Dear Members,

I’d just like to check in with everyone and let you know about some of the virtual events coming this month, as well as let you know that we have a whole host of in person events lined up ready to go, just as soon as we are released from lockdown. Even if they only lift the 5km rule and we can start socialising within the Melbourne area, we have events lined up to suit that.

I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this very trying time and I hope you are all looking forward to safely getting out and about again as soon as we are allowed.

As a committee, we have been working very hard to keep things going and interesting via our Zoom meetings and social media. We hope that you have been able to join in on some of the virtual events we have been putting on over the past few months.

The roadmap to us being able to travel and get back to normal is taking a little longer than we all hoped for, but we need to all just hang in there as there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we will all be able to see each other again soon - be it from 1.5 metres apart.

We have 3 virtual meetings/events planned so far for October. Our AGM is on 13 October. We are then having a guided tour of Mornington BMW on 20 October, where we will be hosted by Tony and Alex who will be able to answer any question you may have.  This will be a very interesting night and we will be also doing a virtual raffle, so be sure to log in on the night so you can be part of the fun.  Our next event will be our presentation night on 27 October. We have been holding out for this night, as we wanted to do this in person but unfortunately COVID got in the way.  I urge you all to register, it will be a lot of fun, there will be some great prizes to be won and most importantly, this is the night we recognise some of our members great achievements from 2019.  We plan on trying to make this a celebration, so dress up in your best outfits and crack open a bottle of bubbly so we can all toast those who have won awards. Again, we will be joined by our virtual raffle wheel so you have to be logged in to win.

For those who live in the Bellarine Peninsula/Geelong regional area, we also have a Coffee and Cars morning planned for 18 October. We have quite a few members that live out of the Metro lockdown zone, so we thought it would be nice for them to be able to meet up and enjoy a safe coffee and catch up.

Jo has been working on some great events which we are hoping we will be able to release after the announcements on or about 19 October.  So that you can plan to attend, I will give you a quick run down of what we are hoping to release.

All going well, on 25 October we will be doing a Metro Picnic Drive, starting from the Old Templestowe Hill Climb track and then heading out through some of Melbourne’s wonderful scenic and interesting roads. Firstly stopping at Yan Yean, where there are large facilities for a comfort break and we can take some time to stretch our legs, have a morning snack (please bring your own) and then off for some more great driving to hopefully arrive in Yarra Glen, where we will stop again for a lunch break.  There could possibly be some cafes and shops open here but as with morning tea, I would suggest you come prepared with food and drinks just in case. This drive stays within the Metro area, just in case we still aren’t allowed out of Melbourne yet.

On 3 November (Melbourne Cup Day), we are hoping to hold our annual Show and Shine, in a very special, very exclusive location right in the middle of Melbourne! We can’t tell you where just yet, but it is somewhere very nice indeed.  There will be a grab and go breakfast option to pre-order and also a two course lunch for after judging. We can then relax and watch the race in one of their very comfortable function rooms. Jay Leno Garage Products will be on board for this event with their products available for sale on the day and we will also have some great hampers as prizes for the winning cars. There will also be a special deal for a member’s to be able to stay the night before to make the event a special “Coming out of COVID” event.  Keep your eyes peeled for event notices.

Motorsport-wise, anyone with a level three or above racing licence and a BMW race car is invited to go racing with E30 Racing at Phillip Island on 7-8 November, the entry is via the Motorsport Australia Event Entry Portal, so if you have a race car and a licence get onto that one! As far as our Drivers Championship goes, we are keeping in touch with the other clubs and tracks and as soon as anything is released or confirmed, we will let you know.  At this stage, we believe our championship round on 6 December with AROCA will be proceeding.  AROCA are also hoping to hold a sprint event at Winton on 15 November which we are invited to attend.

We still have our “Member of the Month” which you can enter as many times as you wish if you have more than one car.  Let us see what you have and hear the story behind your favourite vehicles.

Times are very difficult for us all at the moment but we just need to keep doing the right thing and we will be out of this soon.  I would like to thank you all for standing by us through this trying time and know the BMWDCM Committee have been working hard to try to make things as interesting as possible while we are all stuck in lockdown.

Hoping to see you all soon.  Hang in there team, it won’t be long now. 

Graeme Bell | President
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.

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P.O. Box 81, TYABB, VICTORIA. 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