The 43rd TSOA National Meeting which ran from Saturday 19th to Sunday 27th October 2024 is over and once again, our compatriots in the West put on a great week which was enjoyed by all who attended this year in Albany. There were 82 registered participants (34 from WA) with SA having a smaller than normal contingent of 8 members. Due to limited accommodation and large venues in Albany, WA decided to keep numbers lower than the traditional 100 plus registrants of most National meetings.

My wife, Sue and I met up with three vehicles from Victoria on our first night in Ceduna. Unfortunately, another Victoria couple, Peter and Jennie Lane failed to get past Port Augusta, when the electrics in their near new Mercedes Sprinter camper van blew up, also locking it in “Park”. The Merc had to be loaded onto a flatbed truck (dragged up with rear wheels locked) and it and their TR6 and car trailer were brought to Adelaide. As I understand, the camper van could not be repaired in Adelaide, and so it was transported back to Melbourne. Getting both the TR6 and the trailer back may have been a further challenge for the Lanes, but we did not hear how this problem was addressed.

Portion of the NSW group met up with us en-route to Border Village, and we travelled with them and the Vics then to Balladonia and Esperance. Some of us stayed two nights in Esperance and were able to have a meal with Roger and Cherri Lange and Stephen Wade, who left after us and finally caught up with us in Esperance.

Albany is a great location with lots to do and see. TSOAWA, once again put on a great week with scenic drives, lots of sights to see, and great meals as well as traditional great camaraderie from the TSOA national family. Accommodation was at Motel Le Grande, a family run motel with lots of room and very hospitable staff.

Our first event was the welcome dinner at the motel on Saturday which was a great night, and has a “sea” theme, bringing out the best of the creativity of the rally delegates. No prizes were given, however Barrie O’Shea from Victoria dressed as a pirate, complete with parrot on shoulder, was one of the stand-outs.

On Sunday we all washed and polished our cars (albeit in light rain) and headed into town for a show and shine in the Alison Hartman Gardens, in the heart of the Albany town centre. We all agreed that this was probably the best show and shine venue in living memory, and there were many locals who came out to see our vehicles. No trophy was awarded, however there was a “people’s choice”. The winner of this was a very smart TR3A (curiously owned by a man from Esperance who was not a Nationals delegate or even a member of TSOA). The “peoples’ choice” places were dominated by WA cars, although I did manage to get 5th place with my TR5.

Monday was a “Funkhana” at Sounness Park, Mount Barker. Councils in WA seem to be much more amenable to motor sport than in other parts of Australia, and we were able to have a “there and back” drive through cones and longer straights, with everyone encouraged to participate. Times were recorded, and a certain red TR7 V8 driven by our own Neil Martin was (surprise) the quickest vehicle. There was initially a plan for multiple runs, however a combination of rain and complaints from neighbours ended this plan.

We had an evening meal at Albany Golf Club, and the first “ironman” event was held prior to the meal. For the uninitiated, there is an annual competition between the states, of essentially novelty events, with the winning state taking away the perpetual “Ironman” trophy. This is very large, quite unattractive, is hard to transport and must be brought by the winning state to the next Nationals. Naturally, it is keenly fought over, with each state hoping to win this highly sought-after national trophy.

The first round was a golf putting competition, and our crack team of Roger Lange, Neil Martin and Lawrie Placing were near unstoppable, being just pipped at the (flag) post by the Victorians.

Tuesday was the observation run, again to Mount Barker and then on to lunch at Boston Brewery in Denmark (WA, not Scandinavia). Again, SA did very well, with Sue and me winning the event.

We had a free day on Wednesday although there was a cruise on the good ship Kalgan Queen for those competing in the Quaranup Time Trial on Friday. This cruise was over Oyster Harbour and into the Kalgan River, with Captain Jack, the very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. The rest of us were able to visit various Albany attractions including the fabulous ANZAC Centre, and fort museum.

We had dinner at Le Grande that night, with a quiz after dinner run by sponsors, David and Jenny Markich. Questions were mainly either car (particularly Triumph) or history of Albany related. Those who had done the trip with Captain Jack had a definite advantage on the Albany questions, which I think explains our table’s dismal performance.

Thursday morning was a social run including morning tea at Porongurup and lunch at a function centre in an old shearing shed known as Henderson and Hwang near Mount Barker. After lunch, the second ironman event was held at H&H. This was a game of bocce, and our team was Sue Smithson and Stephen Wade. This pair was on fire (as it were) and won the competition comfortably.

The previously mentioned Quaranup Time Trial was on Friday. I did not attend this event as I was in the second group to do the Kalgan Queen cruise, however again, surprise, surprise, Neil Martin was the fastest car in the event, much to the chagrin of the organiser, Bruce Pollock who noted that whenever Neil competes, no-one else gets a look-in. It was agreed some years ago that the previous perpetual Competition trophy is no longer relevant, so Neil got the accolades but not a trophy. We had a meal that night at Rustlers Steakhouse.

Our final day was a brunch at Whalers Galley Café at the former Albany Whaling Station, and some of us then had a guided tour of the facilities, learning about the grizzly history of the whaling operations. In the afternoon, we had time to load cars on trailers and attend the National Delegates meeting.

There was a presentation dinner that night at Le Grande. The theme for this night was car related, and this gave attendees a broad canvas upon which to dress. The only perpetual trophy on offer was the Ironman trophy, which South Australia won after placing second and first in the two events. Our team celebrated this famous victory long into the night.

Breakfasts each day were at the motel (other than the day of the brunch), and we had evening meals most nights either at the motel (three) or at other restaurants/hotels/community facilities in Albany, all of which were of very good quality.

The week was fantastic, and whilst the interstate contingent was comprised mainly of people who are regular Nationals attendees, we met or renewed acquaintances with a lot of people from the WA TSOA club, which continues to grow and has a high participation rate. The organising committee, particularly convenors Ron and Leigh Marian did a great job of making sure the week ran very smoothly, and everyone in the club really pulled their weight to make it such a great event. Jeff van der Plas was MC for the week and did an amazing job of humour and efficiency which really added to the enjoyment of the week, as did Bruce Pollock who acted as Sergeant at Arms to point out any misdemeanours which delegates may have committed during the week.

On the last night, John Stokes from NSW gave a presentation on next year’s Nationals to be held at “The Anchorage” 5-plus star beachfront resort at Port Stephens in October 2025. This was very similar to the presentation John made at Margaret River W.A. in 2019 for the 2020 Nationals which were eventually cancelled due to COVID. The 2025 Nationals will be a great program in such a fantastic location. Registrations will be opening soon, and demand is expected to be high. Although there were no delegates from Queensland in attendance, we are informed that they are progressing well for 2026 with the event to be held in Toowoomba.

Lawrie and Kaye Placing flew to Perth and hired a car for the week, Sue and I, and Roger and Cherri Lange towed our Triumphs there and back on trailers and Stephen Wade drove his Stag each way. Our return trip was relatively uneventful, and we enjoyed the company of them and sundry other interstate participants at Norseman, Border Village and Ceduna over four days of long drives between overnight stops.

Thanks again to TSOA WA for putting on such a great week.

Alex Smithson