Event date: 23 July 2023

What is motorkhana?? That’s where my mind went when I saw the invite.

Well, here’s my tale of BMWDCM’s motorkhana from July 2023.

Spoiler alert, it was fun, fun fun!

Now for the deets: Essentially, drivers are faced with short and tight obstacle courses, where time & cones are your enemy.

There are a few schools of thought about how to tackle tight courses. Some drivers take it calmly, focussing on accuracy and grip, others focus on flare, oversteer and risk (of getting it wrong). but since I’m yet to got to motorkhana track school I just flogged it & certainly dreamed of landing in the latter category.

Fun waa upsized with the day-long drizzle, making the tarmac super slippery. I doubled down on slippery by digging out my 22yo stock tyres, where the rubber is hard like plastic. My clutch control failed me frequently and my right foot targeted the tacho’s redline.

We were split into groups of between 4-7 through the day. I loved the support, laughs , claps and horn beeps between drivers. Some for major stuff-ups, needing to use reverse, wiping-out cones or nailing turns or whole circuit. The variety of experience made for plenty of mistakes as well as plenty of admiration.

We were so honoured to have so many people willing to official, in all the capacities needed. Standing in the drizzle, sorting out back-office entry forms, getting us lunch or creating courses - you ROCK!

So, keep an eye out for the next motorkhana and smile from ear to ear.

Martin Taylor | Member #598
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Motorkhana - Camaraderie

I would like to take a moment to share what was happening on the other side of the track for those who didn't experience it.

To set the scene we were running 2 courses top hat and pentagon with the same witches hats with one practice run and 2 timed runs and with such short courses if you got out of sequence there was no recovery and it was pouring rain and the bottom part of the track resembled a skid pan.

A competitor on their first timed run went around the first cone came back to the centre and got the starting cone dead centre and parked on it. I signaled to stop, went over and as I couldn't reach the cone asked the driver to back back so I could remove the cone, but it was stuck so grabbed it and they backed off. They were about 5 seconds into the run, so I asked them to go back to the start. They went back to the group and came back.

The second try went well with the course successfully completed and as the driver finished the other drivers honked as if there was a goal at the local footy. It was beautiful to see.

One of the other groups actually lined up across the track back from the start and tooted any good runs they had.

Adrian White | Member #606
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Third triumph for ROWE Racing at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)! In a thrilling race that remained close until the final hour, Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) drove the #98 BMW M4 GT3 to victory after completing 537 laps, securing the 25th overall win for BMW, the most successful manufacturer in the event's history.

Third triumph for ROWE Racing at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)! In a thrilling race that remained close until the final hour, Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) drove the #98 BMW M4 GT3 to victory after completing 537 laps, securing the 25th overall win for BMW, the most successful manufacturer in the event's history. Eng claimed his third Spa triumph for BMW M Motorsport, following his victories in 2016 and 2018. Wittmann celebrated his first win in a 24-hour race ever, while Yelloly crowned a perfect week by adding his second endurance victory after the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (GER) in 2020, which started with his first win in the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Watkins Glen (USA).

During the early stages of the 24-hour race, the BMW M4 GT3 teams had to work their way through the field after missing out on Super Pole due to heavy rain during qualifying. Initially, the BMW M Team WRT #32 BMW M4 GT3 and the #998 BMW M4 GT3 of ROWE Racing made the best progress, quickly battling for the top positions. Meanwhile, the eventual winning car suffered setbacks due to an unfortunate timed pit stop and a problem with the fuel system, causing it to fall far behind. It was only in the evening that car #98 launched an impressive comeback, taking the lead for the first time during the night. That position was briefly threatened by a 30-second time penalty for exceeding track limits, but in the end, Eng, Wittmann, and Yelloly reclaimed the top spot.

In sixth place, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 from BMW M Team WRT, driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA), completed the race. They also showed strong speed but were repeatedly set back by time penalties. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 from the WRT team, with Niklas Krütten (GER), Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FRA), and Calan Williams (AUS) at the wheel, secured second place in the Gold Cup category, making it onto the podium. The #31 BMW M4 GT3, piloted by Adam Carroll and Lewis Proctor (both GBR) finished 25th overall.

In the twelfth hour of the race, an unfortunate accident occurred between Neil Verhagen (USA) in the #998 BMW M4 GT3 from ROWE Racing and Charles Weerts (BEL) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 from BMW M Team WRT. One car was directly behind the other, battling for the top positions when race control initiated an unclear Full Course Yellow procedure. That led to a chain of unfortunate circumstances, with both drivers receiving different information about the exact timing of the yellow period. Weerts reduced his speed, catching Verhagen off guard, and preventing him from avoiding a collision with the rear of the WRT car. Both vehicles suffered heavy damage, but fortunately, the drivers remained unharmed. The accident was followed by a roughly two-hour yellow period due to repairs to the barriers. The #35 BMW M4 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport also retired early.

Reactions after the race.

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “An incredible weekend with the first victory for our BMW M4 GT3 in one of the major 24-hour classics and the 25th overall win for BMW in the Ardennes! Many thanks to the drivers and the ROWE Racing team for their fantastic performance and to every employee of BMW M Motorsport who contributed to developing such a great GT3 car. The race started off challenging for us after missing out on Super Pole and having to start from the midfield. However, all our crews fought their way up the field during the first few hours of the race. It's a pity that the accident occurred during the night, resulting in the loss of two cars. It was a chain of unfortunate circumstances that we need to examine closely. Unfortunately, the home race for the BMW M Team WRT was disappointing, mainly due to this incident, although the #46 crew achieved a respectable sixth-place finish. I also congratulate the #30 BMW M4 GT3 team on their podium finish in the Gold Cup category! Additionally, there were reasons to celebrate in the GT4 European Series here at Spa-Francorchamps. Congratulations to the teams and drivers on their victory and podium finishes with the BMW M4 GT4.”

Hans-Peter Naundorf (Team Principal, ROWE Racing): “This was our toughest victory here at Spa so far. We know how challenging it is to triumph in this race, which makes it even more special. Our competition was incredibly strong, and the final result was incredibly close. I can't remember a more intense GT race. What impresses me the most is the consistency of our team. We have been on the podium in almost every race we've entered this year. Here at Spa, we have secured three victories and two second places since 2016. This can only be achieved with an incredibly motivated and ambitious team, and that's what we have. I am also pleased to see how valuable this victory is for everyone involved in this project. It was time for the BMW M4 GT3 to win such a significant race in its second year.”

Philipp Eng (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 1st place): “Winning a 24-hour race is every racing driver's dream, and this is the most difficult GT race to win. Therefore, it means a lot to me to experience this for the third time in my career. It's a great honour for me. The race was anything but easy for us. At one point, we were one lap behind, and there was no indication that we could still win, but the team did a fantastic job to bring us back into the race. The last two hours felt like an eternity.”

Marco Wittmann (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 1st place): “I've been trying to win a 24-hour race for about ten years now. Finally, it worked out! It's an incredible feeling. A big compliment to the team and my fellow drivers. We had an extremely good package of driver, team, and car that gave me my long-awaited first 24-hour victory.”

Nick Yelloly (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 1st place): “A fantastic performance from the entire team. To win a race like this, so many things need to come together, and today, they did. Many thanks to everyone who made this success possible! Personally, this is the culmination of an outstanding week that started with the first GTP victory for the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Watkins Glen.”

Valentino Rossi (#46 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT, 6th place): “I'm happy. It was a positive race for me. It was my second time taking part in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. After finishing 17th last year, sixth place was a big step forward this time, but of course we want more and will make another attempt next year. Many thanks to the team and my fellow drivers for their great effort!”

Charles Weerts (#32 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT, DNF): “The most important thing is that Neil and I are unharmed after that severe accident. The situation was very confusing, and I can't exactly say what happened. I received the information in the car that a Full Course Yellow was imminent. As a result, I reduced my speed. Neil was right behind me, and he obviously didn't have that information. It was very strange and needs to be investigated thoroughly because something like this is very dangerous and should not happen. I'm extremely disappointed because this is my home race, and I have been hoping to win here for several years. This time, we would have had a good chance.”

Neil Verhagen (#998 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, DNF): “Something went wrong in the communication of the Full Course Yellow before the accident. I didn't have any information that I had to slow down, obviously in contrast to Charles, but I can't say why that was. Everything happened incredibly quickly, and I'm just glad that we drivers are okay. It's extremely unfortunate for BMW M Motorsport to have lost two cars with a chance of winning due to this incident.”

BMW PRESS

Month in review.

Dear members,

The cold and rain has well and truly set in, but the good news is there's only two months left of winter.. 

We started June with our first 10 day trip to South Australia, where we spent time with our fellow BMWDCSA and BMWDCNSW members. We also watched many of our E30 Racing members compete at The Bend where young Royce Lyne made a clean sweep of the weekend. 

____________________

On 6 June some of our members enjoyed our regular catch up at Daniels Donuts. We really do enjoy these informal catch-ups, even when the weather isn't so kind.

____________________

On 20 June we were invited to visit Sonax Australia, who shared their extensive knowledge on how best to use their products to keep our vehicles in the best shape possible. Don't forget that Sonax are one of our club partners, offering members 10% off online with code BMWDC10.

____________________

We wrapped up our events for the month at Broadford for our first come and try day for 2023. This even was extra special, being our first Alex Baxter Memorial event.  

We had over 60 entrants in the day, which was brilliant to see. Richard Van Essen was the lucky, but well deserving, recipient of our first Alex Baxter Memorial award. 

____________________

CHALLENGE BATHURST UPDATE

If you are intending to register and attend Bathurst Challenge, please ensure you register and complete all documents as soon as possible. All documents need to be finalised by mid-July.  

If you are not able to drive but would like to officiate, please complete this application form, and return to events@bmwdcm.com.au as soon as possible.  All officials will receive free campgrounds and all meals while at the track.

____________________

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Welcome to our new members Phil Gleadhill, Jason Langton, Angus Dunn, Harry Vontelas, Nicholas Stillwell, Sidney Stillwell, Rob Marks, Stuart Gamble, Peter Mornement and Anthony Branchflower. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

____________________

Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.

The month ahead.

2025 BMW Clubs Australia Nationals.

News & Blog.

Classifieds.

idrive magazine.

Club partners.

Members are welcome to submit their business to be shared on the Club Partners page on our website and idrive magazine. 

We believe in supporting those who support us.  If you would like your business listed email us with your details.

____________________

As always - thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296
Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900
Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 
Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn

Cover photo: Jess Bell

Proudly supported by:

All Commercial / All Residential Real Estate
Berwick BMW
Bill Lowe Events
BM Tech
German Auto Haus
Kalus Kenny Intelex
Melbourne BMW
Mornington BMW
Shannons Insurance
Shepparton BMW
South Yarra BMW

Southern BM
Traction Tyres
Waverley BMW

Dear members,  

Welcome to the latest edition of my summation of the Club’s activities over the last month. As you can see we have been very busy again this month and not much sign of that slowing down anytime soon.

From 2- 11 June we started June with our big 10 day South Australian Adventure for some, with others joining us at the end of the week for 5 days.

This is the first time BMWDCM have travelled west to South Australia, and we will definitely do it again.  With a small but friendly group, including a couple from the BMWDCNSW, we travelled through some amazing countryside and caught up with members from BMWDCSA. It was so nice for both clubs o come together. We joined 30 odd members of BMWDCSA for dinner on our first night in Adelaide and then a few of their members joined our adventures over the week that followed. At the end of the week some of us met up with the E30 Racing club to race at The Bend.  Jo and I decided we will be doing some club sprint events here and we will definitely be doing another trip to SA in the near future.  Lots to see, such a beautiful state.  

6 June saw some of our members catch up at the Daniels Donut night which has turned out to be a great night and the numbers are growing each time we do this.  Thank you to Lawrence for putting this on over the other side of the bay for our west-side members.  Its great to do something on both sides to accommodate members from all parts of Melbourne and beyond.

On 20 June we had our members meeting at Sonax Australia. Although it was a freezing night, we had a great turn out and everyone walked away with great knowledge of how to use their products and also arms full of products to use on their vehicles.  Thank you to Stephan and Peta for putting on a great night.  Remember if you are wanting to order stock on-line use our clubs discount code. BMWDC10.

24 June was our first Come and Try day at Broadford for 2023, which well exceeded our expectation of entrants - we have over 60 registrants.  Broadford is a great track to teach new and inexperienced drivers (and also new officials) some new skills.  This was also the Alex Baxter memorial round and with Alex’s partner and family in attendance, it was a very emotional day. Richard Van Essen was the lucky recipient of the Alex Baxter Memorial Award.

July is going to be another busy month. Jo has been keeping very busy arranging events!

1 July is Round 4 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Phillip Island.  There will be a lot of BMWs out on the track, and we are hoping the weather stays nice for the day.

4 July is Round 4 of the Shannons Simulator Challenge. We have a very close first, second and third in the championship at the moment, it could be anyone’s championship!  Be sure to come along and watch if you don’t want to ‘drive”, join us for pizza and a warm drink and catch up with the others that just come to socialise.  There are still spots left for this round, so get your name down and come have some fun. 

9 July is Christmas in July at Phillip Island, with a great drive planned by Peter Williams, a stop off at the chocolate factory and then lunch at the Foreshore in Ryhll.  Registration closes on 4 July, so make sure you don’t miss out on this fun event.  Christmas novelty clothing competitions will be held, and all small children will go away with a Christmas something. This event is strictly by bookings only, so if you have not registered by 4 July you can join us for the drive but unfortunately not for lunch. GET YOUR REGISTRATIONS IN NOW! We want to see your ugly Christmas jumpers!

12 July will be another drop in donuts night in Geelong, so watch out for that in your emails. These meet ups are becoming popular. We may have to start something over this side of the Bay, so we can all enjoy some donuts and casual meet ups of an evening.

23 July we will be doing our first Driver Training/Motorkhana at Calder Park.  Entries are open now for our first visit to Calder Park. This is going to be a lot of fun and we look forward to seeing you all there. It will be a bit of a test run to see what we can do at Calder, so come along and join us for some fun. Get your entries in quick as there are limited numbers for this one.  There will be tea/coffee/cold drinks available, and we will also be doing a sausage sizzle type lunch which is included in your registration fee.

Other dates to remember:

• 27 August - German Auto Show. This event will be huge! We need lots of cars/bikes/donations/officials, so make sure you have it in your calendar.
• 12 October is our AGM at the German Tivoli Club. We are always looking for people to come on board and help the executive run the club, so if you are interested in helping out, come along and let us know. We are all volunteers, so any time or help you can offer would be greatly appreciated, and if you have some skills that might help the Club, then please let us know.
• 25-26 November - Challenge Bathurst. Registrations closing very soon, only a handful of spots left.
• 10 December - Christmas Show and Shine at Cruden Farm.

We are after officials to help with Challenge Bathurst.  If you think this is something you might link to help with, please contact Jo via events@bmwdcm.com.au and she will send you the registration forms.

We have a new winter windcheater which we are trailing to see how members like it. It will be pre orders only so have a look on our online store to see the new garments and specials.  We also have in our store, for a limited time only, a book called ‘Telling my Story’, which is very inspirational.  Get your copy now.

We have had an update from BMW Clubs Australia and have been advised that the recently elected Chair has decided to stand down with immediate effect after only three months in the role. So, Craig Florence (BMW Drivers Club South Australia Delegate), who was elected to vice-chair cars at the last Clubs Australia AGM, will take over as Chair until the next Clubs Australia AGM in 2024. At this stage we are unsure what will happen regarding the vacant position on the Clubs Australia Executive. Congratulations and thank you for stepping into the role Craig, we look forward to working with you going forward.

For those that don’t know, as an Official BMW Club, we are a part of a world-wide network of some 800+ car and bike clubs that is overseen by BMW in Munich through BMW Clubs International. Our regional Umbrella organisation is BMW Clubs Australia, which is made up of delegates from each on the car and bike clubs in Australia. Being a member of an Official BMW Club has its benefits, like personal tours of BMW Classic in Munch. For more on BMW Clubs Australia see here. 

Our welfare team have been working away in the background, helping where they can and being an ear or a shoulder when needed. Remember, if you need anything at all, there is always someone to listen or call on if you need anything. We are one big family and are there for any of our members that need assistance. Check our website for contact numbers or email welfare@bmwdcm.com.au.

With winter now a month down and the winter solstice just past, we can start looking forward to longer days and dreaming of warmer weather, but whilst we are in the grip of winter, remember to drive to the conditions wherever you are and take care out there.

I look forward to seeing you at an event somewhere soon.

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

Event date: 2-12 June 2023

Packed the day before to prepare for an early start to Mt Gambier. Collected Adrian. Whoa!

Adrian had knee replacement surgery 3 and a half weeks ago and is meant to be on sticks for six weeks. "Don't worry", he says, tossing the sticks into the boot (where they would remain). Okee-dokee, off we headed at the respectable time of 10.30am. "The doctor says he can go, but has to stop every hours for exercises".

"Hmmm". The rest of the BMWDCM crew had left hours ago, and we were on a mission to catch them. With the assistance of some motivational music (eg. Bat out of Hell) and one only coffee break, we got to Mt Gambier 5 minutes behind the main crew. Need i say, "Don't mention this to Adrian's surgeon".

At Mt Gambier we checked out some seriously large sinkholes, like i mean huge. Jo found the possums particularly friendly, if you have pieces of apple in your hand.

Off we scooted, on the magnificent South Australian (SA) roads, more on this later, with a pleasant 110km speed limit even on two-way carriage ways with only a painted line to seperate them. (Hear that Mr Vic Premier).

Approx an hour into SA, the roads became decideadly rippled and bouncy, with occassional 100km/hr sections, for no other reason than they perhaps had run out of 110km/h signs. Just as abruptly they would return to 110km/h signs.

We noticed that BP themed service stations were branded OTR. Apparently this acronym stood for On The Run, so we still supported them.

Arriving in Glenelg (that's SA, about 20 minute south of Adelaide, along the Anzac Highway, and adjacent to beaches in the St Vincent Gulf). Pretty posh. We would eat dinner in fine style at fresh Seafood restaurants, Italian, Thai, and the less convincing Ottoman Grill, who slighty torched our food as though we were Greek spartans. More on spartans later.

Our first dinner in Glenelg was with the amazing, entertaining, and welcoming group of BMW enthusiasts from SA. BMWDCSA (i suspect you can work that one out). Several members joined us on a midweek drive. Michael (Mike) and Susan also joined us on a trip to Victor Harbor (no British nonsense about the 'our' in harbor, this is how the SAians spell it). Mike also lead our group to Murray River where it meets the ocean. We then returned to the other Michael's house in Woolwa, and were entertained by Michael and partner Jillian, with an elaborate bbq and great conversation, overlooking Snake River and Murray River, with Pelicans and a myriad of other birds trilling and crooning by the moonlit evening. The serenity and tranquillity, making it ‘The Castle’ of our destinations.

Over quintuples of dinners we discussed many topics, though i was particularly impressed with John C's description of Spartans. Greek warriors trained to protect their King and peoples at all costs, including their own death. These warriors were tough. More on this later. ps. John and Allison had travelled all the way from Sydney to join us. This was a National link up, and we were all enriched from the interstate linkups.

After a few early starts (9.30 am), Jo bought me a sympathetic insulated coffee mug, filled it with fresh coffee from the breakfast which i always slept through, and which Adrian delivered to my room, 10 minutes prior to my expected 'be in the drivers seat' time. Bliss.

This was amazing team work, and got me to the meeting site (had to walk to lift, press button from level 1 to ground level, and walk 15m to carpark), to get there just on time.

As usual, Peter had mapped out great destinations, and indirect routes along twisty back roads. Cruise control on Anzac Highway, and then we came alive. Briskly diving into corners, swiftly changing direction, and inadvertantly banging Adrian's knee against the passenger door. I didn't notice, so i kept doing it. At the end or the day, Adrian had a distinct limp. "Oh", i would say, "still recovering from surgery?"

Same thing next day. The day after that he travelled with Jo and Graeme. "Hmmm", i summised. Maybe he had been in pain, but did not want to complain, as a happy companion on the trip. That's when it occured to me. Spartans don't simply belong to the pre-Roman era, they still exist now. Adrian considered my enjoyment of the trip to be just as important as his. He toughened up, and to my embarassment, i have to thank him. Anyhow, back to me.

We, actually Adrian and me, used our free day to visit Mt Barker, and planned to head to Port Adelaide, and maybe Adelaide itself. We got as far as Mt Stirling Hotel (like 20 minutes away), and never got any further. Adelaide Hills can be like that. Pretty one minute, absorbing the next, and then you simply want to stay and relax. We had a great meal in front of a fire, enjoyed some live music (Nic Hutton), and i began an affair with Hahndorf Hill - Gru Gruner Veltliner (vibrant layers of citrus/ ruby grapefruit, spice, crushed thyme, juicy acidity and a delicious core of yellow stone fruit, with a hint of black pepper).

After a few days of pretty countryside and spectacular views, Peter replicated this experience further south, where we got to cross the Murray River a few times, without crossing a border (as most Victorians do when entering NSW). We even did one crossing with our hands off the steering wheel. Don't worry, it was on a ferry.

Ahhh. Tailem Bend for a bit of racing. Royce (16yo on E30 pole) slipped on take off, chasing the lead for several laps, prodding, dancing, until the lead made the tiniest of errors, and Royce sprinted away. He got to within 0.3 seconds of lap record in an exciting race.

Next day, we returned. Royce had already whittled his lap time down by another tenth of a second. He trailed to the first corner, and then sprang into the lead. Faster, faster, slight slide on the corner opposite the main viewing tower. Perfect turn into the straight. Another tenth of a second faster. He gapped the following cars, getting further ahead, stopped apexing the tightest corner, and knocked more time off his laps, and broke the E30 lap record. Slowing down for a couple of laps with over-heated tyres, Royce blitzed the final lap, taking an amazing 0.5 seconds of the lap record. Watch this guy, big things ahead.

Proud as punch, a few of us headed off to the Kelleske winery (Barossa) to celebrate.

Funfilled journey, with lots of different experiences. Big thankyou to BMWDCM for organising such an amazing trip, thanks Jo, Graeme, Peter, and of course the behind the scenes endeavours of Lawrence and Shaaron. A big thankyou to BMWDCSA who also hosted and shared our SA experience with us. Hope to return your generosity soon.

John Shreeve | Member #579
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Event date: 24 June 2023

“Do you guys do driver training days?” – a question I asked Jo Mawson during the afternoon tea break on the BMWDCM Australia Day social drive event. Driver Training was something I had been thinking about for quite some time, yet many of the courses I found online seemed prohibitively expensive. “Yes”, came the reply, “Our first driver training day for 2023 is in June”, along with a patient and helpful explanation of the things I would need for the event.

As I had never been on a track before, I also reviewed the “Preparing your car and yourself for a motorsport event” page on the BMWDCM site, and over the coming months researched and purchased a fire extinguisher, metal tyre valve caps, a helmet, track suit and gloves.

Some other ways I prepared for the event included joining the BMWDCM Simulator challenge (highly recommended as a great deal of fun as well as an opportunity to learn safely in a virtual environment while enjoying some friendly competition!). I also searched YouTube for topics such as “track etiquette”, “what to expect on a track day”, “track day driving tips” as well as watching videos of people doing laps at the Broadford track where the event would be held.

In early May, I received the event announcement email, which described the event as being about improving your driving skills on track in a relaxed atmosphere without the seriousness of competition. Although I had no prior track experience, I was (and still am) keen to learn and saw this is a great opportunity to do just that. I registered for the event and returned the required forms.

The night before the event I packed my bag with items I would take to the track and set my alarm for the crack of dawn so I could drive to the track and arrive in time for check in. On being woken by the alarm the next morning, I got up, had breakfast, changed into the track suit, and drove to the track.

The morning was cold and overcast with heavy cloud cover and seemed threatening to rain, although the Melbourne weather forecast (according to the weather app on my phone) predicted only 1mm of rain for the day. Still, I decided to take my coat and an umbrella anyway, just in case. I was glad I did, as over the course of the day there were several heavy showers at the track, and it was quite cold and windy too, even though the clouds gave way to sunshine late morning.

On arriving at the track, I found an empty garage slot and headed to the office to check in and purchase my competition number stickers. I also took the opportunity to walk around the pit/garage area and admire the other cars which had already arrived, including a Honda Civic Type R, Mazda MX5, a couple of Porsche 911s, many BMWs (including both road and racing M3s and an exquisitely presented John Player Special), and even a Maserati. I also chatted to a few of the other drivers in the pits; it was great to meet new people and share the enjoyment of cars and motorsport. 

Soon both drivers and officials were summoned to the comprehensive and informative drivers’ briefing which covered a variety of topics including track etiquette, an explanation of the meaning of the various flags, and a demonstration of correct seating position when driving on track.

Following the drivers’ briefing, those who had never driven on this circuit were instructed to do a sighting lap behind the safety car to familiarize themselves with the track layout, learn where the flag marshalling points were, etc. Unfortunately, as I had stayed behind to ask a question following the driving seating position demonstration, when I arrived at the dummy grid near the track entrance for my sighting lap, the safety car was not there. I cautiously drove around the track, noting the flag points along the way.

As I’d been allocated to the last run group, I spent some time watching the other run group sessions and chatting to some of the other drivers around the paddock. When it came time for my first session on track, I was excited but a little nervous at the same time! It was really helpful to have an experienced instructor with me in the car to provide guidance and tips through the laps – it definitely boosted my confidence.

When the session was over, it was late morning. As the sun had started to come out and I wasn’t sure when my next session would be, I decided it would be an opportune time to grab some lunch, so headed over to the canteen. As I was almost finished my lunch, I heard an announcement over the PA that all drivers were to attend an award ceremony near the scrutineering shed. I hurriedly finished my grilled chicken roll and headed back down to the scrutineering area.

During the award ceremony, Jo Mawson explained that this “Come and Try” day was dedicated to honouring the memory of a recently passed club member, Alex Baxter. “Dedicating the Come and Try event to Alex and holding it at the location of his first ever track day is a great way of allowing his legacy to live on,” she said. “And the Alex Baxter Award goes to.. Richard Van Essen”, before presenting me with the Award certificate. I was truly surprised and felt deeply honoured to receive this award. 

After the award ceremony, most of the other drivers headed to the canteen for lunch as well. After the lunch break, there were a few more track sessions in the afternoon, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I’d like to thank Jo Mawson and the team of other BMWDCM officials and instructors who helped organize and run this event and make it a fun, safe, and thoroughly enjoyable day for all.

Richard Van Essen | Member #946
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Seventh generation of the BMW M5 Sedan already undergoing an intensive testing programme. BMW M GmbH to continue its product offensive in 2024 and confirms the extension of its model range to include a Touring variant of the new high-performance model.

The prototypes are carefully disguised, but they cannot conceal their character as high-performance cars. The future generation of the BMW M5 has entered the practical phase of its series development process. The new high-performance sedan from BMW M GmbH is now completing its test drives on public roads, BMW Group proving grounds and racetracks around the world.

Moreover, fans of the BMW M brand can look forward to a further result of the product offensive that will continue into the year 2024. BMW M GmbH has now officially confirmed that with the new edition of the BMW M5, it will be adding a Touring variant to its model range. The perfect symbiosis of M-typical performance, uncompromising long-distance comfort and impressive spaciousness will experience a renaissance in 2024 with the new BMW M5 Touring.

Just like the future BMW M5 Sedan, the Touring variant will also feature a completely newly developed partially electrified drive system. Its M-typical performance characteristics as well as the precisely tuned chassis technology refined with innovative systems facilitate driving dynamics and agility at a level unique in this vehicle class. Thus, BMW M GmbH is steadily progressing on its path to electrification. "We are now also installing a hybrid drive system with typical M performance in other high-performance cars," says Dirk Häcker, Head of Development at BMW M GmbH.

For almost 40 years now, the BMW M5 has been the benchmark for driving dynamics, agility and precision in the high-performance sedan segment. Evolutionary progress, development know-how from racing and pioneering innovations in the areas of drive, suspension, aerodynamics and lightweight construction have shaped the history of the BMW M5. Engines with six, eight and ten cylinders, M TwinPower Turbo technology and high-revving characteristics, the compound brake system with M Carbon ceramic brakes and M xDrive four-wheel drive are just some of the technological milestones with which this model has repeatedly redefined top performance in a sedan that is unconditionally suitable for everyday use. The seventh generation of the BMW M5 takes up on this – with fascinating innovations for an even more intense performance experience.

The first BMW M5 Touring was launched back in 1992 based on the second-generation BMW M5 Sedan and has since stood for a combination of high performance and everyday practicality on four wheels. In 2007, BMW M GmbH also added a Touring variant to the fourth-generation BMW M5. And currently, the successful launch of the first BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive* also underscores the high appeal of this special vehicle concept in the premium midrange segment of high-performance cars.

Testing of the first prototypes of the new BMW M5 Touring is to commence in the next few days in urban traffic as well as on country roads and motorways around Munich and at the BMW M GmbH headquarters in Garching. The integrated application of all drive and suspension systems will then also be carried out for the new BMW M5 Touring on the Nürburgring's Nordschleife, among other places, with the aim of ensuring the ideal balance of sporting performance on the racetrack and superior ride comfort in everyday driving and over long distances.

BMW PRESS

Event date: 2-12 June 2023

Day one

This is a trip we have been planning for quite a few months and the lead up to this trip was a little rocky for me as I have my 84 years mum in hospital unwell.

A quick drive up to Ringwood to make sure all the trip booklets (70 pages thank you Peter Williams) would get to the travellers on time if we were running a few days late.

Lucky mum was released from hospital on Thursday evening and after a late-night pack of the race car and our own personal items we managed to set off at 9.40am which was a nice change for us.

The rest of the convoy were meeting at Caroline Springs, and another two from Cranbourne, so we thought we would try to catch them up at lunch along the way.

A quick call to the boys from Cranbourne and realising they were still about 30 minutes away we kept going and knew we would catch them up somewhere along the road.

Surprisingly, the roads were great, no major hold ups, a nice run through the city to get on the main highway heading to Ballarat then West towards Mt Gambia.

Its amazing the difference in the landscape as you travel along our roads throughout Australia, it is quite diverse but very beautiful.

With several phone calls and WhatsApp messages we worked out the main group were having lunch in Dunkeld and were 1.15 hours in front of us and this was very possibly for us to catch up with them.

We couldn’t have asked for better travelling weather the sun was out and it was a nice cool 16c perfect driving weather.

As we approached Dunkeld my phone rang, and it was Peter asking where we were and lucky, we were just approaching the group.

We still didn’t have the boys behind but knew they were not that far behind (but using a different drive route) so we pushed on.

Quick toilets stop and then we were soon crossing the border not SA and that’s when we hit a little drizzle but not too bad.

Continuing as a group minus 2 we arrived at our motel at 3.15 SA time, did a quick unload and the others were with us within 15 minutes which was great driving by them.

Off to the Umpherston sink hole which was incredible. The Floral and Fauna in these gardens was just amazing and as we left the bottom, we were greeted by some local brush tail possums which were very friendly and even eat out of our hands. Very special indeed.

After a quick stop at Repco for a car cover for the race car, we headed up to the blue lake which as a very dark inky blue at this time of year. Apparently, the lighter blue is from November to March, which makes perfect sense. We had a bit of a drive around the lake but the light was fading so we had to head back to the motel.

Back to the motel for a quick freshen up, some quick emails, life still goes on even though we are away, and then off to the Barn for dinner recommended by one of our members who didn’t make this trip.

The Barn was 10 klm out of town but worth the drive. The interior was amazing with a wall of fame, plates signed by celebrities and dignitaries who had passed through an dine here.

Beautiful chandeliers greeted us as we walked in, and we noted that there is accommodation here too so worth a stay next time we come past.

The food was amazing and so accommodating seeing I have so many allergies.

It had been many years since visiting Mt Gambia and I really enjoyed our quick tour but would definitely stay longer next time.

Fun night catching up with old and new friends and hearing some hilarious stories.

This is going to be a fun week and I cant wait for day 2.

Jo Mawson | Member #2
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Day two

On a cool and sunny morning our excited band of nine travellers departed Mt Gambier at 9.00am sharp for a 484km drive to Adelaide via the coast rather than the inland route.

The limestone coast of south- east South Australia treated us to extensive stretches of pine forests, happy grazing sheep and cattle, black cockatoos and soaring pelicans along the 200km stretch of the Coorong and beautiful examples of South Australian architecture in Robe.

At Kingston S.E. Jo and Graeme left the group to deliver the E30 to The Bend and then met us at Tailem Bend for a peak hour run down the motorway to our motel in Glenelg. The Adelaide International Motel was our “home” for the next nine nights.

Later that evening the BMW Drivers Club of SA arranged a welcome dinner at the Holdfast Hotel (aka The Holdy) in Glenelg. A very convivial evening was had by all.

Allison Cotter 
BMW Drivers Club of NSW

Day three

Day 3 was planned to be an easier day with a sleep in and heading our own different ways after a late start. John and I thought we would test the mountain roads and head to mount Lofty to take in the view offed over Adelaide arriving there at midday.

The trick then was what to do next so I asked the attendant in the souvenir shop what could offered in say a 30-minute range of where we were and all the ideas that immediately came to mind like Hahndorf were to be done later in trip so the more experienced attendant came over and recommended Port Adelaide and the museums there. While we pondered this, we thought we would have lunch so asked the attendant for a recommendation and she recommended the pub at Stirling as the food is good and has a good vibe.

John S found a couple of mountain roads to stretch his legs on and Margarette took us in the wrong direction and this gave John S a few more klms to play with but the drive was also scenic.

We stopped, engaged google and headed for Stirling. We found the pub and fortunately there is quite a bit of parking under the supermarket opposite and went in for lunch. The place was packed so we ended in some low springy chairs near the fire place and ordered lunch. As we were eating a guy stopped and dropped off a backpack and then came with a trolley and he was setting up to play music right in front of our table. Name was Nic Hutton if interested and he played several sets across the course of the afternoon as a guitar soloist. We enjoyed the music and the banter with him including how his foot pedals worked and only returned to Glenelg after his sets had finished.

It was a very pleasant afternoon but we did not make it to Port Adelaide today.

Dinner was at the Watermark which is a former Woolworths business now under ALH. The surroundings were airy and there was adequate supplies of whatever you wanted including seafoods. We had a good meal and good company and left as the venue was closing for the night.

Adrian White | Member #606
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Day four

It was an atmospheric day for a scenic cruise, drizzly , grey and softly misty. The convoy made its way through the CBD peak time commuting traffic at a very leisurely pace, the locals did not abide by the speed limit it seemed, they tended to go lower. Rolling greens hills loomed invitingly in the distance and trim streets were peppered with churches and almost as many of gas stations. OTR BP is huge in Adelaide apparently.

Driving through the twisty back roads of Adelaide Hills was spirited and much fun when you are in a front-wheel drive like a MINI. It’s even more fun tailing a professional driver like JC in a M2 Competition while admiring its shapely and illuminated behind. There is something infinitely pleasant about the watching the cars expertly gliding through corners in a veil of mist, surrounded by feathery greenery on either side.

For motor enthusiasts the Birdwood Mill Motor Museum is a must see. The museum wasn’t crowded on a Monday and was featuring a special exhibit featuring a collection of rare Holdens 1948-2017. My favorite? The “Marilyn”, a non-production cabriolet version of the Monaro. Marilyn is in a sophisticate shade of indigo blue, maybe with a hint of subtle metallic glitter. Understated elegance embodied, if ever a Holden can be called elegant?

You know there are destinations where you haven’t been for a while and the second time you see it, it has much improved and bloomed? Sadly Hahndorf isn’t one of those places, at least in my book. my previous trip to Hanhdorf was in the height of summer, and the tree-lined historic town felt a few degree cooler than the CBD, refreshing and hospital, quirky but substantial. That was my memory five years ago. This time around though it seemed the town has leaned heavily towards catering for the tourist flavor of the month, which is east and south Asian at the moment. The Germanic essence seemed to have been diluted somewhat. Still, if you are looking for a haircut and a quick blow dry, there are many options available. As are scented candles and opals of dubious origin.

The German Bakery where we had a quick bite to eat I cannot recommend again, the ownership has changed hand and perhaps the recipes too. What I can recommend though, at the time of writing is a little hidden gem in the form of Gallery & Wine Museum displaying Wolf Blass’ personal achievements and records of 60 years of wine making – Adelaide Hills Wine Bar, 62 Main Street,  62 Mount Barker Rd. It was bright, warm and a considered space with several plush seating areas and an open fire. The bar was well stocked and the menu carefully curated.

Do not dismiss the Visitor Information Centre and the Hahndorf Academy, where a zebra (again with a shapely behind also a back story) greets the visitors, and where one can really delve into the local history and channel the pioneering spirit. It is hard to imagine how physically tough and different life was barely 200 years ago. There is also a gallery upstairs but it was closed for change over when I visited.

Day four’s driving concluded with a straight zoom zoom to the homebase, taking nowhere near as long and admittedly nowhere near as fun. We sampled the local seafood restaurant ‘SheShell’, which proved to be interesting enough for us to return to Wednesday with a much larger appetite.

It was a full moon.

Sally Lu 
ClubMINI

Day five

We headed to the Clare Valley wine district on the Tuesday, after swapping our itinerary around to take advantage of a warm, sunny day.  We had already planned a later start, so the Clare Valley trip meant we would return after dark (with sunset just 5pm), but it was worth it.  The newish northern expressway got us out of Adelaide efficiently, and our trip took us through countryside of increasingly rolling hills until we reached the Clare Valley. 

I had searched out 4 or 5 of the best rated wineries in the district, but the first two we tried to visit, in Auburn, were closed for the winter in one case and on weekdays in the other case.  We continued north to a long-time favourite of mine, Crabtree in the village of Watervale.  Robert Crabtree sold the winery a few years back, a syndicate had it for a while and now a young couple owns it.  The wife hosted us to a tasting of their full range of wines, all produced from their own small vineyard.  The muscat was very popular and their unusual fortified shiraz was very good too.  I liked a Shiraz-Cabernet dating from Robert Crabtree’s time, but their other reds, whites and a rose dated from the syndicate era and weren’t so great.  I’ll be interested to see what the new couple, with their new wine maker, achieve from here on.  It was a pleasant visit with an outdoor tasting overlooking part of the valley – the sort of interaction you don’t get with the larger wineries.  The Clare Valley is a shallow, broad valley surrounded by low hills, but it was explained to us that that’s enough for it to have a significantly cooler climate during the critical growing season than the other South Australia wine districts, leading to it having cool climate wines even though the valley gets hot in summer.

Our next stop was Sevenhill, which produces communion wines for the Roman Catholic Church throughout Australia, along with a range of other wines.  While some tasted the wines, others of us explored the underground cellars, the imposing and rather beautiful church, and the crypt underneath the church.  First time I’ve been in a crypt – not something that happens very often (while alive, anyway).

Sevenhill was a very leisurely visit, meaning we had quite a late lunch in a café in Clare.  Clare itself surprised us with its size – clearly a busy regional centre.  While it had a few old buildings, it was mainly the little villages in the valley which had buildings dating from the mid 1800s.  All in all, the valley is a scenic and historical delight, as well as having so many small and medium-sized wineries which are more enjoyable and informative to visit than the large wineries in places like the Barossa Valley.

From Clare, we headed East, with a short stop at Farrell Flat to observe its excellent silo art.  About 30 minutes from Clare is the historic mining town of Burra, also known for its historic stone buildings.  In fact, many of the houses are of stone, as well as the shops and official buildings.  We only had a brief visit due to the time; it would be easy to stay a couple of nights and fill in a complete day exploring the history of the place.  Leaving town, we detoured briefly to see the open cut copper mine that was the reason for the town’s existence – an impressively deep mine for its time, now with a lake in the bottom.

Our journey South from Burra took us along the scarily-named Worlds End Highway in a slow twilight, with a long line of  low, rounded hills to our right and vast flat plains stretching to the horizon on our left.  It was dark by the time we reached Eudunda so we couldn’t see its silo art; we simply kept heading back towards Adelaide, with just one enforced detour due to a road closure for roadworks.

Driving-wise, this was a cruising day on good quality roads (mostly), appreciating South Australia’s 110km/h limit on most of the rural roads.  Cruising meant we had plenty of time to appreciate the scenery, especially in the Clare Valley.  Definitely a recommended place to visit for anyone finding themselves with some time in Adelaide.

Peter Williams | Member #36
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Day eight

Those of us not at the track took a long day-trip to Victor Harbor (spelt without a “u”), which is a family weekend/holiday town on the coast south from Adelaide – think Rye if it was a town on its own.  Mick and Sue from the SA club joined us on the drive – and took note of how we use the radio on our drives so they can do likewise on theirs.

We started off along the coastline in Glenelg and points south – the first time some of our group had seen the ocean here (although technically it’s Spencers Gulf) on this trip.  Adelaide has a long line of beaches for most of its coastal length; they are sheltered from the open ocean much like the Port Phillip beaches, but open to the cold westerly winds today.  We continued south on the enjoyable Myponga Reservoir road, which includes driving across the reservoir’s dam wall.  Next was the Inman Valley, with a great if lumpy road winding and sweeping through a green, scenic valley.  That brought us to Victor Harbor.

Several of the crew jumped on the horse-drawn tram to ride along the new jetty to Granite Island, a little offshore from the mainland.  The island Is a safe habitat for various types of wildlife.  We had lunch at various places in the town, and some shopping took place too.  We headed a short distance to Encounter Bay and The Bluff, for pleasant scenery to Victor Harbor and wild scenery on the shore of the Southern Ocean.  Next was a run to Goolwa and onto Hindmarsh Island, to view where the Murray River empties into the ocean.  The veracity of this was debated – the river empties into Lake Alexandrina, which connects (again via the river) to the top end of the Coorong which opens to the ocean.  A series of barrages and locks controls the flow, to keep adequate water in the lake systems and to prevent the ingress of too much salty water into the freshwater lakes.

A short drive took us to SA club members Mike and Jill Keene’s home on the banks of the lakes and waterways.  Mike kindly hosted us to a barbecue dinner, but first we admired the scenic location of their home and the views to be taken in.  It was a convivial late afternoon and evening that was greatly enjoyed by all, and the hospitality was very much appreciated.  We finished the day with a night-time run back to Adelaide, on which BMW’s adaptive headlights showed their worth.  We enlivened the trip with a short but careful fang down the Old Willunga Road hill, and entered Adelaide on the relatively new M2 expressway.

Peter Williams | Member #36
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Day nine

Day 9 was our second last day and considering that we would need to be on the road very early to make Tailem Bend for the first E30 race so the reduced group decided that we would go to Tailem Bend for the second and last race and looking at the track schedule this meant that we needed to leave Glenelg at 11.00am which was to the delight of the Shreeve.

We had breakfast and the five of us lined up at 11.00 to head off with John S happy and smiling departure. The three cars then loaded and headed for the Bend and as we had gone the day before took a direct route in time for the race. We were already aware of this mornings first race and Royce Lyne had improved but had been delayed by a competitor in another category so his time had improved but not as much as hoped.

We got to the track and met up with E30 group as they were starting to prepare for their last race then went and watched the Hyundai Excel race which was red flagged due to a car rolling over a number of times which needed to be recovered on a flat bed truck and this delayed the E30 race a little.

Then the E30s took to the track and the grid up was different with the E30s first and the other category further down the grid to start later giving the E30s a chance to race in clear air at least initially so it was hoped that there would be some good results and hopefully some better times. Jo & Graeme were watching the times and we were receiving updates on how they were doing standing on the Skydeck on the 4th floor with a view of the entire track. The biggest news initially was that Royce had just scrapped into the 14s and was leading the race. Royce then slowed a little to recover the tyres before trying again on the last lap and this allowed Royce to post his fastest time which was a record for this category.

We were talking to Royce afterwards when a young fellow stopped by and asked Royce for his autograph which was a bit of a shock for Royce.

After the race, the touring group split with Peter travelling back on the old Princes Highway and the other 2 cars deciding to head back to the Barossa Valley in a more direct way to visit the Kalleske Wines Cellar Door in Greenock. It was good to do the second trip as the different route gave a different view of the valley although we got to the cellar door later than optimal although we were still able to try their more than ample array of wines before purchasing with 2 boxes of wines to be transported back to the eastern states.

The cellar door closed at 5 so we headed back to Glenelg for our last dinner which was Phuket Thai which the members enjoyed before retiring.

Adrian White | Member #606
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Month in review.

Dear members,

We started May with our fifth birthday and annual presentation dinner sponsored by Kalus Kenny Intelex, held at the Park Royal. We were joined by over 80 members for a night of celebration.

It was a great night of entertainment, raffle prizes and auction items from some of our sponsors in support of The Smith Family, who we raised $5,500 for. Thank you to all who donated and purchased tickets to help us raise such an incredible amount. 

____________________

9 May was our Shannons Insurance Simulator Challenge. Killian won by the narrowest of margins but it is anyone’s championship at the moment! The next round is on 4 July, be sure to head to the website to register and become the next Simulator Challenge winner.

____________________

10 May was our first midweek drive day, which turned out to be a day of sunshine and great company. If you have time during the week, be sure to keep an eye out on the calendar for the next one, there's just something about a mid-week adventure that we really love!

____________________

13 May was Round 3 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Sandown. Our start was delayed due to fog, but once it cleared the weather was beautiful and our members enjoyed another day on track.

____________________

12 May was National Motoring Heritage Day. The day started in Brighton, driving through to the National Steam Centre in Scoresby where there was lots of eclectic vehicles on display.

____________________

26-28 May was Round 3 of the E30 Racing Championship. Young Royce Lyne (hard to believe he is only 15!) showed some brilliant driving skills in the rather damp conditions to take out another round win. 

____________________

26-28 May also saw some of our members attend the VIP display at the Winton Historics, joined by the BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria. As always, the racing was great but unfortunately we can't say the same for the weather.

____________________

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Welcome to our new members Zavier Robin, Jack Wynack, Sydney Teeuwsen, Sidney Costello, Ed Wittich, Shane McInnes, Val Perkins, Alexander Lee, Paul Lee, Andrew Pan, Regina Simon, Bronwen Colman, Claire Trainor, Tijana Kay, Simon Wilkins, Wendy Alexander, Justin Shardey, Jonathan Lim, Graeme Ny, David Crook, William Harding, Thomas Watson, Sue Abrehart, Gavin Low and Georgia Alexis. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

____________________

Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.

The month ahead.

2025 BMW Clubs Australia Nationals.

News & Blog.

Classifieds.

idrive magazine.

Club partners.

Members are welcome to submit their business to be shared on the Club Partners page on our website and idrive magazine. 

We believe in supporting those who support us.  If you would like your business listed email us with your details.

____________________

As always - thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296
Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900
Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 
Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn

Cover photo: Jess Bell

Proudly supported by:

All Commercial / All Residential Real Estate
Berwick BMW
Bill Lowe Events
BM Tech
German Auto Haus
Kalus Kenny Intelex
Melbourne BMW
Mornington BMW
Shannons Insurance
Shepparton BMW
South Yarra BMW

Southern BM
Traction Tyres
Waverley BMW

Dear members,  

May started off with a bang with our Fifth Birthday and Annual Presentation Dinner sponsored by Kalus Kenny Intelex, held at the Park Royal. It was great to have such a huge attendance with over 80 members attending, all looking amazing in their formal wear. We had great entertainment, raffle prizes and auction items from some of our sponsors.  Our Charity for the night was The Smith Family and I am proud to say that we raised $5,500 on the night from our raffle and auction items.  Thank you to all who donated and purchased tickets to help with this fundraiser.  It was great to have our 2022 winners there on the night as well receiving their trophies, it's always great to support our champions. It was nice to see a 15-year-old motorsport recipient and four ladies receiving awards on the night as well.

At our presentation dinner we had the honour of hearing from one of members who was involved in the publication of a great small book called Tell My Story, which is a fantastic group of stories by 4 brave men.  BMWDCM will have this book in our online store for a few months for members to be able to purchase from.  Limited copies available so please do not miss out. 

9 May was our Shannons Insurance Simulator Challenge which again turned out to be a bundle of laughs with Killian winning by the narrowest of margins.  It is anyone’s championship at the moment, you have to be in it to win it.  Make sure you register for the next one on 4 July, we will be doing an American theme for Independence Day.

10 May was the first of our midweek drive days. It turned out to be a fantastic day with sunshine coming through the clouds and a great turnout of cars. Look out for the next mid-week drive event coming soon.

13 May was Round 3 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Sandown.  The event was a late starter due to thick fog but once it cleared, we had a fantastic day.

12 May was National Motoring Heritage Day. The day started in Brighton, driving through to the National Steam Centre in Scoresby.  We really enjoyed seeing all of the eclectic vehicles on display.

26-28 May was Round 3 of the E30 Racing Championship. Young Royce Lyne (hard to believe he is only 15!) showed some brilliant driving skills in the rather damp conditions to take out the round. Keep an eye on Royce, a DCM member, he will go a long way in motorsport.

26-28 May also saw some of our members attend the VIP display at the Winton Historics,  joined by the BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria. As always, the racing was great, unlike the weather. I'm told those who attended still really enjoyed the weekend.

June is now upon us, as is the start of winter. I think it may have come a month earlier than it should as we had some very cold, wet days in May.

Our annual tour this year is heading west to South Australia. We have a group of BMW enthusiasts from Melbourne and two from NSW heading across to Mount Gambia then on to Adelaide, where we will stay for nine days, with some great day trips planned for each day.  It will be great to meet up with some of the members from BMW Drivers Club SA and then on the Kings Birthday weekend we will head to Tailem Bend to watch round 4 of the E30 Racing championship which should be a lot of fun. Might even have a race in that event myself, so come and watch!

Our June members meeting has not been set yet, as Jo is waiting for a confirmation on the venue so watch this space. It will be a good one!

24 June is our Alex Baxter Memorial Come and Try Day, where one lucky member will have their entry paid for them by the Alex Baxter memorial trust.  There are still spots available for this event and this one is subsidised by the Club to allow new and inexperience people the opportunity to get out on track. 

We are also still needing volunteers for Broadford.  Please email Meg at officials@bmwdcm.com.au and let her know if you are available to attend and which position you would like to fill or if you are happy to be an instructor. It is a very cheap track day for anyone that wants to come to practice or receive instruction, as the whole day is passenger allowed.

As you can see June is a little quieter as we are away for nearly two weeks of this month so look out for events coming up in July.

Other events to remember are:

• 9 July - Christmas in July 

• 27 August - German Auto Show
• 25-26 November - Challenge Bathurst - Get your entry in this month if you want to come, as entries open to everyone else on 1 July
• 10 December - Christmas Show and Shine Family Picnic 

Jo and her band of helpers are busy organising German Auto Show and she will need more troops than we had last year.  We are looking for volunteers at the gate, throughout the paddock, at the main stand and general helpers.  This event is going to be HUGE.  If you have not registered your car yet, please do so here if you are wanting to help on the day, please email Meg at offiicals@bmwdcm.com.au and offer your services.   All proceeds from this event will also go to Beyond Blue. 

We have already had some very generous donations from Kaos Custom Bikes who are donating a $1,500 mountain bike as one of the main raffle prizes and some AMG lifestyle products from German Auto Haus.  Shannons Insurance are on board again this year with a very generous sponsorship of this event. Check out our website for the event germanautoshow.com.au for more information.

If you have a business and want to have a trade stand at this event or donate to the charity, please contact info@germanautoshow.com.au and Jo will be only too happy to chat with you.

This year we will be celebrating with our friends from BMW Motorcycle Club Victoria as it is the celebration of 100 years of the R32 motorbike.  Come along and check out all the great vehicles on display.

Want to stay closer to the venue? Then check out our special deals with WestWaters Caroline Springs and be fresh in the morning of the event.

Another event we need to start thinking about and start organising is the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals in 2025 that we are hosting. Sounds a long way off, but such a huge event needs an awful lot of planning and organising, and it will need a lot of people to make it all happen. So, we are forming an organising committee to get things underway. Yes, the plan is in place, but we have lots of jobs we need help with over the next few months. If you want to be involved in organising and then running the Nationals in 2025 send an email to nationals@bmwdcm.com.au and we’ll get you on board.

A note from our Welfare team is that one of our members who has been struggling with very ill health is now on the mend and looking like we might see him out at some events in the warmer months. We really look forward to welcoming back our member at some events soon.  Remember, if you know anyone who is struggling give them a call as a kind word can go a long way.

Don’t forget, we still have access to our fundraising wines, so if you need to restock your wine cupboard check out these wines and help the club raise funds for our charities.

We still have some of the summer merchandise on sale, so go to our store and snap up some bargains whilst they are still available.

Welcome to our new members. We have had a huge number of new members join this month, which is always very humbling.  We on the BMWDCM committee pride ourselves on our friendship, great events and communication and we are always happy to welcome new members along for the ride.

Finally, you would have all received the latest edition 5 of idrive by now.  If you have not received it, then I would check postal details on your profile on our website to make sure you are receiving our mailouts. It's a wonderful annual magazine and each year it just gets better and better, full of your stories and articles.  

Drive safely and I look forward to seeing you out at an event somewhere soon.

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