2004 Toyota Nationals - Dubbo 9th-11th April

Go Toymods!

At one of the best ever Toyota nationals the Toymods crew did themselves proud by making up one of the largest contingents and certainly the most vocal!!

Congrats to the Toymodders that came and to those that came away with awards! Was cool to see everyone behaving themselves as well.

On behalf of Toymods I'd like to thank the Nationals organisers for putting in alot of time and effort in making an awesome weekend possible - namely Dave, Grant and Paul - thanks guys!

Certainly I need to thank all the entrants especially all the Toymodders and forum goers...and thanks to all the spectators and first-timers that came down - was cool to see so many new faces!!

As everyone starts arriving home the stories and pictures will be appearing but i'll get the ball rolling with a brief rundown of what most of the Toymods crew got up to over the weekend.


Friday 9th

730ish a bleary eyed bunch of toymodders met at the m4 caltex truckstop for the cruise up... most of them only having just finished getting their cars ready the night before.

Coffees and breakfast was munched on while we waited for the stragglers to show... although tired we were all excited to be on our way.

The turnout was huge for what was going to be a long cruise... 22 cars, 1 bike and 39 people all up! Thanks to the guys that came by as well to see us off.

We handed out maps, car games and went through an itineray for dubbo so that we all knew what the plan was.

The GT4 led off the pack at 830 and the amazing thing was that pretty much the 22 cars stayed together for the entire 400kms with everyone keeping to the speedlimit - nice work all!

Was cool fun to have so many cars together for such a long time... most brought their CBs along which helped pass the time as well as provide much amusement . They helped with directions and cop spotting as well.

We made a brief stop in the mountains for supplies, scaring a nissan cruise in the process but pretty much made it to bathurst in about 3 hours. Headed straight for Mt Panorama to do a lap and line up the cars to take pics... the cop cruising with us meant our lap was sedate but after the pics a few cars dissappeared for another lap which sounded a little more 'spirited' .

Drove to orange for lunch and petrol before continuing on to dubbo.

Traffic was light and apart for stopping for Tim in old12c who was having carby issues and Mos in the 'stock' cressida who had a flat it was happily uneventful... oh apart from the locusts of course... grrrr... most cars were meshed up and prepared but it still got messy.

DavGT4 and thewagonist caught up with us past orange (having left sydney later in the day)... we gave steve the award for collecting the most squished locusts on his bumper... well done man.

Drove into dubbo and to the matilda motor inn at around 330pm to unpack and register for the weekend... a bunch of sweet toyotas already there and our arrival packed out the carpark.

Within the hour most were at the carwash cleaning off the locusts and making their cars pretty for saturdays show'n'shine.

That evening there was the nationals welcome dinner where we all had the chance to chat with other entrants... although a few of us slipped off to grab some more substantial but equally dodgy dubbo chinese takeaway.

The night turned out to be a long one involving excessive alcohol, noise and little sleep. Toymods took up most of the family units in the rear block of the matilda and our banners claimed it for our own - for the non-toymodders that found themselves surrounded some apologies for the noise and perhaps a heads-up for next year .

I believe there is also photographic evidence of an intoxicated stitt dressed up in a red girly halter top.... hmmmmm....


Saturday 10th

Hangovers and red-eyes were well evident for Saturday morning's show'n'shine at Dubbo City Toyota... as were around 50 shiny toyotas... it was a great chance to check out everyones cars even if they did have to spill into the street.

By lunch-time most headed their own way... some back to bed... others to autobarn for a car display and discounts.
About 20 of us met up at dubbo zoo to see the locals... um... i mean the animals. We scored a discount which was sweet and split into 2 groups... those cruising in cars and the more energetic hiring bikes and going pedal powered. We wanted golf cart races ala jackass but they were all booked out.

Was a bit of fun and definately an experience for those that hadn't been before... i think ra28joel has some picks illustrating the finer points of an otters sex life.

Back at the matilda there was much activity as everyone prepped their cars for sundays drags... and others watched on drinking beers and offerring less helpful advice.

35 of us headed to dinner that night at the Railway Bowling Club (the only place our numbers could get a booking) where we consumed all you can eat chinese, seafood and roast. We made some impression on the locals especially with the attempt to join in the rock'n'roll dancing after dinner.

Arriving back at the matilda the alcohol came out again as did the melody pops (i dont think those sleeping quite appreciated the sweet tunes and talents of a block full of toymodders whistling). Some silly games of chinese whispers provided much hilarity most of which cant be repeated here .


Sunday 11th

Sunday morning sporting even redder eyes we drove out to wellington airstrip for drags and a challenge to the local v8s from dubbo city car club.

The stories and times for the 1/8th mile will no doubt follow but it again was cool to see the Toymodders sitting together under out own marquee cheering loud when one of us won.

Special mention has to go to our very own Jason who once again shamed some local v8'ers and who took out the day in the final race against the 8thsin supra after chopping him at the start -congrats Jase!

That night the Nationals presentation dinner was held with tired, sunburnt, hungover but very proud toymodders present.

A few of us took off that afternoon for Sydney but most left monday morning having had an awesome weekend!




Thanks again to those that came and for those that didn't you will have to put it in your diaries for next year!

Our numbers did us proud - well done guys!!

[Updated on: Wed, 05 May 2004 15:28] by Moderator

[Updated on: Tue, 13 April 2004 00:47]