Dear members,  

With the June report we are halfway through the year already! Where does the time go?

With events on nearly every week there is always lots to do and keep engaged with other members.

The month that was

This last month we had lots to keep everyone busy, stating with our Outlaw Slot Car Evening on 4 June. This was a car event of a different kind and by all accounts it was a great time had by all. 

On 9 June we had Mornington Peninsula Drive Kings Birthday weekend. Our annual Kings Birthday Drive started with a very interesting visit to Peninsula Honey, where we had morning tea and learned all about bees and honey and I’m sure everyone stocked up on the delicious different varieties of honey on hand, I know we did! Then another of Peter’s wonderful drives all around the Peninsula, taking in the winter views to finish up at the Pig and Whistle Tavern at Main Ridge. Always great food and with so many of us on the drive we had the Theatre Room all to ourselves. Some of the kids on the drive put on an impromptu magic show too, which was a great bit of fun. It was a great day out and we couldn’t have asked for a better winter’s day for it.

15 June was Round 3 Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship and Kaos Custom Bikes Come and Try Day at Calder Park with Racer Industries Parade laps. What a day. There was a bit of fog on the way to the track, but it turned into one of those glorious sunny Melbourne days we love. Perfect for our first Calder Sprint and with a Come and Try group and the Racer Industries Parade laps as well, it was a great day out for everyone. Those that wanted to go fast and be timed had a ball in the sprint groups and passengers could go for a ride in the Come and Try or parade laps, a great way to experience all the different ways to get into doing Club Track Days. The Race Industries Pace Car laps are proving very popular and will continue at every event we run. It was a perfect practice for April next year when we hold the BMW Clubs Nationals and run the Track portion of the weekend at Calder Park. Thanks to all the officials that came and helped us run the day, is was fantastic to see so many giving of their time to support us. Very much appreciated.

On 23 June we had a drive and visit to Trafalgar Holden Museum. An interesting drive again, thanks Peter, looping from Croydon to Trafalgar via some fun and twisty roads through the hills, perfect to start the day and have everyone arrive to a BBQ lunch supplied by the club and cooked up by yours truly with the assistance of Adrian White and the girls in the kitchen buttering rolls and bread for sausages. The Holden Museum has grown a lot since last we visited, and it is a fantastic display of our motoring and lifestyle heritage. We might be a BMW Club, but we are Australian and there is nothing more Australian that the history of Holden. So sad to see the company and name disappear, especially for me, as I worked for Holden as a test driver up until the day they announced they were closing down. But great that we can go there and see the displays of all the things Holden have done, from saddles to boats, guns to cars. If you missed the day, drop in and check it out.

On 27 June we held our regular Drop in Donuts evening for the Geelong area. Ever popular and a great way to spend an evening looking at cars, eating donuts and chatting to friends about anything.

28-30^th June was E30 Racing Round 2 at Phillip Island. It was a cold winters weekend at Phillip Island for the second round of the E30 Racing Championship. Friday wasn’t too bad, a little damp, but a chance for drivers to get used to the new surface. Saturday was wet for Qualifying and with a big crash in the event before them in the latter part of the day their Saturday race was postponed till Sunday morning. Sunday was then a long day, being first event then two more races through the day and finishing last on the card, but with little rain on Sunday it actually dried up for the last race at least. Was a great weekend’s racing, but with a couple of off-track excursions in the wet, resulting in one of the long time drivers, and DCM member, Brian, shortening his E30 by a couple of feet, sadly. Other DCM members did very well, Martin and Zac, both new to racing E30s scored podiums in the races and for the round as well, even though Martin had a bit of an off during qualifying too, but we managed to fix him up and get him back out for the races. Young gun Royce was shining again, just amazing to watch him on track, a real star of the future. Other members Shannon, Andrew, Peter and Tristan had solid weekends in the trying conditions. Very well done to all of you. Also, great watching other DCM Members like Anton racing in other categories at the meeting too, always something to see and someone to cheer on. Great having all the E30 crew garaged together, the camaraderie and fun that goes on between races is awesome to see and a testament to the group and why we support E30 Racing as the next step up from doing Club Sprints. More than half the E30 members are also DCM members and come to our track days to help and instruct, so if you want to go the next step up from Club Sprints have a chat to any of them and they will be glad to help. Thank you also to the DCM members that give of their time to officiate at the State Race Meetings, it is awesome to see our members’ friendly faces helping to run the meetings. Also great having people drop in and see us in the pits, you are always welcome to come and have a chat and join us at these race meetings and see what goes on.

It was, again a busy month indeed.

Looking ahead

Coming up in July we have lots to keep you busy:

• 6 July - Round 4 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship, back at Phillip Island again. I'm hoping it will be a bit drier than last Saturday, but will be a fun day, regardless.
• 14 July - Karting Madness at Braybrook. Another different type of Motorsport event, always fun!
• 20 July - Christmas in July featuring Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. A very popular event and one not to miss.
• 6 August - Doncaster BMW members meeting with BMW Motorrad Club. Check out the latest dealership to come on board and support the club. We have some very interesting presentations planned for this night, so register to come and join us.
• 11 August - Round 5 of our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship at Sandown, also incorporating a Kaos Custom Bikes Come and Try/ Driver Training group and the ever popular Racer Industries Parade Laps.
• 29 October – 6 November - Tassie Trip V2 – the Northern Half. Get in for this week away, will be awesome to tour around the top half of the Apple Isle with a fantastic bunch of people.
• 14 November - Our Annual General Meeting. We welcome you to volunteer for a committee role if you would like to help us the best BMW Club in the World.
• 21 – 24 November - Challenge Bathurst. An absolute must for anyone that wants to drive one of the best tracks in the world. It is amazing! And one of the very few ways to drive the track at speed.
  
  Officials are also needed! If you want to get involved but can’t afford to drive it, then the next best thing is to officiate! It is a fantastic way to get involved at the best track in the country.
• 30 January – 3 February - Bathurst 12 Hour in the BMWDCM Corporate Suite. Without a doubt, the best way to take in the best GT race in the country. Come and see BMWs battle the rest of the world in comfort with a great bunch of people.

Check out the calendar for our full list of events and to register for those listed above.

BMW Clubs Australia Nationals 2025

Over the ANZAC Day long weekend in 2025 we are hosting the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals. Come and join us for one of the biggest BMW events in the country and see amazing cars and club members form all over come together for this bi-annual event that only comes to Victoria every 6-8 years. We need volunteers to help us run the event as well as People to come as attendees. See www.bmwclubnationals.com.au for all the information about this fantastic event and put it in your diary now!

There are sponsorship opportunities available for the Nationals too, so if you have a business or a company you would like to showcase in front of a National gathering get in touch with Jo via info@bmwclubnationals.com.au we would love your support for this event, so come on board!

We are supporting Peter MacCallum Cancer Research with the Nationals, as our preferred Charity. There is a link on the event website to donate if you’d like to too.

Other news

Membership continues to increase, even with the downturn in the economy, it is great to see so may still supporting the club or indeed joining us. Thank you for staying with us and welcome to those new members that have joined us this month. The club is yours, so make the most of what we offer and if there is something you think we should add get in touch and we will see what we can do. Always open to suggestions and offers of help to keep this the Best BMW Club in the World.

We have an extensive range of BMWDCM merchandise available, so go to our web store and see what is in stock. The long sleeve cotton tops are back in stock, we couldn’t believe how popular they are but we have new stock in now.

We are always looking for people to help with the running of the club, we have positions available if you have some time and skills. Someone to help with background web, internet, social media would be great. If you have some time get in touch please.

There have been some issues with the Club Permit Scheme and online renewals. This is the preferred method of renewing your permit but VicRoads have had some changes and issues. We are working through it with them and hopefully it is being resolved now. If you have any questions, refer to the Club Permit section of the web site or email us via cpsrenewals@bmwdcm.com.au.

The welfare team are working in background helping members, as usual. A very important part of our Club network and they are there for you anytime you need help. Whether it be an ear to listen to a problem or you need someone to have a coffee with, we are there for you to help. Just reach out if you need anything at all. We are a big family, and we are there to look after everyone when you need it.

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

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