Cooma 1998 (1)

The Land Rover 50th Anniversary Gathering of Australia was held over Easter, from the 10th to the 13th of April 1998, at Cooma in the Monaro district of southern New South Wales (NSW). The event was organised by the Land Rover Owners Club of Victoria and the Range Rover Club of Australia (NSW branch).

Cooma was chosen because it lies between the major population centres of Melbourne and Sydney and is a reasonable compromise in terms of access for Land Rover enthusiasts from other parts. It was the site of the 40th Anniversary celebrations back in 1988 which laid the foundations for the 50th. Cooma is also closely associated with the history of Land Rover in Australia, being the home of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme (SMHEA) which used many Land Rovers during its construction phase, even leading to some notable developments such as possibly the first fitment of seat-belts to four wheel drives.

Those coming from Melbourne had the choice of two scenic routes. The quickest, about 8 hours of driving, was via the Princes Highway to Cann River, then heading north through the Monaro to Cooma. Those taking this route can't have failed to notice the parched nature of the countryside with dry river-beds, bare paddocks and emaciated sheep and cattle. As the Mayor of Cooma said at the Gala Dinner, times have been hard on the land for the last several years and very hard of late. The alternative route was via the Hume Highway, thence Corryong and the Alpine Way.

The major events at the Gathering were a Motokhana on Saturday (11/4/98), a BBQ and Bushdance that evening, a Grand Parade through Cooma on the morning of Sunday 12/4/98, a Cavalcade in the afternoon, i.e. an attempt to assemble as many Land Rovers as possible in one spot, and a Gala Dinner in the evening with invited guest speakers. In addition, numerous four wheel drive trips, easy and hard, were arranged in the surrounding area.

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	The standard Land Rover Defender jack (left), here used as an instrument of torture in the wheel changing event.   There is no truth to the rumour that E.S. needed a visit to the chiropractor after heaving the 6x6 around the reversing course (below). (There was another 6x6 in the car park.)   4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html
Alto Land Rover had a much easier ride in this Range Rover Autobiography.

Motorkhana

The Motorkhana was a non-damaging test of driving skill. Mud was totally absent, understandably given the current drought. The wheel changing exercise was the most strenuous event, competitors having to remove the left rear wheel, take it around a marker several metres away, and refit it, all the while obeying safe working practices - on a steep hillside. The really keen ones ran, carrying the wheel around the marker, no little effort! High-lift jacks were banned and the standard so-called "wheel-brace" had to be used.

Other tasks included a reversing test and a short course testing manoeverability and axle articulation. Short wheelbase (less than 89") and medium wheelbase vehicles (89" to less than 106") had a considerable advantage over long wheelbase vehicles (106" and over). The latter included 110s 130s and even one 6x6. In fairness they were given two (?) stop-and-reverse shunts without penalty.

Notable efforts included Eric Shingles bravely taking the 6x6 around the reversing course. It wasn't the quickest run as he took lengthy detours through the spectator car park and the countryside so as to save the free shunts for the tight sections and avoid a loop or other penalty. Alto Land Rover, dealers from Sydney, who sponsored several awards showed up with a Range Rover Autobiography ($150K) and a Land Rover Freelander. They did indeed take the Range Rover around the course and made it look very easy - but understandably weren't game to try the Freelander.

Grand Parade

Assembly for the [Grand Parade] started at 8am Sunday, on streets gratiously closed by the authorities of Cooma...

>Forward> to Sunday and to the Gala Dinner & Prizes

Notable Land Rovers: 6x6 Camper, 1965 Ambulance (for now)

Cavalcade

Go to the Cooma '98 poster, parade, dinner & prizes and LR50^th pages