About 25 sporting and classic cars with their 40 occupants assembled at the Warragul Woolies car park to receive instructions from Glenn on where the first leg of this tour was about to send them. It was certainly top down weather, and there were plenty of roadsters taking advantage of the mild conditions. Glenn was later to remark that we all must be getting soft because there were comparatively few classic cars on the run and a predominance of late-model sporting vehicles. My quess was that air-conditioning had been a priority in vehicle selection for today?s event thanks to the hot and humid afternoon forecast.
With instructions and Australiana Quiz questions in hand, participants set off towards the north at their own pace. The route ran out through Shady Creek, Buln Buln East, the various Neerims and the back way into Noojee along the Old Noojee Rd ending up at the Little Red Duck Caf?, which was called the Red Parrot Caf? last time I was there. There was time for a quick morning coffee and cake at the caf? or the milkbar across the road before collecting the instructions for Leg 2 and setting off towards Mt Baw Baw. A few kilometres east of Noojee we turned off the Baw Baw Rd onto the magnificent Willow Grove Rd and followed it down through the forests of Icy Creek and Fumina before reaching the grazing lands around Hill End. Thankfully there wasn?t much traffic and we all enjoyed driving at a comfortable pace that suited our cars and the conditions.
From Hill End it was a short drive to the picnic area at the Blue Rock Dam just outside Willow Grove. David and Paula Anderson had earlier in the morning erected a large gazebo on the grass in the picnic area for our use and ?reserved? a nearby portion of the car park with traffic cones. Unfortunately nobody took any notice of the reserved parking and when we arrived the cones were neatly stacked in a pile by the side of the road. The gazebo was, however, still there and provided some welcome extra shade for our picnickers.
During lunch, Glenn and Pam collected and assessed the Australiana Quiz papers. First prize went to Frank and Kate Columbine who also had Rob Nolan along for a ride in the BMW. They managed to score 7 out of 10. Second place was shared by three teams who each scored 4 out of 10. Those were Shane and Lachlan Slatter in the E-Type, Gavin and Judy Budge in the Lotus and John Stoker in the Boxster.
With the heat and humidity building, your correspondent decided to depart whilst it was still pleasant enough to drive with the top down. It may seem strange, but in the Z4 Bimmer the air conditioning does have some effect on the comfort levels in the car even with the roof stowed away, so Glenn is possibly correct ? we are getting soft !
Thanks to Glenn and Pam for organising the event and to David and Paula whose long day began with setting up the gazebo and ended with pulling it down after everyone had left.
Steve
Great day!!!