[eltel]

Looking for drivers to participate in a drive along the Great Ocean Road.

Suggested date is Sunday 2nd Feb, since school holidays are over and the little blighters might leave the beaches and the GOR alone. Or we could battle the traffic (which is heavy on any Sunday anyway) on the Australia Day weekend.

Question, do we want to drive all the way to Warrnambool, or shorter drive to Apollo Bay with lunch at Lorne?

Warrnambool is a long drive, but you get to see the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, etc., but requires a real early start to take all these things in. There are lots of stopping points to take photos and walk, so you need plenty of time. We'd come home along the Prince Highway through Colac, which cuts some of the time down when coming home.

So please respond with your choices :
A - 26th Jan (Australia Day - kids still on holidays) longer drive to Warrnambool.
B - 26th Jan shorter drive to Apollo Bay.
C - 2nd Feb (kids back at school) longer drive to Warrnambool.
D - 2nd Feb shorter drive to Apollo Bay.
E - not interested in this drive.
F - interested in Warrnambool drive, but some other date (please suggest) later in the year.
G - interested in Apollo Bay drive, but some other date (please suggest) later in the year.
H - an alternative itinerary (please put forward your suggestions, dates, places, etc.)

Hope this is of interest to you all, especially the SA, NSW and Tasmanian MC/MCS owners (I suggest that you stop over at Warrnambool and take some time to explore further along the coast and some of the inland attractions).

Regards, ElTel

[OZChris]

Hi, I am relatively new to mini2, but would love to participate with any runs in Victoria.

The dealer is saying that my Cooper arrives 11/1/2003 in Sydney, so I hope to have my Cooper in late January, so anything from then is great. Options C, D, ...etc.

Chris

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by ccsmini
Hi, I am relatively new to mini2, but would love to participate with any runs in Victoria.

The dealer is saying that my Cooper arrives 11/1/2003 in Sydney, so I hope to have my Cooper in late January, so anything from then is great. Options C, D, ...etc.

Chris

Welcome to the club, Chris. Please tell us a bit more about your MINI, and yourself if you wish.

Regards, ElTel

[OZChris]

I have ordered a fairly standard Mini Cooper in Chilli Red with White Roof. The only factory options included were Front Fog lights and ASC + T.

I am looking at the typical mods: exhaust, air intake, wheels, etc.

My wife, 11 month old son and I are looking forward to crusing in the mini.

[Boo]

would love to see you on the run but might not be able to make it down there... i definitely think we should be looking for a Great Alpine run around April/May so we can have time organising Sydney siders as well...

[swamos]

We'll probably be down there in March (we are going to Tassie). Would love to do this kind of thing with you guys then

[WAY]

Hey guys, I'm back in town. Been away for awhile for work and travelling (and occasionally having a quick browse on MINI2 in the odd hotel and Internet Cafe). I am keen on the drive. But only if 2nd of Feb as I have a wedding to attend on Australia day. Am flexible with the destination. Thanks for organising Eltel!!!

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by WAY
Hey guys, I'm back in town. Been away for awhile for work and travelling (and occasionally having a quick browse on MINI2 in the odd hotel and Internet Cafe). I am keen on the drive. But only if 2nd of Feb as I have a wedding to attend on Australia day. Am flexible with the destination. Thanks for organising Eltel!!!

Happy New Year WAY. It's been a long time since we have heard from you. I think Australia Day is out for many, so let's try for 2nd Feb, the week after.

So, who's up for it. Boo and Melody are out as they have a very busy time over that period, Steve from QLD can make it in March (we'll address their visit separately), so it's just us Vics to get organised.

If we're going to Warrnambool, and taking in some of the sights along the way, then we need to meet in Geelong at 9am. This would get us easily to Warrnambool mid afternoon, and then we can run home along the Princes Highway.

If we just want to drive to Apollo Bay, then we don't need to leave Geelong till 10am and that gives us time to get to Lorne for a long lunch, then onto Apollo Bay and the reverse run home, or detour from Lorne to Deans Marsh (lovely windy road through the hills) then to Winchelsea on the Princes Hwy.

The drive to Apollo Bay appeals to me as we're not trying to squeeze too much into one day. Keeping six or eight cars together for a long drive, such as to Warrnambool, can be difficult and exasperating if you get separated, or if you want to stop and the others don't.

**** So I'm suggesting the run to Apollo Bay, meeting at Geelong at 9:30 for a 10:00 kick off. On Sunday 2nd Feb. Weather should be fantastic. How about it? ****

Regards, ElTel

[Boo]

Wish we could make it but alas, we are in Canberra Have fun...

[CoopeR]

Quote:

Originally posted by eltel
Happy New Year WAY. It's been a long time since we have heard from you. I think Australia Day is out for many, so let's try for 2nd Feb, the week after.

So, who's up for it. Boo and Melody are out as they have a very busy time over that period, Steve from QLD can make it in March (we'll address their visit separately), so it's just us Vics to get organised.

If we're going to Warrnambool, and taking in some of the sights along the way, then we need to meet in Geelong at 9am. This would get us easily to Warrnambool mid afternoon, and then we can run home along the Princes Highway.

If we just want to drive to Apollo Bay, then we don't need to leave Geelong till 10am and that gives us time to get to Lorne for a long lunch, then onto Apollo Bay and the reverse run home, or detour from Lorne to Deans Marsh (lovely windy road through the hills) then to Winchelsea on the Princes Hwy.

The drive to Apollo Bay appeals to me as we're not trying to squeeze too much into one day. Keeping six or eight cars together for a long drive, such as to Warrnambool, can be difficult and exasperating if you get separated, or if you want to stop and the others don't.

**** So I'm suggesting the run to Apollo Bay, meeting at Geelong at 9:30 for a 10:00 kick off. On Sunday 2nd Feb. Weather should be fantastic. How about it? ****

Regards, ElTel

Sounds great to me !

There will be a few of us now to fill the road !

[OZChris]

Apollo Bay sounds great for Feb 2nd.

It might be a slow and easy run for me, as I believe that my MC is delivered earlier that week.

I had better get some running in miles before Feb 2.

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by ccsmini
Apollo Bay sounds great for Feb 2nd.

It might be a slow and easy run for me, as I believe that my MC is delivered earlier that week.

I had better get some running in miles before Feb 2.

Crikey, you're cutting it fine there Chris. Even if you experience a delay in getting the car, please join us anyway.

Regards, Eltel

[disdis]

Eltel:

no good for the drive. I m still overseas...

and my MCS wont be avail until end of Feb.



u guys hv fun then.

[eltel]

Well disdis, come Feb we hope to see you on all of our drives, and you can tell us about what's happening on the Hong Kong scene. They must be doing crazy things to their MINIs up there.

Hope that you car arrives on schedule. There will be a GOR drive later in the year, as there are others who cannot make it this time.

Regards, ElTel

[Boo]

I'm thinking of doing the Great Alpine Road soon I love that place hehehehe

[Dipper66]

G'day EITel,

Thanks for organising this drive day. I have been wanting to go for a spin down the GOR since picking up my S in early November but haven't for the simple reason of holiday traffic.

2nd Feb is great and I agree that Apollo Bay will be just right. Keep me posted of details and if there's anything I can do to help out?

Thanks again and look forward to it.

[WAY]

Quote:

Originally posted by Boo
I'm thinking of doing the Great Alpine Road soon I love that place hehehehe

Except part of it is on fire isn't it???

[eltel]

Boo and WAY, the Vic Mini Club are doing a GAR run on 3/4 of May. We could tag along with them, although they're a bit slow on the climb.

What about the weekend before, say the Anzac weekend? Stay at Bright on Friday, the trees will be glorious, great photo opportunities, weather will be nice and crisp and just the right temperature to feed our superchargers. Snow will be on some of the higher peaks, and the bushfire danger will be well and truly over.

Open fire, good wine, great company. Well two out of three ain't bad.

Gives the NSW crew the Friday (Anzac Day) to head down this way.

Need to get numbers together pretty quickly, so we need to settle on a date. Much later than late April/early May and the brilliant autumn colours will be gone.

Thoughts?

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dipper66
G'day EITel,

Thanks for organising this drive day. I have been wanting to go for a spin down the GOR since picking up my S in early November but haven't for the simple reason of holiday traffic.

2nd Feb is great and I agree that Apollo Bay will be just right. Keep me posted of details and if there's anything I can do to help out?

Thanks again and look forward to it.

Hi Dipper66. Looking forward to meeting you on the drive. I can't wave my magic wand and get rid of the Sunday traffic, but at least we'll be in the best cars as we wind our way along the coast.

Thanks for the offer to help, much appreciated. I suppose we are all keen to read about your car, so give us some info. Colour, options, dealer.?? Any pics?

We'll see you then. More details will follow about meeting place and time.

Regards, ElTel

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by CoopeR
Sounds great to me !

There will be a few of us now to fill the road !

Matt, looks like there's five cars at least, so that's great. Could you please nominate a meeting place and give us Melways references.

I suggest that we meet at 9:30 for a 10:00 start.

Should be good.

Regards, ElTel