Up early this morning to walk the dog – a quick check of the weather radar on the PC suggested that we could make it around the block before the rain properly started, but what about our Breakfast Club? The Bugeye was due for an outing, so after placating the hound, the seldom-used hardtop was lifted down from the rafters and secured in place over the windscreen frame and rear deck. ?It actually takes less time to fit the hardtop, than to set up the hood bows and stretch the soft top into place. The fiddly side-screens were, however, left in storage, so off we went with a trusty chamois instead.
With the temperature in single digits, a grey sky, cold westerly winds and persistent rain it felt more like July than November, but upon arrival it was pleasing to see half a dozen or so cars already in position well before 8am.
Sedans and coupes were obviously popular choices, but a surprising number of rag-tops were also brought out for a run. Graham Longmore disregarded the forecast, donned the winter woollies and drove the D-type down from Tyers with nothing more than a small tarp to keep the cockpit dry. David Anderson went one better, riding his Harley in from Allambee with an open-face helmet. ?Later in the morning a beautiful 1920?s Bentley six tourer arrived with the roof stowed away and the occupants well rugged up ? they?re a hardy bunch these vintage owners.
Making their debut this month was an early Toyota Crown, a lovely, silver V6 Alfetta GTV and a black Fiat 124 Spider belonging to Brody Bishop who has recently moved from South Australia to Warragul and is in the process of bringing his classic Fiats across as well. There was as usual, a good selection of Jaguar, Mercedes and BMW coupes and sedans on display including Mike Whitford?s JPS-liveried 635CSi. ?Only a couple of Mustangs fronted this month, but pairs of V8 MGBs, ?Cooper Ss, ?Bugeye Sprites and MX5s swelled the ranks. An early Ford Fairlane made an appearance and Andy Thorp brought his blue XYGT Falcon in from Neerim South. New member Jaime Drysdale from Traralgon arrived early in her immaculate Fiat X1/9 and a beautiful black Ferrari 550 Maranello made a discrete appearance later in the morning.
Somewhere in the vicinity of 45 vehicles supported this month?s event, the weather obviously keeping many of our regulars at home. It?s always a pleasure to catch up with club members who live out of the district and these monthly events regularly draw people in from Melbourne and further afield. Lloyd Shaw left his FJ Holden with its vacuum powered wipers tucked up in Glen Waverley, but like several other club members supported the event with his presence this month. Let us hope that we can enjoy more clement conditions for our remaining events this year which should see a greater turnout of sporting and classic vehicles.
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It was a great turnout, in spite of the weather. It was an awesome sight watching Graham arrive in his D-type. He’s done an amazing job on that car!