see May drive day post for details
Category Archives: Social
for the social page
May Caffeine Run – 16th
Our Caffeine Run in May is to the Fat Chef cafe in Milleara Shopping Centre, Keilor East. 16/235 Milleara Rd, Keilor East.
‘Never trust a skinny chef’
It’s on the 16th rather than the 9th because the 9th has a prior engagement as Mother’s Day. As usual, the time is from about 9:30am til 11-ish or later according to interest on the day.
May Drive Day – Sun 30th – Cancelled
May’s drive day to Malmsbury and Trentham has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 lockdown announced on Thursday 27th
Our May Drive Day, on Sunday 30th, will be out to Malmsbury for coffee at Motobean Coffee Roasters. We’ll then head on to Trentham Falls via Spring Hill before lunch at the Radio Springs hotel in Lyonville.
We’ve been getting a bit of rain lately so the falls should be in good working order. It’s only a short walk (70m?) to the falls which doesn’t sound too arduous.
Drive start point is the BP Outbound at Calder Park. Meet from 9am for a 9:30 departure.
Dogs allowed on leads at the falls.
Check out the links for the cafe, hotel and falls.
Map and driving notes will be added to this post in a few days
April Drive Day – updated
25th April (yes, Anzac Day)
The Drive will take in the picturesque corners of the Mornington Peninsula wending it way from the start through the coffee stop to lunch in a pleasant seaside cafe.
The start will be at at McDonalds Frankston – cnr Cranbourne Road and Lee Street. Melways map 102 K4 – for traditionalists.
Drive starts at 9:30 – arrive earlier if you want a coffee to get yourself going.
The route will be heading across Peninsula on minor roads, and approaching Arthur’s seat from the south. We then wind down to Dromana for lunch. Basically follows the past route, but with some ‘re-jigging’.
Lunch is at Pier Kitchen Dromana. We’ll need to book so please RSVP with numbers by Tues 20th
Caffeine Run – April
April’s Caffeine Run for members and friends is at Primary@Pioneers Park in Berwick this Sunday 11th April from about 9:30am to 11:00am or so.
Primary@Pioneers Park is a relaxed, casual venue in former primary school building in beautiful Pioneers Park in central Berwick Village. The charming, light-filled cafe with gardens and outdoor tables is perfect for gathering with friends and fellow Renault enthusiasts.
Primary @ Pioneers Park, 1-11 Peel St, Berwick VIC 3806, Australia (map)
March Drive Day – Queenscliff on the 28th
On March 28th the club will have a drive day to lunch at Queenscliff Brewhouse, taking a round-about way getting there.
The run will start in Spotswood, have coffee at Baby Black Espresso Bar in Bacchus Marsh, then go via Anakie, Bannockburn, Murgheboluc, Mt Duneed and Barwon Heads.
Meet at The Avenue, opposite the Coles Express petrol station, at 9am for 9:15 departure. We have started club runs from there before so it should be familiar to many of you. It’s just off the Westgate Fwy at the Williamstown Rd exit.
We will be taking the Westgate at the very start of the run and the roadworks there will be a factor. However, we’re only going as far as the Ring Road before getting off, and there are supposed to be no road closures at that time.
We’ll stop at Ian Phillips place in Bannockburn because we were virtually going past his street and, as you may remember, he’s got a quantity of car parts to give away.
The Queenscliff Brewhouse, where we have lunched on previous Queenscliff runs, has a good dining range on offer. The ‘locals’ in the club attest to its reputation for good food. Check the menu out here: https://www.queenscliffbrewhouse.com.au/hotel/menus/
We will of course have to book so please RSVP by 24 March (a week from today) if you are going – with how many are going with you.
The Queenscliff Fort is open for tours again however the standard tours are 11am and 1pm which do not fit with our run schedule at all. We can book a dedicated tour if we have enough people who would like to do it. If you want to do the tour, say so in your RSVP and if we get over (or close enough to) the special group tour threshold we’ll book one. Have a look here to see if you’re interested: https://www.fortqueenscliff.com.au
We hope that we can be doing regular drive days again now, but who can be sure. Grab this chance to go on one just in case . . .
‘Current times’ mandated Disclaimer: Of course, being subject to whatever quick response decisions the Govt sees fit to impose, this plan may change at any time.
Don’t forget – RSVP so we can do the bookings:
Caffeine Run – March
March’s caffeine run will be held at the Boathouse, Moonee Ponds (7 The Boulevard ) from 9.30 am Monday March 8.
It will be held on a Monday due to other events (Phillip Island Classics and Rob Roy Interclub Challenge) over the weekend, and since it’s a long weekend we can do Monday for a change.
Feb Caffeine Run – take 2
The Caffeine Run that was disrupted by the 5-day lockdown can now go ahead so it’s been rescheduled for this Sunday – Feb 21st.
Same place – Heide Museum of Modern Art cafe – and same time of around 9:30 onwards.
Hmmm, museum of modern art? I expect there’ll be some Renaults in there then, eh.
UPDATE Caffe Heide – 7 Templestowe Rd Bulleen, VIC
After being COVID locked down last week which cancelled our planned 14th Feb Sunday Coffee run to the Heide Cafe. A week later, all was forgotten when members responded to a late RCCV email on Thursday and fronted up, I counted at least a dozen cars and around 20 people. What a pleasant surprise in a truly beautiful environment, alfresco and in door dinning.
This was a very social event, all those clean shinny Renos were forgotten, no walking around and comparing notes, etc. Club members allowed themselves to enjoy the pleasure of the extensive and varied breakfast menu and banter. In fact I don’t even think any photos were taken of the cars. My table alone had 3 orders of Heide benedict salmon, wilted greens, poached eggs, sourdough toast, lashings of hollandaise sauce and paprika. And you know what none of us felt guilt, lol.
A great way to start a Sunday morning.
Caffeine Run – 14th Feb
B R E A K I N G N E W S — 5 D a y L o c k d o w n
so no Caffeine Run, dammit
February’s Caffeine Run is at Heide MOMA cafe on Sunday 14th Feb from 9:30 am.Heidi Museum of Modern Art is at 7 Templestowe Rd Bulleen.
Located opposite the main entrance to the museum, Heide Cafe offers great coffee, simple, fresh food and fast, friendly service.
You could take in the gardens and sculpture park while you’re there – it’s spectacular.The museum itself is now open but its Covid19 restrictions require one to book an entry ticket in advance.
Details on their website: Heide website
2018 Alpine Weekend April 2018
Victorian Alps Australia
This clip was shot, produced and edited by Jeff Bee © 2018. I uploaded it with Jeff’s approval. I participated in my 1989 GTA.
The event was held 20th-22nd April 2018 organised by Steve and Caroline Kalenderian.There are over 55 known Alpines in Australia. This event had 13 Vic, 1 NSW, 1 Qld & 1 NSW gather for a very enjoyable weekend in the the Victorian Alps.
As a good friend said to me “Yes, it has always been a special “vehicle” ( one can’t call it a car; a shame if one does), for those who enjoy the special and passion, passion, passion plus.”
Rodney Apcar