The Northern Twilight Run started on a balmy summer night from the Churchill Centre, on Churchill Road at Kilburn. For some, this address is better known as the location of SA’s only Costco store.
It didn’t go unnoticed that at least one of our members had to be forcibly pried from Costco’s front door, after discovering the store wasn’t open late on a Saturday. We’re told this same person had been entrusted with leading the southern members out to Kilburn so it was a shock to hear that, en route, this member apparently just missed being taken out by the Glenelg tram at the Marion Road crossing. Suffice to say that, next Run, the role of ‘Tail End Charlie’ will be allocated to her. It was nice to see some members of the public there, keen to see the cars as they arrived. We also welcomed a stunning black Mustang, the latest from the Stable at Adrian Brien Ford.
After some discussion around food venues, a group of 13 Mustangs set off for the Northern Expressway and Gawler. This route has to be one of the most enjoyable ‘suburban roads’ we can travel along as Mustang owners.
Whether it was the friendly acknowledgement from other drivers or the sheer pleasure of driving on that road, it really was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sight and sounds of the Mustangs, old and new.
The absence of the Run’s organiser meant that Bryon Cooper and his daughter kindly stepped into the role of lead car at the last minute.
Having assured us that they knew which way to go, it must be said that they did an excellent job of navigating (most of) us through what seemed like
a maze of back streets leading us into Gawler.
However, just as the group’s confidence was building and with the finish line almost in sight, we went around one roundabout too many (for some).
Those who weren’t looking ahead accidentally followed the only Mustang that went the wrong way.
It was unnerving to watch them, in the rear view mirror, vanish out of sight. We could have called them and told them where to meet us, if only we’d known where we were. It quickly became clear that taking some Southerners north poses a vast set of issues.
Anyway, the majority of cars safely traversed a police car pointing a speed gun at us and soon arrived at McDonalds, Munno Para, where everyone filed in, ready for a Maccas coffee. Thinking how fortunate the group was to find a long table vacant, everyone grabbed a stool, ready to chat. What we didn’t know was that the inside temperature of that store had been set so low that even Scott of the Antarctic would have wished for thermals.
It was only when two members rested their forearms on the marble table-top and then couldn’t straighten up that we knew for sure we were sitting in an industrial freezer! It was, without a doubt, the coldest McDonalds store ever experienced and so our stay, though enjoyable, was short.
On the run home, some cars chose to drive past Holden’s Elizabeth plant. It was a sobering sight to see those wonderful, old buildings flood-lit and to know that such a significant part of this State’s history was coming to an end. If only those buildings could talk…
Thanks, as always, to all the members who brought their cars out in support of our northern run. With wonderful weather, fabulous cars and lots of laughter, a great time was had by all.