Brass Monkeys Camping
Lake Lyell Recreation Area
8 to 10 July 2022
Photos by Phil Guilfoyle and Steve Morley
The second VSCCA camping weekend at Lake Lyell near Lithgow was called The Brass Monkeys Camping Weekend for one very good reason. It was bloody freezing.
I especially would like to thank Warwick Gordon-Smith for his invaluable local knowledge, and Steve Morley for his support generously provided to us all. [continued below]
We booked adjoining sites on a bluff above the lake for six adults and two kids, with two cancellations. With consistent rain this year, roads in the area are badly pot-holed and the dirt roads were either washed out or closed. Therefore, we agreed to drive to the conditions and stick to tar roads.
DAY ONE
As the weather was raining and cold, a group set out from Chatswood and drove directly to Lake Lyell via the M4 and Great Western Highway.
The convoy consisted of; Todd Barker in the MG SA, Christo Morris in the Alvis 12/50, Steve Morley towing the Rollin’ Ritz, Brian Wilson in his Nissan, and Phil Guilfoyle in his Mazda MX5. Christo’s son William and Brian’s grandson Josh rode shotgun. Peter Weir drove up from Wollongong in the Vauxhall 30/98. In all, three pre-war cars.
It was raining, cold and unpleasant the whole way. We set up our tents and a communal fire pit with a marquee. Once again, Steve saved the day with his amazing glamping trailer – no facility overlooked, no need unmet.
Stage = 160KM.
DAY TWO
After a howling wind all night, Saturday dawned sunny, still and cold – not quite a frost. Last year we headed out on excellent roads to the south and west. This time, we aimed north. We left Lake Lyell on Sodwalls Rd to Tarana, then Mutton Falls Rd to the O’Connell Rd briefly, right onto good dirt on Ridge Rd to the Great Western Hwy. There we met Warwick Gordon-Smith and continued up Glanmire Lane to Limekilns Rd and Sofala Rd to Sofala and lunch.
The return was via the Sofala Rd, an excellent winding rolling road, all the way to Bathurst and a lap of Mt. Panorama. The pre-war cars handled the circuit well, the only frustration being the ridiculous 60KPH speed limit.
From the top of the mountain we motored back to Lake Lyell via the wonderful winding Tarana Rd, crossing and re-crossing the railway eight times. Perfect vintage motoring, with old bridges, fords and empty roads.
Stage = 230KM.
DAY THREE
Sunday dawned wet and cold so we packed up wet tents and either headed home or into Lithgow for an excellent breakfast with Warwick, who arrived in his beautiful Armstrong Siddeley ute. Then back to Sydney via the Great Western Hwy, M4.
Stage = 170KM.
Total distance was about 560KM.
Conclusions
There are still many excellent roads and places to visit from this hub. Some of us must be slow learners but we plan to do it next year in the July school holidays again. This year was great fun, despite the rain coming and going.
The event highlighted that we could have more camping weekends on the Club calendar. With a flexible itinerary and driving to suit the roads and weather, using a campsite as a hub in the middle of a district works. We are looking into a similar event in warmer months at a coastal campground. Stay tuned.