Event date: 13 February 2022

A glorious two days around the Torquay Motor show started with a Saturday drive from Geelong to the Great Ocean Road via Forrest before joining the pre-Torquay Motor Show Cruise from Lorne to Torquay. An excellent collection of BMWs and an even more excellent collection of members and family set off along the Geelong Ring Road on a surprisingly clear day which provided splendid views from the Princes Highway out towards the coast.

Turning off at Birregurra we started the descent through the cool and shady tree arched winding roads down to the coast.

A quick stop in Forrest confused my Google Maps - which I was trying to use for turn buy turn instructions as a back up to paper instructions in the hope I would get the route and radio calls correct! The Google Maps wanted to go to the centre of Forrest but the toilets (which is where we wanted to go!) where on a parallel road. Unable to figure out how to correct this in time or on the move meant my phone was desperate to go to Forrest even when we arrive at our final destination.  As we pulled into the lunch stop car park at Kafe Koala some 50 kms away it was urging me to perform a U turn! 

Putting the distractions of a hair-brained sat nav to one side once on the Great Ocean Road the vista opened up with amazing clear views out to sea and forward to the promontories ahead. This certainly lived up to the road’s name.  Sadly other people were also enjoying the view and our progress towards Melbourne seemed barely faster than a container ship we could see out on the water.

After lunch we drove further along the GOR to Lorne golf club and assembled with interesting selection of about 50 other cars.  We had enough time for as quick look around, a bit of a chat and a short address from a representative of Rotary (who organise the Torquay Motor Show) before droving to Torquay in a sort of convoy, forming a small scale car show at the Elephant Walk grounds overlooking the beach.

There was live music and a BBQ for those who wanted it and more opportunities to look at cars (more than had been at Lorne) and conversations for as long as one wanted.

Many of our group met up again for dinner at the Torquay Hotel to cap off an enjoyable day.

Sunday saw us back at Elephant Walk for the car show proper in a slightly sheltered spot with beautiful views out to sea amongst an eclectic range of about 340 other cars.  Although the air temperature was a bit high (35- 37) the gentle breeze kept things comfortable. It is a lovely spot and a very popular show with plenty of passing foot traffic and other attendees. Our display was consistently popular and many engaging conversations arose.

Around 2 pm the wind picked up dramatically and the decision taken to take down the marquee before it headed off to Tasmania.  I am very grateful for the ready assistance provided by those of our members close by at the time. We took down the rest of the flags etc too as people were starting to leave. However, the fact that there was still a reasonable number around at 3:45 when we called it a day shows just how well the show went.

Thanks to all of our members who came along to make the weekend so special and to those who helped me set up and pack down at the show.

Lawrence Glynn | Member #3
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne