We were fortunate to enjoy a beautiful, bright, and sunny spring evening for our drive to Lorne.
This mid-week outing proved to be both exciting and demanding for BMW enthusiasts, featuring lots of twisty roads and breathtaking scenery—at least for those able to glance away from the wheel.
Once again, Lawrence expertly organized a fantastic drive, culminating at the Lorne Hotel along the Great Ocean Road, where we were treated to spectacular views, excellent company, and delicious food, making the event truly unforgettable.
Thank you Lawrence,
Cheers
Terry and Anne Lane #965 and #1112
Australia is a notoriously flat continent where any hill bigger than a pimple can be called a mount or mountain. Not so around Bathurst, lying in the remnents of the Blue Mountains which are part of the mighty if somewhat mis-named Great Dividing Range (not technically a range).
For here lies Mount Panorama, so named because of the spectacular views which caused the Bathurst City Council to construct a road up and across the mountain to take advantage of said views. This is no pimple but a proper mountain and the road is now world famous as the Bathurst Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, iconic and one of the most challenging tracks in the world. So when an motorsport event primarily aimed at amateurs is organising here, the name Challenge Bathurst is both entirely apt and a bit of a warning.
Such a magical track, take a look at the photo - the track starts about level with where I stand and climbs steeply (far more so than it appears on TV) above and across the "Mount Panorama" cut into the hillside, and then plunges down again just as steeply. All using normal public roads (closed obviously and well surfaced but narrow). One of the few, maybe now the only, internationally certified tracks where the entire competition layout can be driven on public roads.
I spent the first two days (Thursday and Friday) flag marshaling, my first "proper" flag marshalling in over 50 years!
Day one was just past the exit of the dipper which is narrow and fast, we could almost touch the cars as they skimmed the wall at our feet. Tricky to pick an impending overtake (blue flag) but fortunately no incidents in our section (yellow flag). {Other flag colours are available for specific duties!}
Day two was at the end of Conrod Straight entering The Chase. Breathtaking speeds (300+ km/h or or 190 mph) in a "gentle" bend creating enough g-force to really tilt even stiffly sprung race sedans on their suspension, followed by hard hard braking. Tremendous. The closing speed between some competitors meant a blue flag well before an overtake and the sheer speed meant watching the next flag point down the track so as to mirror their yellow to provide enough time for the driver to react.
2 incidents, including a monster trip across the gravel trap shown here and the one on the other side of the track, ending in a roll over (no injuries), showed just how quickly things go wrong and the vital role of marshals in ensuring it does not get worse and is dealt with efficiently and safely.
And there is the communication back to race control - flag points are the eyes and ears on the track and vital to not only the safety of all but the efficient running of the event.
On our feet and on our toes all day, but what a great 2 days.
Saturday was spent in the pit garages with our group of 17 cars (out of a session of up to 55 cars). For reasons unknown the PA was not working in any of the garages and the paddock PA could just about be heard inside but not understood. Time passes quickly and missing the call to driver's briefing or dummy grid can be disasterous. I was able to help out a little by keeping an eye on the clock and stepping into the paddock to hear the PA. Apart from getting a car left over from Thurs/Fri evicted from one garage things went pretty smoothly and the rain stayed away.
I was very impressed by both the lap times and the comradeship of our group. As best as I could tell there was a lot of respect out on track even if that was not always reciprocated by others in the same session.
The Saturday and Sunday sessions were Regularity, one point for every 1/10 of a second slower than your nominated time, 2 points for every 1/10 faster. Chris Price, in his M140i, from BMW Car Club Queensland is to be congratulated as the winner of (at least) our session (Group D) with a mere 41 points in total from 4 20 minute sessions.
Our group was well represented in the top part of the results so good work all round.
Lawrence Glynn #3
We got off to a great start of our 10 day Canberra trip departing from Croyden and heading through Yarck to Whitfield for lunch and then some time exploring Beechworth before overnighting at Wodonga.
Once the early rain and traffic cleared we could enjoy the roads and the views. We met some riders from BMW Motorcycle Club Victoria at Whitfield. They were completing a 2,000 km tour. We encountered a splendid Ceylon Yellow M440i and its owner in Beechworth. He purchased it when a Mustang Dark Horse deal fell through!. He did not seem to be missing the Mustang.
Day two started off with a 9am briefing on a perfect sunny day in Wodonga and was followed by a stunning drive along the banks of the Murray River with sweeping bends and glorious sunshine. Heading in land and up hill changed that to majestic views of snow tinged mountains and tighter curves.
Lunch was at Corryong followed a bit of fun for some at the Thredbo Alpine Coaster and viewing the surrounds before Horizons in Jindabyne for excellent accommodation and a first class meal celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary Jill and Jeff Palmer (who survived the Alpine Coaster - just!).
After dinner, some snuck off for a whisky tasting session whilst the rest went off to bed.
Day three was a more relaxed start with a lovely breakfast at our Motel at Jindabyne with a fairly short leg to our first stop at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre at Cooma for morning tea.
An easy casual drive took us to the (relatively) recently upgraded Tharwa Bridge before arriving at the very interesting Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Station.
Our final destination was our accommodation for the next four nights at the Pavilion Hotel in Canberra.
A lovely dinner in house was enjoyed by all.
From here there was no fixed programme but each day a varying number joined in the main activities.
Day 4 took a group of us to Yass and then the Carey Caves at Wee Jasper.
What an amazing tour guide we all had. So much information and knowledge it was an honour to be in his presence. What was supposed to be an hour tour turned into a full afternoon, but no one complained, as he was so passionate and informative about the caves and his life long work looking after them.
So, 4 hours later and after what was the best cave tour we’ve ever been on, we headed back to Canberra via the Cotter Dam.
Such an amazing sight and again fantastic driving roads picked and plotted by Graeme.
The run of good weather had to end so best to heads inside on Day 5. Some headed off to the Australian War Memorial. Always an amazing place to visit, sadly the rear huge display is still being rebuilt, but the rest is still very much worth seeing. There is so much history here and some of it very confronting and moving. For anyone that has family serving in the military it is a must see when in Canberra.
Canberra is, of course, our Nation’s capital and is replete with embassies and consulates, many built in national style (the UK embassy being stereotypically boring!). As expected, the USA embassy looks the biggest and most palatial. As a former Canberra resident Lawrence had plotted a TourBoss route past the best of the embassies which also took us past the Royal Mint.
Unlike the Note Printing Works in Melbourne, they welcome visitors here and it was very interesting to see it all working. We even made our own $1 coins that are actually legal tender, real coins! Pretty cool! Put $3 in and watch a blank get stamped out and issued to you with a folder to put it in.
We continued our tour, with a detour up another look out viewing point then back to the motel before heading in to the city for dinner with the gang.
Some even tried to watch a certain horse race happening back home, but the pub had the TV on the wrong channel. So they watched a different race somewhere else.
Another awesome day out on Day 6 exploring the countryside surrounding Canberra, literally! We headed off on a shortish drive to our first stop at The Cascades at Lake Googong.
We needed a quick stop to check a tyre that was losing a bit of pressure, luckily Trent had a tyre pump on board to help out.
Lovely short walk to see the river below the dam, then back in our cars for a short drive to the dam wall viewing area. Lovely spot on such a lovely day.
Our next location involved a couple of kms of good gravel roads and it was great to see no one was too precious to not drive down to the car park at the Woolshed at London Bridge. It was a bit of a hike to this one and we were very proud that everyone made the 2km hike to London Bridge to see this natural limestone formation. There was so much else to see and enjoy too, we saw echidnas, kangaroos and even a big fat wombat came out to say hello.
Some went to Honeysuckle Creek, site of the former communication centre used by NASA during the space race and Apollo moon shot missions, sadly now abandoned but one of the dishes is at Tinbinbilla.
We headed back the long way to the splendid Mount Ainslie lookout with grand views over the Parliamentary Triangle and lake, so impressive the way the city was designed and laid out.
From here we each went our own ways for a couple of hours before our last full dinner together as a group, as some were due to head home the next day.
For our last full day in town (Day 7) we started off with breakfast with a most of the group, joined by one of our friends from E30 Racing that lives in Canberra. Great catching up and chatting about cars and life in general.
Some went to the National Library for a coffee and a look around and bought some books for the grand kids. Went for a walk around the lake front and enjoyed the sunshine on such a lovely day.
A visit to Canberra is incomplete without a visit to Parliament House where we wandered around and discovered parliament was actually in session. No photos inside the house, as you can’t take anything inside, no phones, cameras, even smart watches. After watching the kindergarten (sorry, Question Time) for a while we left to go up on the roof and take in the views. It really is a magnificent building. Well worth the visit.
Trent visited the Royal Australian Mint for a look see and managed to grab us some of the just released that day, gold and silver commemorative poppy coins marking 80 years after WW2. So very thankful to Trent, as we missed out in the pre release ballot for the limited edition coins, so thank you Trent.
We tried to go to Black Mountain Tower (best known as the Telecom Tower) to take some pics, but it is all closed up, forlorn and deserted looking, pretty sad really for such a prominent spot. You couldn’t see out much for the trees as even the lower area of the tower is all fenced off. Looks like it is only used as a drift park these days. Probably pretty lively at night with the local lads judging by the tyre marks in the car park.
An early start to Day 8 so we could be packed and loaded up ready to head off at 9 as we had a bit of driving to do today.
We said farewell to Canberra and headed for our first stop at Braidwood. NSW’s first heritage listed town. Lovely old town, we had a short stop for coffee and a comfort break, quick walk down the street then off to the coast.
We arrived in Bateman’s Bay (made accessible by forst a punt ferry and then a succession of 2 bridges) with time for a half hour wander around, look at the shops and the foreshore before taking the scenic route on to our lunch stop at Narooma Golf Club.
Lovely lunch, very picturesque location with delightful views along the coast and out to sea.
We left here around three and headed to our overnight stop at Merimbula.
Once checked in to the motel, some headed to the bowls club for dinner, some had something more simple.
After a lovely night in Merimbula Day 9 saw half the crew were up early to take a longer inland jaunt through the Snowy Mountains to tonight’s final stop at Lakes Entrance. The rest took the very scenic coast road with time for a leisurely wander around Merimbula before heading off
First stop on the coastal run was Eden, with a visit to the Whaling Museum and then a bit of a tour around town.
The Museum was very interesting, lots of memories of the old days of catching and carving up whales here. Brought back my own memories of a visit to the Whaling Station at Albany in WA, when I was a teenager, whilst it was still operating. If ever you have been there you will know why it sticks in your mind. I can still remember the smell and the blood and the sharks trying to climb the ramp to get scraps from the butchering. Most of all the smell though! Very happy they don’t do it any more!
From there we headed down the coast, back across the border into Victoria, then on to lunch at Mallacoota.
Awesome road into Mallacoota, by the way, and so great we got to do it again on the way out!
We chatted to some locals that run the cafe in town and the young bloke recommended we head down the coast a bit and stop at some of the lookouts, as there were still a few Whales coming past. So we did and managed to see some breeches in the distance. On our way back out we met the first rain we have had since Tuesday in Canberra. We have been blessed this whole trip with perfect weather, so a little rain whilst driving didn’t really upset anyone.
Our next stop along the coast, other than a couple of lookout stops, was at Marlo Pub for an afternoon coffee and sit in front of the fire. Perfect for a slightly wet afternoon!
Back on the road again for the final run to Lakes Entrance and by the time we got to the motel it had stopped raining so we could unload and rest up before dinner.
Our last dinner together as a group was just delicious! Perfect spot on the waterfront to end the last full day together.
The group presented Jo and I (and Peter) some lovely gifts and a thank you card that touched our hearts. So thank you all.
We still have a fair drive home tomorrow yet to come, and some great roads to enjoy and things to see, but this has been such a wonderful time away with a truly lovely bunch of people. We have loved every minute of it.
Thank you all for coming and we both hope you have all enjoyed it as much as we have.
But before departing on Day 10 there was time to explore Lakes Entrance a little and have a casual breakfast.
We found a lovely cafe for breakfast then wandered around and took a few pics and explored a lovely antique/brick-a-brack store for some bargains before heading back to the hotel to meet everyone for the trip home.
Our group has been shrinking almost each day, with some heading directly home from Canberra, one heading home last night and a couple staying in Lakes for an extra night.
So we are now down to 7 cars in convoy this morning. We headed to Bairnsdale, with a stop at the lookout over Lakes Entrance, then off the highway again to Heyfield for a lovely lunch in a family run cafe.
Again a couple left for home direct from here whilst the rest of us stopped by Cowwarr Weir for some pics and our last stop together. Lovely spot, lovely roads to get here too so we might have to come back again for a visit.
From here we started splintering off and finding our own way home.
It’s been an awesome time away, so many amazing roads to drive, sights to see, all with a great bunch of people.
Thank you all for coming and enjoying it as much as we have.
Thanks to Peter for all the organising of the original route and trip notes.
Most of all, thanks to Jo for all the planning, booking, checking, confirming, rebooking, hearding cats, endless calling of pot holes, tight corners, debris, oncoming vehicles, dips, jumps, mud, water on road, echidnas, wild brumbies, road kill, and commentary along the road. We’d be lost without you!
Thank you all for following us on tour too.
If you love our stories and pics, come and join in!
We have a lot of fun away on tour as we do on all our drives and events. Watch out for the next one!
Graeme Bell #1
In the absence of any committee members (Canberra trip) Simon Wilkins kindly agreed to lead this event - demonstrating what great members we have.
Sadly the event organistion was not quite up to the task and there was some confusion over our display space.
Nonetheless, we had a decent display with a grod cross-section of models, including Marcus Mimmo's superb WTCC/BTCC Super Touring replica, and enjoyed the classic racing which included an M3 in the Group C & A Tribute.
As a very busy October draws to a close, I’m proud to reflect on another action-packed month for our club. From winding roads to heartfelt fundraisers, we’ve shared some truly memorable experiences together.
Events Completed
We kicked off the month with our Twisty Roads Drive, a favourite among our driving enthusiasts. The October “Donut Replacement” Coffee Night brought members together for relaxed chats and mutual car admiration, followed a week later by a well-attended Members Meeting at Brighton BMW, where we shared updates and welcomed new faces.
Our Wonthaggi SES and Coal Mine visit, preceded by a scenic drive, was both educational and enjoyable—thank you to our hosts and all who joined. I for one could have spent a lot more time at the SES and the Coal Mine, both were very interesting, and we will have to go back again to both.
The AGM at the German Tivoli Club was a great opportunity to connect with our members and celebrate our shared passion. The Executive committee was re-elected, unchanged from last year. We also announced a new initiative where we are bringing on more people to help run the club. Whilst not official committee positions, each will have a job to do to help us run the club and share the load the Executive jointly carry. Positions like Dealer Liaison, Assistants in running events, marketing, and social media are all areas where we would love more people to help out. So, if you have some particular skills or areas of expertise and you’d like to help run our club, send us an email at info@bmwdcm.com.au and we’ll get you involved.
A special highlight of October was our Pink Ribbon Morning Tea at Black Rock House, where we raised over $2,000 through raffles and generous donations. Nearly everyone went home with a prize, and the spirit of giving was truly inspiring.
We also had members attend Superfest 2025 in NSW, representing our club with pride, and wrapped up the month with the Geelong Area Mid-Week Twilight Drive and Dinner, a perfect blend of driving and dining.
As I write this, we’re gearing up for our Week-Long Trip to Canberra, starting 31st October. It promises to be a fantastic journey filled with camaraderie, culture, and of course, plenty of driving.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars—November is just as exciting:
Save the Dates
Looking further ahead, don’t miss these key events:
A little about the Variety Stars on Track event. We have partnered with Variety Victoria to bring some fun and excitement to the kids and families of kids battling illness, by putting on passenger rides around Sandown. We will have a wide variety of cars on hand to take kids and their families for some hot laps around Sandown, all at no cost to them. The day is about bringing some fun back into the lives of families impacted by illness and maybe just for a day, forget about their troubles and have some fun.
We will need drivers and cars and lots of helpers for this event, so keep an eye on your emails and come and help us make the day a great success. All volunteers will need Working With Children checks so please update you officials details with this import and necessary addition and make sure BMWDCM is linked to your WWC registration via the WWC website.
Thank you to all our volunteers, sponsors, and members who make all of our events possible. Your enthusiasm and support continue to shape our club into something truly special.
See you on the road,
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
What better way to spend a Wednesday evening now daylight saving is here than a scenic drive via a not-so-direct route to the Royal Hotel at Meredith. A lovely selection of cars from nearly old to nearly new and one which is not even nearly a BMW! A lovely meal served efficiently but with humour invoked many great chats and discussions. Were it not for the staff wanting to go home we may still be there! Great to see a couple of prospective new members come along and be made very welcome by the whole group.
We were lucky to enjoy a huge improvement in the weather after last week’s cancelled event.
The picturesque and very pleasant drive set the tone for a relaxed and enjoyable night, followed by a delicious meal and, of course, the best part—sharing it all with such good company.
Looking forward to the next one!
Kind regards
A Morning of Hope and Generosity
On a beautiful morning at Ebden House, the BMW Drivers Club Melbourne community came together for a heartfelt cause—our annual Pink Ribbon Morning Tea in support of breast cancer awareness and research. The event was a resounding success, raising an incredible $2,000 so far, with donations still coming in.
Raffle Joy and Generous Spirits Guests were treated to a delightful spread of morning tea, surrounded by laughter, warmth, and a sea of pink. The raffle was a highlight, with a stunning array of prizes generously donated by our sponsors. From luxury hampers to automotive goodies, nearly every attendee went home with a smile—and a prize in hand!
Gratitude to Our Sponsors and Supporters We extend our deepest thanks to all our sponsors whose generosity made this event possible. Your contributions not only filled our prize table but also helped us create an atmosphere of celebration and community. To every attendee who donated, participated, and shared in the spirit of giving—thank you. Your kindness fuels the impact we can make together.
A Community United It was truly moving to see so many members, friends, and supporters gather in solidarity. Whether you baked, brewed, donated, decorated, or simply showed up with a smile, your presence made a difference. Special thanks to our volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly.
We’re proud to stand together in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and look forward to continuing this tradition of compassion and connection.
Jo Mawson #2
What began as a misty morning at Caldermeade McDonald's quickly turned into a day full of laughter, learning, and scenic driving as BMW Drivers Club Melbourne members set off for a memorable journey to Wonthaggi.
Despite the drizzle, spirits were high and attendance was strong proof that a little rain can’t dampen the enthusiasm of our incredible community. As we hit the road, we were treated to the sight of countless bikes heading to Phillip Island for the MotoGP. While the spectacle was impressive, we were all quietly grateful to be cruising in our warm, dry cars!
Scenic Roads & SES Visit
The drive itself was nothing short of stunning—rolling hills, coastal glimpses, and winding roads that made every kilometre a joy. Our destination: the Wonthaggi State Emergency Service (SES), where we were welcomed with an informative and engaging presentation. The SES team shared insights into their operations, equipment, and community impact. We could’ve stayed for hours soaking it all in!
Lunch at the Coal Mine
Next stop: the historic Wonthaggi Coal Mine café for a delicious lunch that had everyone raving. The food was hearty and satisfying—perfect after a morning on the road. Some members ventured underground for the guided mine tour, while others explored the grounds and museum exhibits. Both options offered fascinating glimpses into Victoria’s industrial past and the lives of those who worked below the surface.
Missing Peter, Sending Love
We missed our dear Peter, Williams who’s currently recovering from knee surgery #2. He’s doing well, and we’re counting down the days until he’s back behind the wheel with us. The roads aren’t the same without him! He had, however, put together another stunning route combining scenery and entertaining driving.
Tourboss & Sunny Roads Home
A big thank you to everyone who used our Tourboss app—it kept us on track and made navigation a breeze. As the clouds cleared, we were treated to a glorious sunny afternoon and some of the best driving roads on the way home. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
To all who joined us—thank you for your smiles, your stories, and your company. Days like this remind us why we love what we do. Until the next adventure!
As part of the informative visit to the marvellous Wonthaggi SES we learnt about a subject dear to my heart, the computer tablet Crash Recovery System. This is a replacement for the paper based, " Airbag guide " more properly known as the Emergency Rescue Guide or Road Resecue Guide, which I supervised the compilation of for several years. Both these products guide the rescuers on how to safely deactivate the vehicle (including the high voltage batteries on hybrid and electric vehicles) and avoid cutting into the airbag detonators, and more. Detailed information on each and every car model. This used to be updated every 6 months with a print run costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, one thick book per rescue truck across Australia. Now, updated daily at no extra cost and much quicker to search.
What a fantastic evening we had at Brighton BMW! With over 70 members in attendance, the showroom was buzzing with energy, laughter, and the unmistakable hum of shared passion—for cars, community, and connection.
From the moment the doors opened, it was clear this was going to be a special night. Stunning BMWs lined the space, each one a conversation starter and a testament to the brand we all love. Members mingled over delicious food and drinks, catching up with old friends and warmly welcoming new faces into the fold.
Welcome to Our New Members!
One of the highlights of the evening was signing up a brand-new member right there on the spot—what a way to kick off their BMWDCM journey! We also had the pleasure of meeting several other new members who joined us for the first time. Your enthusiasm and smiles were contagious, and we’re thrilled to have you with us. We can’t wait to see you out and about at future events!
Friendship, Food & Fabulous Cars
It wasn’t just about the cars (though they were spectacular)—it was about the people. The conversations flowed easily, the laughter echoed through the showroom, and the sense of belonging was unmistakable. Nights like these remind us why our club is so special: it’s not just a place to share our love of BMWs, it’s a place to build lasting friendships.
A Huge Thank You to Brighton BMW
We’re incredibly grateful to the staff and management at Brighton BMW who stayed back after hours to make this event possible. Your generosity and hospitality helped create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that made everyone feel right at home. Thank you for going above and beyond!
To all who attended—thank you for making the night so memorable. Your presence, positivity, and passion are what keep our club thriving. Here’s to many more nights like this—filled with great cars, great company, and great memories. See you on the road soon!
So much to see with all the beautiful BMWs on the floor and Mini and Motorrad upstairs, something for everyone indeed.
Great meeting some new members joining us and catching up with lots of regulars as well.
Make sure if you are in the area looking for a new BMW or get your car serviced here that you mention you are a DCM member. Always good to let our club sponsors know you are a member and say thank you for supporting the club.
The day started at picturesque Lillydale Lake, which helpfully had a coffee cart in attendance. There were around 30 people in 21 cars, so it was an excellent turn-out for a full-day drive. There were quite a few new members along, clearly looking forward to exercising their BMWs. Unusually, we ran the convoy as one single group, which was only possible thanks to the TourBoss app we rely on these days.
We started with a routine cruise to Yea and a short break, then cruised to Alexandra. From there, we took the winding Skyline drive, with spectacular views (for the passengers, at least) across Lake Eildon and the mountains beyond, all the way to snow-capped Mount Buller. That brought us to a leisurely lakeside stop at Eildon. The main event was the Eildon-Jamieson road - 60km of mostly 2nd and 3rd gear twists, where many of the drivers had lots of fun - not so much some of the passengers, but at least they could enjoy dramatic views over the lake from the heights of Mount Torbrek. The tightest parts of the road better suited the smaller, lighter BMWs, but everyone was able to take their own pace at which they felt comfortable and safe. We regrouped at the end of the road and had an impressive line-up of cars. We then cruised on the sweeping road into Mansfield for a good lunch at the Delatite Hotel. A few people also sampled the coffee from the coffee specialists next door.
After lunch, many people headed directly home, but seven cars took an excellent back-road route to Yea. Someone correctly said that these roads were more suitable for BMWs, with sweeping curves and dramatic elevation changes - so you can expect us to set a drive using just these roads at some stage in the future. We finished up at Yea, said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways home. Overall, it was an excellent day with good company and plenty of friendly chat along with very enjoyable driving. This is why we own BMWs.
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