Best driving road and best refurbishments to do for a long trip.

[nath]

Following on from the "Best tools to carry for a 105" post.

In the middle of next year, my car turns 45, by coincidence so do I. To celebrate, I have a mate that I have known since I was 20 and was in college with, he and I have talked about a road trip since we both turned 40.

The original plan was to take an MX5 all around highway 1, taking a month and a half to do so. Well that plan fell through when he needed to travel overseas for some study and his leave time from work was used up, as was his cash!

Fast forward a few years and now I have the Alfa, Highway 1 in a month and a half would seem to be a cruel and unusual punishment on a car of that age and disposition. So the plan we are discussing now is from Sydney to Cooktown and return. It takes in my favorite stretch of road in Australia, the one between Cairns and Port Douglas.

My first question, what is your favorite stretch of driving road in Australia?

The second is a little more practical. As I do not have unlimited funds, but a bit of time to prepare, If you had a 105 in good mechanical order and were planning such a trip, what would be your priorities to update and overhaul?

Now I know this could be a never-ending wish list of restoration and refurbishment, so lets make it a bit more ordered. Categorized into (A) Really must do jobs!, (B) Valuable to do jobs, and (C) Nice to do jobs.

Thanks
Nath

[Davidm1600]

Really quickly re the first question.

1.  There are so many great Alfa 105 driving roads down here in Tassie, but include most of the Targa and/or other classic rally stages.  To the East Coast from Launceston via Scottsdale.  A bundle of roads around Cradle Mountain, Hellyer gorge, West coast, let alone also down from Hobart the Huon/Cygnet and coast road back to Hobart.  Etc etc. Done quite a few of these in my GTV over the years, all great.

2.  Suspension (front and rear) for sure if yours is not up to spec, and decent tyres.  A half reasonable stereo for those quieter sections when not driving too spirited.

3.  Make sure all electricals are functioning, including lights, and wipers.  So make sure the battery is in top nick.

4. Brakes.

5. Make sure the cooling system is working perfectly, as you don't wish to break down due to overheating.

6. choose which time of year to travel.  For instance in Tassie probably best in Autumn or Spring

In an 105 with no AC can be a little tiring, as you would need windows down and that means road noise/wind
In Winter, you want the heater to be working, but fogging up can be a problem.

Hope that helps.

[nath]

Hi David,

Yes great roads in Tassie, I like the one that takes in Elephant Pass!, also that streach around the Huon/Cygnet and Kettering is pretty good.

There is a little streach that runs from the back of Bridgewater, on the Tip road that if you take it you go over the most fantastic litttle one lane bridge that every pailing clatters on, a fantastic treat in a convertable!

Thanks for the tips

[Doug Gould]

1. Buy a Landcruiser & trailer.

2. When you reject the practical solution, I think most problems will be tyre / bearing / temperature related. You'll have much less puncture problems with new tyres. I'd probably change all the wheel bearings, flush brake fluid & pay a lot of attention to the cooling system.

I'm in Alice Springs at the moment. Most days are low 40 deg and we are recording temperatures above 100 degC on the top surfaces of cars and over 70 degC in the interior of locked parked cars.

The important tools are the ones its harder to borrow. Multimeter, soldering iron, wire, magnetic pickup (if you are doing something on the side of the road you will drop something),screwdrivers (especially short & small ones), pliers, shifters will nearly do it. You should think about a hydraulic jack & jackstands. You definitely need bl**dy Telstra's Next G service and possibly a sat phone. You should carry water. At least 10 litres.

I quite like the drive through the vine areas between Mildura & Renmark and then the Flinders ranges. The Wilmington Pass to Port Augsta is fantastic. I also like the Monaro Highway to Bombala.

[Beatle]

You certainly don't need to travel as far as Cairns for a good driving road.  There are still some gems to be found off the main arterial highways. 

Take the B500 Bright to Bairnsdale for example (The Great Alpine Way), and then back, and back, and back again.  Also the southern route through Mt Beauty is now fully tarred.  I love these alpine roads when the road is clear of snow (and traffic) but the air is crisp and clear.  It's as much fun in a 164 as it is in a Giulia Super.

There are many roads I'm yet to explore which head West off the Pacific Hwy too, particularly south of Sydney.

NSW Snowies can be fun on the right day too.  Even the dirt roads are great if the snow is late because the roads have been prepped for the season, but no snow means no visitors means empty roads.

Oxley Hwy from Wauchope to Walcha.

Can't recall the exact road, but there are a few heading west from Coffs Harbour, and I used to enjoy Grafton to Glenn Innis.

I've even attacked the back road (Dorat Rd?) from Adelaide R to Douglas Hot Springs turnoff in the N.T. in an Alfetta GTV (and a Honda NSX).  I actually spun the Alfetta when I hit a pile of buffalo dung on the road...............  No damage, but after checking out the size of the dung pile, calculating the size of the beast to which the bum was connected that produced the dung, I slowed down a bit.........................

I've also driven Coober Pedy to Katherine in one go (solo) in January in an Alfetta coupe.  I'm glad I did it, but not what I'd call fun.

[Mr Frog]

I did Melbourne/Canberra-Cairns for years in my 69 105. This is the basic trip, which I posted several years ago. It's a blast.From my former home in Warrandyte (Vic) - Kangaroo Ground - Yarra Glen - Yea - Maindample - Benalla - Cobram - Newell Highway to  Moree - left to Mungindi - St George - Carnarvon Highway/Development Road to Roma - Rolleston - left on Dawson Highway to Springsure - Emerald - Gregory Development Road - Belyando Crossing - Charters Towers - Flinders Highway - Townsville - Bruce Highway to home in Cairns. A great drive, apart from the Newell Highway (but in any case the Newell is a thousand times better than driving the coast road).

If you have more time, it's worth cutting across from the Newell to Bathurst via Grenfell, Cowra and Blayney, thence to Muswellbrook via Ilford to Mudgee, up to Ulan and Cassilis and finally to Muswellbrook via Merriwa on the Golden Highway. Once at Muswellbrook great drives through Tamworth, Armidale Glenn Innes and Tenterfield open up, with opportunities for side trips into the Tablelands.

You can continue up to Warwick in Queensland on the New England Highway then head for the coast road and Brisbane, or do like I have done and go up the Burnett Highway - Kingaroy - Murgon - Mundubbera - Monto and Biloela. From Biloela you can choose to head for the coast at Rocky, or back inland via the Dawson Highway (my choice).

It's basically a minimum of three days (it can be done in two with careful planning), but a much more leisurely drive will pay dividends. The car loves it.

Enjoy.