Dear members,
We started November in the middle of an event and boy what a great event that was, with nearly 30 members travelling around Tasmania together. This will be a bi-yearly event, so watch out for the next one in 2024.
On 6 November we had a great display of cars at Sandown Historics. We were lucky with the weather and even luckier with the position we were in. There were plenty of great cars to see both on and off the track.
11 November saw us at the German Tivoli Club for our first All German Fest – Oktoberfest car display. We had a great turn out despite the threat of thunderstorms, which did keep a few away, but those who did attend had a great time chatting to all the other car owners and then coming upstairs in the Tivoli club to join us all for some German food and catch up with some new members too. it was fantastic to see so many members from our friends from Mercedes, Porsche and VW clubs. Jo won best dressed in the Oktoberfest competition, and I would like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to dress up, it makes these nights a bit more fun.
25-27 November was our first Challenge Bathurst, where we had 18 cars entered. This was our total allocation for the event. We could definitely have filled more spots as this event sold out within the first few days! Wow what a fantastic event and it was great to have a great mix of BMWs out on the track from one member’s beautiful M2 which had some pretty cool looking decals on it to an SA member’s E28 complete with bowls hat on the parcel shelf. We had a great mix in between and a really friendly mix of competitors. These events are wonderful as members who normally don’t get to catch up until the nationals can come together and really bond over the things they love, BMW and speed, on the best track in the country. We were really lucky to have amazing weather and also some great volunteers who came up to help the team. Thank you to Sam and Angelo who are just really great people and always help when they are able to.
25 November was also our first back to Munich hook up meeting for a few months. As with previous hook ups, we had a great turn out of members logging in and it was full of great information from Munich. We have all the next hook ups on our calendar already so feel free to register so not to miss out.
Our last event for November was the Geelong area mid-week drive. We had a great turn out and it was really nice to catch up with our members after at dinner. Thank you to Peter Williams for taking over the lead of this drive in Lawrence’s absence.
A new piece of news is the new Carbon Offset Program, developed with the AOMC that is now available to join. This is a great incentive to help offset the emissions from older cars and very cheap to be a part of to help the world move toward a carbon neutral future.
December is full of events starting with Round 8 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Phillip Island. This event is always so popular, and I know it sold out within the first couple of days of entries opening. Spectators are welcome to come and support those who were lucky to get in.
On 6 December we will all be meeting for a sausage sizzle at Mornington BMW then heading down to Sorento to watch to sun set after a drive along the beautiful coastline. Don’t miss out on our last Twilight drive for 2022.
Then on 11 December is our Christmas Picnic and Show and Shine at Cruden Farm. All are welcome make this your family picnic and bring the kids as Santa will be there for photos and possibly lolly bags. There is gold coin donation for egg and bacon rolls in the morning and online link to yummy grazing boxes which can be ordered when you register. We encourage you to bring out your “other cars’ too as there is a section in the Show and Shine for non-BMWs.
Our last event for 2022 will be another hook up with Munich featuring a review of all that happened in 2022.
Save the dates:
Looking ahead to 2023, the motorsport calendar for is nearly complete so keep an eye open for that, we have only just received confirmation on the Supercars rounds so now we can set about confirming all our events.
With regards to club plate renewals, can I please stress that it is up to the member to make sure you have your registration paperwork completed on time and back to VicRoads. We have had quite a few emails of late from members who have forgotten to complete their paperwork or let their renewals laps and then get cranky with us as they can’t get them signed when they want to. VicRoads send the renewals out around six weeks before they are due, so you have plenty of time to get them signed. Please remember all your committee are volunteers and some work full time and try to run a business. When you have your paperwork signed it is your responsibility to ensure it is completed, sometimes we may miss a spot due to life distractions. We apologise if this has happened but again remember we are volunteers and don’t get paid and some work many unpaid hours to make sure this club is running in tip top condition.
As I have said in a few of my previous reports, if you have a club registered car, make sure your registration is paid, go out and inspect your cars now and check the dates. Jo has managed to help a few members who have had let their registrations laps but her friendship with VicRoads can only go so far. The fines for driving an unregistered club permit scheme vehicle is now over $900.
We also offer the online system, which is working quite well and again, it is up to the individual to ensure the uploaded paperwork is correct before sending it into VicRoads.
As you would have seen in the save the dates above, the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals will be held next year on the Gold Cast. We encourage you all to follow the link on the event and check it out. The Nationals is a fantastic event where we catch up with all our fellow club members from around Australia and this one will be another fantastic event. Join us up there in 2023 for another fantastic Nationals.
Our new membership incentive is doing well, and we have had a lot of new members sign up and we look forward to drawing our first winners in January 2023. This is not just for new members but for all renewals in each quarter. How it works is when you renew, your name goes into the running for some fantastic prizes. When a new member signs up their name goes into the running for the prizes. But best of all if you refer a member your name goes into the running as well, as long as the new member list you as the referring member. As they say on TV “you got to be in it to win it”.
Jo has also been working tirelessly re-signing sponsors for 2023. If you own a business and would be interested in being part of our clubs sponsorship, please drop Jo an email on v.president@bmwdcm.com.au and she will be happy to forward you the relevant information and even drop out to have a chat.
Jess has been out over the past weekend doing a photo shoot for the next idrive and it sounds like it will be a great cover, again. If you have not submitted any articles yet which you think might be worth reading in the next edition please forward them, with hi resolution photos to editor@bmwdcm.com.au.
Well, this is all from me, I am hoping that December will give us some warmer weather as we have some great events coming up to enjoy in the sun. As always, thank you for being a part of our DCM family and 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
