Darwin Team Registration and the Ghost of Ethie

Brian's post:

Up early to greet the dawn of another steamy day in Darwin and a full cooked breakfast to fuel the team’s bodily engines. Then the team splits up, with Syd and Bill taking the Rodeo to pick up the fuel from Ausfuel Distributors (thanks Justin) and Janet and I liaise with Dynamic Signs (thanks Ryan) to spot cover the Saab with sponsors’ decals. Then we cross over as the Rodeo comes in to be “decaled” at Dynamic Signs and we take the Saab into Darwin City to pick up boxes of our team stubby holders from Associated Advertising & Promotions (thanks Claire). I did a quick interview on Community Radio, thanking all of supporters and friends.

In the afternoon we head off to the Darwin Showgrounds to register the team and have the World Solar Challenge decals added to our other professionally affixed decals…more about that disaster in a minute! There are all sorts of weird and wonderful vehicles arriving for registration, including our old mates the Swiss Twikers. We’ll be adding photos of these strange machines as the event progresses.

While the team is registering I bring the Saab into the marshalling area to get its number (lucky 7) and the WSC stickers attached by the installers. When I see the result I am not a happy budgie…the old Aussie phrase “ a dog’s breakfast” springs to mind, but no self respecting dog would lay claim to this mess…on crooked, covered in bubbles and creases, with the ends curling up. I dispense my displeasure to the attendant marshalls in no uncertain terms, requesting that they supply us with a couple of spare stickers which we will have mounted professionally. After viewing this particular disaster area they agree to my suggestion…Dynamic Signs to the rescue again…the Saab is now looking like a real event winner.

All teams were invited to the Chief Minister’s reception at 6pm. This is the ideal opportunity for the solar and greenfleet teams to mingle, get to know one another pre event and swap tall stories. It’s like a mini United Nations with teams coming from all over the world. Unlike the formal United Nations this event has smiles rather than frowns, no interpreters to muddy the meanings and a feeling of actually achieving something worthwhile! Just one small sour note, the organisers have decreed that there will be no limit on numbers within a team, but the limit for those able to attend official functions is set at six. So you could be a member of a large team, spend money and time to get to Darwin and then have the very real possibility of not being able to attend the fun social functions. Dontcha just love it when bureaucrats are let loose on the real world!

Ethie section
Those who have read last event’s diary on this website or followed us in 2005, would be aware of the “saga of Ethie’s Stain of Shame”, when Team Ethanol left its mark on Darwin, in more ways than one. A quick recap. During the last Chief Minister’s reception, Ethie, our 1925 Austin ragtop was the centrepiece of the Greenfleet display in front of the steps of Parliament House in Darwin. During the evening, the team was summarily summoned by security from the reception. The finger of scorn was pointed at Ethie who, as a slightly incontinent mechanical maiden of 80 tender years, had the temerity to drop oil on on the Chief Minister’s “patio”. She was promptly banished to the public carpark in disgrace, to leak in peace!

And now two years later the evidence is still there. Last night the team revisited the scene of the crime and paid group homage to Ethie’s escapade. This year there was no display of Greenfleet cars at Parliament House…coincidence? Or is the shadow of Ethie’s mighty presence still looming large over international events!!
End of Ethie Section

Margaret arrived in Darwin earlier today and Gavin flew in just after midnight, swelling the team number to 10…just one to go for a full contingent.