What did you do today?

[Rural53]

The return journey was via the 7.5km (4.7 mile) SkyRail Rainforest Cableway. This returns you to Smithfield, beside Ausarmour, then they bus you back into town.







I paid the extra for the glass floor gondola.

[AbiggerGarage]

I miss those things.  We had a "Sky High" at our local ride park, that they took out decades ago, after deciding it was too expensive to maintain.
One of the very few rides I liked.

[Rural53]

On Tuesday I flew back to New Zealand from Cairns and stayed in Auckland overnight. Yesterday, on the way home I stopped at the Ross Bros Museum. They are a large earthworks contractor. What I didn't realise as well as earth moving equipment they have a muscle car collection.






















 

[Rural53]

The earthworks side.           














      

[Muddy]

Very nice rural!

[Heiny57]

Yes, very cool thanks for sharing

[Uncle Buck]

Man, I would love seeing that in person! Thanks for sharing that

[AbiggerGarage]

What is the model of the red 351GT?  Kind of reminds me of a Falcon.

Also I love the fact that some people appreciate four doors.  My first car was a four door and before it was mine, we always used it to take my polio affected Great Aunt places, and only those I knew that dealt with wheelchairs and such, seemed to appreciate that a four door could be a "hot rod".

[goodfellow]

Yes Sir -- very good Rural!  Thanks for sharing those great pics.

[Rural53]

What is the model of the red 351GT?  Kind of reminds me of a Falcon.

Also I love the fact that some people appreciate four doors.  My first car was a four door and before it was mine, we always used it to take my polio affected Great Aunt places, and only those I knew that dealt with wheelchairs and such, seemed to appreciate that a four door could be a "hot rod".

Yes, a  Ford Falcon XY GT. It is the very rare Phase 3 GT-HO.

From the associated sign.

1971 Ford Falcon XY GT
In November 1970 the first of the XY GT's rolled off the Broadmeadows assembly line and production ceased in November 1971 with the introduction of the XA Falcon. Ford upped the ante with the XY by increasing the performance of the 351 cubic inch (5.8 litre) Cleveland V8 which had an output of 300 bhp (224kW) and 380 ft/lbs of torque. Ford often understated the power of their performance cars in this era to satisfy insurers and keep their opposition guessing - it was genuinely accepted that this engine produced in the region of 350-380 bhp (260-280kW).
The XY drive ratio of 3.25:1, a huge 36 gallon (164 litre) fuel tank, suspension mods to take the extra power and bigger brakes, the XY seemed to be the ultimate grand tourer and the GT-HO Phase 3 was known to be the fastest 4 door sedan in the world at that time with a top speed of 142 mph (228 kph) in street trim! Production of the XY model resulted in 1,557 GT's manufactured from November 1970 to November 1971 and only 300 GT-HO Phase 3's, also to November 1971. 68 of these Phase 3 GT-HO's were painted in this Vermillion Fire paint (red). This particular Falcon is believed to be 1 of 3 missing factory race built Falcon XY GT-HO Phase 3's. It was shipped to New Zealand in 1988.

[SteelWheels]

Think that 4dr is unusual, how about a Cadillac coupe, goes 140.You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.

Pep

[Muddy]

Sam had a baseball game this morning. Then I took an hour nap, mowed the lawn and we had friends and family over for Sams birthday this week.

Now I'm relaxing by the fire.

[Rural53]

Well, today I'm another year older. I did a site visit to the Opotiki Harbour works where we have just finished up the dredging of the new harbour entrance.



Stopped at the road side oyster place on the way back for a late lunch.



Stopped just up the road from there to have a cup of coffee with a friend I worked with 25 years ago and now farms beef.

Drove there and back through another roading job I'm looking after/trying to close out.

Tidied up some paperwork when I got back to the office, then headed out for dinner.

A filet mignon with mushrooms and vegetables


And a nice chianti



(But no fava beans!)

[Muddy]

Happy birthday Rural. You share a birthday with my son!

[Muddy]

(This was Sunday) We are in the process of cleaning up the family farm.

We originally had three John Deere Bs for field work. 2 1948s and a 1944.The 44 B was bought new and was one of (if not THE) first tractors in the valley. I took that one out to my friends in ohio to restore for us. I bought one of the 48s off my grandfather before he passed and restored it. Unfortunately we didn't finish before he passed.

Not having a real use for it and knowing how much work it is to restore we decided we no longer needed it.

We are going to donate it to a local FFA chapter for a restoration project. 


Any way. I got the tractor running and driving for them and to make easier to load on the trailer.

My son is the 4th generation to drive this Tractor.