Winter is here in full swing now, but we have still managed to enjoy some amazing Winter Driving days.
6th July was our Christmas in July drive with the drive leaving from two start points and having the group all meet up in one central point to finish the drive to Russo Winery for an amazing lunch and some great Christmas jumpers and outfits to judge. Nearly everyone went home with a raffle prize, which was amazing. Great day had by all. The raffle raised $416 for Prostate Cancer.
12th July was our Sandown Introductory Super Sprints and Kaos Custom Bikes Come and Try day. This was again in beautiful winter sun and we had a brilliant turn out. Such a fantastic day. We finished the day with the final session starting under Full Super Sprint rules with a grid start, and this was a bit of fun for all.
A sad note from the day was our Jo has waved the flag for the last time as our Motorsport Secretary. Read Here. Time for some new blood to fill those very big shoes of hers. Well done, Jo. She will be around to mentor the new person if they need help, otherwise enjoying the events from the other side of the desk.
Don’t stress she is still VP and will be doing our events as per normal, just one of her many hats will be hung up to rest for a while.
20th July we celebrated 50 Years of the 3 Series with what was one of our biggest drive days ever. So many fantastic cars turning up to join us on a drive through the Mornington Peninsula to end up at T’Gallant Winery for a lovely lunch and catching up with old and new members who joined us for the drive and lunch. And what about the weather! It almost felt like Spring, such a perfect sunny day.
27th July Euro Swap Meet was held by our friends at the VW Club of Victoria, and it was a great turn out. I know some of our members picked up some bargains. Be great to check out the next one and maybe take some of my collection along to part with.
The month ahead is looking a little quieter as the months get cold but still some fun events to attend.
13th August is the next Drop-in Meeting in Geelong – this is always a great informal night for members to just drop in have a chat. Join us if you fancy a chat.
24th August Drive and lunch at Castlemaine- Great driving road with a fantastic lunch time destination.
31st August - 2025 Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship | Round 7 – join our friends from AROCA for a fun track day at Broadford.
31st August - Wheels and Sunday Roast - Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron – our last car meet here was hugely successful, so we will be doing these as a regular car catch up – club meeting. Join us for a scrumptious roast lunch by the fire in the club house. Then enjoy the cars after in the car park.
3rd September we will be holding a Simulator night at Pro Racing Simulators in Hastings. As this will also be on my birthday I am told there might even be a birthday cake. Check out the event notice for more details.
Events to mark in your diary.
23rd October – BMW Drivers Club Melbourne AGM at the German Club Tivoli
31- October – 9th November – Canberra Trip
22nd- November – Challenge Bathurst
7th December – Christmas Show and Shine/Family Picnic
12th February – Bathurst 12 hour – spots filling quickly
2nd May- 8th Birthday – 1920s Murder Mystery presentation dinner
Now you might think this is a bit early to have this event released but we are offering an early bird deal for those who register and pay before the end of the year. This also gives you time to book your accommodation, find a 1920s themed outfit and get ready to solve the murder. WHO WILL IT BE? Well, you need to be there to find out.
We have added a section on our website regarding HOW TO USE TOUR BOSS. It is very important that if you are coming on a drive, you have this app downloaded prior to attending and follow the instructions on how to use it. It is an amazing tool for navigation and allows members to go at their own pace without the worry of getting lost. Read here https://www.bmwdcm.com.au/TourBoss-Instructions to find out more.
We have had a great response from our new Soft-Shell Jackets which almost sold out again at the first event we had them at. At the time or writing we have two left with another order being placed soon so be sure to watch the STORE for updates.
We also have had an amazing response with the limited edition 50 years of 3 series t shirt . Stocks are still available but once we sell out, we will not be reordering.
Membership is going great with a steady flow of new members joining each month, welcome to all the new members and we look forward to seeing you out and about at an event soon.
Our welfare team are doing a great job behind the scenes and remember if you need to chat, give one of them a call and they will be only too happy to support you or find someone who can help if they cant.
Our AGM will be soon on us and nominations will be coming out in the next month or so.
We will be doing something a little different this year and having non-executive positions available to be filled as well.
Watch this space for a list of positions you can nominate for to help your club grow and become even better than it is now. It is your club, so put your hand up and get involved.
I look forward to seeing you at an event somewhere soon, just remember to be careful and drive safely on the roads, especially with the weather we are having currently.
Graeme Bell | President
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
PO Box 81, Tyabb VIC 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695G BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International Council Motorsport Australia Affiliated Motorsport Club
Ridin' down the highway 50 years ago Enjoyin' all the byways Its the only way to go It's been a long time, at the top, if you really want to know.
An amazing collection of 3 series and other BMWS joined in our 50 years of 3 series celebration drive followed by a fabulous lunch at T'Gallants
Apologies to Angus Young, Bon Scott & Malcolm Young.
After over 11 years of organising track events Jo is waving the chequered flag and taking a break from track events.
Track events are the most complex events that car clubs can run and attention to detail may literally mean the difference between life and death. The paperwork is considerable, the demands of participants can be relentless and all the volunteers need to be organised. The entire event needs to be controlled and coordinated.
For many of our track events Jo has been the admin and the race control, dealing with helmet hire, registrations on the day, allocating numbers, coordinating with timing, assigning marshal jobs, controlling the track access and session start/stop, watching for track infringements and disciplining those who transgress, chasing up those without numbers on their car (or the wrong numbers) and more. All while keeping everyone happy and a (safe and sensible) party atmosphere.
For all of this over a sustained period Motorsport Austarlia recognised Jo with a Service award in 2021.
Although we now have a fabulous team who take on much of this work on the day, there is still a lot that falls to Jo both in the days and weeks beforehand and on the day itself.
Understandably, all this has taken its toll and now is the time to step down from organising track events (bit not other club activities) – maybe not forever and, knowing Jo, not completely however much that may be the intention!
Thankfully Jo has built an amazing team and we are confident of a successor, so BMWDCM track days may not come to a halt (although the challenges of getting enough out on track given the costs and living expenses remains).
As a close observer of what happens on a track day (and pitifully small helper), on behalf of the club, thank you to Jo for creating an environment where so many people have had so much enjoyment at so little cost, and for encouraging and mentoring so many into the various roles involved in running a track day.
Read on for Jo’s announcement and some comments from others from the most recent track day event at Sandown on July 12, a combination of the Kaos Custom Bikes Come a Try day and Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Supersprint.
Lawrence Glynn
Treasurer
#3
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Yesterday we had some great experiences, ranging from entrants who had never driven before to a classic car getting a shake down for the first time on the track.
We hope you all had a great day and for the Come and Try group, we hope you learnt more about yourself, your car and driving in general.
Our dedicated instructors worked very hard yesterday and we could not hold these days without them so I hope you enjoyed this experience.
Sadly this will be my last event as (Motorsport) Event Secretary as I am mentally and phyically exhausted and need to take a step back and hand over the baton.
You will still see me around and I will be helping whoever takes on this role and I am sure the events will be even bigger and better than before.
Watch out for updates on who will be taking over and I hope you give them the same respect and support as you have given me over the years.
Jo Mawson
#2 ______________________________________________________________
Dear Jo,
On behalf of all of us officials, I want to sincerely thank you for everything you’ve done, not just at last week’s event, but throughout your many years of dedicated service to motorsport and to our community.
Your journey, from stepping in to help at Winton in 2014 to becoming a cornerstone of the BMW Drivers Club Melbourne and a mentor to so many, is nothing short of inspiring. If only there were more people like you in our sport! The passion, skill and generosity you’ve brought to every role, even while facing your own medical challenges, speak volumes about your strength and resilience. You’ve continued to give your time, energy and heart to both the sport and the people around you, showing what true dedication looks like. Whether as Event Secretary, trainer, coach, VSOP member or flaggie, you’ve left an indelible mark on the sport and on all of us who’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside you.
It’s clear you’ve given so much of yourself to ensure others could learn, grow and enjoy these events and it shows in the countless officials you’ve trained and inspired along the way. While we’ll all miss your steady hand at the helm, organisational skills and commanding voice, it’s great to know that your legacy will continue in the many people you’ve mentored and the incredible BMWDCM you helped build.
I also share your feelings about the challenges officials face and will continue advocating for the recognition and support we all deserve; we can only hope that Motorsport Australia can get the formula right someday.
Jo, thank you for your leadership, friendship and tireless contribution to the sport. We wish you the very best in your next chapter and we look forward to catching up with you at future events, hopefully with a little less admin and a little more time to enjoy the track!
Warm regards,
Mark D Thompson Victorian State Officiating Panel - Chair Victorian State Council - Deputy Chair ______________________________________________________________
Wow, what a fantastic day we were treated to. And whilst I was called to the Steward’s office with a rookie error (reversing into the garage, I admit it was nice to have an excuse to go up and take peek! It’s such a great community to be part of, full of friendly, approachable people and keen to help one another. Including your good self! I am sorry to hear that you are stepping back, at least for now, though I am sure anyone that has even an inkling of all that you are covering off can understand. I do hope to see you at upcoming events and I am grateful for all that you have done to make us feel welcome (and to make sure we are in the right place at the right time!). Best wishes, Mark Foxwell #1190 _______________________________ Dear Jo I just wanted to say a big, heartfelt thank you for everything you’ve done – for the club, for the sport, and for all of us lucky enough to have crossed paths. You’ve been the heart and soul of so many events, always bringing your boundless energy, calm head, and that warm smile that somehow makes even the most chaotic day feel like it’s under control. Your dedication has been extraordinary – and even if I haven’t said it every time, I’ve always appreciated everything you do, both on and off the track. On a personal note, you’ve been my motorsport mum – even though you’re far too young for that title (let’s just say it’s honorary ). You always took time out of your incredibly busy schedule to check in on me and make sure I was okay – even when you had a thousand other things going on. I’ll never forget you taking me to the doctor and staying with me after my Phillip Island crash – that was above and beyond, and something I’ll always be grateful for. You didn’t just look after me – you also kept Scarlett entertained and feeling part of the action when she came along as my pit crew and didn’t have much to do while I was out on the track. It meant the world to me knowing she was in such kind and capable hands. I’m sure you won’t be away for long – we all know motorsport doesn’t let its favourites go that easily – but I really do hope you take this time to look after yourself and enjoy a well-deserved break. You’ve more than earned it. Thank you again for all the laughs, all the support, and all the quiet things you’ve done that made such a huge difference. You’ll be sorely missed but never forgotten – and your impact will keep racing on well into the future. With enormous appreciation and much love.
Kind regards Adam Sleep #421 __________________________________________ Hello Jo Wishing you all the best for a relaxing break from the hectic event secretary role. I have immense gratitude to you and the team for such great organisation and giving folks like me a chance to take up grassroots motorsport. All the best, hope to see you soon at the track having a relaxing time! Cheers Drew Matthews #903 __________________________________________ Congratulations Jo. On your wonderful career and many achievements with the Club, and feel especially privileged to meet such a dedicated person working tirelessly for the Club and your beautiful family. Danny O'Callaghen #721 __________________________________________ Hello Jo, Thank-you again for accomodating me and “my” very old car at your parade laps. I appreciate the efforts of all BMWDCM members to make me feel welcome and supported as I had my first real drive in the Austin 7 race car. It was wonderful to meet so many people interested in the little car. My drive experience was one of learning, the car steers quite well at the low speed I was driving at and I’m keen to go faster however the temperature gauge started reading hot and I was told to drive faster to help keep the car cool unfortunately a strange knocking sound come from the engine bay at a speed I estimated was about 60kph (the car doesn’t have a speedo) I was left wondering if I was cooking the car or the engine was going to throw a rod. The Austin hasn’t been driven for about 5 years so i have a few things to check out. I have ordered a helmet and I’ll be getting a speed licence then i will need to upgrade the harness to pass scrutineering, I may never be fast but I will certainly have some great fun.
Thank you again. Michelle Scurr __________________________________________ Congratulations on your well earned rest Jo !!! Thanks for your amazing efforts putting all these events together for us lucky folks. Tim Wise #416 __________________________________________ We will miss you! Angelo Carideo #294 __________________________________________ You have left huge shoes to fill.Good luck Enjoy Suz Arnott and Mick __________________________________________ Thanks for all your hard work and the great track events you have brought to us all. A well deserved rest I am sure. Will remember forever fondly the early days when i joined. It is because of you guys I have had some of the best experiences in my life driving and flag marshalling. Anyway, we'll see you still, looking forward to events continuing, i am sure it will all come together nicely! Warm regards and much love to you and Graeme. Mike Skomina #958 __________________________________________ Thank you Jo!! It wasn’t my first motorsport event, however, it was my first event with the BMWDCM and what a wonderful day we had!! So thank you for all your efforts in ensuring it ran like a well oiled machine. Hope to see you around at any future events I tag along to! Andrew Huynh #1434 __________________________________________
I really enjoyed yesterday! The Parade Laps exceeded my expectations, it was great to get an opportunity to stretch Bertie (the E30) on the track. The Safety car driver gave us a chance to get up to quite high speeds and get a feel for track driving. Loved it! I especially wanted to thank you again for organising the fast laps with Andrew in the Mustang. It was a really great experience for me… I thought you and the other Volunteers did a great job, thank you…. Clive Meaby. #877
__________________________________________ Thanks the great day as it was my first time with you guys I didn’t know how things worked but everyone was very friendly and accommodating. For me it was a special day as you would have noticed I walked with a pretty bad limp due to the fact that I have MS (multiple sclerosis) and MMN (multifocal motor neuropathy) so I have limited use of my left arm and leg, I had been diagnosed with them 24 years ago to that day, as you could see on the day I have never let that slow me down! Stuart Wishart __________________________________________
Thanks for all that you have done to help us all get into club motorsport. That you did it while battling adverse health made it all the more impressive! I hope you pass the workload on to someone else now and just enjoy your time at the track - as little or as much time as you like. All the very best to you and Graeme. Ben Fenwick #547 __________________________________________
Hey Jo, Just a note of thanks for everything you’ve done for our Club, you’ve done a tremendous job to which I personally am truly grateful. I look forward to seeing you at future BMWDCM events, most likely of course for me, Motorsport. My best wishes until then & once again a heart felt thank you. Cheers, Simon Meens # 45
After a run of properly miserable days weatherwise Sandown was realatively cheerful and warm for our Come and Try day (brought to you by Kaos Custom Bikes) combined with a round of the Yokohama/Traction Tyres SuperSprint championship.
With lots of first timers the office was busy first thing, sign in, find out what to do, buy numbers, get officials briefed and more. But pretty soon cars were rumbling down the pit lane ready to be released onto the track and explore what grip there may be with cold tyres on cold tarmac still a liitle damp from overnight. Amongst the new comers there was a certain amount of white knuckle showing on the way out, and a lot of white teeth framed by a smile on the way back in.
By popular demand there were parade laps behind the Racer Industries pace car and a special one off "parade lap" for an Austin 7 special having a bit of a shake down run following repairs. The Austin 7 is, of course, a distant relative of BMW whose first car was an Austin 7 built under licence.
Highlight of the day for the more serious drivers was the chance to take part in a grid start (rather than the usual staggered despatch out of the pit line).
Thanks to all our volunteers including the Victoria Flagging Team.
At the request of BMW Group Australia BMW Drivers Club Melbourne selected cars from each of the 7 generations of the 3 Series over its 50 years and made them available to videographer Pat James.
As requested we carefully selected an E21 and one M3 of each of the subsequent 6 generations. We were able to arrange to have the Calder Park Raceway available for filming thanks to Calder's generosity, with some additional filming during the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals also at Calder.
Thanks to our members for making their cars available and to those who had volunteered for the previous filming session aborted due to rain.
In true "rally" style our sunny Sunday Xmas in July drive had two starting points, roughly one East and one West (sort of) meeting at Woodend and then onto Diggers Rest along some brilliant roads carefully selected by our drive supremo Peter Williams.
With a bit of up and down, and some round and round, the drive was fun but not in a tyre squealing way. Some lovely views and scenery keept all occupants amused but not travel sick.
Our destination was Russo Estate for a lovely lunch and a friendly competition for the best Christmas outfit - which turned out to more of a race for 2nd place as the rest of us were comprehensively outclassed by an elf!
Halfway through the year already and now Winter has really arrived, with lots of chilly days, which we experienced in earnest on our most recent Long Weekend Away! After a busy start to the year we have had a bit of a quieter month for a change.
June 7-9 a large group of us took off for a very enjoyable long weekend down the Great Ocean Road for the Monarch’s Long Weekend to Port Campbell and the Shipwreck coast. We experienced some very cold days, but this did not stop us all getting out and exploring the wonders of the coast. Check out the photos .
Was a great bunch of people to spend the weekend with and the roads travelled were, as always, fun and interesting, thanks to Peter’s navigational planning. The motel was great too, walking distance to the two different venues for dinner on the two nights, great selection of both accommodation and dining across the weekend, thanks to Jo’s planning and organisation.
June 29 lots of members met up at the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron for a Wheels and Coffee morning, with egg and bacon rolls supplied by Bell Motorsport and the Club, and all donations will be going to our charity. Thank you to Matt, Bruce and Simon and gang for recommending this great venue, we will be holding a few more events here from now on, so watch this space. One of our new members, Julie, is the events coordinator for them too, so we will be chatting with her from now on to arrange some great events for you all. Thanks to the boys for helping me cook the eggs and bacon, this was a brilliant morning, and we look forward to making this sort of morning a regular event, have a look at the photos, it really is a perfect spot for a casual get together on a Sunday morning.
July will be a busy month, starting with Christmas in July on July 6, this event is fully booked now but we are sure all who attend will have a great time and there will be some great raffle prizes for all to hopefully have the chance of winning. If you are coming, don’t forget to wear your best Christmas costume and join in the fun.
July 12 we will be at Sandown, with a few events running concurrently.
Introduction to Super Sprints
Kaos Custom Bikes Come and Try/Driver Training
Racer Industries Parade laps
Spots are filling fast, so be sure to get your registrations in a.s.a.p. and make sure all your documents are sent back to make sign in an easy process. It will be a great day and a great way to stretch the legs of your BMW (or non-BMW) without risking a speeding ticket!
July 20 we will be celebrating all things 3 Series with a special ‘50 years of 3 Series’ drive on the Mornington Peninsula with lunch after at T’Gallants. This will be a later start than normal to give you all a nice sleep in, so put it in your diary and bring out your 3 Series.
Don’t drive a 3 series? That’s fine, all are still welcome, we would just like to have a convoy of 3 Series at the start of the group.
Remember we also have the limited edition 3 Series t-shirts which are available for sale at this event as well as in our on-line store . These were so popular at the Nationals that we had a second batch made, so get in before they are all gone again.
July 27 is the EURO Swap Meet in Moorabbin. This is not a DCM run event but one we are endorsing. Head along and see if you can pick up some bargains, or if you have a lot of parts to sell, you can always book a spot and sell some parts too.
The year is moving along fast now and to think we are in the second half of the year is just crazy. This has been such a busy year, running the Nationals as well as all our usual events, but still lots to come and we are always adding events to the calendar, so keep an eye out for your event emails and come and join us when you can.
There are lots of other events coming through the rest of the year, Challenge Bathurst entries are open as well as the Melbourne Cup Week Away, this time travelling North to our Nation’s Capital, Canberra, will be a great trip again.
We also have limited stock of our new weekend travel bags in our on-line store, which have been a great success. Get your orders in soon.
We have now set up a sub committee to help organise and run our events, as it is too much for one or two people to do on their own. If you would like to be more involved in our events and organising them, send us an email via events@bmwdcm.com.au and come join the team.
Membership is still growing, great to see so many new members coming along to events, welcome to the Club, we hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of your membership.
Our Welfare Team have been busy in the background helping out or lending a shoulder or an ear to our members in need. If you ever need someone to talk to or have a problem we might be able to help with, reach out. A problem shared is a problem halved and sometimes just talking to someone helps enormously. Of course, anything you say or help you need always remains between you and a select few on the Welfare Team, so don’t think everyone will know about it. We are just here to help if we can.
We now have an extra Club Permit Signing Officer, for renewals only, in Glen Iris. To save you coming to Hastings or Geelong, Stephen Mattingly can sign your renewals if you live closer to the city or inner suburbs. Steve is available by appointment and his number is on the Club Permits page of our web site. Just make sure your membership is paid up before you meet him, or any of our signatories, as it makes it so much easier and Steve won’t be able to take membership payments on the spot. Thanks for coming on board Steve, great having someone closer to the city to save people venturing out our way.
I hope you are enjoying your membership experience, and I look forward to seeing you out at an event somewhere soon,
Perfect morning for our wheels and coffee morning at Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron.
Great location. Lots of people dropped in for a coffee and an egg and bacon roll all courtesy of the club.
Persistent rain and strong winds were a feature over our King’s Birthday ling weekend drive to Port Campbell and the Shipwreck Coast but this did not pour cold water over our enjoyment.
Read our member's reports below.
1. Lawrence Glynn #3
Peter Williams produced another set of fabulous roads where we could enjoy driving our cars without falling foul of the law or risking life and limb. Jo Mawson organised excellent dining spots where we could enjoy some food a bit different from usual pub fare and, perhaps most important, each other’s company.
The scenery was spectacular even when viewed from the shelter of a car, but most of us braved the elements for an even better view and a bit of a laugh as we were blown around.
We met up (close to my home) at Geelong we made our way in a zigzag tour to a delicious lunch in Colac. Travelling on through Forrest we joined the Great Ocean Road after the stretch frequented by most tourists and thus a lot less “cluttered”. We passed briefly explored the overly full car park at the 12 Apostles on our way to Port Campbell, elected to leave that for Sunday when plenty of time, and hopefully better weather, was available. Dinner at the 12 Rocks. Lovely meal again and even better with a great bunch of people to spend the weekend with.
Sunday did not have any scheduled activities and a bit of a lazy start for most of us before spreading out and exploring the area.
Some went East some went West and some stayed in town.
Bit of a damp day, but that doesn’t stop us getting out and enjoying the day.
The day ended with another lovely meal together, this time at a different restaurant. Another great night had by all.
Monday started with a photo shoot in the car park at Port Campbell before we headed off to the Bay of Islands for visit before starting our winding way back towards home along some more lovely driving roads with a couple of stops to admire the scenery and more group photos.
After lunch at Camperdown some took a direct route to the Queenscliff ferry and the rest enjoyed exploring the Lake Corangamite area and the Red Rock volcanos.
‘Twas another fantastic weekend away with an awesome bunch of people, lots of laughs and fun and interesting places to visit.
Thanks all for coming, or following along and thanks again Jo and Peter for the faultless running of these events. It takes a huge amount of organising, and you do it so well.
2. Adrian White #606
After travelling down to Port Campbell on Saturday, Sunday was a free day which allowed the group to do whatever they wanted to do.
Sunday started off wet and windy. John and I had spoken about what was likely to happen the night before so when he called after breakfast it was time to call at Graeme & Jo's room to collect a travel snack bag and head off.
We decided to head to Warrnambool so the first stop was London Bridge. London Bridge is close to the road so we donned our coats and took the short walk to the look out. It was raining and windy with an angry ocean and waves breaking over the neighbouring point. It was interesting watching the ocean and the waves breaking. We had talked about having a coffee before we left but John mentioned that he was refreshed after being at the lookout and didn't need the coffee.
We moved on the short distance to the Grotto carpark. This time the walk was 700 metres down into the grotto. The section after the board walk was potholed gravel which meant dodging or trying to dodge potholes but the final section was boardwalk again before going down the steps to the Grotto. It was raining and the waves were crashing into the coastline. A couple of times when we were at the viewing point waves crashed into the bank and filled the grotto with water and water splashed over the top in our face. After walking back John was now completely refreshed!
We then moved through Peterborough to Warrnambool and by which time the need for caffeine and coffee was more urgent. Service station or takeaway store coffee was not good enough, boutique coffee was required. We passed through Warrnambool without seeing a real coffee shop but when we started driving out of town John turned around and we headed back to try again. I got on trip adviser and found that some of the more highly recommended shops were on Kepler St. Tour Boss had taken over John's Sat Nav and google wasn't working so we found our way back off my phone. This is something that would plague us for the afternoon but for now we found Kepler St and in a quieter area after the main shopping strip we found Bohemia.
We were fortunate to get a park and although we were there before 12 there were no tables left so we knew our choice was correct because the locals were supporting it. John confirm ed this when his coffee arrived. We had some lovely chicken and corn soup for lunch then started heading back to Timboon to visit the distillery.
On the way John mistakenly turned left before the map instruction which started a small adventure inland. Google was working now and re-plotted a route which turned out to be main road, then single lane bitumen, then gravel roads before entering Timboon. When we got to Timboon I took over as I knew where the distillery was. We arrived travelling past the Railway View Hotel and met Paul & Jo at the Railway Shewd distillery who were enjoying a tasting flight.
After talking for a while John ordered Tom's flight and I ordered Jim's flight . John's was various types of Whisky, which I had tried the night before, and mine was Gin, Lemon spritz and Strawberry schnapps. Paul & Jo left heading to the cheese factory and we finished our flights. John left with a bottle of Christie's Cut whiskey under his arm.
It was about quarter to three and when I looked on my phone we saw that the Schulz Organic Creamery was closing in 15 minutes. We made the 6 minute drive just in time and had a look at their selection which included mainly soft cheese like camembert to quark. I got a tub of quark before we headed to the Apostle Whey Cheese factory which was still open.
Paul & Jo were still there but about to head off. We did the sampling and both John and I purchased some camembert which really expensive. I had some sorbet as we headed back to Port Campbell before going out to dinner. Looking at John's WhatsApp message last night John's purchases may be gone already!.
Our club were proud to support the 2025 Southern Cross Cannonball Classic as part of March’s Phillip Island Classic Festival Of Motorsport by “buying” premier display spots and parade laps.
The 2025 Southern Cross Cannonball Classic is a 4,300 km journey from Darwin, traversing the spine of Australia, all the way down to Victor Harbor in South Australia riding vintage pre-1949 motorcycles for the 14-day voyage. With support crews, of course.
But it’s not just for fun (fun?), the event also raises funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In 2025 the event raised over $94,000 to support Flying Doctor Wellbeing – a crucial service that offers mental health support to rural communities
So, why were we involved?
Well, our very good friend at Shannons Insurance, Belinda Douglas who helps us out in many ways, took part in the event and through the Shannons sponsorship of the Phillip Island event arranged the display and parade lap spots.
Here is her report on what must have been an exciting but gruelling trip.
Initially our (Team Shannons) goal was $3000. To date we have raised $3,189.00 this is a result of the direct support of Shannons and the VHRR Phillip Island event. I sincerely thank everyone for their generosity including the VHRR who donated $1000 as part of that.
The VHRR have supported our fundraising causes for a number of years now, in the past being Life Line Gippsland & this year the Royal Flying Doctors Service focussing on mental health.
I also as part of the event had to set up a fundraising link as participant #37, to date we have raised $1145, I’m extremely chuffed by the support given, the encouragement & enthusiasm by everyone who took the time & were able to contribute to our cause.
The Total: $4334 ❤ This is awesome
Now a little bit about our journey. I was riding a 1937 Triumph T70 250cc motorcycle I purchased off an amazing young man called Sir Ken Lucas OAM. Sir Ken was very well known in the historic motorcycle racing scene racing under #37 Sir Ken wanted everyone to have a go & when I bought this bike off Sir Ken before COVID he made me promise that I would ride it & not just look at it! Sir Ken road his last track at 90 years of age at Winton Historics & was at the time, the oldest motorcycle racer in the world, qualifying at the front & starting from the back was how Ken rolled ❤ . Click the link to meet the legend that is, Sir Ken Lucas OAM
It was a privilege to know him.
Sir Ken passed away in December 2024 at the age of 94, our adventure was in honour of Sir Ken Lucas OAM.
We travelled over 4300kms from Darwin to Victor Harbour, everyone was a little sceptical how on earth I thought I was going to ride a little 250cc all that way & finish. Well we did and I am proud to say we WON, the 500cc & under category on Sir Kenny 37.
I thank everyone very much for their support & contribution to The RFDS.
Click on the link to the Shannons Club article about our event, I have uploaded some short ride videos & pictures.
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