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Peter Koning's Update from Australia.

Hey Guys and Gals, Peter Koning here, currently back home in Australia for a few weeks, I thought I might send a bit of a group E mail to those fellow rodders who were so friendly when I was with them at the various rod runs late 2010. So here's a run down on what I've done since I last saw you all.

To recap the first show I made was in early September at Kansas Goodguys, then Kalamazoo NSRA, got set up but missed Joliet Goodguys as I was on the way to LA to pickup the 36 Chevy. Got the 36 in time to cross the country and got to Pocono Goodguys, went south and stopped at Carlisle Swap. Then set up the RV in Atlanta area where I could drive the Chevy to NSRA Tampa, next stop Bowling Green Goodguys, then the Moonshine Run Dawsonville GA. Drove to Charlotte Goodguys, then locked the 36 in Public Storage for a week and went to Jamaica for a look and to get the visa renewed for another 90 days.
Got the renewal ok and drove back from Charlotte to Atlanta, loaded the 36 and drove the motorhome 3 days across USA to Scottsdale for the Goodguys there. Last stop was a drive across to San Diego to play tourist for a couple of weeks. Saw lots of tourist stuff over east whilst I could. The rod scene seemed to get quiet and the weather cool after Thanksgiving so I put the RV in storage there, and drove Chevy to LA, once again Public Storage near the airport so in early December I took the 14 hour flight back to Melbourne Australia to be with the Family for Xmas.

Now the plan is to return to LA 25th January in time to get the RV back, then setup at Pomona for the GNRS and as a base to tour the west coast. Looking at the weather in LA late December getting out might have been a good idea, plenty of rain and floods. Then again not to be outdone you might have seen the floods we have at the moment in north Queensland, an area bigger than Texas totally underwater. 220,000 people flooded out of their homes, big crop and mining losses. Not to worry, we Aussies all pull together and they will all get looked after. Its a couple of thousand miles from here so no trouble this far south.

Summer is in full swing here, nice warm days, everyone on holidays, down the beach or up country by the rivers or lakes, with their speedboats and tents.We don't get snow here in any case but glad to get out of USA for a few weeks looking at how cold you have been in most of the country. Our younger Daughter Stephanie and her husband Paul and friends were in New York a couple of weeks ago but have got to Florida just now so should be a bit warmer now.

Actually there seemed to be a lot going on here this year, was only back 1 day and got free tickets to an outdoor rock show at a local winery featuring Debby Harry and Blondie and the Pretenders as well. And just to give you an idea of how unfussed this country is, would you believe the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was there happily watching the show with all us riffraff and not a security guard in sight, couldn't see Obama doing that.The older Daughter Danielle went to a big U2 concert the next day, all the best rock groups come here around now to get away from the northern cold. With only about 5 big cities here they can do a few gigs and get good attendances easily enough.

Rod runs stop for a couple of weeks before Xmas but there is always a nice local run on New Years Day, in a park by the beach, sort of recovery after big New Years eve parties. About 500 cars, no entry fees or trophies, all driven cars, just turn up and have a barbecue and beer or go across the road to the cafes, shops and pubs for great lunch etc. I had the registration suspended on the 32 Vicky but reinstated so I could do a few runs before I head back your way. Plus I sold my 55 F100 before I came over so I will need to find a new pickup later this year. Every guys gotta have a pickup, or ute as we call them.

One thing that strikes me about the local daily driver car scene here is the huge amount of tough sedans and utes our young guys drive. Every second car might be a four door sedan but they all have 6 litre gen 3's, or quad cam 5.4 Fords, low and loud, 20 inch wheels, spoilers and scoops, straight from the factory, much more fun than all those pickups you guys drive. We seem to have a lot more BMW's Porches etc too, Shame our cops are so hard on speeding.

I have been doing a bit of work on my 37 Cabriolet, lots of body work needed then before I come back to USA I will take it to a local sheetmetal rodder specialist who is gunna make a new rear floor, tubs, trunk lid skin etc.The Aussie Dollar exchange rate is great right now so I will buy a stack of parts in USA when I am back. Our big local indoor rod show is held weekend of 20th so I will help the club with their display, There is a rod run every weekend somewhere locally until winter, but just chilling here at home for the next couple of weeks, plus helping older daughter make a garden and lawn at her new house. (shifted 10 cubic yards of top soil this week, haven't worked this hard in years)

The guys at work at Hoppers Stoppers www.hoppers.com.au seem to be running the business well now I've retired, called in on Monday. They had a 58 Caddy, 36 Plymouth and a couple of 66 Mustangs in for brake conversions and a very rare French Car called a Facel Vega in for steering conversion to rack etc.

Anyway that's my latest story for those who are interested, how about I'll shoot a few photos at a couple of shows and send them through so you can see what we do here.

Please send me a note if you like, always good to catch up.

Best regards and keep the shiny side up
Peter Koning

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Peter Koning's Update from Australia.

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