Yes there are many thank you,s and jobs well done which are a credit to all those involved in putting together the Nationals.  It never ceases to amaze me the amount of time and effort that people give to  organise these events for the enjoyment of others and I for one really appreciate what extremes you people go to.
The Nationals whilst based on our beloved Cars has many spin offs with a very social seen of people catching up with old friends and in many cases people making new friends and along with all this there is also an educational side to the Nats in that often after the Nats when the kids are back at School they will often do an essay on what they have done over Easter and I remember one year the Teacher passing comment on my daughters creativity of place names in and around Jindabyne for example. She was unaware that these were real places, and this year going to Orange many people ask... where ?
We have had some great Nats with celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the FE then FC and Motor Racing but never ever ever before have we had a wedding proposal, my 2 didn,t stop talking about it all the way home.  This looks like its going to be one very big bucks night/hens night  
On ya Surfer Boy,  what a classic,   now how can you top that  ?

Russell Bates          lost fcpv

Thanks for the history lesson leighroy but I was always led to believe, as were many others that the origin of the 4x was that Queenslanders could not spell "BEER"

Go forth young scotty,  just make sure its not that horrible 4x shit that they sell in Queensland

FCPV

Hey Dexter, you dont really think I would let you come all the way to Victoria and not catch up with you and Gregells at some stage.
Shit, the Nationals would not be the same if I didn,t get a chance to say hello to you.
Yeah, this little black duck will be there and I will be looking out for you guys  OK

Russell Bates

P.S.  I will be checking out all the Panel Vans too as I am still in search of my old FCPV which was originally an FE Van    ( Brown )    ( nice color )

Ditto from me to,  some very well worded postings guys,  a credit to you all.
Russell Bates  FCPV

this boy is quick, just look at the time difference between our entries and as for the other, well I believe that the meter maids were done away with some time ago and there are some lovelies that still get around up there, perhaps this is why barny never came back to melb ?   OK  I am timing you now young Robert ??
FCPV on the run

Hey Tony,   what a great opportunity to have a stir about Brett Becroft moving to Queensland ?  the only problem would be that 4 hammers will bounce back at me in no time at all.
Russell Bates   FCPV

the above photo of the hearse was one of our Victorian members, I cant remember his name as it has been about 12 years or so since we last saw him.
The Hearse was 18 inches longer than a standard van and this particular Hearse was well modified with a V8 engine and various other little goodies which made it get up and go real well.
It was amazing to watch this car do a U turn because the extra 18 inches made a lot of difference to its turning circle.
Russell Bates  FCPV

hmm,  I think my navigator just broke wind    ?

Thanks Geoff,  I have spoken to Tony Galea (  Club President ) about what you have said and your wife is right as it seems our man is Tony Hegasee ( not sure on that spelling of Tonys surname )  so I will have a talk with Tony next time I catch up with him and find out a little bit more history on this Van of his.
Thanks for all your help there Geoff, I will let you know of any results that may come from this.
Russell Bates  FCPV

Thanks Gary and Geoff for those replies about the van, Geoff I think you might be very close to the eight ball as my Vans original colour was Green ( ex factory ) and was one of 6 vans brought brand new in 1957 by the Ronaldson - Tippett Machinery Company in Ballarat and yes of course it will have a FE  I.D. plate on it because I fitted it with an FC grille and dash etc to make it look like an FC, which of course is not to hard to do,  in the mean time I will have a word to Tony Galea to see if he knows who this person was with the photos that you spoke about.  Thanks for your info
Russell Bates   FCPV    and searching

I had a FC Panel Van once and it was painted brown and was effectionately known as the chocolate box to all the vic members, it was a wee little ripper with HD/HR drive line and various other little modifications.
I sold it several years ago to a guy called "Posum from the bush"  ( true )  who recently sold it to some guy down near Geelong ( vic ) who has done a total restoration on it and I would dearly love to catch up with this person to see how my old car is looking but unfortunately I have not ben able to trace this person.
Russell Bates  FCPV    a man and his van  
P>S  if anyone knows of this person down geelong way please let me know

Does this mean that you want to try and out do Kathy Dextors hard luck story from the Nationals  
Russell Bates  (  FCPV )

Hi weedy,
                What was the end result of the head you were looking at ? I also have not heard of these heads other than for red motors as you say,  he wasn,t getting confused about the two motors or anything was he  ?
Russell Bates  FCPV

Poor Rob,  try to remember with all old holdens whether it is gearbox,  diff,  engine,  slave cylinder or what ever,  if it doesn,t leak then you have a problem, after all is that not what holden stands for :  Holes,  Oil Leaks,  Dents, Engine nocks  ??
Also, you only need to check your gearbox and diff oil when you change your engine oil,  you dont need to do it every week.
Russ Bates   FCPV  has many oil leaks that I see  ?

So many people that I have known who have hotted up Grey Motors have been very dissappointed because as we know the Grey only has a 4 main bearing crankshaft and while we spend so much time and modification to the top end of the motor - ie  head, ports, carburation etc, in most cases its the bottom end of the motor that usually gives up the ghost because it can not handle the increased torque and horsepower, so when looking at doing any modifications remember to do all of the motor, not just the top half
Russell Bates  FCPV

Never use stop leak anything in a power steering system, if your power steering is leaking it will be because it has blown a seal as the unit operates under pressure to give steering assistance .
By adding stop leak to the system , effectively all as you have done is block the oil gallies that would pressure feed the rams in the power steering unit and this would be why it now feels like you have no power steering at all  -  because you dont, and you wont have a oil leak either.   Hope you get better advise next time
Russell Bates  FCPV

The Brabham Torana  - they were a wee little ripper, talk about all show and no go ( ha, what a heap of junk )       Russell B   FCPV

Thats great news Chris, we all hope that everything goes well for the engine rebuild and thanks for sharing the info about oil pump gear availability
FCPV

Speaking of Vans, does any one know what ever happened to my Fc Van ? I had sold it to " Possum from the bush" ( true ) he lives near mallacoota on the vic/nsw border and he resold just a couple of years ago to someone who lives down towards Geelong way ( melbourne )  who I believe was going to do a total restoration to it but I have lost the trail of its where abouts so can anybody shed some light on this for me please ??
Russell Bates - in search of his FCPV