UPCOMING EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
Mid 911 End of Year Lunch at Sandringham Yacht Club, Sunday 13th November 2011
Mid 911 Seachange Weekend, Warrnambool - Fri 21st - Sun 23rd October 2011
Mid 911 Run to South Gippsland - Sun 28th August 2011
Story & Photos by Neville Sampson
On Sunday 28th August 2011 the sun was shining as twelve vehicles gathered at Hallam in anticipation of some winding roads and lunch at the Royal Hotel Loch arranged by Trevor Leavesley and Graeme Anderson.
We had six Mid 911s, with a selection of later Porsches, and a superb black Mercedes SL500 driven by Matt & Holly Lewandowski. Matt is certainly a firm member of our Mid 911 group, and obviously to be regarded as “between Porsches”, and our Register Captain Peter Cromie made a special presentation to Matt of an adhesive Porsche crest to cover the three pointed star.
We were pleased to meet new members Peter Arena and Melissa Green. Peter has a 1980 911 SC coupe polished to perfection, and is hoping to venture to the track shortly.
Our morning drive from Hallam was through the farming districts of Bayles, Heath Hill and Ripplebrook on our way to morning tea at the West Gippsland Art Centre, where the Debritz café had been opened especially for our visit. We moved our chairs to the outside balcony to just relax in the sun with coffee, muffins, and a good group of friends. Will Darvall entertained us with a fine speech largely directed to welcoming back Matt and Holly to our group, but expressing some reservations as to their choice of vehicle!
After morning tea the drive became much more interesting and challenging. From Warragul we headed through the hilly country through Ellinbank and Strzelecki to Korumburra. Some steep drops to the side of the road, but spectacular views and great winding roads- real Porsche country. Often the most enjoyable drives are at significantly less than the 100 km/hour speed limit.
From Korumburra we headed along the Wonthaggi Road, with more elevated views and tight corners near Jumbunna. At West Creek we turned off towards Archies Creek, through more undulating farming country, then turned north through Glen Alvie and Krowera to our luncheon destination of Loch.
Travelling from Melbourne to Korumburra the small township of Loch is now bypassed by the South Gippsland Highway, but the small town has held its own as a destination with the new designation as Loch Village, and with arts crafts and galleries attracting weekend visitors.
The Royal Hotel was excellent. Our flyer offered country hospitality, comfort and charm, and it lived up to the description. We took over the whole of the main dining room, and a particularly upmarket buffet lunch was enjoyed by our group in a relaxed unhurried atmosphere . A number mentioned that around twelve cars seemed an ideal for a register run, as it was very easy to catch up with everybody over morning tea and lunch.
Thanks Trevor and Graeme for the fine maps and instructions. It is quite unusual that no one becomes lost or takes a wrong turn (particularly when your correspondent is a participant), but this was achieved, and is a credit to the organisers. Thanks for a great run.
Mid 911 Run to Skyhigh - Sun 6th March 2011
Story & Photos by Neville Sampson
Croydon Hotel on the morning of Sunday 6th March 2011 saw the arrival of 15 bright and shiny Porsches looking forward to a great day in the Dandenongs and Yarra Valley. Most days this summer had been cool, and the predicted temperature of 27 degrees was most welcome - excellent weather for touring.
15 cars assembled. We had 9 Mid 911s and 6 watercooled vehicles, with several Boxsters, a Cayman S, 996 Turbo, 996 C4, and 997 C4S.
Our President Keith Ryding and PCV Secretary Jolanda Brezovec are true Mid 911 members, and although they brought their 996 C4 we know they are “between” Mid 911s and will shortly be travelling to England to collect their 1988 3.2 Carrera, which will again cement their connection to our register.
Keith introduced us to a special guest, Deryck Graham, who is the Vice President of Porsche Club of W.A.
We left Croydon at 9.30 am and headed out towards Warburton. We travelled through Wandin and Seville out into the Yarra Valley through rolling hills, and then back through Monbulk to the twisting mountain curves of David Hill road, and on to Emerald Lake. We counted the vehicles as they arrived. Some had taken a slightly longer route, but had not been delayed by more than a few minutes.
The Emerald Lake café and tearooms served us fine scones, jam and cream with coffee and tea, and we enjoyed a short stroll past the lake to the car park for a group photo, and back to driving and on to lunch.
After morning tea we headed out into the Yarra Valley, travelling through Nangana and Yellingbo. A great drive through farmland and vines, with very little traffic apart from the occasional Lamborghini, Ferrari and MG enjoying these driving roads within easy reach of Melbourne.
We were due to arrive at SkyHigh restaurant Mt Dandenong at 12.30 pm, and the last of our line of vehicles came through the gate at 12.28 pm. Thanks to Peter and Clair Cromie for organising the driving route so well. The timing was perfect, and Peter and Clair had arranged a special car park for us to display our vehicles. They had also arranged an “upgrade” to the upper level restaurant, and on such a fine and sunny day the view was at its best.
The buffet lunch was well received , being a quality buffet of seafood and even a roast. The customary speeches were kept short as there were other patrons in the restaurant, and instead of a raffle or similar Peter distributed the wine prizes to those who became lost and arrived last at morning tea. I am sure this approach can only be used once, or else our drivers will be encouraged to lose their way!
Deryck Graham from Western Australia told us of the Porsche Club Western Australia’s “bucket list” tour which is about to take place. He invited us to fill the remaining places on a tour where the convertibles are collected in Paris, and driven for a fortnight over special roads, including time at the ‘Ring. I am sure some members will speak to Deryck further after hearing his description.
After a fine lunch we were pleased to have a short but enjoyable drive back to the Melbourne suburbs.
Thanks, Peter and Clair- we had a great day!
Mid 911 Picnic & Display at Cruden Farm - Sun 21st Nov 2010
Mid 911 NE Vic Tour - 16 to 19 September 2010
Story: Trevor Leavesley Photos: Neville Sampson
Just remembering the great times we had last year on the N.E. Tour, Paula and I were all agog with anticipation, for the whole week prior to our leaving to get to the meeting place for this year’s Tour, the Armour Motor Inn at Beechworth. Leaving home just after mid-day, for the 400 kms plus journey and thinking we would be early, we were surprised to find 12 of the anticipated 21 cars, already assembled in the private car-park allocated to our group at the Inn. It wasn’t long before there were four Boxsters, two 996s, two 997s and twelve mid 911s, including Ray & Sue Baty’s gorgeous red Speedster, in attendance. Their 39 occupants were soon all gathered around the cars for pre-dinner nibbles, drinks and of course chit chat and gossip about last year’s event! In our rooms we had each found very informative, well presented packages of information about our travels for the next two days, which had been put together by our Tour organisers, Greg & Andrea Keen and Gary Paring & Esther Langenegger ,
In the early evening dusk, it soon became rather cold out in the open, so we all decided to head for the Green Shed Bistro, where dinner had been arranged. After a short walk, we were quickly ensconced at our tables, after being warmly welcomed by the restaurateurs and their even warmer open fire. After a lovely meal and some fine wines, our members slowly wended their way back to the Inn, except for this writer’s group, who were as usual last out of the door!
We awoke to a beautiful Beechworth morning and soon noticed that overnight we had been joined by our final car, a rather attractive Honda NSX! Our group was now 21 cars and 41 members. As there were so many of us, breakfast was to be held in two sessions. We were in the first group, so promptly made our way to the Beechworth Bakery, where a very pleasant continental breakfast was to be had.
Each car set off independently from the Inn following our very concise route instructions and notes for the day. We were soon travelling along delightfully deserted N.E. Victorian roads, passing through Yackandandah, Tangambalangah, where we saw Mel Gibson’s old ‘watering hole’ and glimpses of Lake Hume, on our way to Tallangatta, (the town that moved), for morning tea at MJ’s Bakery.
After refreshments, we had a short journey to take advantage of a photo opportunity over looking the old Tallangatta village. Evidently in 1954, the old Tallangatta, with a population of 950, was moved over 8 kms to avoid being drowned by the slow filling of the reservoir, Lake Hume. In recent years because of the drought the reservoir had been virtually dry and it was planned for us to take photographs of the old Tallangatta, which had re-emerged from the receding waters. Ironically the more recent, very heavy rains had been more than sufficient to re-submerge the old town, so we never actually got to see the old Tallangatta!
We then set off again, this time in convoy through 36 kms of ‘twisties’, which was very exhilarating for all of us. The majority of the group subsequently stopped for another photo opportunity overlooking the huge Lake Hume, with Albury and Wodonga in the distance. This writer and a certain blue Boxster, missed the parking place for the stop altogether and travelled on to the next break in our journey at the impressive Hume Dam wall. After a walk and time spent examining the construction, we continued on in the direction of Wodonga, passing the dried out and derelict Hume Weir Trout Farm, closed for Public Liability reasons, the old Hume Weir Racing circuit and the original Bonegilla Migrant Centre. Eventually to arrive at another photo location, Woolshed Falls. Following the recent rains, the falls were in magnificent full flood and luckily for us, Wayne & Lindsay in their Boxster were aware of a police camera hidden in the trees on the way to the falls! From the falls we then made our way to the village of Stanley for lunch at the Stanley Pub. Recent reviews have given this establishment a great write up, which we can now fully endorse.
Unfortunately, this lovely meal was missed by Neville & Jeanette Sampson, who were, somehow ill directed and led up the proverbial ‘garden path’, by a misbehaving GPS.
What was left of the afternoon was given as ‘free’ time, where many of the ladies practiced some not so free, retail therapy and some of the males were ‘encouraged’ to enjoy beer tasting at the Beechworth Brewery as compensation!
Dinner was held at the neighbouring Nicholas Hotel, where we were given the balcony in an indoor/outdoor setting on the second floor, beautiful. The food was a generous selection of Tapas dishes and great music was provided by ‘Hairy Canary”.
As on the previous Tour, prizes were given for the best prepared car; a trophy, won easily by Ray & Sue’s Speedster; the most sonorous exhaust note; another trophy, won by Rafael & Donna Fabris’s 1990 Green C4, which sounded more like a V8, and the ‘Get Lost’ award, a compass, was a lay-down misere win for Neville & Jeanette. A great night was had by all, except for a small group of our members, who wished to partake of the late-night Beechworth Ghost Tour.
Please read Donna Fabris’s hilarious account of their adventures below.
Sunday’s breakfast was held a short drive away in the well preserved old buildings of Beechworth’s La Trobe University.
After waiting awhile for Greg & Andrea to confirm all the roads were navigable after the recent rains, we set off at our leisure, on a Mystery Run with Quiz, where we had to answer 22 questions that tested our navigation and observation skills. Very interesting, especially when you keep seeing group cars going in different directions to yourselves. We were travelling in the most beautiful countryside, which most of us actually never saw!
Nevertheless, we all seemed to find our way to the Winery and Café of Bailey’s of Glenrowan , where we had the most enjoyable lunch. The wines were superb and several of us joined Bailey’s Wine Club by taking additional supplies home. Two cars, those of Graeme & Muriel Aberline and Ray & Sue Baty, managed to get all the answers correct and each won free extra bottles of Bailey’s fine wine. I must say on behalf of everybody on the Tour a most sincere thank you to our organizers, Greg & Andrea and Gary & Esther, for a most enjoyable week-end. Marvellous, can’t wait until next year????
Beechworth Ghost Tour by Donna Fabris
After a lovely dinner at the Hotel Nicholas, a few keen PCV members wanted to party on. Down stairs in the main bar a few more drinks were had, and a little breathalyser testing to see who had had the biggest night. Gary and Esther won by a long shot! At about midnight, the friendly publican drove Gary, Esther, Donna, Raf, Maree, Alchemy and Jennifer out to LaTrobe Uni where they would partake in the Beechworth Ghost Tour.
Once at the Uni, a group of Gen Y’ers were waiting to join us for the tour. At 12am, off we went on a walking tour of the historic psychiatric institution that remains empty and appears to be in its original run down condition. It was cold, NO ghosts, annoying Gen Y’ers, NO ghosts, painful tour guide, and did I mention NO ghosts. For 2 hours we heard about the barbaric psychiatric treatments of the late 19-century. Can you believe this institution only closed in the 1990's!
At 2am our tour concluded with our tour guide stating we had to find our own way home. Still in our giggly alcohol state, we didn’t even know which way was the front gate. As brilliant timing would have it, the Uni security guard pulled up in a mini van that was full of “stuff”. We asked if he could give us a ride to the gate. He asked how many people, and before he had a chance to change his mind, 5 people jumped into the back seat, and two into the front seat. With hands and feet everywhere, this crazy Scotsman put his foot flat on the peddle (he must have known we were Porsche drivers and thought we would be impressed by doing land speed records at 2am), and kindly stopped outside our motel. A BIG thanks to him, as it would have been a bloody cold walk.
So after 4 hours sleep and no ghosts, we joined the other PCV members at breakfast where we got to share our midnight adventure.
Mid 911 Gippsland Run – Sun 29th August 2010 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Christmas Lunch @ The Point, Albert Park - 29 Nov 09 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Warrnambool Tour - Jul 09 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 North East Vic Tour - May 09 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Macedon Run - Oct '08 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Rutherglen Weekend - June '08 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Mini Tassie Tour - Apr '08 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Flowerdale Run - Mar '07 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Mangalore Airport - April '07 - Image Gallery
Mid 911 Technical Afternoon at Weissach Sport - Jul '07 - Image Gallery