Menu
Log in


BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Eastlink Great Australian Rally | Cruden Farm Display

22 Jan 2019 11:08 AM | Anonymous
Eastlink Great Australian Rally
20 January 2019

Sunday, 20 January started off with some low clouds which looked like they would clear quickly.

We had 3 cars to prepare for this event, our E3, E21 and Lawrence Glynn’s new pride and joy his BMW 700.  All looking sparking clean (the cars I mean), we all headed off to the Hastings meeting point to be greeted by an absolute wonder of historic cars of all ages and marques.

The organisers had a marque set up with breakfast and coffee for all entrants which was lovely. 

Each club were to supply a marshal to be at Cruden Farm to help marshal the entrants into the correct spot, so I headed off a little earlier than the others, who were doing the drive there, which went down to Mount Martha, Mornington, Somerville and finishing at Cruden Farm.

I arrived at 8.45am and there was already a huge number of cars arriving, all looking amazing.  Some of the owners had gone to the trouble of dressing up in period costume which really did look great.

We had a great turnout of not only BMW’s, but some amazing other cars from our club were on display.

What an amazing venue for this event, if you have never visited Cruden farm, I recommend you look out for an open day and make a day of it, as it's truly is a treasure.

I would like to thank all our members for attending and presenting their cars so beautifully and look out for this one next year as it really is not an event to miss, it will be one we will be proud to start the year with again.

With over 800 cars and many more attendees, all funds raised on the day went to Peter Mac Cancer Centre.

Jo Mawson Member #2
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne


The EastLink rally is organised by the All British Classics Cub Vic is sponsored by toll company EastLink and raising money for cancer charity Peter Mac.  So, a way to get some of our tolls back and give to charity.  Two very good reasons to take part. 

The rally is a combination cavalcade and car show, with 4 starting points, ending up this year at Cruden Farm.  Even more good reason to take part.

This was my first outing with the BMW 700, so I was keen to see how we went on the drive and at the show.  The 700 is presently in the tender care of Graeme Bell at Bell Motorsport having a few issues attended to, none of which prevent it running.  When I arrived to collect the 700 it was proudly parked at the front of the drive flanked by their E3 2800 sedan and E21 318i. All lovely and clean and ready to go.

Jo drove directly to Cruden Farm in the E21 to be our club’s designated marshal, so she missed out on the scenic drive. Thanks Jo. 

Graeme and I  drove the short distance from there to our chosen start point at Westernport Marina in Hastings to join about 80 - 100 others of various vintages and makes.  We had plenty of time for a coffee, a sausage sizzle and several chats before heading off.

The drive, in a sort of convoy, took a non-direct route, turning a 15 minute drive into about 1 hour, but passing through several cafe strips etc so the general public got to see the cars.  There were not very many people at the side of the road, which was disappointing, but good fun anyway.

I was very pleased to keep up, and in fact to be held up!  Getting the 700 off the line is a bit of an acquired art I’m still working on. Narrow shoes is the first requirement as the clutch pedal has to be pressed almost all the way to the stop, squeezing in between the floor hump (for heating ducts not transmission) and the steering column.  The synchromesh takes a second or two to do its work, but holding the clutch down is awkward.  The clutch action is described as “short and sharp” and first gear is only good for 19 km/h flat out. So it can be pretty busy. But once on the move it is fine.

Although I know there are leaks around the drive shaft seals (one of things on Graeme’s list), it was all pretty clean underneath when we arrived. The mess that greeted me after its first drive has not been repeated as the seals etc swell back up.  This goes to show the value in actually using a car regularly to keep it in shape.

The car show was excellent.   Live music, food vans and other vendors all added to the occasion.  Plus plenty of time to enjoy the many delights of Cruden Farm, former home of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. So you don’t even have to like cars!

One of those who came to chat with me turned out to be a fellow 700 owner, he has a 1962 coupe sport, which is not currently a runner.  After seeing mine he left with renewed enthusiasm to get his on the road.  This was nice, but annoying, as by all reports prior to that mine was the only 700 in Australia.  I'll have to change that to the only 700 sedan in Australia. But then someone else told me there may be a third car, details unknown, partially dismantled for parts. So make that the only sedan on the road in Australia!

Anyway, it was special enough to get an interview for the on site radio channel!

Lawrence Glynn  Member #3
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne

Update following the event from the Eastlink Great Australian Rally Committee:

At the All British Classics Car Club Vic Inc. Annual General Meeting held last Sunday 10th February, our President, Tony Pettigrew announced that the EastLink Great Australian Rally had raised $58,000 for Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation for Cancer Research.

A fantastic result!

Thank you again for your club’s support and contribution in participating in the EastLink Great Australian Rally conducted for the first time at the Historic Cruden Farm, Langwarrin with a new naming rights sponsor, EastLink.

Rex Hall
On behalf of the EastLink Great Australian Rally Committee



© 2024 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc. All Rights Reserved.