Vale Ian "Macca" McInnes
Service Friday 30th September
Ian McInnes passed away last week at Peter Mac Clinic Melbourne after a 2+ year battle with cancer and several misdiagnoses along the way.
A service for Macca will be held at LePine Ivanhoe Chapel, 81 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Friday 30th Sep, 10am.
Think of him like this from Winton 2015.
- John Pitman
Clubman Nationals bookings close - Friday 30th September
Folk from around the country head to Jindabyne 27th November to 1st December for the Clubman Nationals.
Bookings for the event close at the end of this week.
Hit up the Southern 7s website and bang the REGISTRATION link to get involved.
Eastside breakfast - Sunday 2nd October
Watch those clocks everyone - daylight savings ends overnight.
Get it wrong and you could missing out on an extra hour with your mates at the eastside breakfast this Sunday.
8am onwards at the King Bean in Wantirna.
Karl Mueller will lead us on a drive to Kinglake afterwards. Click here for Google map you can send to your 'phone.
Plenty of roads build just for clubmans & Karl recommends the Songbird cafe in Kinglake.
Come juiced up & ready for fun.
Last month's presidental address:
Rob Nethercote's guest last month was Abby Wingett, who races Bill Hemming's 1961 Elfin clubman amongst other interesting vintage race cars.
Rob must have looked away for a just a moment, allowing Sandro to swoop on the unsuspecting lady and attempt a religious conversion to the dark side (& no, I dunno why the photo is fuzzy).
We managed to drag poor Abby away from the heretic high priest of the rear engined cult and headed out to the hills.
Some lesser used roads led us, by and by, to Warburton. More laughs were had over yet another cuppa.
Westside breakfast - Sunday 16th October
Join the usual band of mates a fortnight later at:
Mac's Cafe, Sunbury, 8am onwards.
Graham Lewis memorial run - GOR - Saturday 22nd October
Our good mate "TDC" left us two years ago.
Graham would drive his pretty blue Pug powered clubman down to his favourite cafe most mornings.
After a cup of black tea + a laugh with the ladies at Cafe La Hoot, he'd head home to tinker in the workshop.
The afternoon would often find him back just over the road with his wife for a picnic by the river with the ducks.
We'll be heading down for a cuppa at Cafe La Hoot, Winchelsea, from about 9:30 Saturday 22nd October.
Following that, we'll go for a drive together on or close by the Great Ocean Road.
Alan ("longrem" on ozclubbies) of Bendigo asks that we make a donation to assist those with prostate cancer via in Graham's honour:
https://pcfa.org.au/get-involved/ways-to-donate/make-a-donation
Evening meeting - Wednesday 26th October
Come along for our bi-monthly meeting of all things clubman at the Manningham Hotel, Bulleen.
Meeting from 7:30pm, but most get there well before for refreshments, eats + stories.
Brad Crick is set to impress us with tall tales of his Aston Martin DBR1 replica build.
MSCA 50th year lunch + awards - Sunday 13th November
Instead of an awards night in the city, the MSCA is having a lunch at a Yarra Valley winery.
The day should have a bit of extra pizazz, being a celebration of the club's 50th year running.
We can book seats singly, but better if we can get together a mob of ten from the VCBG for own table.
So far, a handful of us are attending, including a couple of our brides.
If you're keen, please give me a shout & if we can get the numbers, I'll book a complete table.
At only $25 a head, it is excellent value. Our local Yarra Valley eatery aficionado recommends the place.
- Gavin
Geelong Revival - November 25th to 27th
Organisers of this event are asking if clubs wish to display their cars.
Rob Nethercote, are you showing the Elfin again this year?
Introducing new members
Peter Giulieri of Rosebud has joined the club.
Peter is expecting to take possession of a clubman in the next week or so.
I hope to introduce Peter properly after that.
Jake Andrew of Jindivik has also joined our little mob.
I was brought up in a motorsport family, my dad used to build and maintain historic race cars.
As such I have always had an interest in cars and motorbikes, I started riding when I was 4 and was Go Karting from 10.
Current fleet is somewhat diverse including a 71 MG midget that's been in the family since 81, a Datsun 1600 Coupe, a 89 Patrol, LJ50 Suzuki, and about 6 or so others.
I also have way too many motorbikes including dirtbikes and roadbikes.
I have always been a fan of clubmans, and my son is now showing an interest in motorsport so picking up a Clubman project seemed a lot more palatable than getting him started in Go Karts and standing around and watching.
The plan is to get the clubman on the road and also use it for motorkhana's hillclimbs and track days.
I haven't raced since my first child was born almost 13 years ago. Prior to that I was running a turbo MX5 in sprints.
I am based in West Gippsland so will definitely try to make it to a Wantirna meet next month.
- Jake
Give aways
I'm offering these items gratis to any interested parties.
- Set of four Yokohama A050 195/60R14 tyres
- Front indicators
- Dash vents with tubing
- Electric fan
- Pair of horns
- Robert Williams 0432 177 599
 
 
Charles adding power
I Just received some pics of my new DBW (Drive By Wire) throttle bodies I ordered from EFI Hardware in Melbourne. This is the first Duratec kit they have made with the DBW actuator.
They are being delivered on Monday and then will be installed with some hot cams and a dry sump etc shortly.
Aiming to go from 180 to 225HP.
- Charles Pratt
Recent MSCA Phillip Island sprint
18th September
Eight club members woke early on Sunday morning and all probably thought of turning over and going back to sleep as the rain was coming down.
But no they all headed off to Philip Island race track to compete and assist in the MSCA sprint meeting.
In between light showers, a heavy rain band and wind they all managed to stay on the track and managed some reasonable times.
Arie and Paul were manning corners and waving the odd red flag, as there were a few off track excursions onto the wet grass.
- Hugh Charlton was quickest with a 1.49.2 lap with the fastest lap of the day being 1.40.4 set by a Porsche GT2RS.
- Les Bone and Chris Randall had their usual dice with Les coming out on top with a 1.50.5 to Chris with a 1.52.9.
- Gavin put in a 1.58.9 which was only 2 seconds slower than his dry times with Roger Kerr clocking a 2.11.1.
- Callum Wright was competing in his "86" with a time of 2.11.1 but a least he did not get wet
All looking forward to the next round at Sandown and hopefully a dry sunny day.
- Paul Lechner
Impressive new technology
A summary of a recent MotorSport article:
A crash left Arrow McLaren SP co-owner Sam Schmidt paralysed from the neck down.
Technology has given him the opportunity to drive and race again in a converted McLaren 720S.
On the dashboard are 3 infra red cameras, after being hoisted into the car he wears a helmet peppered with 11 dots which are reflective markers, the helmet in effect being his steering wheel, as he moves his head the wheels turn in the same way. The helmet also includes a plastic pipe, like a straw which is inserted in the mouth. The car is in neutral, when he blows in the tube the car accelerates, to brake you suck, to maintain speed you bite the tube.
The car is fitted with a steering wheel and pedals on the passenger side should any problems arise.
He recently drove the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed reaching speeds of 115mph, he has been given a licence to drive in Nevada on public roads, then he wears special sun glasses fitted with the reflective dots.
It says a lot of what can be done and the determination of Sam.
- Paul Lechner
Rob Roy hillclimb undergoing improvements
As you would be aware, this year our Schedule of Events has been very tenuous as a consequence of not knowing how the Civil works might proceed as a result of the upgrade works.
Fortunately, we have managed to fit in the Victorian Hillclimb Round and two Interclub Challenges. At this time there are two scheduled events remaining
INTERCLUB CHALLENGE ROUND 3 – OCTOBER 2
31ST HISTORIC & CLASSIC OCTOBER 30
As works are progressing so slowly, and in the hope we can proceed with these two outstanding events, we believe it is prudent to re-schedule them to :-
OCTOBER 23 for INTERCLUB CHALLENGE
NOVEMBER 20 for 31ST HISTORIC & CLASSIC
ENTRY DETAILS: The intention is Entry Forms and Supplementary Regulations will be issued in the normal way.
Should either event NOT proceed full refunds will be made.
The Interclub Challenge will not be the official opening of the revised venue but it will provide an opportunity for you to try it out.
- The track should be re-sealed with the “dip,” long hated by many at the far end of the causeway ,removed.
- A chicane introduced on driver’s left between turns 2 & 3. (This will add some interest to the track and hopefully reduce the terminal velocity of cars at the Finish line)
- New concrete tyre cleaning pad established before you enter the Brake Shoes start area.
- Return road sealed with a direct link back to the Pits without having to use the causeway.
- Additional Octundas added onto existing building providing additional spectator amenities
- Tiered spectator seating located trackside
.- Hopefully some internal roads sealed
We hope you will appreciate this update and give Rob Roy the support it so justly deserves.
- Wayne Rushton, Rob Roy Events CoOrdinator, MG Car Club
 
RWC recommendation eastside
This is the mechanic who did my RWC. He was recommended to me by James Hewitt, another of our VCBG members.
Mick the mechanic is thorough, but also clubman/classic car friendly. I would recommend him to our other members.
- John Lim
Upcoming Events
- Eastside breakfast - Sunday 2/10 - King Bean, Wantirna
- Westside breakfast - Sunday 16/10 - Mac's Cafe, Sunbury
- MSCA sprint - Sunday 23/10 - Sandown
- Evening VCBG meeting - Wednesday 26/10 - Manningham Club, Bulleen
- MSCA awards + 50th year lunch - Sunday 13/11 - Killara Estate, Seville East
- Geelong Revival - 25/11 to 27/11 - Geelong waterfront
- Clubman Nationals - 27/11 to 1/12 - Jindabyne
- Come + Try Day - 3/12 - Phillip Island racetrack - contact Gavin gavin.eakins@gmail.com
- Tassie Not the Nationals - 19/2/23 onwards - contact Geoff Ritchie geoffreyritchie@optusnet.com.au
Got something interesting to share with the club in the next newsletter?
gavin.eakins@gmail.com
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