President’s Report - April 2023
At the time of my writing this month’s President’s Report we have just arrived home from attending the 65th Federal Rally in Hahndorf. Fifty-five Victorian Branch members engaged with over 200 others from all over the country to enjoy another outstanding and successful Federal Rally. Congratulations to the South Australian Branch and the rally organisers for one of the best.
At the Federal Council Meeting we elected a new Federal President, none other than Victorian Member Louise Matthews who becomes the very first female Federal President, and Brian Williams takes over from Stephen Peoples as Federal Secretary.
Victorian club members excelled this year at the Federal Concours taking home 8 of the 18 trophies awarded including Class 5, Class 8, Class 13, Best Post War Original Coachbuilt Trophy, Bentley Trophy, E (Jack) Vidler Shield for Age and Authenticity, Best Post War Trophy and Overall Winner.
Congratulations to Wayne Fitzgerald, Ken King, David Phillips, John Baker and Gerald Swinnerton.
March has been an eventful month with our club partaking in a number of memorable events. A large contingent of PMCs at the AOMC British and European Car Show, a great turn out for the ever popular Kalorama Rally, a very enjoyable new members lunch at Ranelagh Club and the lovely mid-week run through to Daylesford.
Looking forward I would like to draw your attention to some of the events we have planned. Our April general meeting speaker is Malcolm Corban from BP Fuels who returns by popular demand. Our April run is a visit to the B24 Liberator Restoration Museum in Werribee followed by lunch at a café nearby. As a special treat the museum curators have promised to start up and run one of the aircraft engines. Don’t forget to book this through TryBooking.
Our Sunday run in May will be to the top of Mount Macedon to view the wonderful colour show put on by autumn and then through meandering back lanes and roads to Heathcote for lunch at the award winning Silver Spoon Winery. As a special winter treat, we have arranged for High Tea in June at the Flowerdale Estate in Strath Creek. Keep a look out in the newsletter for further details and make sure you don’t miss any of these great events!
Finally, another one of those Rolls-Royce mythologies. Legend has it that the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot has been wind tunnel tested and is a near perfect shape for deflecting snow from the windscreen!
Howard Wraight