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.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Darwin Team Registration and the Ghost of Ethie
Monday, October 8, 2007
Team Ethanol to the Rescue!
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The Twike team from Switzerland arrived in Mackay QLD last night. Twike is driving their Greenfleet vehicle from Brisbane to Darwin.For Twike, it was an uneventful trip until about 35 km south of Sarina, when the “egg on wheels” had a malfunction with their auxiliary engine, which started misfiring and belching clouds of smoke.
After a frantic SOS call to Team Ethanol’s Chief Engineer and resident mechanical magician, Syd Norman, rode to the rescue.
The rest of Team Ethanol was gathered at Syd and Janet’s property for a barbecue to welcome the Swiss team. Some time later the Twike arrived to a standing ovation, despite being ignominiously towed in behind Syd’s Echo…score one for conventional technology!
The problem was soon diagnosed as a microscopic piece of foreign matter lodged under the needle and seat in the engine. Funny how one grain of sand can bring technology to its knees.
Damien Hooper from local ABC Radio was on the spot to conduct an interview with both teams, affectionately known as ‘Ethos’ and the ‘Twikers’. Nice to see the local media showing an interest. The interview aired at 7.15am this morning (9 October).
Later, everybody enjoyed a magnificent gourmet barbecue, washed down with a few convivial alcoholic libations…not ethanol, we need that for Darwin!
Today the Twikers head up the coast to Townsville, so if you see them on the road give them a rousing Mackay honk and wish them luck…they might need it!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Twike has Arrived in Mackay
We just got the news. The Twike Team is currently in Rockhampton and will be in Mackay late afternoon today!
So, members of Team Ethanol in Mackay have been rallied together for a bbq this evening when the two teams meet (eat, drink and be merry!)
We're also taking this time to have our final Team Ethanol meeting before Darwin. (woohoo!) Brian has found his tripod so we can get some good group photos for posting tomorrow.
You can check out the Twike Team on www.twikeklub.ch and their first set of photos after their arrival in Brisbane http://ds1.dreifels.ch/twikeklub/page.asp?DH=611
Back soon with more news.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Two Short Weeks!
The final countdown is on!
Team Ethanol flies out to Darwin in just two short weeks (18 October).
Our biggest headache (actually the pain was quite a bit lower), the fuel, has finally been resolved. Largely due to the sterling efforts of Scott Perkins from Canegrowers, CSR has come on board as a major sponsor and also supplied the team with a drum of E85 fuel, which is now on its way to Darwin. Sure beats the other drastic option of shoving raw cane into the fuel tank and hoping for the best! CSR is a great fit for the team as they a major producer of ethanol, from locally grown sugar cane, and a big fan of the BioPower cars from Saab.
The magnificent team banner is finished, thanks to Mackay Stickers & Signs…great job Jamie-lee. And Totally Workwear is currently doing the logo embroidery on the team shirts.
Next week is a biggie for us, with the Twike (rhymes with trick) team arriving from Switzerland. They’ll be coming through Mackay, hopefully around 9 October, for a get together with Team Ethanol, before heading right up the coast and across to Darwin for the event. Better them than us; the Twike is basically a battery powered tricycle with a hard top canopy fitted. They’ve fitted a 200cc range extender engine for the event and Team Ethanol will be donating some of their E85 fuel to run it. Keep an eye out for this strange looking bug and give them a wave.
We'll start taking photos and videos...we need the practice. A good start for this would be when the Twike team are here next week.
There a big things happening on our website soon, stay wired.
