31/05/2026
Guess what? Today was another perfect day for the Falcon GT Owners Club of NSW lunch run to The Friendly Inn in Kangaroo Valley. In total there were over 60 of us and about half as many cars. After dodging some decent potholes, well most of us did! Shout out to Tim Sant and his boys for testing the structural validity of a 12-slotter today in their XW! Overall, the run went smoothly and the area to park at the Kangaroo Valley Pub was perfect creating an ideal backdrop to the day. The food was also exceptional, and all delivered in a timely manner, we will be back!
For me this run had me looking back to June 1995 when I initially joined the club and attended its 16th Birthday celebration in Kangaroo Valley. It was my first run with the Falcon GT Owners Club of NSW that year and last, it just wasn’t something I wanted to be part of at 22 years of age and only having a lowly XB GT Hardtop. That is till rejoining again 10 years ago, staying with the club, getting more involved with the club, the movement as a whole and now it is now a big part of my life.
I was thinking about how times have changed since then and being a part of this club is something I am not only proud of, but grateful for. I still have that XB GT Hardtop aka Hellon, they’re kind of looked at differently these days, as are the modern GT’s and the South African’s and the friendships I have made cannot be measured. Looking around and seeing faces from that day in 1995 makes me realise that while a lot has changed, something important has remained and that is the core and cause of the Falcon GT Owners Club of NSW.
Peter Gottschling was the VP back in 1995 and he was standing to my left; Julie Gottschling is the current Secretary. Katherine was the treasurer back then too, back when I could easily spell her surname, Chenney and she is now our VP and goes by Katherine Schaffarczyk, I think I got that right and her family history runs deep in the club from her father Phil to her and Eriks daughter Emily and son Kurt all being individual members. Not to mention all the other long-standing members, some of whom can’t stand as long as they used to but can still drive their GT out on a long run, just like the legend Phil!
We are a club that is soon to be 47 years old, has never been stronger with a rich history and our membership numbers keep growing, like today after meeting another new soon to be member! The club has been tested; it has had its controversy in the past and it has grown stronger for it. That is what “Keeping the Dream Alive” is all about.
Formalities for the day were very rewarding as well. We got to celebrate two of those core members birthdays. A very happy birthday to Phil Chenney and Andrew Hodge! Both turning 21 on the same day, I won’t elaborate on what year that was for each of them though.
Peter Clarke was awarded his 30-Year Loyalty Badge a great milestone and Andrej Novak took home car of the run with his stunning Ermine White South African XY Fairmont GT aka Rhino. I have never awarded a car of the run to a more excited people than Andrej’s boys.
So, if you have a GT in the shed and want an excuse to get it out with other genuine GT’s, join us and become part of the original, ever growing and dedicated Falcon GT Owners Club of NSW. Meet and associate with a bunch of like-minded enthusiasts, the ideal club for you and your Muscle Car…so long as it’s part of the blue oval family of course.
All our runs and meetings for the coming year can be found here on our page or website, so check them out and let me know if you want be part of the family. You can find everything you need to join up here:
https://www.falcongtclubnsw.com/apply-for-membership
Also, if want to attend an event and see something really special, make sure you get to All Ford Day 2026 on Sunday the 26th of July at Eastern Creek where we will literally have more genuine, or should I say ALL genuine GT and GTHO Falcons on display together in the Falcon GT Owners Club of NSW area that you can possibly see outside of a GT Nationals.
Until then, I’ll catch you on the road,
Dave
C/O the Falcon GT Owners Club of NSW Committee
