Waltzing Matilda Jet Powered truck

Didn't Matilda end up back in Tassie carting honey or bees?

werkhorse wrote: This id the only photo I ever took .... would have to be the very late 80's but I have a feeling it was around 1990-91

The silver “parachute” pods (they look like rockets on the back with a Ford logo) - are another great giveaway – as most photos you will see don’t have them. When its “drag tours” etc, were finished – they were taken off. So, no “pods” and different signage – it’s a later photo of when it became more of a static display than a race truck.

Moth .... It seems to have the parachute tubes in this photo ...

Thats during the "Kernigan time" from memory - the "police style" light bar on the top and the paint job gives it away - the "pods" were removeable, but rarely there unless it was racing (which he didnt) - so they could be fakes - but they stuck out the sides a fair bit , so were often left off - do you remember where it was taken ?

600Dodge wrote: Didn't Matilda end up back in Tassie carting honey or bees?

Just how much of the original truck ended up carting bees - is a interesting question.

Moth... I took that photo at Campbelltown, Tasmania

werkhorse wrote: Moth... I took that photo at Campbelltown, Tasmania

Ok - I am trying to track 'Matilda's movements, I'd bet its late in the Kernigan era - but its got pretty much the last paint job I know of (accent striping changed, the name "Waltzing Matilda" - over size, etc.
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BB auctions in NSW had it for sale in mid '89 - with the description of "just refurbished" . Last sale advert I have for it, is in late 1989 (Nov 6th) , where Pickies Auctions had it for sale in NSW - with "Bigfoot" the monster truck.
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A couple of auction houses and the like had it for sale though '87 to '89 - and the sale attempts start in Melbourne. Its not clear who brought it after then, I would go with it being around the start of the 90's - maybe it got a (partial) repaint to freshen it up and sell - because it took a long time to sell - and then was sent off on a new "tour" . Stone guards on the bonnet and windscreen suggest it was driven there, but no rego I can see to look up.
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The basic config is of the Kernigan's - but I think its not long after it may have been sold in late nov '89

Hi,

my interest in Waltzing Matilda began as a kid with a big poster(went looking for it today) on my bedroom wall and we went to see it in action. I asked Dad today when it was and he thinks it was at Sandwon in the late seventies. This is my t-Shirt from the event which I have taken a photo of today and is about the size of an average 10 year old so it would be the right vintage. Dad is also going to find some photos he took at the time to confirm it.









And around the same time I have a vague recollection of seeing WM in the workshop at Truck City Ford when visiting my Uncle who was a long time Mechanic there.

Terry

Gryphon wrote: Hi,
And around the same time I have a vague recollection of seeing WM in the workshop at Truck City Ford when visiting my Uncle who was a long time Mechanic there.
Terry

Truck city Ford were a later “official” sponsor of 'Matilda and so it has their name on it - in different (later) photos. It was displayed there at times.
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In reality, Ford (the company) were a bit more involved then they let on - supplying parts at cost etc through truck city from memory, but I don’t think they supplied the actual truck.
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Although, actual turbine powered – transport trucks were tested by a couple of manufactures in different country’s, with British Leyland / Rover doing one of the more successful ones using a turbine as the actual engine - no one had ever built a "Jet Drag truck" before .. so ‘Matilda could have been a giant success, or a giant failure.
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The Louisville range was still new then, and if it was a success, it would be great advertising , but Ford were cautious as a “immense failure” would also mean they didn’t really want their name on it.
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It first ran as a jet truck in late ’78, with the Louisville series arriving here around late ’76. But info on the original, actual chassis origins is a bit vague and I am trying to find proof of its origins.
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I remember reading / hearing (something) way back then that the original truck was damaged or smashed (remember they were not old , and ‘Matilda is based on the LNT series prime movers using a big CAT engine – which is a bit of overkill for what ‘Matilda was).
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So from memory, I think it was originally damaged (prob only really the cab) , and “Re-Car” got it s/h as a write off , with the intention of fixing it for themselves as they had a business of rebuilding large smashed or damaged trucks – so that makes potential sense. Then the owner of “Re-Car” (O’Hare) – decided to make it into ‘Matilda in the typically insane “what the hell” , Aussie trucking spirit with the thought it would make great advertising if it didn’t crash badly.
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The build took 6-7 weeks – but it was “designed” first, so they already knew what truck they were using at that point (so they would have had the chassis already) – making it a near new truck.
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Real fast drag machines and jet engines are nothing to just trifle with, and the design and layout of the aero kit, ducting, big rear wing (and huge air brake) etc were helped along by the RAAF quite a bit. I crewed for a few drag teams back then and into the 90’s (7.2sec was the fasted car I worked on) – and at those speeds, just putting the parachutes in the “wrong place” would cause a roll over, get you killed – or them just fried by the jet, so there was a lot of design work done before hand.
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I vaguely remember a story way back then - (which I have never been able to find, so it may have been at the racetrack itself, on the day) – that the original ducting setup couldn’t provide enough air intake – and on a early engine test, started to sucked in and implode – forcing them to shut it all down and redesign it.

The prime mover that used to cart WM around is (I believe) still working in Melbourne.



https://scontent.fsyd8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13697020_1556605651313421_488737966693169818_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent.fsyd8-1.fna&oh=9f500b71f390dea96e3a7122aaeeb2d1&oe=5CCA7A1B

I maybe wrong but wasn't the The Bandag Bullet another jet powered truck

The Moth wrote:

werkhorse wrote: Moth... I took that photo at Campbelltown, Tasmania

Ok - I am trying to track 'Matilda's movements, I'd bet its late in the Kernigan era - but its got pretty much the last paint job I know of (accent striping changed, the name "Waltzing Matilda" - over size, etc.
.
BB auctions in NSW had it for sale in mid '89 - with the description of "just refurbished" . Last sale advert I have for it, is in late 1989 (Nov 6th) , where Pickies Auctions had it for sale in NSW - with "Bigfoot" the monster truck.
.
A couple of auction houses and the like had it for sale though '87 to '89 - and the sale attempts start in Melbourne. Its not clear who brought it after then, I would go with it being around the start of the 90's - maybe it got a (partial) repaint to freshen it up and sell - because it took a long time to sell - and then was sent off on a new "tour" . Stone guards on the bonnet and windscreen suggest it was driven there, but no rego I can see to look up.
.
The basic config is of the Kernigan's - but I think its not long after it may have been sold in late nov '89

That sign "Jackson" across the front would most likely be our local Ford agent at the time Jackson Ford .... I remember the show being the local country music show, but I don not remember Ray Kernigan being there .... the owner of the red Merc behind might be able to shed some light on it ..."Mitch" aka John Mitchel who ran food vans for many shows and festivals here around the state.