Corowa swim-In 2013 - upcoming TV show Classic Restos

[Jan Thompson]

The Annual Corowa Swim-In & Military Vehicle Gathering was held as usual in March, at Corowa, NSW, Australia. In the week before the event, KVE was able to make contact with Mark Fletcher, known as 'Fletch' from the TV series, 'Classic Restos' and he came along during the week to cover our event. His programme is shown in Australia, New Zealand, USA and UK and focuses on car, truck and motor cycle shows, where he talks to owners about their vehicles, he has a good following. Military vehicle collectors are a new avenue for him and the variation of vehicle types made it interesting.

Mark Fletcher, known as 'Fletch' to the Aussies has always been interested in vehicles from yester-year and he achieved one of his dreams in 2007 when he started the TV show 'Classic Restos'. He has fun filming and producing the show. The show has now grown with Classic Restos Route 66, Classic Restos Bikes and Classic Restos Trucks. He has just started his second series of Classic Restos Trucks.

This is the first time he has covered a military vehicle event and it wont be the last! He plans to continue attending our Swim-In at Corowa and has had discussions with some of us about going to the UK.


It will be on shown on TVS Television Sydney CH44 on 24th April and C31 Television Melbourne CH44 on 18th April
For other stations details please see the attachment.

I will share some of my newsletter report with you:
A few years ago we had made contact with Mark Fletcher, known as ‘Fletch’ from the TV program “Classic Restos” and he was hoping to attend our event prior to covering the Chryslers on the Murray but couldn’t make it. A casual phone call by Richard on the Thursday before Corowa prompted him to remember being previously contacted and after several phone calls a deal was struck and he was able to attend prior to going across to Albury. He arrived on Wednesday in his 1969 Dodge Charger to start filming on Thursday. We took him out to the Wahgunyah Hotel for dinner where he met some of the participants which gave him an insight into the military vehicle scene as he has not done a program on military vehicles before. He was impressed that I was willing to help him with the filming and interviews and I made sure we covered a cross section of vehicles and participants. The day started at 7.30am with some footage down by the river and lagoon. Scott Rough provided the transport in his jeep and we made sure the Corowa Shire and Ball Park Caravan Park were highly promoted. At 9:30 the photographer from the Border Morning Mail wanted to catch up with us and he asked for some vehicles to go down to the River. I phoned Richard who was wandering around Ball Park and he managed to rustle up some vehicles. The first person he spoke to was Bill Sjoblom with his Moke. Bill seemed surprised to be asked but Richard said it would make a good cross section of types. Another one was Richard Sanders in his GPA. They lined up at the top of the slope to the river awaiting the call to move, a funny thing was other vehicles started to join the line, thinking it was the start point for the Thursday drive to the Rutherglen Public School. Fletch enjoyed the ride in the GPA and later in the afternoon in Bill Bates’ White Half Track. Interviews were done with the following people: Scott Rough - Jeep, Richard Sanders – GPA, David Smith – Meteor Engine, Jack Neville – Marmon Herrington, Limber and 25 pounder, David Furness – Nash staff Car, Bob Schutt – Armoured Scout Car, Julian Smith on his BSA, Cameron Reed in his Blitz and Hugh Thompson. He was also on site to get footage of people leaving on the Thursday trips. This will be shown in 4 major countries around the world so it will be good publicity for our event. Copies will be available once the TV program has been aired. Please contact me if you are interested.

[Richard Farrant]

Just to add to Jan's post here, for those in the UK, Classic Restos can be seen on SKY Channel 212 and Freeset Channel 401. It is on Information TV and looking at their website the programme is broadcast on Saturday mornings at 8.30am (current UK time), but at this present time, I do not know the date of the Corowa show, as soon as we know it, either Jan or I will post it up.

If you want to check out the Information TV website, here is a link;
http://information.tv/WhatIsOn/TheSchedule/?day=2

regards, Richard

[Jan Thompson]

For Brisbane viewers it is on Bris31 7:00pm Friday nights, 12:30 am and 12:30 pm Saturdays. It would possibly be on Friday 19th or 26th April if it is keeping in line with Melbourne and Sydney.

[Richard Farrant]

Hi all,
In Jan's last post it refers to an attachment and here it is, the list of TV stations in Australia, NZ, USA and UK which broadcast Classic Restos tv programmes. Also included is a link on the internet to watch it.

regards,
Richard
KVE Committee Member and Newsletter Editor

[Jan Thompson]

Here are some photos I took.

[Jan Thompson]

Today I caught up with Fletch and I now have the DVD from the Corowa event. All who were interviewed are in the DVD along with other vehicles who were in attendance. It is a great coverage of our event and all money raised from the sales of DVD's will go back into having him attend next year. I am impressed at the number of people who want copies and will be able to let you know how much KVE will charge per copy shortly after the Committee makes a decision.

[Jan Thompson]

For people who aren't able to get Classic Restos on their TV they will be able to see it on a website for probably a couple of weeks from Friday 19th April. If you go onto the website and down near the bottom of the screen you will see 3 Classic Resto programs. The one to click on is the episode which airs on 18th April. It is not as sharp as seeing it on the TV so let me know if you want a copy which is extremely good quality. All the money raised will go towards having Fletch at our 2014 event and we hope he may be able to do more than one show. You never know in the future he may do a Series of 13 titled 'Classic Military Vehicles'.

http://www.c31.org.au/program/view/p...classic-restos

For people who have Gold Channel 84 the show will be seen in about 4 months. Those in the UK are currently 4-6 months behind.

[Richard Farrant]

Hi all,

Just got the broadcast dates for the Classic Restos programme on the 2013 Corowa military vehicle event. These are straight from the programme maker and apply to the Melbourne and Sydney tv stations:

Wednesday 17th April TVS Sydney - V8 Dirt Drags
Thursday 18th April C31 Melbourne - Corowa Military Show
Wednesday 24th April TVS Sydney - Corowa Military Show
Thursday 25th April C31 Melbourne - Chryslers On The Murray pt1
Wednesday 1st May TVS Sydney - Chryslers On The Murray pt1
Thursday 2nd May C31 Melbourne - Freestones Roadhaven
Then for 3 weeks you will see compilation episodes + lots more.

[Jan Thompson]

Classic Restore re on Corowa is on Ch31 Melb on the following times. So if any one misses it there are repeats scheduled.
Thursday 7:30pm
Repeated Saturday 5pm,
Wednesday 12am,
Thursday 6am

[Richard Farrant]

Just to let you know that the Corowa episode of Classic Restos is now online, my guess is it will be for about two weeks only, so go to;
http://www.c31.org.au/schedule/view/episode/85531

regards,
Richard

[Jan Thompson]

For anyone wanting a copy send an email to kveinc@optusnet.com.au

All proceeds go to KVE and will be put towards having Fletch attend Corowa in 2014 and beyond.

[Keith Webb]

Thanks for the link Richard, just watched it and enjoyed it - great publicity for Corowa but this vehicle was only used as a background for advertisements - who could it belong to?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Thanks for the link Richard, just watched it and enjoyed it - great publicity for Corowa but this vehicle was only used as a background for advertisements - who could it belong to?

Hi Keith,
It was very good and excellent promotions for us. Considering Fletch knew little about the military scene until the evening before, he done well. His well versed Personal Assistant for the day made sure he kept his camera pointing in the right direction too!

As for the Blitz, I think it comes from your neck of the woods

cheers, Richard

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

this vehicle was only used as a background for advertisements - who could it belong to?

Looks like one of the Blitz's owned by the young bloke with the "one understanding wife"

[Keith Webb]

You mean that tall guy with the Wiles Jr. cooker?

Originally Posted by hrpearce

Looks like one of the Blitz's owned by the young bloke with the "one understanding wife"

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

You mean that tall guy with the Wiles Jr. cooker?

Yep sounds like him

[Euan McDonald]

I watched it with the family and agree its great promotion for the event. I was also waiting for the interview of the tall bloke with the CGT and cooker but didn't see it. I did see an interview of an old bloke without a truck!
This show also highlight how spoilt we are to have Keith's expertise and dedication that he puts into his DVD's as a record of the event that is now seen by the world.

[Jan Thompson]

I don't recall a proper interview with you Euan. I did see your reflection in the Window of the CGT. Maybe next year or come to the Steam Rally at Menangle on 18th May 2013.

The old bloke was standing in the right place at the right time.

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Jan Thompson

The old bloke.

Keith these youngins have no respect for their elders
It doesn't look like I will see the tv show so will have to wait for the dvd

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by hrpearce

It doesn't look like I will see the tv show so will have to wait for the dvd

Hi Robert,
Are you still on steam internet in Adelong? I take it you cannot see the website which the programme can be currently seen on.
cheers,
Richard

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Robert,
Are you still on steam internet in Adelong? I take it you cannot see the website which the programme can be currently seen on.
cheers,
Richard

Hi Richard, I'm on saterlight broadband but it still takes seven minutes to watch a two minute vidio. Watching vidio also eats up my download limit quickly puting me into expensive excess

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by hrpearce

Hi Richard, I'm on saterlight broadband but it still takes seven minutes to watch a two minute vidio. Watching vidio also eats up my download limit quickly puting me into expensive excess

I understand Robert, it was like that before broadband came along, almost impossible to watch a short Youtube clip in those days.

[Jan Thompson]

It will be on again at 5pm today in Melbourne.

[Jan Thompson]

For anyone wanting a copy of the DVD please send $15 to Khaki Vehicle Enthusiasts Incorporated. If I receive the money prior to Friday 17th May I should be able to get Fletch to sign the DVD for you. Provide me with your mailing address.

All proceeds will go towards having Fletch at Corowa 2014 and beyond.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by hrpearce

Looks like one of the Blitz's owned by the young bloke with the "one understanding wife"

Young Bloke? For a while there I thought you were angling towards Euan...