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Melbourne
Mille 2000
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Club
members Alison Rose and Norman May helped Max Hobson again with the
organisation of the Melbourne Mille, which with 32 cars proved to be a
splendid event once
more. Here is their account: The
second Melbourne Mille was one thousand miles of fun, great roads, thirty
great cars, and most importantly, great people.
The event was sponsored again by Daimler Chrysler, who generously
provided vehicles, rally jackets and berets (a welcome change from
baseball caps). Unfortunately
Gino Munaron was unable to join us for the Mille as he had broken his
ankle 2 days before he was due to fly to Australia, Tony Gaze stepped in
and filled his shoes admirably complete with his considerable history in
Formula One and his motor sport exploits. His talk on Friday night at Mt Buller kept us all enthralled.
From Tuesday night to Saturday night, the event was recorded on
film and will be shown on a cable network in the USA. An
eclectic array of cars left from the Stamford Plaza in Little Collins
Street on Wednesday morning, creating a pleasant diversion for the early
bird commuters trying to make their way down Little Collins Street.
We were joined in the first stage by Diana Gaze in her 1929 Alfa
Romeo and David Watson in a 1929 Chrysler, and to sustain us after
tangling with peak hour traffic, we enjoyed breakfast at Kenloch in the
Dandenongs. The
excellent route notes created by Julie Hobson made for mostly hassle free
navigation over the next four days, although it was easy to miss a turn
while admiring the scenery! The accommodation was first class at each
venue from Mount Buffalo with its older style charm to the sleekness of
Werribee Park. There was no
point trying to diet on this rally as all the food and wine were
excellent, notwithstanding the morning tea provided by the Mothers Club at
Swifts Creek Primary School. This
was indicative of the fare throughout the event. And
the cars? Martin Swigs 1957 Lancia Appia Zagato Coupe, Maxwell &
Julie Hobsons' 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta represented the Italian flavour
of the event with great aplomb. They were well supported by a 1954 356 Porsche, a 1955 AC Ace
and a fine array of Alfas, Austin Healeys and Jaguars. The largest car was the Blackmans sixties Cadillac which
was seconded as a school bus for joy rides around the oval at Swifts Creek
Primary school. The smallest
car? A high performance (?) 1100cc 1956 Fiat (fondly known as Bella
Millicento) who valiantly struggled over Mount Hotham but expired on the
last day, claimed by the Strathbogie Ranges.
This necessitated an undignified return to Melbourne with a Lancia
Flavia in company on the flat top salvage vehicle. The
touring assembly completed the event with a memorable farewell dinner and
luxurious overnight stay at the very classy Werribee Mansion.
There is no doubt that the majority of Mille enthusiasts including
the overseas visitors are making a note in their diaries for the Melbourne
Mille 2001. Norman May & Alison Rose. |
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