Driving a new 1928 Hudson across Australia back in 1930

ken1962

G'day All,

Not too sure if its been covered all ready, but I've been reading a book that was released in 2014. "The Worlds' Longest Taxi Ride" 

It's about a taxi driver who owned a new 1928 Hudson Super Six and was hired in 1930 to drive from Victoria, thru South Australia heading north to Darwin in the Northern Territory - then across Queensland from Mount Isa to Brisbane, thru New South Wales to Sydney and finally driving down the east coast to Melbourne in Victoria and home to Geelong - some 7000 miles - mostly off road and thru desert using 4x4 roads currently used today.

The chap fitted an 80 gallon gas tank along one foot rail and another along the passenger side to hold 80 gallons of water. Packed with tents, etc it weighted 5 tons. The car broke 1 spring, used 505 gallons of gas and a little over a quart of oil during the 3 month trip. It also carried the driver plus the 3 ladies who hired him for the trip.

If you want a great story about how strongly the Hudson Super Sixes were and how the family re-created the trip 70 years later using a 1928 Essex (they couldn't find a 1928 Hudson ) and they failed even with a backup toe truck, 4x4 support vehicle and caravan

I was really impressed I found a book about man could trust his Hudson enough to take 3 people across a country using cattle trails and tracks used by Afghan Camel trains and that any break-down could end their lives or seriously place them at peril 

Anyway its about $40 and well worth checking it out. It is detailed as a diary with miles covered per day - all with photos of the trip along the way - One show the Hudson driving thru 6 foot high grass plains and others thru rivers or sand dunes

Its the kind of book that makes you want to jump in your Hudson and take it for a week driving anywhere - cause it can - its just we are too afraid to scratch or unwrap the cotton wool we baby the car with

cheers Ken  

  

ken1962

Oh and I forgot - Charles wore a suit and tie throughout the trip as he was a "Professional taxi driver" and they addressed each other formally. The passengers were addressed throughout the trip as Miss Glenny, Miss Wilmot, and the fare hirer Miss Beal - Charles was called "Mr Heard" at all time  - interesting times!!!!! :-)

ken1962

If anyone is interested there is a database run by the Australian Government which you can search for articles featuring anything you type. I like looking at finding anything about Hudson or Terraplane plus any articles or advertising about motoring in the 1920's and 30's  The site address is

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

PARTIES LEAVE FOR DARWIN  

Several parties of motorists recently left Melbourne for Alice Springs
and Darwin. Two of them are travelling together, and anticipate visiting the
Stuart Ranee opal fields at Coober Pedy on the way to Alice Springs. Their Itinerary
also includes the Valley of Palms in Central Australia and the many scenic
spots accessible by car In the MacDonnell Ranges. On the homeward Journey from
Dar win the overlanders will continue across North Queensland, probably to
Cairns, then, following the Queensland coast southward, the motorists will
continue to Brisbane and Sydney, returning to Melbourne in the early spring.
Miss Ada. M. Beal. of Landoolome (Victoria), accompanied by three women
companions, recently left for Darwin. On arrival at Alice Springs the party
will spend a week visiting the surrounding country, including Hermannsburg and
many places of interest. Miss Beal has organised the tour with the object of
demonstrating that the trip to Darwin not only provides a worthwhile winter
tour, but also that women can success fully undertake the overland Journey
across Australia under conditions which assure entirely new and novel
surroundings and experiences. A stay will be made at Darwin to enable the party
to visit the various points of interest. It is understood that a second party
of women is leaving next month. Motorists wishing to go by train to Central
Australia may rail their cars at special rates from Intermediate points between
Adelaide and Alice Springs- Petrol requirements may also be reserved at
overland depots by arrangement with the Shell Company. - The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia) Thursday 26 June 1930

MOTORING PARTIES LEAVE FOR DARWIN.

Several parties of motorists recently left Melbourne for Alice Springs
and Darwin. The first of the departures was that of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Murray,
of Dandenong, and Mrs. and Mrs. W. Preston, of Camberwell. They are driving a
Dodge and Buick car respectively, and left the General Post Office, Melbourne,
at the early part of this week. Both parties are travelling together, and
anticipate visiting the Stuart Range opal fields at Coober Pedy on the way to
Alice Springs. Their itinerary also includes the Valley of Palms in Central
Australia and the many scenic spots accessible by car in the McDonnell Ranges.
On the homeward journey from Darwin the overlanders will continue across North
Queensland, probably to Cairns. Then, following the Queensland coast southward,
the motorists will continue to Brisbane and Sydney, returning to Melbourne in
the early spring.

The usual camping equipment is being carried, hut no "provision is
now needed for carrying large quantities of petrol and oil between supply
depots, the stages between the recently established Shell refuelling stations
mostly being less than 200 miles, and only a single case of petrol need be
carried in reserve over the longest section. Shell overland depots have been
established at out back cattle stations and remote telegraph posts throughout
the interior, and special stocks to meet the requirements of overlanders and
aviators, without the need for forward arrangement, are regularly carried there.

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Murray are both experienced overlanders, having travelled
across to Perth on a previous transcontinental tour by car.

A series of combined rail and motor tours to the
interior are also being undertaken by the Commonwealth Railways. The first
party left Adelaide for Alice Springs on the 22nd June, while additional tours
organised by Pioneer Motors Ltd., Melbourne, are scheduled to leave

for Darwin on 3rd July and 9tu August. Arrangements are also being made
by Pioneer Motors for overland tours to Cairns and North Queensland next month.Advices received from the Shell Company's branch offices indicate
numerous parties leaving for the far north, where the sub-tropical climate
attracts many tourists during the winter months.


Women Overlanders Leave From Lome.


- Miss Ada M. Beal, of Lorne (Victoria), accompanied by three women
companions, including the Misses Moody and Glenny, recently left for Darwin. On
arrival at Alice Springs the party will spend a week visiting the surrounding
country, including Hermannsburg and the many places of interest visited by Lord
and Lady Somers in their recent tour of the interior. The tourists, who are
being driven by Mr. C. Heard, motor service proprietor of Geelong, expect to
reach Darwin about the end of July, returning by easy stages through Queensland
- The Mount Barker Courier &
Onkaparinga Gumeracha Advertiser Friday 4^th July 1930

 

parkerm

Can't find the book on Amazon. I may need to find an online book seller from Australia.

48rob

http://www.graffitipub.com.au/new-from-graffiti/1070-the-world-s-longest-taxi-fate.html

Edit; sorry read your post too quickly... maybe they will ship there too?

lastcardlouis

Nowhere near as tough as that trip, but in 1968 I drove my '28 Hudson Coach across Australia, starting in Melbourne and arriving in Perth four days later. In those days the road across southern Australia had about 600 miles that was unsealed - it was mostly OK but there were long sections with severe corrugations and lots of deep potholes disguised by very fine dust (known as bulldust). The Hudson was brilliant, didn't miss a beat! In those days it was a lonely and rather scary road: no credit cards or cash machines, so you had to,carry enough cash for fuel, meals and accommodation, hoping you wouldn't find yourself in bad company!

ken1962

Just googled Melbourne to Perth as 2125 miles - that's some serious traveling back in 1968 with 800 miles on dirt. Would love to do it in the next 3 years hopefully in my 36T - but take it slow over 2 or so months

lastcardlouis

Do it!