Sometimes it?s necessary to be reminded that the Bureau of Meteorology is fallible. Satellite imagery, mathematical algorithms and computer-derived forecasting is useful when deciding between coupe and roadster, but a glance at the sky is sometimes just as informative. Very light drizzle began about six hours earlier than forecast in Warragul ? not enough to provoke a wholesale departure, but perhaps an excuse for the relatively low turnout at this month?s gathering. The Woolies? car park was still filling, but a rough count showed about 60 vehicles in place when your correspondent and a small, but intrepid group of Italian classic car owners departed at 8:45 for the Italian Festa at Mirboo North. The final numbers in Warragul would have been somewhat healthier, I?m sure.
Breakfast Club regulars often travel considerable distances to join us on a Sunday morning and we appreciate their efforts. Ian and Mary Hodge must have been up with birds in Ormond to bring their Citroen out for a run to West Gippsland. Ross McConnell (Nissan Skyline) persuaded a mate in his classic F100 ute to come along from down Mornington Peninsular way, and John Moore drove from Melbourne to Leongatha to swap from four wheels to two and arrived in Warragul on his new Aprilia V-twin. It was good to see our President, Ron Brooks driving his recently revitalised twin-turbo V8 Cobra over from Phillip Island and of course the many regulars from the Latrobe Valley and further east who make the journey each month.
MIRBOO NORTH ITALIAN FESTA
This event, which celebrates the Italian heritage of the Mirboo district gets bigger every year and the venue at Baromi Park is a perfect location to host the various events, stalls and food trucks that regularly attract large crowds. Members of the Fiat Car Club always receive an invitation to display their classic Italian vehicles and several Sporting Register members, many of whom are members of the FCCV, also take the opportunity to support the local event.
Departing from the Breakfast Club gathering at 8:45am, the little convoy of two classic 124 Spiders, an X1/9, an Alfa Spider and a modern 124 Spider made their way down the highway towards Trafalgar before heading up into the Strzeleckis along Sunny Creek Rd towards Thorpdale. The wipers were frequently called into action to clear drizzle from the windscreen, but those with their roofs stowed away were not deterred. From Thorpdale onwards our swift progress was thwarted by slow traffic and a bus, all obviously heading to the same event.
In an effort to avoid damaging the Park?s lawns, the twenty or so Italian cars were displayed along the service road at the rear of the Police Station. More cars turned up after our arrival, including Mike and Di Whitford in their Fiat Dino coupe and John Althuizen in his Ferrari 328 GTS both of which attracted a lot of attention.
After lunching on Italian cuisine and sampling the gelato, Ian Maud (X1/9) and I made our departure and despite the wet roads and increasingly persistent drizzle, enjoyed a spirited romp home along the Grand Ridge Road. A rather hectic, but enjoyable morning.
