July has been another busy and rewarding month for BMWDCM, filled with great events, strong member participation, and plenty of reasons to feel proud of our wonderful community.

Our first event for the month was Traction Tyres Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 4 at Phillip Island. We had an excellent turnout, perfect conditions, and plenty of smiles. I was there assisting a member with gaining his Motorsport Australia race licence, one of the many roles I take on but unfortunately his car had other ideas and didn’t want to behave. We’ll try again at another event. These days are fantastic for improving driving skills and are a great stepping stone for anyone wanting to move into racing.

9 July, we held our Members Meeting at Waverley BMW, and what a brilliant night it was. A fabulous turnout, great atmosphere, and we were able to present trophies to members who couldn’t attend our May Presentation Dinner. Thank you again to the team at Waverley BMW, it is always a pleasure working with you. Remember, if you’re booking your car in for service, use the online booking system to receive your club discount.

19 July brought us Christmas in July, with a twist. Normally we include a drive component, but this year Jo suggested a single destination and what better place than the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron. Central, beautiful views, and a venue that looked absolutely stunning. We sold out quickly, which is a reminder to book early, so you don’t miss out. The raffle prizes were fantastic, with $910 going toward Jo Mawson’s Walk for Breast Cancer fundraiser.

22 July, we had our Geelong Coffee & Chat Drop‑In, always a great night for our Geelong members and a wonderful chance to catch up.

26 July was the Winton Festival of Speed, where our club had a group of members displaying in the Shannons area. It looked amazing, and it was great to see new members come along to support the club and enjoy the event. You can read more about my personal journey back to the track in my article, it was a very special weekend for me. We had quite a few members racing over the weekend, especially in the E30 Racing category to help celebrate 25 years of E30 Racing.

Coming Up in August & Beyond

August is again going to be a busy month for the Club, so get out and enjoy something that suits you, especially now Winter starts to draw to a close, the days get longer and the temps start coming up a little.

1 August – Morning Loop North drive

8-9 August – E30 Racing Round 5 Sandown – come along and watch!

16 August – Go Karting Madness, Braybrook

23 August – Traction Tyres Yokohama Drivers Championship R5, Broadford

23 August – RAAF Museum, Point Cook, going to an amazing day

30 August – BMWDCM Come & Try Day, Calder Park

30 August – Calder Park Thunderdome Parade Laps

Save the Dates

13 September – Dowell Museum

19 September – Südschleife Gippsland Weekend

3-4 October – E30 Racing Round 6 Phillip Is

5 October – An Evening with Damon Hill (only 1 seat left)

25 October – Oktoberfest

3 November – Melbourne Cup Drive & Lunch

12 November – BMWDCM AGM (come along and have your say)

12 December – Christmas Show & Shine

11 February – Bathurst 12 Hour (limited spots left)

18 March – BMW Clubs Australia Nationals, hosted by BMW Drivers Club NSW

As you can see, we have a full calendar ahead. Please make diary notes and get your registrations in early some events have limited numbers, and late registrations may miss out.

Supporting Breast Cancer Research

You may have seen that Jo is doing a walk this month to raise funds for Breast Cancer research. One of our own members is currently on that journey with early detection, and with your help, the Cancer Foundation can continue working toward a cure for this insidious disease. Sadly, no family is untouched by cancer anymore.

Jo’s target was 56 km for August; she has tripled that distance to make your donations count. Please support her with encouragement, donations, and love. Her fundraiser link is here: https://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraisers/jomawson245718

Our heartfelt support goes out to all those facing illness at the moment. Remember, our Welfare Team is here for you in any way they can.

Club Merchandise & Membership

Check out our merchandise store for some great winter specials. It’s always wonderful seeing members out and about proudly wearing club gear. Visit the store and place your orders.

Membership remains strong, and we warmly welcome all our new members. We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events.

A Personal Note

As for my own journey, I’m doing well. I’ve had my final PET scan and although there are still some hot spots, they are shrinking, which is very encouraging. Please don’t take your health for granted. We only get one shot at this, and early detection is always the best chance of catching anything that may be troubling you.

This is all from me for July. I look forward to seeing you out at our events, enjoying your cars, your club, and the wonderful community we have built together.

Stay safe, enjoy your driving, and see you out on the road.

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