When Margaret Morgan suggested her husband get a hobby, she could never have guessed where it would lead ...
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That was back in 1997, which saw engineer Michael Morgan kicking off his vintage car, bike and engine collection with 11 motor bikes, quickly adding a 1929 A-Model Ford truck.
The little yellow truck is still there but it now shares shed space with a 1912 Merlin, a 1947 Fordson, an Austin, a Morris Minor, a 1963 Foden prime mover and 22 working tractors ...
Oh! plus the 21 vintage stationary engines that will boost the chances of success at the Australian record attempt for the most engines running at the same time for 10 minutes this Sunday at the Macksville Showground.
It's Rusty Iron Rally time and among the many members of the Mid North Coast Machinery Restoration Club, Michael and his grandson Connor Grace (who we introduced to you the other week) are busy tightening bolts, adjusting screws and oiling engine parts in preparation for the big weekend.
"There is every chance we'll get it (the record*) ... we have 260 members in the club, if everyone brought a couple then we'd get it easily!" Michael said.
Having an grandson who shares his interest has really sparked his enthusiasm for collecting - that and happening to move into the valley and meet John South, one of the prime movers of the rally.
"Connor got his first engine running at nine year old - the collection really started growing from then; that Morris Minor in the back there is his when he gets his licence.
"He really listens to instructions and can start all but one of the engines on his own."
The pair have already loaded seven of the engines onto Michael's old Austin truck and there will be plenty of other trips to the Macksville Showground this week as preparations continue for this year's Rusty Iron Rally.
* The stationary engine record is currently held by South Africa with 205 engines, set in 2007.
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Ute Schulenberg
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
