Lorbek Luxury Cars

This run was arranged by Kon Gogos with a drive up through Woodstock (for the music festival) then on to Romsey, Hanging Rock, Mt Macedon and New Gisborne and finishing at the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club. Unfortunately, Kon became unwell and was not able to host the run.

We were fortunate that Ken and Harriet Anson were able to step up and host the run. They decided to use the same route as the Boxster and Cayman register used not more than a month ago which was well known to them and myself having attended the run but not finding the clock tower in the centre of Woodend. Not only did Ken and Harriet coordinate the change of event details with Lisa Gillespie at PCV they drove the route on the Thursday prior to ensure that the run notes were correct. All participants received an email detailing the change in meeting place and time and the revised run notes. This club runs like a well-oiled machine.

So, there I was on Saturday night watching the Tour De France on TV when I thought I would check the weather forecast for the Macedon region the following day. It was going to be cold and wet with a top temperature of 8 Degrees and a 70% chance of rain. Undeterred I arrived at BP Rockbank Outbound and topped up with 98 Octane petrol at $2.45 per litre while in America they are paying $ US 4.00 per US Gallon or $AUD 1.51 per litre. Surely someone is having a lend of us at these prices.

I had a quick chat to Ken and Harriet and confirmed my attendance and then took the opportunity to check out the cars and see who I knew from previous runs and club nights. Then Ken conducted the briefing and introduced the new member Patrick Marion and his navigator Clem. Patrick has been a member of PCV in the past when he owned and drove a 993. After a short hiatus he has returned to the club and is now driving a nice 996 Carrera blue cabriolet. Patrick volunteered to take the photos on the day as he is a professional photographer and is keen to take photos of members cars so will be someone to get to know. Ken then asked for a volunteer to write up the trip notes and with military precision nominated me saying that it would help me focus on the drive and look out for that elusive clock tower at Woodend.

There was a good mix of modern 911 cars assembled in the carpark all waiting to get going. There was a couple of nice GT3s, a 1985 Carrera 3.2 litre, a Boxster and a smattering of Caymans including a sleek looking Cayman 4.0 litre GTS. My silver 997 Carrera S was in good company with David Barrett’s grey 997 Carrera. It would be remis of me not to mention the beautiful 996 Turbo belonging to Joseph Weinbach. Who said these were the ugly ducking of the Porsche 911 series? Not me. In all there was a great mix of Porsche motor cars and that’s what counts.

Finally, we were underway and onto the Western Highway for all of 0.7 kilometre then a few back roads until we joined the Parwan - Exford Road for the run into Bacchus Marsh. This is where the GT cars formed a “breakaway” and become the “Tete de la Course” while the balance took up their position in the Peloton (have you been watching the Tour de France?) We passed through Bacchus Marsh where I noticed petrol was advertised at $2.01 per litre, Note to Self (NTS) must buy petrol here on the way home.