Bega and District Historical Machinery Club member George Toyne towing a stationary steam engine ready to set up a display at the Oberon Steam and Vintage Festival.
THREE historic tractors and their drivers have completed a near mission impossible travelling more than 700 kilometres.
Travelling to the recent Oberon Steam and Vintage Festival on their trusty tractors were Brian Byrne on his Fiat 450, David Orum on a Chamberlain 306 and Garry Stephenson on his Ferguson 35.
The three men from the Bega and District Historical Machinery Club arrived home safely at Numbugga recently at the end of their adventure that included long, dusty roads and camping out each night.
The men are no stranger to distance as the club each January organises the five-day Great Snowy River Tractor Stampede from Candelo up to Jindabyne, Dalgety and back.
But Mr Stephenson said this was their longest journey yet and was over unfamiliar territory.
“We had no break downs at all,” he said.
“And it is one of the best ways to see the country and you see quite a bit from the back of a tractor that you wouldn’t see otherwise.”
The tractors were trucked up to Berrima and the men set out on February 6 going via the Wombeyan Caves on about 250 kilometres of dusty gravel roads to Oberon over two days.
Joining them were two other mates from Berrima and their tractors.
Three days at the Oberon festival were enjoyed with other Bega Club members, participating in an organised tractor trek, a colourful street parade with a record number of entries, as well as a tractor pull.
They visited a huge army vehicle display near Rockleigh, and celebrated the 60's Rock and Roll era at the annual dinner dance.
The three then set off on February 10 on the 500-plus kilometre journey home on their trusty tractors.
The chosen route being via Tuena, Laggan, and Goulburn where Mr Orum and Mr Stephenson said farewell to Mr Byrne, who trucked his tractor home.
The two then continued on to Braidwood, through the hills to Krawarree, Badgers Swamp, into the Kyabeyan Valley, onto Steeple Flat Road to the top of Brown Mountain, down to Bemboka and home to Numbugga.
Jack Gordon accompanied the trekkers for the entire journey, with the necessary support vehicle, always ready to entertain with a joke or two.
He also made the men a welcome cup of tea, and managed to find many tasty pies along the way.
Mr Stephenson said they always tried to stick to the back roads but even so they have over the years encountered some road rage.
“We are always very courteous given how slow we are going,” he said.
“But even so, some people do some stupid things and the biggest problem Australian drivers have is their lack of patience.”
Much discussion and reminiscing about the trek and the Oberon visit will be experienced at the next Bega and District Historical Machinery Club's meeting, which is now held on the first Wednesday of each month (March 6) at the St John Ambulance room in Bega Street, Bega from 7.30pm.