I love cars, to everyone who knows me that is quite obvious. What I REALLY love is CLEAN cars. Often I will see a beautifully maintained car on the road and think the owners must truly love their cars, just like me. Their pride of ownership is on dlsplay for all the world to see. It would be over 50 years since I first took it upon myself to be responsible to maintain my families two cars. My father's Falcon Wagon had a lot of square footage for a keen teenager to try and keep on top of, especially during the Locust plague of the early 1970’s, where it wasn't unusual for the whole front of the car to be covered with the remains of kamikaze Grasshoppers, and the only way to get it off was to to use plastic flywire folded many times to form a scouring pad. Thinking back now it turns my stomach to think about the scratching I would have caused to the paint finishes on the front, but it was only a company car and would soon be replaced with a new one anyway, as that happened religiously every 18 months. I also remember fondly my mum's beautiful Burgundy Wolseley 24/80, which I used to cut and polish annually without exception. I still recall quite clearly that when i had finished, the polish cloth had more “Burgundy” on it than the car itself. Having fought to try and maintain cars for over half a century, I took advantage of the chance to learn more about general automotive cleaning and paint maintenance in the current times, and try and get some pointers from the experts. Our BMWDCM October meeting at Advanced Detailing, Cheltenham was that perfect opportunity to learn of the new age products and some simple car washing and detailing tips. The evening was extremely informative, in their new pristine premises. You truly could have "eaten your meal off the floor". We all watched attentively as club member and Advanced Detail cohort “Micheal" gave us tips as he worked on his own newly acquired E92 M3. Some of the tips may have been somewhat obvious to some of us, from soaping the entire car over first, to working from the top of the car downwards, remembering to constantly rinse the wash mitt, and so on. But, I was especially intrigued by the "two bucket wash method” something I have been yet to try, probably the main reason for not doing so is that i am to miserable to go and buy a second bucket.. Of course the idea of two buckets is a very sensible one, to keep the wash mitt free of dirt and grit from the car, and anyone who is fair dinkum about caring for their cars paintwork should use this simple but affective trick.
Watch the video here.
The thing that struck me most on the night was the fact that even brand-new cars also require the “Advanced Detail’ touch. Within the confines of their premises was a brand-new red M2. Only under the luminous bright lights did it become blatantly obvious that finishes on a recently delivered new car can often leave a lot to be desired - paint blemishes, fine scratches and poor presentation of external plastics may leave a bad taste in the mouth of it’s new (but no doubt very proud) owner. It was distressing to be told “most" new cars (regardless of the make) are presented to unsuspecting owners with "paint in somewhat similar condition to this”. Hardly what any new car buyer would expect, me thinks. But don’t despair, I had no doubt that the owner would have been delighted with the finish once the “wizards" have performed their magic on this red fire breathing 2 door beast. It was also fascinating to learn more about the benefits of "ceramic coating”, and how this product provides an enviable shine that can last for many years, while also making it easier to keep cars clean on a regular basis. Products such as this seem to have come along way in the relatively short space of time, a far cry from all the cutting compounds and polishes that still adorn the shelves in my garage. To the the guys at "Advanced Detail”, thanks for an informative and enjoyable evening. For me it was well worth coming along to watch, listen and learn. So there you have it, it seems you actually still can "teach and old dog new tricks".
Steve Garth #40
Dear members,
Spring is here and the weather is finally starting to turn good for our drive days and members meetings.
8 September saw a few of our members attending the NSW Superfest. This looked like a fantastic event with lots of great cars and trade stands.
17 September was our monthly meeting with our long-standing sponsors Zagame Auto Body. For those who missed this event, it's a shame that you did. This facility is larger than the MCG under roof top and houses some really luxury cars.
21 September was a night with a twist. We attended the Black Rock House Paranormal Investigation tour for a very different night. We booked out both evening sessions, some experiencing signs of interaction with the spirits living in the house. Jo experienced the spirit 'Thomas' calling out to Jo several times and moving through her, which Jo said was an odd feeling. Peter P also had some communication, which was interesting. Apart form the spirits, the house is a beautiful historical building to go and visit when you are next in the area. Black Rock house do tours on the first Sunday of each month, if it's something you're interested in.
29 September was the Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive. This annual world-wide event is run in support of Movember, a charity set up to promote awareness into men’s mental health and health issues in general, particularly prostate cancer, something that impacts more men than you may realise. It is important to say - if you or any of your loved ones are impacted by cancer, take the time to talk about it. You never know where you might find support in those around you.
October kicks off with a large group of our members attending and participating in the E30 round at Phillip Island. If you have nothing on 4-6 October, be sure to pop down and say hi to the guys and gals and cheer them all on. We will be there too supporting our members both DCM members and E30 members. If you can’t get down to the Island you can always watch the action on BlendLine TV.
On 8 October we will be visiting Advanced Detailing which is owned by one of our club members. This looks like it is going to be a great night with already a lot of members registering for this. Registrations are essential to allow for catering.
10-13 October is Bathurst 1000. Sadly this year Jo and I won’t be attending as I have pending surgery and need to stay healthy and prepare for that. But we do have a few members up there officiating and our own Royce Lyne securing a drive in the Gazoo Toyota 86 round. Make sure you tune in and cheer Royce on!
On 19 October we are off to the Yarra Valley – starting at lunch time for a change and ending in the afternoon at a chocolate shop. Don’t miss this drive, it is going to be fantastic. We are also now using a new app for our drive events and want everyone that comes on our drives to download 'Tourboss'. It is a great resource for the club drive events and will help everyone to stay on track and safe on our drives. Check it out at https://tourboss.app/.
25 October is the final round of E30 Racing for 2024 at Calder Park. We have organised something very special on the track from BMW. Be sure to come check it out you will not be disappointed!
29 Oct - 7 Nov sees our group of intrepid drivers off to Tassie. Again, Jo and I will miss this one as well as this is a week after my surgery, and I will be laid up for a few weeks recovering. I have looked over the trip booklet and it looks like a lot of great places will be visited. Jo won’t be there, but she will be co-ordinating everything from home with our new Tourboss App, which all will be using again and on all of our drives going forward.
'What is Tour Boss?' you may ask. It is an app developed for ease of driving, safety and sustainability for all. Single drivers will love this as there is no need for paper navigation notes - it will all be on the app. If you are attending any of our drives this will be an essential tool because without this app, you won't get your navigation instructions.
Each car is also visible on the app and you can see where all the cars are and know who is driving in front or behind you. For any further information give Jo a call on 0412661900 and she can talk you through.
9 November – Sandown Historic Car Display
14 November – BMW Drivers Club Melbourne AGM
21–24 November – Challenge Bathurst - Officials required
21 November – Motors and Masterpieces
23–24 November – Challenge Bathurst - Still a few spots left
8th December – Christmas Show and Shine – Cruden farm
30 January – 3 February – Bathurst 12 Hour - only a few spots left
24 – 27 April – BMW Clubs Australia Nationals – Hosted by BMW Drivers club Melbourne
Check out the calendar for our full list of events and to register for those listed above.
We have been busily working and plannign for the 2025 Nationals. You can check out the website at bmwclubnationals.com.au. All of the event details and booking info is there. We have had so many sponsors come on board so far. I’d like to thank all of them for their support of what will be a huge weekend of all things BMW.
If you’d like to help us run an event at the nationals, there are links to register as a helper or official. Smash Property Investing have come on board to help cover the official’s apparel for the nationals. Thank you to Smash Property Investing we very much appreciate your support.
We also welcome BMW Group Australia on board with the promise of lots of support for the nationals. We are very proud of our close association with BMW and look forward to seeing that association bloom at Melbourne BMW on the welcome night and across the weekend with special vehicles and personnel on hand to enjoy the weekend with us.
Nationals merchandise is available for pre-order on the nationals website, so if you are planning on joining us, or would just like to order some of the event merchandise it is all there for pre-order now. Jo and I have been wearing the jacket and shirts on some of our recent events and they are great. I love the jacket, it's wind/weatherproof and warm for those chilly Melbourne mornings we could get in April.
Thank you to the nationals team for all their hard work so far, its going to be a huge event, one to really remember.
We always ask that you be as organised as possible with your Club Permit renewals and don't leave them until the last minute. However over the next month or so, we do ask you to be a little patient. Please plan ahead and don’t leave getting a signature until the last minute.
Lawrence is away in Europe for another month yet and I will be flat on my back for quite a few weeks, so please allow for it and phone first to make an appointment if you want to come down, as we might not be readily available, especially late October into early November. Your best option is post it to us or email the online form and we will get it back to you as soon as we can.
As I mentioned above, Lawrence and Shaaron are on a wonderful trip in Europe and we wish them all the enjoyment possible. We will get some great updates from them once they get back with them visiting BMW in Munich in October.
Membership going up all the time, welcome to all the new and returning members, we hope you get everything you expect out of our club, and remember, it is your club too, so join in and don’t be afraid to let us know if you have any ideas or places you think we would like to go to. Always looking for new events to add to our calendar.
Our Welfare team are working away in background. Thank you to those members that donate a little extra with their membership to help us help other members in their time of need. We help each other where we can, so if you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Team if you need support or help in any way.
Anyone with an article about any of our events, please be sure to forward this to v.president@bmwdcm.com.au along with any high quality photos you may have. Send them separate, please do not include the photos in your article.
As for photos, if you have great photos from any of our events, please send to photos@bmwdcm.com.au and we will add them in our photo gallery.
Finally, some of you would have heard I am not well. I have prostate cancer. The next little while will be hard time for Jo and I and our family, so I would ask you all to respect our privacy and if we do not reply to emails or messages straight away, we will, please be patient. Thank you to all that have sent me messages or calls of support, it is heart-warming to know we have so many that care about us. From 24 October I will be off air for a few days whilst in hospital then will convalesce at home for a few weeks.
I will be back on deck, hopefully sooner rather than later, and with all Jo's care, we are still hoping to be at Challenge Bathurst to help run the team at the end of November.
Thanks for being with us and I hope to see you at an event somewhere soon.
Take Care out there.
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
This organisation has many testimonials that you can find on the web as to the standard of workmanship and service provided to many car owners but unsaid, until we witnessed it first hand, was the very generous spread provided and informative welcome that was followed by a guided tour of the facility. Many models of cars in various states of repair kept all of us fascinated and the range of activities taking place on any day.
What testimonials don’t cover is the amazing work done on converting a multi level building designed to print the Melbourne Age into an automotive repair facility. Without doubt the spaciousness, the excellent lighting and cleanliness with all relevant equipment at each station makes it a place for employees to do their best. No better automotive workplace place exists in Victoria.
High standards of knowledge are part of the workplace expectations of each employee given these magnificent facilities and the challenges that each car can bring to bear.
On leaving I felt privileged to have been shown the company and was secure in the knowledge that should I have an incident there is a place that can return my wheels to me after a first class repair.
Peter Kelly
From the club's Facebook post
Great night tonight at club sponsor Zagame Auto Body. Such a fantastic facility. Thank you to Gabi and Andre for welcoming us and showing us around this amazing facility. Sadly, not allowed to take too many pics of the amazing cars and the work they do here but well worth the visit for everyone that came.
As the sun slowly rose, so did my excitement—it was the day of my first drive with the ‘BMW Drivers Club Melbourne’, and it held special significance for me and my wife. For any BMW enthusiast, the letter “M” is a symbol of the “Most Powerful Letter in the world,” and in my case, “M” also stood for Melbourne— a new beginning in a new city. Having recently moved to the city, I was eager to connect with fellow BMW enthusiasts and, most importantly, experience my new BMW M340i in its full glory. This was not only my introduction to the BMW community, but also a perfect way to explore Melbourne and the greater Victorian region.
The day began early at the Pancake Parlour in Fountain Gate, Narre Warren. Meeting at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, I was eager to connect with fellow club members and share in the excitement of the day ahead. Being new to the area, I found this gathering a great way to break the ice—there’s nothing quite like bonding over a love for BMWs. As I sat down with my coffee and pancakes, surrounded by fellow BMW enthusiasts, I knew the day ahead was going to be exciting.
By 9:30 a.m., the convoy of BMWs was ready to leave, and the thrill of hearing those high-performance engines start was electric. I felt the excitement of being part of this convoy. The line of BMWs, polished and gleaming, wound its way out of the city, turning heads as we navigated through the early morning traffic. Our first stop, at Blue Rock Lake , gave me the chance to get to know my fellow drivers and take in the views of Blue Rock. With new acquaintances made and stories exchanged, we set off again, eager to continue our journey to Walhalla.
The drive to Walhalla was everything I had hoped for and more. The winding roads, lined with lush greenery and spectacular views, were a dream come true for any driving enthusiast. The thrill of navigating those twists and turns, with the BMW purring beneath me, was an unforgettable experience. The camaraderie within the convoy only heightened the enjoyment.
We arrived in Walhalla around midday, greeted by the charming historic buildings and serene atmosphere. Our first adventure after grabbing some much needed lunch was a ride on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, which took us on a scenic journey through the narrow canyon. Surrounded by dense bushland, the train journey offered incredible views of the valley, taking us back in time to the town’s goldmining days. Following the train ride, some of us opted for the underground mine tour, to explore the narrow tunnels and stories of miners long past. For those not on the mine tour, a leisurely walk along the old tramway provided great views over the town and its surrounding landscapes. Many took the opportunity to visit the local cafés, explore the historic buildings, or take a short bushwalk through the area. There was no shortage of things to do in Walhalla, and the charm of the town made it easy to lose track of time.
As the afternoon wore on, we started our journey back to Melbourne. The return journey was relaxed, with a sense of contentment. The day had been filled with history, beautiful scenery, and a real sense of adventure. Looking back, my first BMW Drivers Club experience exceeded all expectations. From the early morning breakfast to the historic train ride, every part of the day was memorable. The drive, of course, was the highlight—there’s something truly special about being part of a convoy of BMWs cruising through some of Victoria’s most scenic roads.
I can’t wait for the next club event, and for those who haven’t joined a drive yet, I highly recommend you do! After all, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of hitting the open road with "The Most Powerful Letter in the World" behind you.
See you on the next adventure!
- Venkat Nuthakki #1225
Spring is nearly here, and we have had some amazing sunny and warm days. Soon we will be looking forward to the return of our twilight drives, which I can’t wait for! I just don’t know where the weeks and months go, being such a busy club has a lot to do with that, I guess. There always seems to be something on to join in with all our friends and enjoy the Club’s activities.
On 6 August we started with our joint members meeting at new Club Sponsors, Doncaster BMW, which was a huge success. We invited our friends from BMW Motorcycle Club Victoria to join us there too and we had a great turn out. It was so nice of Phill, Lydia and all the staff, to stay behind and put on such an amazing night. If you are in the area, be sure to pop in and say hi and let them know you are a BMW Drivers Club Melbourne member. They will be sure to look after you.
On 11 August we were at Sandown for Round 5 of the Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship. The weather was brilliant and not long after the gates opened all the cars flooded in and we had an at capacity event. Thank you again to all the helpers on the day and VFT for their flag marshals and officials who do a brilliant job. We had some very experienced drivers there with their sons too - welcoming Steve Richards, Clay Richards, John Blanchard and Harrison Blanchard. It was great to see the interaction between these well know drivers and their up-and-coming sons on the day. We also have a lot of our members who are parent and child teams, and this is a great thing to see at these events. We really like to see the next generation of drivers coming to our events and continuing their family traditions.
We also had our Racer Industries parade laps at Sandown, which attracted a large group and there were only smiles on the faces of all who participated in this event. Thank you to our sponsor, Racer Industries, for the loan of the course car, this always looks great on the day and attracts a lot of attention. If you need anything for the track, be sure to mention you are a member to obtain your club discount at Racer Industries.
23-25 August was Round 3 of E30 Racing Championship at Sandown. Again, we saw a great turn out of cars and members both participating and supporting the category. Thank you to all the members who joined us all over the weekend to cheer on the teams. BMW Drivers Club Melbourne are sponsoring the Driver of the Round this year for E30 Racing. The winners so far this year are:
If you are thinking of heading down to Phillip Island to watch and would like to stay for the weekend, be sure to call Walter and his crew at Kaloha Resort, Cowes to get a great deal. Be sure to mention you are a BMWDCM member.
On 25 August some of our members headed up to Broadford for Round 6 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship. Our members love this track, and it was great to see them out there having such a great time.
26 August was a special Zoom link to meet and learn from one of BMW's Visionaries. Wow what a brilliant night. It was so great to see so many of our members log in and enjoy Sydney born Dr Stella Clarke, talk us through so much. What an amazing woman.
On 31 August we all met to start the day at the Pancake Parlour in Fountain Gate for a hearty breakfast, before enjoying one of Peter Williams’ fantastic drives through the countryside to Wahalla. Some of us joined the train ride which went for just on an hour, while others did the tour of the Mining tunnels. This is a beautiful old town, almost standing still from the effects from time. A real little gem and some of the roads to get there are awesome for our cars and drivers to enjoy.
On 8 September we have been invited to join our friends from BMW Drivers Club NSW at the NSW SuperFest. This is looking like a fantastic event with quite a few of our members already registered. Registrations are still open, so it is not too late to enjoy the fun of the Sydney Motorsport Complex.
On 17 September we join our long-standing sponsors for our September members meeting at Zagame Auto Body. This is a fabulous state of the art facility, and we will get a private guided tour throughout their workshops and display areas. Registration for this event is essential as you will need to put your car registration number on your booking form to be able to gain access to the venue. Don’t miss out this should be a brilliant night.
On 21 September we have our Black Rock Paranormal Investigation evening, which is nearly sold out. As I am typing this there is only 2 spots left for the 8.30 group. Lots of fun will be had on the night with two groups going through this beautiful historic building to enjoy the history of what is know as the second most haunted building in Melbourne with the old Goal being the first.
On 24-27 April 2025 we are hosting the 2025 BMW Clubs Australia Nationals. The website is now live for you to register at www.bmwclubnationals.com.au.
Be sure to get your bookings in soon at WestWaters, Caroline Springs as rooms are selling fast. This is going to be a fantastic event with so much for all to enjoy and take part in. If you haven’t been to a Nationals event before, this is one you need to get to and see what the Nationals is all about.
We will be needing helpers and officials throughout the Nationals, as well as in the lead up to it, so please register your interest with Simon via officials@bmwdcm.com.au and let him know what rolls and days you will be available to volunteer or help out.
It is simply amazing to see the membership still growing, currently over 820, and even with the current economic climate, members are still staying so loyal to our Club, this makes me so proud. Welcome to all the new members, I look forward to seeing you out an about at an event real soon, I hope you enjoy what the Club has to offer, and you grow to love it as we do.
Don’t forget that if you are interacting with any of our sponsors or supporters, let them know you are a member of the Club, and that their support is very much appreciated. Also keep an eye on the Club partners page, so you can make the most of your membership and give back those who support our Club. We truly appreciate the support we have from our Sponsors, and we try and give them value for their support, so please do use them for any of the products or services they provide.
We are also trialling an exciting new app for our drives at the moment, once we have finished evaluating it and we take it up, it will take our drives to another level. Very excited to be at the forefront of using technology to make our events better, easier and safer for all involved. Watch this space. It will be a huge benefit to all that come on our drives.
Our welfare team is working away in the background, helping out where needed. Remember we are here for you if you need a friend, a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen. We are very proud of our Team and the support they have, and continue to, give. Thank you to the Team. If you need anything, please reach out.
Lawrence and Shaaron have now headed off on a well-earned vacation for the next few months, so if you have any club permit renewals be sure to email them to cpsrenewals@bmwdcm.com.au or post them to 4/244 Marine Parade, Hastings VIC 3915 with a stamped, self-addressed envelope and we will process them and get them back to you as soon as we can. Do not post them to Lawrence’s address, as he won’t see them for some months!
I am not normally one to talk about myself, but some of you may have already heard that I am facing some health challenges at the moment. This may impact Jo and my ability to get to some of the club events over the coming months, but hopefully everything will be sorted out and we’ll be back at as many events as we are normally at in good time. Thank you for all the kind words and calls I have already received, the love and support you all offer is much appreciated and makes the journey much easier. Thank you all.
Take care out there and I look forward to seeing you at an event somewhere soon.
As I am sitting here writing this, ready for the end of month newsletter, I have received an email advising us of the passing of the immediate past President of the BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria, Bob Leggatt, over the weekend. It's such a shock to hear. Bob was a lovely man, and as President had helped us to bring the Car and Bike Clubs together at some of our events.
Our very next event, in fact, is a joint event with the Bike Club at Doncaster BMW. Bob stood down as President at their AGM last month, after three years in the roll. It's very sad news and Bob will be missed by all who knew him. I have passed on our sincerest condolences, both personally and from our Club.
It is a reminder again, to hug those you love a little tighter and cherish the moments you spend together with family and friends. You never know what the future will bring.
With July done we are not only a month into the second half of the year but also halfway through winter, so the days are becoming longer again and a little warmer, when the sun is out. It has been a cold and wet winter so far, but this has not stopped us and our members enjoying our cars.
We started the month on 6 July with Round 4 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Phillip Island. It was lots of fun and an unusually sunny day, for Phillip Island in winter! It was a great day out, as always and it was great to get out and check out the new surface after the track was shut for resurfacing works through May and June.
On 9 July BMW Group Australia invited Jo and I to the launch of the new M5 at their Mulgrave headquarters. It was a lovely evening and great to get up close and personal with the new M5 before it was released to the public. An amazing car, of course, 730hp, 1000nm of torque from its hybrid petrol/electric power plant through all four wheels, it’s just a pity we live in a nanny country where you can’t drive it like it should be driven. It will be great to see one on a track next year. Read more about it here.
On 14 July we attended Karting Madness at Braybrook with a large group, who enjoyed some fun inside and out of the cold with some great lap times and a lot of fun by all that came. Read Lawrence’s write up here.
On 20 July we had a weekend away with a great bunch of members for our Christmas in July at Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill. If you have never been, this is something young and old can enjoy. It is really spectacular. The weather even played along - although it was rather chilly, the light rain stopped in time for the light show. After the show we had dinner at the Robin Hood Hotel in Ballarat. We ran a raffle with some nice prizes, raising $275 for Peter McCallum Cancer Centre. Sunday then saw us explore the area before meeting up for lunch at the Lake View Hotel for a delicious lunch before heading off in our various directions home.
On 30 July we had our regular Drop in Donuts. This is always a greatly attended casual event with members joining together to just catch up for a chat about all things cars and donuts of course!
August starts with a joint meeting at our newest BMW dealership partner, Doncaster BMW. On 6 August, BMW Drivers Club Melbourne and BMW Motorcycle Club Victoria will be doing a joint event at Doncaster BMW. This is a spectacular dealership which hosts BMW, Mini and Motorrad. Join us for a tour and to find out what great offers they will be sharing with all our members.
11 August is Round 5 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Sandown. This is a joint sprint and Kaos Custom Bikes Come and Try Day, plus we will also be doing the Racer Industries Parade Laps again as this went down so well in March. Come and join us, whether you want to just do some gentle parade laps or go flat out against the clock. We will also have some of our E30 racing members on hand to take people for rides or chat about the series that will be racing at Sandown two weeks later.
23- 25 August is E30 Racing Round 3 at Sandown. Come out and support our members that run in this fun series at the Vic State Racing Championships. It’s a great opportunity to see a real race meeting up close and be a part of the action in the pits.
25 August is also Round 6 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Broadford with AROCA. There will be a few members up there having a blast around the Broadford circuit too, so it will be a busy weekend.
31 August is our next family day out, this time a breakfast and drive to Walhalla, starting at the Pancake Parlour at Narre Warren. There are some awesome roads into Walhalla and then a narrow-gauge train ride and everything the old historic town has to offer. Always a great day out and it’s been a few years since last we visited.
Registrations for our next Tassie Trip – “the northern half” close on 7 September. If you want to come and have a blast around northern Tassie, get your registrations in ASAP. The last time we went to Tassie we had a ball and this one will be as much fun again. We already have quite a few booked in to come with us, so it will be another awesome week away.
Challenge Bathurst registrations opens to the public on 1 August, so if you want to attend, get your entry in now. There are a lot on the public Challenge Bathurst wait list, but we can get you in if you contact us today.
Officials are also needed too - you get free camping, 3 meals daily and a uniform. There are also hot laps on the Sunday after the event, weather permitted for first timers. It is a great event to attend as an official and a fantastic way to be a part of motorsport at this amazing circuit.
Our Bathurst 12 Hour private suite in February is nearly sold out. There is only one queen room left at the accommodation venue in town and only a few spots left in the suite. Again, this is an amazing event to be a part of and to do it in style in the corporate suite with all your food and drinks included is definitely the way to go.
Over the ANZAC Day long weekend in 2025 we are running the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals. This is a must do event, so get it in your calendar and join us for a long weekend of events with BMW Club members from all over Australia. We are nearly ready to launch the booking site for registrations to each event over the weekend.
We will be needing lots of volunteers to help run the Nationals as well as sponsors to come on board and help us make this a fantastic event to showcase our club and Melbourne to everyone coming to join us.
Thank you to Melbourne BMW, Shannon's Insurance, Southern BM, Sonax Australia, Bell Motorsport, Sirene Sea Pearls, and Grip Auto Watches for coming on board so far. Your help and support is very welcome and will help us to make the Nationals an event to remember.
The welfare team is still working away in the background, supporting those of us that need a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen. We are a family and are more than happy to lend a hand in any way we can, just reach out if you need anything.
Membership is still going strong. We welcome all the new members that have joined us this month and hope you enjoy your membership experience. The Club is yours, so join in and feel free to offer any suggestions you may have. We are always looking for ideas for events and helpers to run them, so drop us a line if you have an idea or want to put your hand up to help. We run a wide range of events, from casual catch ups to full on racing, so anything you want to do in the world of BMW you will find here. Please enjoy your time in the club.
Thank you for joining us and being a part of our BMW family, I look forward to seeing you at an event somewhere soon.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024, a storied event in the English county of West Sussex featuring a timed 1.86 km hill climb up the stately home’s drive, was ideal occasion for the world premiere of the new BMW M5 high-performance sedan in its seventh generation. It made its first public appearance as part of a spectacular line-up of vehicles that also includes the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype endurance racer, the new BMW M4 CS and an array of classic machines from the motor sport history of BMW and BMW Motorrad.
In honour of designer Marcello Gandini, who passed away in spring this year, BMW Group Classic will also be presenting the BMW Garmisch. This coupé is a rebuild of a concept car that Gandini had designed for coachbuilder Bertone but that then vanished without trace following its premiere at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show.
Also produced in just a single example so far, the BMW Concept Skytop has an exclusive blend of aesthetic appeal and dynamic potency. This design study is making only its second ever public appearance, following on from its world premiere at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. An open-top two-seater, the BMW Concept Skytop symbolises the joy of luxury travel. With design details recalling classic models like the BMW Z8 and BMW 503 and a super-powerful V8 from BMW’s current engine line-up, it bridges the past and the present in hallmark Festival of Speed style.
Read the full article here
Moving up in size from last month's slot cars 21 of us had so much fun racing go karts at Karting Madness Braybrook.
It was great to see a wide range of ages, inluding one Junior who was able to join a Junior only session (so no "motivated" adults blasting past) in between the adult sessions.
The format was two qualifying sessions and then two race sessions. We were split fairly randomly into the two qaulifying groups. Based on overall times for our complete group we were split into the two race sessions - one for the faster drivers and the other for the not so fast.
With a grid start for each race and plenty of chances to overtake, and even more to get it wrong! there were some tense tussles and a lot of big grins.
I was surprised to find myself P4 in the quicker race and even more surprised to make a blinder off the grid into P2 at turn one and going into turn two. Stupidly I went too defensive and tried a touch too hard resulting in a spin, causing chaos behind me for which I can only aplogise, and placed last by quite a margin coming out of turn two.
Ah, the thrill of the chase! Overtaking is very satisfying and I was able to claw my way back to P4 at the end.
Everyone had a tale to tell, a lot to laugh about and had a great time.
Back in the ‘60s my friends and I spent a lot of time and money on slot cars, a relatively new product at that time.
We started with out-of-the-box Airfix and Scalextric cars before enhancing their performance by re-winding the motors for extra power.
We finished up with a chassis made from bonze tube built to a design published in magazines, “naked” motors wound by us by hand with the go-to wire size and supplier, the best-of-the-lot front axle assembly and one of two rear axle/gear set assemblies, topped off with a clear vacuum formed “blob” body which looked pretty close to the real car and painted on the inside for a nice shiny finish. A bit like a modern supercar build really.
We had a big Scalextric track at school on a large board on pullies, lowered to rest on top of the bench vices in the metalwork room at lunchtime and hoisted up out of the way for lessons.
We also had a home made track in a friend’s roof space using hardboard (masonite here) with slots cut by a router and aluminium tape for the conductors. This featured hills and dips and various bend radii and a tricky part situated rather too close to the narrow angle between rafters and roof tiles to enable speedy recovery if a car went off!
Another bright design idea which didn’t work was a wet race simulation. The combination of water and electricity blew the lighting circuit we were plugged into.
Things have moved on since then, in particular the robustness of the cars.
Outlaw Slot Cars offer a great track design and fast cars which are very durable.
The basics remain the same and one of the key features is having enough marshals to put the cars back on the track after the inevitable off.
We used their 8 slot track with a nifty system to ensure that all competitors race on all slots so as to even things up.
Each track is colour coded and you are allocated a start colour, a car and sheet of 8 coloured stickers. Simply put the correct sticker on your car and put it in the correct slot, find the control matching your colour and off you go.
Every 3 minutes the competitors, and their car, change slots (and car stickers) with a rotation system which sees some as marshals and some as competitors but all getting 8 sessions on the track.
In case you are wondering about the stickers, they are so the marshal knows which slot to put your car back into to!
The challenge is to cover as many laps as you can in your 8 sessions, which means going as fast as you dare without falling off too often – as in real racing really but the consequences of an off are far less!
The timing screens are a bit too small to easily see from the competitors position but they cleverly show not only how many laps you have already done but predict how many you will have completed after all 8 sessions. So, even as the number of sessions per competitor changes during the competition you have a target to chase.
It was a lot of light hearted fun as the relative positions jockeyed back and forwards and some people persistently went off at the same place every lap, usually at high speed.
In the end Alex (assisted by his 5 year old daughter despite her having some difficult seeing all of the track) covered the most laps (108, fastest 10.552), Andrew had the fastest lap (8.145 seconds but only 89 laps covered), and Megan had the best balance of those two (8.286 seconds and 100 laps). So not quite tortoise and hare.
© 2025 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc. All Rights Reserved.
