CAMS have an article on their website about the RCCV display at this years Australian Grand Prix.
Category Archives: Social
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May Drive Day – Gisborne
The Good Folk* of Gisborne came out to welcome the cavalcade of Renaults as the club came to town for market day. RCCV members and friends spent a nice part of the morning of May 7th having a wander through the 250+ stalls on the social drive day. The Gisborne market is great and not just because it is part of GREAT – Gisborne Region Events, Activities and Tourism. The market connoisseurs among us pronounced it ‘one of the great markets’ and ‘well worth going to the far / near (delete as appropriate) side of Melbourne to get to’.
* Jackie and Charlie Stewart
Having had our fill of the market and coffee from the fine coffee dispensing places, Paul led us off to Lancefield for lunch. 15 Renaults might have tripled the car population of Lancefield but it didn’t stop the pub serving up some very classy nosh.
An iconic vehicle – one of the few remaining factory R8 Gordinis – had made its way into the hands of club member Dave Cavanagh recently and he queried the lunch crowd if we’d like to check it out. An offer we couldn’t refuse so it was off to Romsey we went to check out Dave’s new project, and his others while we were at it.
That R8 is certainly a great get, but I have to say his Dacia 4-wheel drive utility is too. What a very strange sight: the front of an R12 and the back of a very different creature indeed! I don’t know when Dave’s going to find time to restore the R8 but I’m looking forward to it.
It must have been a strange experience for Dave’s place – more going Renaults in attendance at one time than non-going ones! And if you look closely at the picture, centre just above Ken’s shoulder, you can see a signature piece of garden art – Dave’s father’s 750.
A strange artifact of the panorama shot – one of the Knights Who Say Ni snuck in.
The next leg of the drive promised to be exciting with some hilly twisty bits of road heading up to Mt Macedon Memorial Cross. After brief regroup while Paul let the feistier members (you know who you are) go first, it was into the fun bit – but just for a bit. Nothing like a slow FORD to suck all the joy out of a good skein of road.
And good it was. I can’t recall the last time I saw a hairpin with a mere 10kph advisory and I’ve been around Tassie recently. Paul did what he could, allowing a gap to build and then having a bit of a run but the Ford was just too damn slow. I did get to hear the sweet note of his R17 Gordini off and on though.
Anyway, we gets to the top to find it absolutely ram packed tight with other folk up there. Even the overflow carpark overflowed! Clearly we weren’t the only ones to think Macedon in Autumn would be a sight to see. Didn’t stop us from enjoying a coffee and the spectacular view.
A run down the hill through Macedon via the autumn leaves of the spectacular Avenue of Honour and it was off home after another enjoyable RCCV drive day. Our thanks to Paul Stewart for organising the run.
April Drive Day – Mornington
Twenty intrepid members braved the cold and rain at Bunnings Keysborough as we met up for April’s drive day. Fortunately the skies cleared as we headed south down the Mornington Peninsula.
Taking the roads less travelled, our first stop was the village of Mt Eliza for coffee at the Cafe on the Mount. It constantly surprises me how you can live around Melbourne for most of your life and still find yourself standing in delightful little corners that you never knew about. I mean, I knew about Mt Eliza, just not how sweet the ‘village’ is.
More roads less travelled saw us wend our way down past Balnarring and Shoreham to Flinders where clear skies and a chill wind awaited us.
See, even on an overcast day a line of Renaults is a pretty site. And in case you were try to figure out what model Renault the fourth from left is you can stop. It’s not one, it’s an interloper from another marque trying to bask in our glory as we enjoy the view from above Flinders.
Back into the cars before we froze and up the spine of the peninsular to to Arthurs Seat. That new chair lift looks pretty swish but unfortunately we didn’t have time on the day for a ride as lunch awaited us at Dee’s Kitchen in Dromana.
We took the Arthurs Seat Road down to Dromana of course. Now there’s a fun road, spoiled a little by having to be responsible and obey the speed limits and watching out for other traffic! Would be a fine spot for a hill-climb event!
Dee’s Kitchen was a lovely pick by run organiser Mike – one of those modest little eateries with really great food and good friendly service. And not your standard menu, Dee was clearly charting her own course, and with some considerable success.
After lunch it was back to wending, this time for our way home after another enjoyable club drive day.
4CV MUSTER – EASTER 2017 – GRIFFITH NSW
I was invited to attend the 4CV Register bi-annual muster at Griffith NSW over Easter 2017. I had offered to transport David Jenkins’ 4CV on my trailer and use his car for the activities. Whilst the Register is primarily aimed at 4CV’s (Renault 750’s), all rear engine Renaults are welcome to join. This includes Dauphine, R8, R10, Floride, Caravelle, Alpine etc. Any Renault is welcome to join in their events.
We travelled to Griffith on Thursday to avoid some of the Easter traffic with the event officially commencing at 3.00pm on Good Friday.
Saturday morning brought a short drive to a preserves factory for a tasting followed by a procession through the middle of Griffith to a park for a line up and photo shoot. The procession had locals waving and admiring the presentation of the cars. There were (from memory) 23 4CV’s, one Dauphine, three R8’s (including a Gordini), two R10’s, one Floride, two Caravelle’s and two Alpine A110’s.
There was also a boat powered by a modified 750 engine which held the speed record for engines from 50 cu inch to 225 cu inch.
Following the photo shoot we went to a salami factory for a tasting and on to the Griffith Pioneer Park and Museum for lunch and tour. Dinner on Saturday Night was at the Exies (ex-serviceman’s) Club in Griffith.
Sunday morning we drove approx. 50km to a cotton gin for a tour and presentation on the growing and processing of cotton in the area. On the return journey to the motel we stopped at McWilliams Wines, Hanwood Estate for lunch.
After lunch there was a swap meet at the motel. Many of those who trailered cars loaded then to prepare for the return home on Monday. Attendees had come from all states and territories except NT.
The next muster is in Inverell NSW, Easter 2019. I think I might go again.
Glenn Armstrong
Drive Day May 7 – Gisborne Market
Our drive day for May is to Gisborne Market followed by lunch at the Lancefield Pub. We will have a couple of hours at the market.
Following lunch we will visit Mount Macedon and end at New Gisborne for afternoon tea.
A full itinerary will be emailed to members.
Drive Day Sunday April 9 – Mornington Peninsula
We will meet at 0900 for 0930 Start, at Bunnings Keysborough Carpark, MAP 88 J8. Springvale Rd end, opposite Garden section.
Travel via Frankston, Mt Eliza, Merricks, Flinders then climb up the back of Arthur’s Seat, take a view, then wind our way down again to Dromana for lunch at Dee’s Kitchen.
Distance 96km or 60 miles approx.
We hope you can join Us.
Grand Prix Display 2017
For this year we had 15 display place allocated. Unfortunately Mike Garafillis R12 Gordini did not make it on the day. We had many people interested in our cars, particularly the Alpines A110 and A310, and in the Renault 750.
It cost each person $30.00 to display their car. In return they received 2 X 4 day general admission passes to the event. In addition, each person goes into a draw for a number of Pit Lane walks. Two from our club were lucky enough to win. We believe we were the only club with multiple winners.
There was also on display at the event, a Dauphine that held set a land speed record last year at Bonneville at 123 kph. This stunned may of us as it has a larger motor than a standard Dauphine which we thought would have been able to do that speed easily.
Some of our members took a very relaxed approach to the day.
CAMS gave us a write up on their website too: See the rare Renault Gordini at the Australian Grand Prix
Drive Day to Marysville – Sunday March 5
RENAULT ROUND-UP 2017
The Round-Up is on again – 19th February
As usual, the Renault Round-Up car display is open to all classic and modern Renaults. Non-RCCV club members are especially welcome to display their car at the Round-Up. It’s the best value car show around – free to display your car and free for everyone to come and view. Apart from the $2 Caribbean Gardens charge for vehicle entry to the venue.
The Round-Up is supported this year by Waverley Renault, Alpine Affaire, Auto Paris, Qualitool and Renault Australia.
Location this year is the same as last year – the Caribbean Gardens in Scoresby. There are two entrances; one off Ferntree Gully Road less than one km from the Eastlink Tollway exit and another off Stud Road. Below the flyer is a map showing in more detail where the display area is in the Gardens.
The Caribbean Gardens is a great family-friendly setting that’s become very popular for staging car shows. There’s the market (for the Mums), playground and rides (for the Kids) and, of course, masses of Renaults for the Dads. Yes, yes that’s a bit of stereotyping; of course the Dads can try the rides. . ..
Cars can arrive from from 8:30am and the show formally starts at 9:30 and runs to around 3pm. Concours award presentation scheduled for 1:30 – 2:00 pm.
Renaults in Europe by Ken Marriott
As might be expected, there are Renault models and variants on the market in Europe that we never see in Australia. A recent trip to the UK, France and Germany highlighted this for me. However, my overall impression was that apart from the exotic Twizzy and the all-electric Zoe, some of the offerings were losing some of the traditional French uniqueness and flair. The new Espace –the big Renault—looked too much like a big Jeep while the latest Scenic appeared to have lost most of its quirky features, especially the 17-odd storage pockets. Even the Zoe, though neat, looked like a Cleo with batteries.
Apart from the Twizzy, the highlight was the L’Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysees in central Paris. This shop featured current Renault models, historic details on the company, an excellent gifts and souvenirs area and an upstairs café. Similar shops presented by Toyota, Mercedes, BMW, Peugeot and Citroen were more glitz and less information with the Citroen display was dominated some stunning architecture. Very much worth a visit! Three models selected from L’Atelier Renault show a Twizzy, a micro, radio-controlled Renault Sport R.S. 01, and the grand Renault RM2 Reinastella from 1932.
From another interesting perspective –though I admit that perhaps I am biased— I felt that I saw fewer Peugeots anywhere in Europe, even compared with Australia, and that there was nothing of note amongst them that caught his eye.