Piggybacking the Sporting Register?s Open Garage and Garden morning at the Schmidt?s onto the Baw Baw Shire?s Gardivalia Open Garden weekends seemed like a good idea at the time, but after gale force winds created havoc in the weeks leading up to Gardivalia – in this instance ripping mature trees right out of the ground and causing collateral damage to fences and the garden, time was at a premium to make the 3 acre property presentable for both events. Work was temporarily suspended on the Marcos project to attend to more pressing horticultural demands, so those who came to the Open Garage expecting to see a great leap forward in the little car?s progress would have been disappointed. However, there were plenty of interesting parts laid out next to the Marcos shell to illustrate how the components should eventually fit together to make a whole.
In the other garages and the wood-shed, members were able to check out Steve?s Bugeye Sprite, the historic racing Cooper S and his pair of Fiat 124 siblings, Spider and Coupe. There was also the Woodworking shed to peruse with Steve?s grandfather?s cabinet maker toolbox and its antique tool collection on display, as well as the garden sheds full of mulch and rabbit-proof plant protection guards.
The weather was cool, but fine, and many people took the opportunity to wander through the grounds and admire the well established garden and elevated picturesque outlook to the north and west.
The long driveway looked magnificent with the assembled membership?s collection of sporting and classic cars scattered in amongst the flowering bottlebrushes and towering Lilypillys. It was a much nicer selection of vehicles than the homogenous Camrys and bland motorised appliances that arrived the previous weekend for Gardivalia.
Pictures by Malcolm Irwin and Steve Schmidt
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