Six fearless Tasmanian decided in 2023 that Van Diemen’s Land would host a state rather than a National Packard Rally, and over the next 12 months they fine-tuned their plan into a two-stage 1750km run through the rugged north-west. The two stages involved a “main” rally and an “after” rally for participants who wished to spend more time in Tasmania as Tasmania is a long way from everywhere! When the car carrier, the Spirit of Tasmania, docked at Davenport with 23 ralliers onboard on March 13, 2024, little did they know that only one Packard would complete the two stages – Heather Moss’ 1939 Super Eight Sedan (from NSW). A couple of Packards had minor problems on the way from Adelaide but there were no retirements, and eight Packards made it to the starting line. The organisers – Phil and Marj Weeks and the Jenkinson family of Mark, Morag, Max & Mia Jenkinson, kept ralliers busy with exquisite scenery, local foods and interesting sites as they made their way through coastal and inner-north-west countryside, exploring what Tasmania and the open roads had to offer.
