Mates, I tell you, watching from the 'comfort' of the home is more of a hassel than the old '74 race was when I stepped into a puddle and ended up floating halfway down mountain straight.
If big Wally hadn't had hold of the other end of the esky I reckon I would have ended up on the start finish line.
Still that's history. Now, where was I. Oh yeah. First thing you do if you're going to watch on telly is make sure the set is spot on.
So you call the service bloke a few days before. Take a tip, Make it a few weeks before.
First, when the bloke came he found that my service policy was out of date. So I'm up for the whole bloody cost. Then he wanted to take the set away. . . 'something's wrong with the
left hand blurter and the shurdlu is out of whack. Have to go to the factory.'
Christ. it cost me another $20 sling to talk him out of that. It was Friday afternoon ~ And you just can't watch on the old black and white.
Well the $20 - plus half a bottle of scotch (telly repair men don't drink good old beer anymore) - got the set fixed. The total bill? $150. Could have stayed at the Bathurst Motor Lodge for that much.
Anyway, the set was right. Next. me program. Up to the local newsagents . . . sold out. Three more didn't know what I was talking about and it was nice and late Friday night before I snaffled one round at the local garage. (Had to pay four bucks for it too. . . . . Scalpers everywhere)
Down the pub Saturday for the supplies. Two cartons of cans, flagon of white and some Tia Maria for the coffee. Got to do it in style for the armchair luxury.
Food? Heaps of that mate. The Cheese cooked me a chicken between getting bottles for the brat (sorry junior Jack B). Two big packets of chips and a load of sandwiches in the freezer.
Must admit though I felt I'm miss those cold pies they serve up on the mountain. And the hot dogs covered in dirt where Jacko drops 'em on the way back - always.
But this was going to be luxury.
Only trouble was I got to arguing with some Ford freaks down at the pub who still reckoned Moff was going to make it again.
Hell, they give me a pain. All they think of is Ford. Don't they know about the Toranas. Toranas forever mate. Well..
Before I had got through telling them just how good the Toranas were it was throw out time and I'd missed the special show on the qualifying times.
Woke up with a roaring head too.. which reminded me of Sunday morning on the Mountain.
