Oktoberfest in Lakes - this Saturday what where why, find out more......

OktoberFest, an excuse for anyone and everyone to drink far more beer than usual in large groups possibly suffering the after effects, and generally celebrate, but celebrate what.?  With news that Ferryman’s Café in Lakes Entrance is celebrating this annual festival this Saturday (26th Oct) all day with some food specials I thought I would delve into the past and find out what it is really all about. But wait, there’s more, much more  it is far more than just beer!

Lindenow has a new Rail, but not what you may think.

Lindenow, that sleepy little town of about 500 on the Dargo Road overlooking and with magnificent views across the Mitchell River valley, well known for its agriculture and produce, perhaps even for a couple of tasty eating houses, it has a General Store, a Post Office and a newly opened bottle shop.

View over the Mitchell River Valley

That is not all, it is also the home of a new Rail, no, not a train, mind you a decent train service would be an asset, no, this is a Rail on wheels and two sets of two very different ones at that. A Rail, and the one we are talking about here is a dragster, also, but nowadays lesser known and more usually in the USA, as a “slingshot” or “digger” these only being built for nostalgic drag racing. Some with a mid-mounted / front engine and many with a rear mounted unit like the Lindenow Rail, but all purpose built for drag racing.                                                                                                                                                                                           

So, what has Lindenow, its Post Office, General Store, Bottle Shop and a Rail got in common, very little would be the expected answer and in many cases you would be correct. Aha but not in Lindenow, there you have a talented and multi skilled individual by the name of Glenn Payne. Now most would see Glenn (with two N’s I was told), behind the counter in one or all of these local businesses, but in his spare time, and I have no idea how he has any with three businesses to run, he decided to build a rail, and what I am calling, the Lindenow Rail. I found it on Saturday.

I spent another enjoyable afternoon at the Gippsland Motorplex where they held a Drags N Skidz day, a very popular day it was too, with a good crowd of competitors, their crews, families of all ages, and many spectators there to enjoy the motorsport into the evening.

 

These events are held on a regular basis, I enjoy watching the track events and looking at the many and varied vehicles brought to the complex. Some of the engineering and mechanical modifications are quite something, it is a real relaxed family atmosphere, well run and very well catered. (how could I not include food !). 

It was here that I found the Lindenow Rail with Glenn its owner tending his new machine on its maiden run. It was immaculate, the quality of build simply top level and all locally built together with a trailer all colour matched and built to the same exacting standards. What a pleasure to see the fruits of this local’s spare time labour being tested on his home track.

This example of local creativity and the many others on show only goes to emphasise that the Gippsland Motorplex is well placed and providing a large cross section of motorsport enthusiast a place to enjoy their chosen pastime.  It may not be for everyone but we all don’t play football netball or cricket either.
                                                        

There are high level skills in our community and looking at the varied engineering and mechanical talent on display at Saturday’s event it is being put to good use at an ideal venue.

Ok, back to the Lindenow Rail, powered by a rear mounted Yamaha R1 engine. A 998cc (60.9 cu in) liquid cooled Double Overhead Camshaft 4 cylinder in line motorcycle engine. In standard trim this has a compression ratio of between 11.8 and 12.5:1 and revs out to between 12 -13000 rpm producing 150hp at the wheels. Not so with Glenn’s little beast, his weighing in at a tiny 280 kilos produces a huge 260hp at the wheels!

 It has tracking and launch controls to aid the driver who is protected in a tiny cockpit with removeable steering wheel. Not unfortunately built for old petrol heads of my build!

Talking to Glenn who was tending his new toy (if I dare call it that), I had to ask the obvious, Why? “I like building things” said Glenn, he continued “I have never built one before so I thought I would build a dragster”, and he sure did,  much to the enjoyment of one of the many younger attendees at Saturday’s event who was allowed to have a seat right where it all happens. 

Seen here is Riley Roberts and his Dad Brent perhaps dreaming of things to come.

What a great example of local workmanship, well done Glenn, and well-done Gippsland Motorplex for providing a facility good enough to allow our local and visiting motorsport enthusiasts to enjoy their chosen sport.

Our NBN...when and if it works!

Recently I have been troubled by many technological gremlins, they seem to have ganged up on me of late, but the most concerning of these is our illustrious NBN Service. Service did I say, what service? I am usually fairly patient with intermittent faults but of late it seems we have little or no reliable service.