THUNDERBIRD OWNERS CLUB OF AUSTRALIA(INC)
NATIONAL TITLES 2025 at WAGGA WAGGA
Friday 17th October to Sunday 19th October 2025
Staying the Wagga RSL Motel and Apartments
156 Kincaid Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 – (02) 6971 8888
Join us to celebrate to 70th anniversary of Ford Thunderbird 1955 – 2025
To book please phone the motel directly and state you’re from the Thunderbird club
Part of the deal is free breakfast If you would like breakfast ask about your complimentary breakfast when you book the room
If you would like to stay Sunday night you will get a 5% discount
Note this motel is extremely popular and rooms go very quickly so please book early
There is also apartments that sleep up to 5 people if you would like to share get your group organised
Numbers required by 1 September 2025, so please arrange to do this ASAP
TOCA National Presidents Report
Hi TBirder’s
Well what a year it has been so far. There have been many occasions during this year when we were able to get our Thunderbirds out and about.
NSW branch is looking at the 70 years celebrations on the 17th,18th and 19th of October at the National conference in Wagga Wagga. Then its time to look towards our Christmas or end of year festivities and then the New Year and the fun we will have in 2026, Gosh does time flies!
You now have time over the Christmas or Holiday period to get everything working and shining like new. Then you will be able to take advantage of some of the great activities your state has planned for you and your Thunderbird in 2026. We have a number of new members in the club and we will try and supply support to any of the smaller groups inter-state to help them develop their club experience and perhaps even broaden the membership. We also need to look at activities that are not just centred around the major cities so we can entice our regional members out more often.
I know only too well the problem of going to events. Everytime I do an event its a 1000km drive to Sydney and surrounds, perhaps more. I have the luxury of having 2 Thunderbirds a 1964 and a 1994 The 94 gives me 9.6 litres per 100km, not bad for a V8, With the 64 however 15 mpg (sometimes) is considered good, but it seems that both have spent and awful lot of time in the shop this year with little problems. The 1964 has had a new Radiator, Water Pump and Thermostat and yet the 64 still has over heating problems. A thermo fan is next!! The 94 after 10 years of owning her and racing her a couple of times in Super Sprints at Wakefield and Sydney Motorsport Park has developed a miss that even 8 new platinum $38 each spark plugs has not rectified, Dont get me started on trying to get leads for her. 2 new coil packs and still the miss is there, I want to do an event in Victoria when I can and hopefully my 1964 will get me there.
NSW has had some great events in the second half of the yea, July and August in NSW: The ALL FORD Day! At Sydney Dragway was a great event lots and lots of Fords as you would expect and pretty good weather too. Then we had the CMC day where 3 Thunderbirds were suppose to take pride of position on Pit Lane however 2 of our members cars broke down on the way which left only me with my 1994 as the lone Thunderbird representative. So I decided to stay with our group rather than being by myself. It was still a great day. There was also a FATHERS DAY Car show at Hornsby Westfield’s and a number of our members attended that event.
Well now we are looking forward to our 70 Years of Thunderbird National Concours in Wagga Wagga and the theme night is lost in the Seventies be hosted by a very competent team from the NSW Branch. We know it will be an event to remember!.
Dont forget we have a AGM on the Concours weekend so if you want something raised contact our Secretary Chris Jeffs or notify me
You are truly a wonderful Group of people it is my pleasure to know!
Treasurer’s Report
Your treasurer has been busy processing membership renewals, incoming nationals’ registration funds and paying the clubs bills. Currently we have 175 members with 24 still to renew this year, the state-to-state breakdown is as follows;
Victoria – 107
NSW – 53
SA – 2
TAS – 1
ACT – 1
QLD – 11
We’ve lost a number of members for various reasons including those who have sold their vehicles, many of these have been bought by new members which has been good to see. Can I please ask that if you haven’t paid your membership for this year that you do so? Especially if your bird is on club registration. Looking ahead we have the Nationals Concourse in Wagga on the weekend of the 17th of October, celebrating 70 years of these unique ‘birds we love.
My 64 currently has a larger part of the interior sitting on shelves waiting for the new roof lining to be installed this week – the task then becomes putting the jigsaw puzzle back together, plenty of other mechanical tasks have been completed along the way. I’m hoping to have it back on the road for the All Ford Day held at Eastern Creek in July.
If we don’t catch up at an event before October, I look forward to seeing you all in Wagga.
Safe Travels. John D