5am GOR

[Tom]

Wow, big thanks to everyone who came! We had some ECCA members, some e90post.com members, and personal friends come along for a car count of around 20. Left Melbourne at 515, got to Apollo Bay for a hearty breakfast, a few pics and we went on our merry way. Some went home straight from there, some came to Lavers Hill, Colac, Ballarat then Castlemaine for lunch. We got to Shepp about an hour ago.

Awesome drive, awesome cars. I'll have to post some pics later, but you'll probably find most on the ECCA Facebook page. As soon as I get some more, I'll post them here also.

Just a quick memory list of cars, 2 x E92 M3's, 1M, E92 335i, E36 M3 Cab, a couple of SS commodores, a hsv senator, e30, couple e36's, E34, E24, E46's, a Golf R32 (was he with us or a ring in later?)

[kniggit]

Sunrise in Apollo Bay



A selection of quality vehicles...and a Commodore!



The Lads



Pot of gold?



Great (very early) morning, thanks to Tom for organising it.

[Ant Man]

Also - Thanks Tom!
Love the last pic with the rainbow!

[Ant Man]

Also - Thanks Tom!
Love the last pic with the rainbow!

[GazM3]

Was a good day.
The wet roads presented a challenge to punt the e24 in a spirited fashion ESP without any front sway bar, no working abs, no heater fan and some saggy 28yo bushes. The car has a tendency to wander on the straight roads quite abit. Still the brakes worked well and the car threw wharever I gave to it happily.
After 600km round trip it was hard work
There were some Orsome machines their but I must say the e92 m3 and 335i looked just sensational and the amount of effortless power they seem to have. It makes you wonder why anyone would use more car than that for road going duties.

Thanks for organizing and stay safe especially when overtaking!!!

[nvsA4]

i saw some of vinnies pics on facebook, good turn out of cars, hopefully my orange pos will be up and running soon so i can tag alone, not even my ute was running

[kniggit]

Gaz's E24 was a real standout for me, beautiful old car.

I've ordered some Brembo 4 pots and 332mm cross drilled rotors from the USA, I suffered severe brake fade trying to keep up to those E30s through the corners! No confidence in the brakes whatsoever. Extra KWs = Extra Stoppers, no 2 ways about it.
Also suffered some understeer but I suspect that was due to lack of skill by the driver not used to having 430 odd geegees under the bonnet!

[Tom]

Thanks again to everyone who braved the weather and ridiculous start time

Once I got home last night, it was a good time to just stop and relax. It was probably one of the best motoring weekends I've had ever. Great cars, great friends, awesome roads, lots of laughs and generally an awesome time. I have some time now to run through the weekend.

We started at Port Melbourne with (from memory) 19 cars? The carpark was a bit shitty and we ended up meeting on the road outside the carpark, and for some unknown reason, I didn't even think of having the meet point at the BMW bodyshop, but, whats done is done. We drove down towards Geelong and picked up another car on the way. The weather was pretty good considering the time of year. A bit of rain here and there, and personally, I didn't think the roads were too slippery, but it was interesting coming into a corner (and not realising it was there).

We all made it to Apollo Bay, had breakfast at a local bakery with staff who couldn't believe we were there at that time of day. A quick photo shoot, some more banter about the roads and we continued on. A couple of cars went back home straight from Apollo Bay (either through the GOR again or Barwon Forest?) and the rest continued along the road to Lavers Hill. We stopped there for a bit to let one of the others catch up, but found out he had gone to Colac and was going to wait for us.

We got to Colac and did a quick fill-n-go (some of us only get 300-odd km's per tank ) and again, everyone who was there kept going. From Colac we hunted the backroads to Ballarat and had a quick stop to gather and talk shit about the roads and driving. From there a few of the other guys left (Gaz and a few others?) and the rest continued on towards Castlemaine. We found a local pub for lunch, and with bellies full, jumped back into the cars and went onwards to Shepparton. The car list at this time had withered down to: 2 x E92 M3's, a E92 335i, E36 M3 Cab, SS Ute, HSV Senator supercharged, E46 328i and a E46 330i.

There was only one point on the road to Shepparton that we had to re-route. A bridge was down for roadworks so we doubled back and found an alternative road. A quick stop for some in Heathcote for fuel, food and a toilet stop. We finally got to Shepparton around 530.

We refreshed, regrouped and went off to dinner at Cellar 47 (the typical dinner venue we used to do for Dutton Rally for years and years) which was great. Good food and just a bit too much wine Sunday morning was a bit slow for everyone, had a late breakfast (or early lunch) and then meandered off to DECA to see the MX5 guys. We ran into an ECCA member who had their 540 at DECA (and I apologise for not saying bye when we left). As it goes the MX5 crowd seemed a bit light on so myself, the HULK (the green E92) and Andreas in his 335i had some fun on the skidpan. I wanted to get some side by side runs at DECA but they were running two separate courses on the one skid pan, so we did the cloverleaf layout. I convinced HULK to let me drive his car also, and then Andreas took my car out, then we did a couple more runs in and out of different cars. My 2nd run was (at the time) quickest, then I think I did better in HULK, then Andreas beat me in my own car with a 32.88.

From there the HSV and E36 M3 went home, and we went onto Winton to watch the GT Championship. We caught the end of the Porsche race, some of the Saloon racing (? - 5 old school commodore V8's, VP or VR shape?) then the first half hour of the GT race. From there, we called it a weekend and came home.

Again, an awesome weekend, cars, people, and just a great time overall.

Trip Map: https://maps.google.com.au/maps?sadd...,10,13&t=m&z=8

Almost 1000km's for the weekend. Me personally it was a 3 tank weekend, once in Melbourne, top up in Colac and again in Shepparton. Most of the others had the same or similar.

[Some3181s]

Thanks Tom, well organized, and great fun

[Tom]

Thanks Tom, well organized, and great fun

Thanks for coming!

[Tom]

Video's from the GT Championship. This was the warm up lap:



2nd video is the beginning of the race.

[Tom]

(click on thumbnails for larger size)

Apollo Bay Sunrise

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Regrouping at Laver's Hill

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The same at Ballarat, letting people regroup, toilet break etc.

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The beginning of the (end of the) night. Jon (HSV Senator), Andreas (E30Stealth, E92 332i) and Frank (E92 M3 'Hulk')

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At Winton for the GT Racing

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[HULK]

Hi all,
I would like to thank all you fans for making this one of the best weekends in my and my wife’s lives. You were all generous and welcomed us with open arms, (thanks for the cuddles, you know who you are).
Tom you are a champ and you kept us together as a well organised bunch.
The credits go out to all and I know that we are all hanging for Tom to get all the pics up (the wife took over 3000 pics for the 2 day event) that will give him heaps.
We are looking forward to the next meet that Tom organises and well done Tom at DECA you are a LEGEND.

Regards HULK

[Tom]

No problem Frank, was great to have you guys along.

Patiently waiting for the pics

[m-col]

Yeah, have to agree Tom, probably the best driving weekend I've ever had.

Thanks for organising it

Definately coming to the next one if I can