CAPRICORN CHAPTER
Established 24 May, 2008
Capricorn Chapter MGCC country members living in the Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Biloela and Moura districts can now enjoy more social activities with the Capricorn Chapter being officially recognised following the meeting in Rockhampton.
Founding members from these existing Chapters joined club President David Miles and Assistant Treasurer Kevin Ponting in Rockhampton for the occasion. Gurney Clamp was appointed Co-ordinator of the club's newest regional Chapter, joining Wide Bay and Darling Downs. After holding that position for 10 years, he resigned at the end of 2018 and the role has been taken over by Gary Kunst.
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Phil Henry is the Coordinator of the Capricorn Chapter.
His contact details are :
Phone: 0434 017 132
Email: phil@ph7consulting.com.au
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Click here for our Facebook page.​
MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.
Run Report – Mt Morgan and Kabra, 16 March 2025
By: Phil Henry
Photos by: Phil Henry, Gordon Kelsey
After a few weeks of rain, storms and a passing cyclone, the weather gods relented for run day, with overcast skies making it a pleasant drive with the hood down. Leaving from Yeppoon it was smooth sailing until we got to the Rockhampton meeting point.
What was this? Thousands of mamils (middle aged men in Lycra) and their cars taking up the designated area. Not to worry, Gary Whight called to say there was plenty (well, enough) parking around the corner and so, eventually, everyone was present and accounted for.
After the usual initial pleasantries, it was time to head off. As this was a kind of navigation run with specific distances between turns, the change in route could have been disastrous but in fact the difference between the designated first sector and the actual route taken was insignificant.
Not so insignificant was what happened at the first turn where lead car Paul and Joanne turned one roundabout offtake too early. Now, subsequent discussions did not fully explain how this – yes, alright, quite minor – mistake occurred. Wiser heads would say it should be left buried in the mists of time, so that’s what we’ll do. Until it inevitably pops up again sometime in the future. You know it’s true.
Anyway, from then on it was very pleasant driving through green woodland and pastures all the way to the Mt Morgan Big Dam. I hear it was also a good motorbike road. On the approach road to the dam Wayne Bergin, who had previously reported his MGA had been reluctant to start that morning, let us know he was heading into the town centre for petrol.
The Big Dam was full and being used actively by some families with a jetski and a power boat, but the picnic tables were vacant so in no time everyone was tucking into their morning tea and coffees, and the conversation level and enjoyment rose.
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Gary Whight and Doris Lisle conducted the poker run, won by Gordon Kelsey who donated his bottle of shiraz back into the prize pot. Let the record show that this was the first time in history that Gordon has been known to refuse a bottle of red. The rusty door prize was won by Ian Hamilton who generously did the rounds to offer everyone some chocolates.
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We then had a group chat about the April run. With Easter coming, a couple of the committee about to leave on long scheduled holidays, and Gordon advising he would not around for the whole weekend, the original destination of overnight to Theodore could be problematic. We canvassed options and agreed upon a short run to the Keppel Sands pub. Details will be advised as usual.
Around this time Wayne Bergin called to say that he was stuck in Mt Morgan with his recurrent engine problem. RACQ were on the scene and had diagnosed a dead battery. Wayne advised that he would get himself back home. Points have been awarded, Wayne.
Eventually it was time to leave and so the group moseyed on down the hill, with most heading for the Kabra Pub. Wayne called again to say he was mobile and heading home.
The Kabra does a pretty good job with their food but as some of us learnt, you do have to stand in the right place to order a beer. So after a good feed and a shandy or two it was time to head home after another successful and enjoyable Capricorn Chapter run.
Participants:
Gordon Kelsey Jaguar E-type
Paul and Joanne Davey MGB
Gary Whight and Doris Lisle Triumph 2500 TC
Nev Funch MGB
Kev and Yvonne Carr BMW Z3
Ian and Judy Hamilton Holden Calais
Clare Lynam MGA
Paul Lynam Norton Commando 750
Ewen Sutherland BMW Z3
Wayne Bergin MGA
John Rowe MGA
Rae and Jack Cowie MGBGT
Phil Henry MGTF (late model)
MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.
Run Report – Byfield Brunch 16 February 2025
By: Phil Henry
Photos by: Kylie Lindley, Phil Henry
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The week leading up to run day had been characterised by unstable weather, including a couple of massive storms. This, combined with the Coordinator’s inexplicable failure to put a run sheet out until the prior Wednesday, led to varying amounts of uncertainty amongst the membership. The end result was a brunch run, rather than lunch, and a choice of meeting points.
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All was forgotten, however, as everyone arrived – eventually – at the Woodbury Rural Fire Station. Those with air-conditioning seemed quite calm and composed, not to say smug. Everyone else was covered in sweat and looking decidedly uncomfortable, particularly knowing that our brunch venue was similarly not air-conditioned.
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However, what it lacks in air conditioning the Byfield Store makes up for in friendly, highly efficient service and yummy food and drink. The Store regularly services various groups of motor cyclists every Sunday, along with the occasional group such as our Chapter as well as individual customers. So, the staff’s ability to get lots of food and drink out in very short order is little short of amazing. Especially when aided by one of our members – see photo. They did it again today – full marks!​​
All that aside, it was a quite uneventful run. Some cloud cover helped the transit sections and it’s always a pretty drive. Wayne Bergan took out the rusty door prize and Paul Lynam again snagged the poker run.
An update on Richard Hughes (Mercedes A45AMG) who a few months ago had an unfortunate accident with – or perhaps without – a ladder, breaking his ankle in two places. Currently the doctors have his right leg in a brace to prevent movement so the tendon hopefully will reattach to the ankle joint. Once this happens there will be a lot of physio as the ankle is frozen from lack of use, it will be a few months before he will be fully back to his old self. He’s hoping to join us on next month’s run, albeit as a passenger.
Participants:
Jim and Sandra Armstrong, MGA
Gary Whight and Doris Lisle, Triumph 2500TC
Martin and Narelle Adamson, MGB
Darryl and Kylie Lindley, MGF
Paul and Joanne Davey, MGB
Gordon Kelsey, Jaguar E-type
Wayne Bergan, MGA
Meredith and Ewen Sutherland, BMW Z3
Rick and Michele Taylor, Chevrolet Corvette
Ian and Judy Hamilton, Toyota
Phil White, MGB
Pat and Lyle Fielding, Audi TT
Yvonne and Kev Carr, BMW Z3
Clare and Paul Lynam, MGA
John Rowe, MGA
Nev Funch, MGB
Phil Henry, MGTF (late model)
MGCC of QLD., Inc. Capricorn Chapter.
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Run Report – Mt Archer Brunch, 19 January 2025
By: Phil Henry
Photos by: Phil Henry
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As has become the norm for the Capricorn Chapter, members awoke on Sunday to scan the horizons for portents of the day’s weather for the first run of the year. In this case, bright and balmy with an outsize chance of storms.
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Light misty drizzle accompanied the coast crew as they headed into Rocky, but it was clear by the time everyone ascended Mt Archer. As we arrived there was no sign of the motorbike club we had been advised would be there, save for two stragglers. So plenty of space in the usual area.
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Paul Davey had left early to set up his BBQ, extra chairs, shade cover and possibly even a pavilion – he was well prepared for everyone’s arrival. And indeed it was everyone – 41 merry souls in total, all out to welcome the new year.
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It wasn’t long before all these souls were set up and chatting to catch up on doings over the Christmas/New Year break. Many were oblivious to what was happening back in the car park: clouds of smoke billowing from the back of Ian Hamilton’s MGF, accompanied by litres of multicoloured liquids gushing from underneath. More on that later.
Many members had brought cold food but Paul’s BBQ got a good enough workout to justify all his work in bringing it.
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A slight pause in enjoyment was called for me to brief those in attendance about imminent events. One of these was the first dinner of the year on 7 February. A straw poll was held to gauge interest in an evening at Footlights Theatre Restaurant. This was defeated by dinner at the Capricorn Tavern, but only by a narrow margin. We’ll revisit Footlights as a possible for midyear.
Then it was back to chatting and eating, with remarkably few leaving.
This really shows the value that our members put on the friendly, social nature of our club, none more so than Gary Whight’s first conduct of Gloria’s Poker Run and the Rusty Door prize, with able assistance from Doris. The Poker Run was won by Paul Lynam and the Rusty Door by Yvonne Carr.
It was only as I was leaving that I came upon a very sad sight in the carpark, with Ian Hamilton’s car being loaded onto a trailer brought by Ian’s daughter Simone, with assistance from Gary Kunst and others. Initial diagnosis was coolant loss but, regardless, on a trailer is maximum points, setting a high bar for the Broken MG award so early in the year.
And just to be clear, Rick’s bonnet was only up for him to display the Corvette’s motor, not to replace another distributor.
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And with that our year is under way.
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Participants:
Paul and Joanne Davey – 4WD ute for transporting BBQs etc
Martin and Narelle Adamson – MGB
Kev and Yvonne Carr – BMW Z3
Ian and Judy Hamilton – MGF (one way)
Lyle and Pat Fielding – Audi TT (with excellent acceleration)
John and Gail Newton - Jaguar E-type
Rick and Michele Taylor – Chevrolet Corvette
Gary and Julie Kunst – 4WD
Gary Whight and Doris Lisle – Triumph 2500
Clare Lynam – MGTC
Paul Lynam – MGA
Ewen and Meredith Sutherland – BMW Z3
John Shepherd and Henia Mitchell - Jaguar X-Type (yep that’s another car for John!)
John Rowe - MGA
Wayne Bergan - MGA
Neville and Barbara Funch – MGB
Brian and Glenis Russell – Landcruiser
Phil Henry – MGTF (late model)
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