Having been rained out on two previous occasions this event has never really been given a fair go, and this weekend seemed to be following a similar trend. However, at the appointed hour of departure in Warragul we had four Club members trying to decide on whether to take a chance on the weather and give it a go. A message had come through from Graeme Hollingsworth in Meeniyan that the weather was fine, but Sandy Goddard (MGB) and John Moss decided against the venture south, leaving Ray Youlden (Mercedes C63 AMG) and your editor (BMW Z4) to set off together. Ray had mapped out an interesting route along the Grand Ridge Rd through Seaview, Trida, and Hallston, then onto Mardan, Dumbalk and Meeniyan before the short drive east along the South Gippsland Highway to Stony Creek. The roads were still a little greasy in shaded places over the ranges, but we made good time despite some slower traffic.
At the Go-Kart centre we were surprised to see Ian and Mary Hodge in their MG TF. They had come down from Melbourne on Saturday to visit family in Tarwin Lower and decided to join us for the morning at Stony Creek. Ron Brooks (BMW 335i) also made the trip across from Phillip Island, so we ended up with four drivers and Mary as a spectator. The weather was fine and the track dry, so we paid for 20 minutes of track time and enjoyed two ten-minute sessions dropping our lap times consistently as the tyres warmed up and we became more familiar with the track and the peculiar handling and braking of these 125cc machines. The karts are quick enough to be a bit of a challenge and it was fun dicing wheel to wheel through the corners trying to make up a place on the track. Spins were rare, but I think it?s fair to say that we all surpassed the limits of adhesion at some stage.
Having now built up an appetite, Ray, Ron and I farewelled the Hodges and made our way back to Meeniyan for lunch at the Trulli Woodfire Pizzeria where we enjoyed a lovely meal in pleasant surroundings. Ron then headed back to the Island whilst Ray and I carved up a few more backroads returning to Warragul via Dumbalk, Mirboo North and Thorpdale. It had been a most enjoyable day, just a shame there weren?t more participants to enjoy it with.
