A great watch....

[Rumpig]

For anyone wanting to watch an old school 4wd adventure video, this is well worth watching. https://www.4x4australia.com.au/explore/qld/1705/video-fj40-toyota-land-cruiser-in-cape-york-1975?fb_action_ids=2278814102342766&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B1127836897321491%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D
I happen to know Norm and his lovely wife Sandy who star in the video, and another mate Brett did the production of the show. Myself and a group of other guys were lucky enough to be staying at Norms property on the weekend they premiered this video in his shed, it was a great watch and finally it's now being hosted where other people can view it.

[duggie]

I have a great watch too , Had it for years and it still tells the right time. Not sure about the date , me eyes ain't that good anymore .   

[Rumpig]

I have a great watch too , Had it for years and it still tells the right time. Not sure about the date , me eyes ain't that good anymore .   

i asked the lesbians next door if I could have a watch, they misunderstood me though, bought me a Rolex

[Pete79]

i asked the lesbians next door if I could have a watch, they misunderstood me though, bought me a Rolex

Wow, fancy...
All the lesbians I know would be flat out buying you a Swatch, never mind a Rolex...

[Nomad]

Awesome Movie.......

[Rumpig]

Awesome Movie.......

certainly is hey, an adventure of a lifetime.

[Nomad]

It makes me want to buy a big old catamaran cut the ****er in half and bolt a 200 to the back of the prado and go north
 

[rags]

Rumpig, I too have meet Norm and he was one the first people to extract money out of my pocket when I got into 4wds in 1982, fitting accessaries and servicing. Norm was a bit of a pioneer in the early days of the 4wd industry. Opening Traction 4 in Artarmon Sydney, in an old super six asbestos shed assisted by his wife Sandy in the office and his work shop manager Richard Stephens an ex Toyota mechanic they fitted out my HiLux including fabricating bits that weren't commercially available, did all my servicing and also replacing a failed motor.
I did a trip to the Cape in 1987 and Norm was a source of info then.
After  I moved out to the mountains i continue to drive back for servicing until he sold up and moved up the coast to I think the port Stephens area, and I found a new mechanic.
I know Norm could be found on the LCool site, not sure if he still there as I haven't visited that site for a while.
A gentleman of the industry.

[Beachman]

Mal, Thanks for sharing as that's an amazing Video. While I've never meet Norm face to face, I have interacted with him many times on another forum as he is the nicest and most helpful guy.

This does make the rest of us look soft and he is a true pioneer.

[edz]

Great stuff Rummy ..
 Gee how irresponsible where they !!   fancy taking a home built trailer made up of not much more than a few lengths of 2" box  and an old set of car stub axles and leaf springs .."  That piece of crap wouldnt last five minutes  " off into wilds of virtualy untamed Cape York, with little kids no less ..  LOL.
What were they thinking, Every one knows that  you cant do any tracks or touring with out aircon airlockers mega lift fancy bar work and an airbagged independent or coil sprung blinged out electric every thing ice cold and latte equipped mobile home away from home .. 
Nothing but good O'l fashioned Nouse,  Know how and Have a go attitude mixed with self reliance and belief in their abilities . O'l Skool Aussies at their best .. 
Bloody well miss these sorts of blokes ..

[Rumpig]

Rumpig, I too have meet Norm and he was one the first people to extract money out of my pocket when I got into 4wds in 1982, fitting accessaries and servicing. Norm was a bit of a pioneer in the early days of the 4wd industry. Opening Traction 4 in Artarmon Sydney, in an old super six asbestos shed assisted by his wife Sandy in the office and his work shop manager Richard Stephens an ex Toyota mechanic they fitted out my HiLux including fabricating bits that weren't commercially available, did all my servicing and also replacing a failed motor.
I did a trip to the Cape in 1987 and Norm was a source of info then.
After  I moved out to the mountains i continue to drive back for servicing until he sold up and moved up the coast to I think the port Stephens area, and I found a new mechanic.
I know Norm could be found on the LCool site, not sure if he still there as I haven't visited that site for a while.
A gentleman of the industry.

As you say Rags, he is a true gentleman....don't think he really frequents any forums much at all these days though. Norm and Sandy used to live on a property in the general area you mention (I won't where exactly in a public forum), I believe they have recently sold that and moved to a smaller property recently though.

[Pete79]

That was brilliant, thanks for sharing mate.

[Rumpig]

That was brilliant, thanks for sharing mate.

thought the same the first time I watched it also...I just watched it again right now myself actually...lol

[rags]

A few observations, Norm mentioned that they werent allowed to drive on the roads with the bobcat tyres so carried a second set of wheels n  tyres,
they had to do winching no problems just break out the turfor,
and lack of crocs, similar to when we went in 1987 crocs weren't a problem then!
Also I like the shot of the home,it reminds me of our childhood home in the same area of Sydney, were my 87 year old mum resides and hasn't changed much since she moved there with my dad in 1951
Great video but reminds me of how our modern day material needs or greeds control our life,

[DaveR]

Thanks for sharing Mal, that was great. an adventure alright, clever rafts they made.

[xvprado]

I know Norm could be found on the LCool site,

Norm very rarely makes an appearance there, these days. You do see him pop up occasionally on the TLCC site

Lovely man and it is so good to see some of his amazing life story preserved

[Bird]

Also I like the shot of the home,it reminds me of our childhood home in the same area of Sydney, were my 87 year old mum resides and hasn't changed much since she moved there with my dad in 1951

sad how most of those good old solid hardwood framed houses have been dozed to make way for sardine cans on 4ft blocks of land where you have common walls..
... 180-200 is the most common smaller block size in Melbourne"

[Troopy_03]

Thanks for posting. Great to watch, and he seems a very down to earth character.

[Craig Tomkinson]

Hi Rumpig, Thanks for sharing great show I loved it, What a top Idea with the foam, My dad and I did the Cape in 1987 we saw heaps of big Crocs 3,5 to 5m around all them rivers like the Delhunty You just had to walk back up the river a couple ks and they were there, Craig

[Rumpig]

Hi Rumpig, Thanks for sharing great show I loved it, What a top Idea with the foam, My dad and I did the Cape in 1987 we saw heaps of big Crocs 3,5 to 5m around all them rivers like the Delhunty You just had to walk back up the river a couple ks and they were there, Craig

we saw plenty in 2006 when we were last up there...saw a monster at Wajul Wajul Community as we drove along side the water there, and also saw another biggie at your favourite area when we camped at Pennefather River, saw a group of small freshies in the middle of nowhere as we drove up the Developmental Rd also...how times have changed hey. Glad you enjoyed watching if

Thanks for posting. Great to watch, and he seems a very down to earth character.

yep he's a top bloke old Norm is...glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for sharing Mal, that was great. an adventure alright, clever rafts they made.

Certainly a great adventure hey, can't imagine risking putting my own fourby on a raft like that today that's for sure...lol

[Craig Tomkinson]

It would of been a great trip, But we forget in 1975 that would of been a brand new 4 speed with 2F motor, My brother had the same one new they were such a good 4wd, heaps of power but 12 mile to the gallon, Craig

[DaveR]

can't imagine risking putting my own fourby on a raft like that today that's for sure...lol

I'm thinking you'd be wanting a few more rafts.

[McGirr]

Great video.

I remember a guy coming into Harvey Norman in Cairns, where I was working, and asked if I could copy a video for him. He drove to the Cape in 1971 in a ht Holden with modified tyres and suspension. I watched some of the video and it was a real adventure. I should have done a copy for myself.

Mark

[Craig Tomkinson]

My mates dad and Uncle the Page brothers from Pomona did the Cape in two williys jeeps in the 60s, Then there was going north on a northern safari, forget were they went great show, Craig

[Rumpig]

Great video.

I remember a guy coming into Harvey Norman in Cairns, where I was working, and asked if I could copy a video for him. He drove to the Cape in 1971 in a ht Holden with modified tyres and suspension. I watched some of the video and it was a real adventure. I should have done a copy for myself.

Mark

i wish I had video of some trips I did many years ago, sadly I never took so much as a photograph on my early trips, let alone video footage