VAN NATS 2012

Hey guys, time is going buy so quickly and before we know it the Van Nats 2012 will be upon us. As you would all agree it is much safer to cruise in groups across the Nullabor. A few guys from my club have started working out an agenda for the trip across, so i will give you some details for our trip. If anyone wants to tag along, the more the better and merrier. If you are looking at travelling at a different time then post your details up here and hopefully you will get some interest. From Melbourne it is a 3500km trip to Perth. If you want ideas on prices for fuel across the Nulla then google "petrol/gas prices on the Nullabor", this will give you a bit of an idea.

DVV Members are looking at leaving the saturday before Easter, so that is March 31st. We are looking at travelling about 700km's per day. Some people will want to travel and get to the nights camp place as soon as possible where as others may want to do touristy things along the way, maybe some will want to play the worlds longest golf coarse to break the trip up. We will be looking at probably driving 3 or 4 hours in the morning once we reach the Nulla, then have a break in the mid afternoon when it is hottest and maybe find a pool at a campsite to cool off then do another 3 or so hours before dusk. But the idea is to all meet up each night at the same destination. As the weeks go by i hope to have a map and more of an idea on how we intend to do the trip.
cheers
James

This sounds like a great idea James. It will make the jurney a lot more interesting as well as safer as far as brake downs go.
Wish I could be along for the drive. It will be a great Nats for you guys travelling across the "Paddock" because your fun will start when you leave melbourne.
Hope you get a lot of interest as it will be a great Convoy of vans.
Dont forget to take some good sunset pictures out there with the vans in the forefront.

hope to get some feed back, i know there are some SA vans heading off on the monday i believe so they will probably catch us

ok what day you guys going to be a dublin sa 60km past Adelaide from memory as i'm flying over to pick up my 4wd around then

Havn't got final details yet but i would say we would have the first overnight stay somewhere around Adelaide on the saturday night

thinking of leaving on 31/3 as well... i think we're trying to get past xmas and newyear first and then we'll start seriously looking at plans for easter... would like to take it easy going across and back.

Ha! had a phone call from my twin nephews from Germany last nite... they're coming to Melb in the week before we leave to come travelling with us across the Nullabor.... so, i have 1 seat in my van and need another seat in another van.... have already asked a few, who may be ok with that... but haven't made a final decision if they're actually going or not so am enquiring here if there's a spare seat somewhere if needed... please. They are willing to share fuel costs. Trip will be one way over to Perth, as they are flying back after the nationals and won't need a return road trip. Thanks all...

I may have, i already have an extra passenger, but will find out by February if i can take another, but keep trying just in case, remind me at New years eve

mazdragon wrote:Ha! had a phone call from my twin nephews from Germany last nite... they're coming to Melb in the week before we leave to come travelling with us across the Nullabor.... so, i have 1 seat in my van and need another seat in another van.... have already asked a few, who may be ok with that... but haven't made a final decision if they're actually going or not so am enquiring here if there's a spare seat somewhere if needed... please. They are willing to share fuel costs. Trip will be one way over to Perth, as they are flying back after the nationals and won't need a return road trip. Thanks all...

they can take my rover if they like its in Adelaide and needs to be back in perth willing to pay fuel of it to

that sounds like a good idea

hmmmm, that may be a good option... shall discuss with them. They turn 25 whilst over here (they're twins) on 12th april so not sure how the insurance will work with that. Shall mention to them when i talk to them next. They're busy booking airlines at the mo...lol.

mazdragon wrote:hmmmm, that may be a good option... shall discuss with them. They turn 25 whilst over here (they're twins) on 12th april so not sure how the insurance will work with that. Shall mention to them when i talk to them next. They're busy booking airlines at the mo...lol.

as long as their over 21 their covered

yep, they're 24 when they arrive and will be 25 when they leave....lol. Not sure, about this option yet? what condition is the vehicle in? registered? will it make it across the Nullabour? cld u put up a pic pls? thanx.

mazdragon wrote:yep, they're 24 when they arrive and will be 25 when they leave....lol. Not sure, about this option yet? what condition is the vehicle in? registered? will it make it across the Nullabour? cld u put up a pic pls? thanx.

good made it their so should make it back
sa regoed in a mates name where i'm storing it
its a 2.5 turbo desiel auto
has cd, uhf realy good ac
i only left it their cause i had to make it to a wedding back in wa and its been handy their when on holidays

ok, i'll discuss it with them and see if they're prepared to drive it back to wa for you. Probably get them to drive it to Pinjarra where the nationals are and then we'll suck it and see from there. Presume yr coming to the nats?? thanks heaps for the offer. Will let you know.

Hello fellow Vanner.

Progress towards the 2012 Australian van nationals well on the way.
At this stage we would like to give you a brief idea of the program for the weekend.
Thursday; Arrive and set up.
Friday: Kidz Biz morning and afternoon session. Rocker cover racing.
Saturday: Show n Shine at Sir Ross McLarty Oval. Theme night (western)
Sunday: Cruise. Presentation Night
Monday: Pack up and goodbyes.

This year the Show n Shine is on the Saturday, this is to bring it in line with MAX (Murray Auto Extravaganza) which for an extra fee you can also be a judged participant of.

Merchandise list is available if you require please email panthervanclub.wa@hotmail.co and we will forward one to you.

Looking forward to seeing you there

Panther Van Club

Hi Everyone,

I had some questions from James today and here are the replies,

1. What is the best time to stop driving each day = When we travel back we stop mid to late afternoon as you will be heading straight into the sun and this is the times when the roos are out.
2. Approx distance travelled each day = We only travel as long as everyone is still okay usually about 800kms per day but we always stop every couple of hours.
3. Fuel availalability and costs = the list below is the prices at easter last year,
Fuel Availability & Costs
PERTH: UNLEADED $1.38 PREMIUM $1.48 LPG $0.648
MANDURAH: UNLEADED $1.38 PREMIUM $1.48 LPG $0.648
TAMMIN: UNLEADED $1.429 PREMIUM $ LPG $0.939
MERRIDEN: UNLEADED $1.499 PREMIUM $1.599 LPG $0.989
SOUTHERN CROSS: UNLEADED $1.519 PREMIUM $1.689 LPG $0.899
COLLGARDIE: UNLEADED $1.479 PREMIUM $ LPG $0.929
NORSEMAN: UNLEADED $1.619 PREMIUM $1.779 LPG $0.99
NORSEMAN: UNLEADED $1.619 PREMIUM $1.779 LPG $0.99
BALLADONIA: UNLEADED $1.937 PREMIUM $2.067 LPG $1.144
CAIGUNA: UNLEADED $1.883 PREMIUM $ LPG $1.214
COCKLEBIDDY: UNLEADED $1.865 PREMIUM $ LPG $1.18
MADURA: UNLEADED $1.44 PREMIUM $ LPG $1.22
MUNDRABILLA: UNLEADED $1.79 PREMIUM $ LPG $1.15
EUCLA: UNLEADED $1.791 PREMIUM $1.899 LPG $1.10
NULLABOR: UNLEADED $1.999 PREMIUM $2.079 LPG $1.249
NUNDROO: UNLEADED $1.579 PREMIUM $ LPG $ 0.999
PENONG: UNLEADED $1.569 PREMIUM $ LPG $
CEDUNA: UNLEADED $1.569 PREMIUM $1.709 LPG $0.799
KIMBA: UNLEADED $1.619 PREMIUM $1.669 LPG $0.899
PORT AUGUSTA: UNLEADED $1.399 PREMIUM $1.539 LPG $0.689

Hope this helps any other questions please dont hesitate to contact any of us.

Regards

Paul Bullard
President
Panther Van Club WA

thanks Paul, much appreciated....

Thanks for doing that Paul, it will surely help us that are driving over. If you think of anything else please let us know.

Ramble wrote:This sounds like a great idea James. It will make the jurney a lot more interesting as well as safer as far as brake downs go.
Wish I could be along for the drive. It will be a great Nats for you guys travelling across the "Paddock" because your fun will start when you leave melbourne.
Hope you get a lot of interest as it will be a great Convoy of vans.
Dont forget to take some good sunset pictures out there with the vans in the forefront.

Are you coming across Ramble?
Only about 10 weeks to go now

Ok everyone who's going to WA Nats... i may just be pushing my luck here... if i were to require 2 spare seats from Melbourne to Adelaide (Dublin S.A.) to be exact... is there anybody out there that can help out? We have a vehicle to pick up in Dublin, and won't require a ride back from WA either (they're flying back). Can anyone help out? need to know fairly soon as i need to get the logistics of getting 4 peeps to WA nats... myself (easy, i drive the van), Tara, Ben & Achim who are now going to fight as to who has my spare seat... so i need another 2 seats... remember, only to S.A. and no return trip (one way only). I am planning on leaving on Sat 31/3 very early in the morning and getting to Murray Bridge (if not too tired) and then 2nd day drive to Dublin (other side of Adelaide) and pick up vehicle and then on to Eucla or thereabouts and then so on and so forth till in get to Pinjarra. Comments?? suggestions?? (polite ones please)

I might be able to help out with one person, let you know by the end of the weekend.

I just aquired a camps Australia wide book which has every campsite from Melb to Perth and explains what fascilities they have too so i will try to get a print out of an itenery with in the week. I will be leaving saturday morning too so guess we have the start of a convoy across.

will chat with you soon Maz

ok, that'd b great thanx...

FYI for those driving across.... daylight savings ends on Sunday 1/4/2012... yup, whilst driving over there, turn clocks back 1 hour... so we can either drive the extra hour or sleep the extra hour....