2008 Island State Street Rod Nationals

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Nearly 2 weeks before the event, Tassie Rodders began to notice "Mainland" rods circulating around the state in ever increasing numbers.

Sunday evening and Monday morning saw another large influx from Chainsaw Bob's Devil Island Cruise, originating in Sydney, via the Echuca run, Wednesday evening Barb-a-Q courtesy of the Challengers Street Rod and Custom Club and culminating on Thursday morning with meeting most of the other entrants arriving on the Spirit Of Tasmania Ferry at East Devonport.

Following Registration and a hearty breakfast most of the "mainlanders" concerns about high seas travel had faded with the beauty of the mid north coast scenery and the back drop of the magnificent Tiers taking precedent.

A short journey to Devonport's western shore found some 250 cars on display with a late storm only slightly dampening the spirits of the wide-eyed locals.

The precedent had been set by the Challengers sector of the Event and it passed with out a hitch, unfortunately some of its members by now had spent quite a few hours repairing visitors cars, all be it, for the love of rodding.

Many entrants took advantage of the local fare on the way through to Launceston with Latrobe's Chocolate Factory, The Cheese Factory and The Strawberry Farm at Elizabeth Town catering for many, to name just a few.

Cars began to arrive at the Launceston venue, Archers Manor, just after lunch and another spectacle evolved into the night as the front of the Tudor style manor providing a fitting accessory to the hundreds of Rods and Customs parked up. A meal and some dancing kept the spirits warm but a near zero outside temperature made for only brisk venture to inspect the cars outside.

On Friday morning the Launceston chapter of the "Tasmanian United Hot Rodders", The Van Diemans Street Rod and Custom Car Club, provided escorted tours throughout the Tamar Valley before many of the Entrants began to head south.

The breath taking vista of groups of rods parked up at various locations along the Midlands Highway was easily surpassed in the little tree lined hamlet of Ross, taken over and providing magnificent photo opportunities even for those with little photographic skills.

Wood fired pie ovens and some of the best Ale in Tasmania satisfied the travelers before continuing the journey South.

Hobart based Rumblers Street Rod Club and the Early Ford Club of Tasmania members had labored tirelessly to transform the Royal Hobart Show Grounds into the 2008 Island State Nationals Headquarters complete with a continuous cruising track around the venue and a 120-meter Go-Whoa track?????

Around midday Friday Rods began to pour into the show-grounds for registration and a look.

The low key bench session scheduled for Friday night was quickly transferred to the camping area once another Andy Morris "Traditional Bon-Fire" lit up the cold night sky and welcomed all who ventured along. Tall tales, some true, the renewal of old friendships and the forming of new ones. Saturday morning, and the show and shine area began to fill and by about 9 o'clock some 390 of the official 431 entrants had parked up, cleaned up and most making their way to the courtesy buses which transported hundreds of rodders and families to and from the Hobart Salamanca Markets throughout the day.

Hobart's Public (who are traditional petrol heads) poured through the gates, drawn by the large number of rods just cruising, an ABC live broadcast and just plain word of mouth.

The Go-Whoa opened at midday with a couple of Tasmanian entries declaring that they would be there for the long haul and laying down some blistering times to prove it.

The crowd simply loved it, and the show and shine area emptied as each heat got underway until Phil Robinson's 350 Chev powered '28 Tudor was over-run by the big block power of Nick Gould's '32 roadster in the last 2 runs with a time difference of just 0.17 seconds.

Trade stands did a flourishing business all day as did the Showground Bar.

The Ladies Afternoon of Pole Dancing produced sore muscles on some and great laughs and entertainment for the rest. The event's door was secured by a certain National Secretary's partner who, with the tenacity of a pit bull terrier kept wayward rodders from straying into the "Ladies Only" domain.

The last of the public were ejected at 1800 hours and the rodders could let their hair down.

The "Pumpkin Heads" with its members draw from the local Constabulary played to the crowd and a sumptuous meal of roasts and Tasmanian vegetables contented the 600 starving soles.

As with all things rodding, after a meal and a few great dance numbers, the cruising track lit up, the band abandoned and everyone moved outside to enjoy the passing parade. The band had been fore warned and didn't seem to mind a bit.

Sunday morning found 300 rods lined up at the venue and with the help of the local police they quickly made their way onto the Brooker Highway heading for Port Arthur.

Most overpasses and vantage points along the way were well patronized by the public eager to view the kaleidoscope of colour and hear the rumbling procession.

At Port Arthur the event claimed the overflow car park to enable all of the cars to stay together, and reasonably quickly, the 700 or so entrants had started to explore the ever changing and magnificence that is Port Arthur.

Visitors react to the site in different ways, whether it is to the shear horror of the 1996 massacre or how in the mid 1800's we inhumanely treated the convicts but mainly just the grand Architecture and stunning setting of the once Penal Colony.

On the return journey to Hobart entrants soaked up more of the history and sights and a fair amount of local beverages, I am lead to believe.

Pre dinner drinks got underway at around 1800 hours and dinner equal to the previous night served to over 600 in 30 minutes, quite an effort from Phil Chinook and his catering crew.

Ever enduring Tasmanian band "The Giant Hamsters" entertained the crowd until the trophy presentation put some large smiles on the winners. The band resumed and the cruising under lights began, even though it was a little dusty.

Monday morning, and 305 rods lined up for the trip to Ranelagh once again assisted by the Tasmanian Police. Another magnificent day greeted the cars as they wound their way south to the country show grounds of Ranelagh. After a lazy picnic lunch, rodders dispersed in all directions to check out the sights and scenery of the Huon Valley.

The Event was now officially closed.

What a weekend! The 2008 Island State Street Rod Nationals had come to an end and by all reports was a HUGE success.

Congratulations to Lindsay & his trusty team.

Tassie was great in 2008

2008 Island State Street Rod Nationals Trophies
Top Hot Rod:
- Entry 309, Tony Morphett, 1934 Ford Tourer. (Tasmanian State Council, ASRF)

Top Ten (in no particular order):
- Entry 8, Greg Jones, 1933 Ford Coupe (Southern Cross Television)
- Entry 104, Butch Leitch, 1932 Ford Roadster (Events Tasmania)
- Entry 122, Allan Watts, 1939 Ford Coupe Ute (Spectrum Car Paints)
- Entry 123 Geoff Rich, 1935 Ford Coupe (Shannon’s Insurance)
- Entry 160, Kerry Roberts, 1934, Ford Coupe (TasVacations)
- Entry 377, Mark Johnstone, 1939 Ford Sloper (Devonport Council)
- Entry 206, Andrew Lott, 1932 Ford Coupe (Fairbrothers)
- Entry 268, Brad Stagg, 1934 Ford Tudor (Hobart Showground)
- Entry 136, Bob Pankhurst, 1936 Ford Coupe (Aussie Desert Coolers)
- Entry 231, Steve Bonner, 1934 Ford Tudor (Crusin’ TV)

Hard Luck:
- Entry 165, Chris Jenkins, 1940 Ford Coupe

Go to Whoa:
- RunnerUp: Entry 228, Phil Robinson, 1928 Ford Tudor, 7.08 seconds.(Meguires)
- Winner: Entry 310, Nick Gould, 1932 Ford Roadster, 6.91 seconds (Coates Hire)

Top Cruiser:
- Entry 232, Steve Hales, 1932 Ford Roadster (Tasmanian State Council, ASRF)

Sponsors
Gold Sponsors Events Tasmania, Southern Cross Television, Spectrum Car Paints & Shannons Insurance.


Silver Sponsors Tas Vacations & Devonport City Council.