Tas run - time to head across the pond
You may recall a couple of issues ago I advocated giving the nearest airport a wide berth and jumping in the car instead. Well, I do sometimes practice what I preach, as this end of the year is filled with road trips.
For example Morley and I recently jumped in the 1989 Benz 300SEL land yacht for a Melbourne-Sydney return trip so we could play with the rest of the inmates at this year’s outrageously successful Rolling 30.
In fact, the Benz has had a big year and, for the first time ever, I’ve had to extend the standard 45 available days on the classic plates to the max 90 to keep it on the road. It’s done a few Melbourne-Canberra trips in recent months and is up for another very soon. This apparent popularity is because it’s such a good highway cruiser.
Anyway, as I write this in the last days of September, we’ve just shot the 1976 633 BMW coupe into Mick’s workshop for a check-over and service, in preparation for this year’s Bay to Birdwood.
It’s an event I’ve wanted to get to for years and it seems the moons have aligned…finally!
But wait, there’s more! Our so far much under-utilised 1993 BMW 850ci, all 12 cylinders of rampant nineties Bavarian complexity, is about to be let out of its cage for a run to Tassie. So I guess that counts as this year’s overseas trip.
The agenda is pretty loose, but a lap of the island will be a good start, as we cruise around catching up with a couple of feature cars.
And next year? Well the Kingswood is pencilled in for an August trip to Canberra, to celebrate 40 years since we bought it off a used car lot in Braddon. Who knew we’d all survive this long?
And then there’s the Soarer. First task will be to freshen up the paint and then we’ll see.
And of course we should be christening the VK wagon project before too long. A long-roof with a big engine and a towbar? That presents all sorts of interesting options.
Meanwhile I’m just looking forward to getting the mighty 850 out for a cruise in the sort of territory it should be suited to. This will be the first time we’ve ventured out of the state with the thing and it’s long overdue. Wish us luck…
From Unique Cars #471, Oct/Nov 2022