The Melbourne Mille started with Registration and a welcoming dinner at the Hyatt on the Park Hotel. On Tuesday 14^th October, the 40 participants cars were parked along the driveway and around the Hotel forecourt, making a great spectacle. Our sponsors Chrysler were driving a Viper and Prowler with Co- Sponsor Jeff Dutton driving a 'C' type Jaguar with Pat Coram. The range of cars included Jaguar, Aston Martin, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, AC, Ferrari, Ford, Lancia, MG and Austin Healey. A truly great representation of 1950's and 60's sports cars.

A 6.45am start the following morning, and Judith Wheeler, Chryslers Managing Director, flagged off each car. Soft drinks and water courtesy of Splitrock were handed out to each car. A breakfast stop at the Top of Mt Macedon and then a run through the hills to a lunch stop at Mitchelton Winery. A really great Spring day and lots of quiet back roads. After lunch we went through Euroa, Mansfield then through the picturesque and testing Tolmie Road to Mt Buffalo. As usual, a great night was held at Mt Buffalo with some 1950's motor racing films shown in the old theatre after dinner.

Wednesday morning saw steady rain and 2C temperature for our run to Yackandandah and morning tea. The sun started to shine through for the drive around Hume Weir to Walwa for lunch at a local winery. The drive to Mt Kosciusko for the overnight stop was truly spectacular and driving in a group of 10 or so classic sports cars through the mountains was really something to remember. The mountain weather really turned bad, bringing heavy rain. Many of the open cars elected to keep their hoods down and push on, the theory being you only get wet if you stop! The night at Lake Crackenback Resort had a real ski- resort atmosphere with pre-dinner drinks by an open fire and views across the lake to a snow covered Mt Kosciusko.

Our accompanying mechanic- Marty Robinson had been on light duties so far with only the odd electrical and fuel problem. All cars were running well, covering over 600 miles in the last two days.

Particularly gratifying was to see so many pristine classic cars being used in the manner to which their designers had intended, not to be tucked away in a garage only to be wheeled out on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The freezing overnight conditions took their toll with some cars reluctant to start. Michael Valmorbida's DB4 GT decided it was just too cold. Some coaxing by Marty Robinson soon had her burbling into life. Breakfast was a few miles down the road at an old barn style restaurant with 'walk in' open fires and a real 'Man from Snowy River' feel.

A run down the Monaro Highway to lunch at Orbost and overnight stop at Metung saw sun, rain, snow, ice and sleet. Julie and I were in the XK120 with snow inches thick on the windscreen. We eventually succumbed and put the hood up for a short time. Victoria in spring time. Our first and only retirement saw the Alfa Romeo of visiting Americans Dan Rhodes and Ray Klauer without a car, having to abandon it at Jindabyne. Our friends from Chrysler put them in the Prowler for the day which cheered them up with the opportunity to try some top down motoring. The overnight stop at the quaint fishing village of Metung made quite a contrast to the previous night spent at Kosciusko! Dinner gave everyone the chance to sample local seafood.

The final day started early with 323 miles to the finish in Queenscliff. So far, navigation had been relatively straight forward, but Saturday morning saw a few drivers missing (hidden) turns. Everyone arrived at the Loy Yang Power Station where the field was treated to a morning tea kindly supplied by the Morwell Chrysler dealer. A fantastic run down through a very narrow and winding road of the rainforests of the Tara Valley. As Katsutoshi Yamaguchi from Japan put it - like Jurassic Park! A lunch stop at Korumburra before the ferry trip from Sorrento to Queenscliff, and the final night at the Vue Grand. All of the cars arrived at the ferry together and made a great site, covered in 1240 miles of road grime, giving them a real Mille Miglia patina.

The participants were a wonderful group of people who brought together a fantastic collection of wonderful cars, each one presented ready for the demands of the Mille. Everyone enjoyed themselves, covered all sorts of terrain in all weather and really had a feel of adventure and accomplishment at the end. Our sponsors, Chrysler, Dutton and Splitrock must be thanked for their support, for without them the event would not be. We urge everyone to support them. We also thank the Maserati Club under whose auspices the event is conducted. The dates for next year are 20^th October to 25^th October. New overnight stops - new roads.