth SAR. It was a quick gadget, good for 150+ kph. I was doing a weekly Cairns-Brisbane return in a leisurely fashion, leaving on Sunday evening and getting home on Friday.
For some reason, now forgotten, I uncharacteristically took my logbook out of the truck one Friday. Upon realisation I decided there was little risk of being caught, as long as I wasn't silly.
The trip had been uneventful to Miriam Vale, where in the early hours of the morning, I came across a Cruiser wagon towing a large, enclosed trailer. It was maintaining a decent, 95~100 kph on level ground, really struggling uphill. Back then, the section to Gin Gin was winding and on the southern end, very hilly too. I made the decision to bag him up before the hills but he had other ideas and sped up, whenever a safe passing area occurred.
I knew the road well, knowing there was a good overtaking stretch about ten kilometres ahead, I dropped back 4~500 metres, biding my time.
As I approached the chosen spot, I unleashed every horse the 8V92 Detroit had. Before old mate realised what was occurring, I sucked his doors off at 140kph. :burnrubber:After clearing the mobile speed hump I settled down to a steady 100k.
South of Gin Gin a couple of northbound trucks alerted me to the local copper standing on the centre traffic island, in Childers. He was checking logbook, but also had a hairdryer. Uh oh, I was thinking I'd have to stop at Apple Tree Creek and wait him out, a bit inconvenient.
As I was slowing for Apple Tree, old mate and his wobbly box came into view, behind me.
Plan B, I made the sharp turn right and dawdled toward Childers, deliberately letting the truck labour. The Toyo had caught me up and was obviously itching to pass. At the overtaking lane, just before Childers, I allowed the desperate Toyota to inch past me, belching enough black smoke to do a Mack proud. Once in front of me, I tucked in behind him and gave him some encouragement.
By the time I got to the south side of town, the cop was busy with the only other vehicle on the road.
As I passed, I was tempted to give a friendly, pip pip, thank you, on the horn, but thought I'd better not push my luck. :twisted:

In another life we used to go up that way regularly for work,Dalrymple bay,Hay point,Rocky,Gladstone,from Brisbane.
I am sure there was a spot near Miriam Vale,where the cops always waited,at all sorts of hours?
SWMBO got caught there one trip when she was with me…..[bigsad]

[V8Ian]

Not exactly a rescue -

I mentioned above working in Roma. Our workshop used to get regular visits from Repco, and the mechanic got to know the rep quite well.

One day he turned up on foot and looking somewhat the worse for wear, instead of his usual Holden panel van. It seems that he was coming back from the west, and was stuck behind a truck, eating its dust. The truck driver obviously could not see him through the dust. After a few miles the truck pulled over and he planted his foot - and found out why the truck had pulled over; there was a lump of rock, described as "the size of a suitcase" in the middle of the road.

The Holden cam to an abrupt stop, with the front crossmember, engine and gearbox up against the back axle. (No seat belts, hence the "worse for wear".

Seems to be a common sort of Issue with the EK Holdens. A few years later, must have been about 1967 I was in charge there, and my boss came up from Brisbane with the client. They borrowed my company car to look at an area east of Injune where more work was proposed.

Several hours after they were expected to return, they were dropped off back in Roma, by a cocky. It seems the road was not too good - I am assured the speed they were travelling was not excessive. But they hit a small bump, and the engine fell out. It was a ten mile walk, or so I am assured, to the nearest house. No mobile phones in those days (maybe none today in that area).
For many years a mate of mine had a panel beating business in Roma. He reckoned most of his work came from square legged kangaroos. [bigwhistle]

[JDNSW]

For many years a mate of mine had a panel beating business in Roma. He reckoned most of his work came from square legged kangaroos. [bigwhistle]

I don't know about panel work, the big money spinner in those days was windscreens. The main road to Brisbane was through Condamine, and it was generally known as "The Crystal Highway" because of the amount of broken windscreens lining the single strip of bitumen. On one occasion we had a truck going to Brisbane, turned back twice to get a new windscreen before getting to the roadhouse at the Surat turnoff 27miles out, the third time he got beyond Condamine before breaking the windscreen and drove the rest of the way to Brisbane without a windscreen.

And those F600 screens were some of the biggest and most expensive in existence.

[Tins]

I don't know about panel work, the big money spinner in those days was windscreens. The main road to Brisbane was through Condamine, and it was generally known as "The Crystal Highway" because of the amount of broken windscreens lining the single strip of bitumen. On one occasion we had a truck going to Brisbane, turned back twice to get a new windscreen before getting to the roadhouse at the Surat turnoff 27miles out, the third time he got beyond Condamine before breaking the windscreen and drove the rest of the way to Brisbane without a windscreen.

And those F600 screens were some of the biggest and most expensive in existence.

Even on the old Hume there was a windscreen shop on most street corner....

[Saitch]

Rescuing a 5.5m plate boat from extremely bad seas on Western Beach of Mulgumpin (Moreton) Island. To quantify that this fits the thread topic, the beach here is classed as a road.
176219

Re-recovering the bloody thing when the weather and seas had settled. Luckily, there were a few big, burly footy players to give a hand.
176220

[V8Ian]

Then there was the ambulance, Steve. I'll let you tell that tale.

[4bee]

Relatives of ours were changing a tyre somewhere in the NT.
They had the GU jacked up and a large wild pig came over for a look,and wouldnt go away.

So they got back in the car and waited until it wandered off.
Once they thought it was gone,they continued on with the wheel change,and it reappeared and came very close again.
So they got back in the car.

This happened 4 times before they eventually had the wheel changed and were on their way.[biggrin]



They could have driven off the Jack & continued on their way. Oh wait, I see a flaw in my plan.:BigCry::Rolling:

[spudfan]

Not specifically on the road but as I was turning off the road it should just squeeze in. Now for the sordid details.
I turned into a farmyard and had to stop. There was a Hiace van parked horizontally blocking my way to the back of the yard. As I could not see anyone about I blew the horn. Someone came out of the house, saw the problem and jumped into the Hiace to shift it. Unfortunately unseen by me or the man now shifting the Hiace was the rope attached to the tow bar on the hiace. This rope was attached to a ladder on the far side of a shed roof. There was someone unseen by us on the ladder painting the aforementioned shed roof. Anyway the Hiace shifted, the rope tightened and followed the Hiace.
Next I heard a shout then saw a ladder coming over the ridge of the shed. The man painting the shed roof came briefly into view then managed to exit the ladder and slide down the far slope of the roof, which had been freshly painted. Then there was the bucket of red oxide paint that he had let go of.....

[JDNSW]

I have mentioned several times that I worked in the Simpson for a couple of years in the mid sixties. With the company based in Brisbane, and finishing up shortly before Christmas 1966, the limited number of employees still on the payroll headed for Brisbane with all the light vehicles (that is another story - I ended up having Christmas Day on the road).

After Christmas we returned to Alice by air to pick up all the heavy vehicles. Being in charge, I took the pick, and drove an IH R192 with a drilling rig mounted on it. And took the tail end Charlie role, together with the mechanic in a IH 164 with all his gear. There were innumerable problems with tyres, but apart from that there were no issues until somewhere NW of Winton. All of us were travelling well separated to keep out of the dust, and I came up to several of our trucks stopped by the roadside, and in the middle of the road, was our explosives magazine. This did not have any explosives in it, but had been filled with camp gear. It was a large, single axle closed steel body trailer, designed for a load of about three tonnes, with double doors at the back. It was now sitting in the middle of the road, upside down, facing the wrong way, and the doors had burst open and distributed the contents over about 50m of road. And the towing vehicle, an IH 164 water tanker, plus the towbar, were missing. I sent one of our trucks to chase him and send him back.

He was hard to catch, as the reduced load gave him some extra performance. And the dust made it hard for him to see the truck trying to get him to stop. But eventually he stopped with engine trouble. This was due to the vacuum tank on the towbar having finally shaken off with the towbar bouncing along, and the vacuum line was sucking air.

They lifted the towbar onto the tanker, plugged the vacuum line, picked up the tank, and headed back. Just as they came in sight, the chase vehicle suddenly dived off the road and came to a stop. RH stub axle had broken*. Left another truck with him to go into the nearest town and phone Brisbane for parts, and fix it, and catch up (which they did).

Meanwhile, all hands to work, righted the trailer, and the mechanic started his welder and reattached the towbar. All the stuff was loaded into the trailer again, and the doors welded shut.

My memory says that the trailer did not have brakes from there to Brisbane, but gave no further trouble.

*This was the second case I knew of a stub axle breaking on this model. First time was in 1964 at Iffley station (I think I am remembering the name right), south of Normanton. Fortunately at very low speed, right at the homestead.

[V8Ian]

Not specifically on the road but as I was turning off the road it should just squeeze in. Now for the sordid details.
I turned into a farmyard and had to stop. There was a Hiace van parked horizontally blocking my way to the back of the yard. As I could not see anyone about I blew the horn. Someone came out of the house, saw the problem and jumped into the Hiace to shift it. Unfortunately unseen by me or the man now shifting the Hiace was the rope attached to the tow bar on the hiace. This rope was attached to a ladder on the far side of a shed roof. There was someone unseen by us on the ladder painting the aforementioned shed roof. Anyway the Hiace shifted, the rope tightened and followed the Hiace.
Next I heard a shout then saw a ladder coming over the ridge of the shed. The man painting the shed roof came briefly into view then managed to exit the ladder and slide down the far slope of the roof, which had been freshly painted. Then there was the bucket of red oxide paint that he had let go of.....
Bet you didn't get invited back. The painter has to accept much of the responsibility, for not having the keys on him and failing to tag the van.

[Tins]

They could have driven off the Jack & continued on their way. Oh wait, I see a flaw in my plan.:BigCry::Rolling:

Nothing like a flawplan.

[4bee]

Bet you didn't get invited back. The painter has to accept much of the responsibility, for not having the keys on him and failing to tag the van.


Not to mention parking in a crap position in the first place requiring the Hi-ace to be moved, possibly without telling anybody.


& as above.
[bighmmm]


It could have been far worse if he got his van painted red. A red Hi-ace? No, they look better in white with red finger trails/claw marks down the side.

[Saitch]

Bet you didn't get invited back. The painter has to accept much of the responsibility, for not having the keys on him and failing to tag the van.

Did O'Reilly, from Fawlty Towers, ever try his hand at painting?

[V8Ian]

Then there was the ambulance, Steve. I'll let you tell that tale.
Nudge, or are you ignoring me, Steve?

[4bee]

Nudge, or are you ignoring me, Steve?


Embarrassed perchance? [bigrolf]

[Tins]

Did O'Reilly, from Fawlty Towers, ever try his hand at painting?

He'd have to deal with the garden gnome first....

[V8Ian]

Embarrassed perchance? [bigrolf]
Doubt it, he was the leader of a band of heroes. The bloke's a leg end.

[4bee]

Doubt it, he was the leader of a band of heroes. The bloke's a leg end.


Band of heroes or Band of of Brothers? AKA Easy Coy. 2nd Batt. 506 PIR although I can't imagine Steve floating to earth on a bed of of Silk although it takes all sorts apparently.[bighmmm]

Well if he doesn't respond to your query we will never know.

[V8Ian]

Ere you go Mr Do Bee, a taster.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/queensland-reports/

[4bee]

Ere you go Mr Do Bee, a taster.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/queensland-reports/


Nothing to see there.
Unfortunately that link is not doing it for Moi.

[Tins]

Nothing to see there.
Unfortunately that link is not doing it for Moi.

Moi aussi/

[4bee]

Moi aussi/


You as well eh? Maybe it is too olde & gone tat tas.


Maybe Steve has put a hex on it?

[Tins]

You as well eh? Maybe it is too olde & gone tat tas.


Maybe Steve has put a hex on it?

Nah, it’ll be Ian’s fault.

[4bee]

True tale.

It was about 0200 hours, 70~80 kilometres south of Wycliffe Well. I had loaded three trailers with
Opal petrol, at Birkenhead, for delivery and storage in the Queensland Gulf.
I noticed flashing, amber lights in the distance and prepared to stop, not knowing what happening, roadworks, prang, hijack??
As I approached the fiasco a saw a large Mercedes van with headlights and hazard lights ablaze and an old XD Falcon with caravan, in darkness.
Once stopped, I was asked if I would swap batteries with the Falcon, as his was flat. Apart from the physical impossibility of that, my truck was mere months old, IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!
Making enquiries I established that the young couple and toddler were German tourists, on the way to Adelaide airport, where they intended to abandon car and caravan, to fly back to Europe. The older fellow in the van had stopped to help the broken down family.
I had jump leads and offered to jump start the Ford. Then it was revealed that the alternator had failed and the car driven until the battery died.
I explained that even with a new battery, without an alternator they wouldn't make Adelaide and the best option would be for me to tow them to Wycliffe Well, where a second hand alternator would be easily sourced.
The van man and I turned the Falcon and caravan around with the Benz and I tied it to the back of my last trailer. The German bloke seemed to be totally lacking in any practical skills.
Doing a final check to make sure everything was as safe s possible, the German chap approached me,asking if his wife and daughter could ride in the cab with me, as he had just noticed the petrol placard on the trailer and was concerned that if he crashed into the trailer, it might explode with his car. I agreed without telling him that if he took out the back trailer, the other two, the prime mover and everything for a few hundred metres would be toast.
I got him safely, to as close as possible to the workshop and had a short conversation with him, as I untied his car. He opened his wallet, revealing the biggest wad of cash I'd seen for quite some time and asked how much I wanted. Tempting as it was, I told him we didn't work like that in Australia. Just doing my bit for Australia's reputation and tourism industry. [biggrin]
He also revealed that he was an electrical engineer! :Thump::Rolling:


Hate to say this but someone was being taken for a Mug. The whole wallet would have been nice.:Rolling:

[V8Ian]

Try this one.

Thundebirds are go in Conondale/Bellthorpe NP. (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/queensland-reports/270651-thundebirds-go-conondale-bellthorpe-np.html)

[V8Ian]

Hate to say this but someone was being taken for a Mug. The whole wallet would have been nice.:Rolling:
Sometimes we have to do things, just because it's the right thing to do.

[RANDLOVER]

Had something similar happen, years ago a client who became more of a friend invited me to an Oktoberfest as he was German, we spent a lovely afternoon and evening there and decided to leave, I drove out first and noticed when I turned at a set of traffic lights he continued straight on, thinking he was getting lost now that it was dark, I did a u-turn, raced after him and just saw him turn into a side street, he finally slowed and stopped so I jumped out and went to the passenger door to tell him to follow me, only to have it open and his wife throw up narrowly missing my shoes! Turns out Anne was a coeliac and the different foods had upset her stomach, and he was just looking for a quiet place to stop. I thought this is pro'ly a more appropriate thread than where originally posted.

[4bee]

I thought this is pro'ly a more appropriate thread than where originally posted.



Just as well she didn't chuck up over your Lederhosen Rand, as that would have taken a bit of scrubbing out.[bigrolf]

Shoes no probs, that could be done with a Garden Hose & a stiff broom.[tonguewink]

[RANDLOVER]

Relatives of ours were changing a tyre somewhere in the NT.
They had the GU jacked up and a large wild pig came over for a look,and wouldnt go away.

So they got back in the car and waited until it wandered off.
Once they thought it was gone,they continued on with the wheel change,and it reappeared and came very close again.
So they got back in the car.

This happened 4 times before they eventually had the wheel changed and were on their way.[biggrin]

While camping at a Nat'l Park in Rhodesia I had a warthog named Harry IIRC, that used to hang around the camp eating food scraps try and push into my tent while I was sitting in the doorway putting on my socks, I had to very firmly push on his nose to stop him.

[V8Ian]

Is a warthog like a pig, only different?

[RANDLOVER]

Is a warthog like a pig, only different?

Yes it is an African wild pig. Warthog - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warthog)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Southern_warthog_%28Phacochoerus_africanus_sundeva llii%29_male.jpg/220px-Southern_warthog_%28Phacochoerus_africanus_sundeva llii%29_male.jpg
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[RANDLOVER]

Back to the OP a few weeks ago I went for a drive on some dirt roads around the back of my burbs and ended up firstly helping a guy push his motorbike out of a lot of loose sand that had got washed on the road at a creek crossing, then I had to lend some guys a pair of shears to cut barbed wire that had washed into the creek and wrapped around their wheel and axle at another creek crossing, finally my car wouldn't start at the shops and I had to use my spare battery, kept charged with my el cheapo dual charging system, as no one offered to help when I opened the bonnet and got my heavy duty jumper cables out, even after all my good deeds that day.

[Tins]

It's a Land rover. They're probably afraid it's contagious.

[Tote]

A couple of months ago we were coming back from a driver training day near Nelligan when we happened on a family with a 76 series wagon towing a camper trailer stuck on the side of the road. Old mate had broken a rear axle backing out of his holiday rental and after some ringing around had decided the best option was to put it in 4wd high and drive home to Forbes. Unfortunately a couple of tonnes of camper trailer and a wet afternoon on the Clyde meant that the front wheel drive Toyota was failing to proceed.

We offered to hook up a strap and towed him about 3km up the Clyde, Once up the hill he unhooked and headed on his merry way with profuse thanks. His wife also offered us all the cash they had but we just said the video they sent us of the Cruiser being pulled by a Defender was more than enough payment. The orange flashing light was a leftover from me moving the tractor the day before, I don't carry one in case of failed Landcruisers [biggrin]


190096


190097

Regards,
Tote