Lovely pictures, Lee and Lynton. But I see this as an event to look at rather than to take part in. This morning on ABC Local Radio several listeners called in to voice the complaint I figured out 10 years ago, the last time I took part.
My last experience was a grid lock just about all the way from the start at Barrett Reserve to some distance north of the Adelaide CBD. A tremendous way of burning out your clutch and, for those with iffy cooling, boiling if there's any temperature on the day. Even after we started to climb into the Adelaide Hills, the convoy necessarily moved at the speed of the inevitable slow car because no roads were made one way - as it used to be years ago. Callers to ABC 891reminded us of that and one caller noted that during The Tour DownUnder (bike race over several days) roads are closed. That said, cyclists are, as we know, god-like and motorists are infidels.
One caller suggested that the participating cars start from three locations, all joining up further along the road to Birdwood. An idea that's not ideal, but in light of the large number of vehicles, worthy of consideration in my 'umble view.
So I say long may the Bay to Birdwood last. It's a great event, with 1750 wonderful cars. The scene at Birdwood Mill is wonderful if the weather is clement! But it could be greater if those providing the spectacle were considered a little more.
I had a reasonable run. Stop start for no apparent reason from Tolley Rd to Hancock and a slow run from Houghton to Birdwood behind a very slow Belvedere [pictured at the top!] It took me about 90 min.
There was still cars coming in at 1pm though and reputedly a 3 hour trip.
Again a lack of interest from the Govt. A couple of thousand cars is no worse than peak hour every day. Make the traffic lights work properly and control a few turns.
Though as I said I had a reasonable run, far better than the last 2.
I am sure tourism minister Bignell turned up for a photo opportunity at the start and then departed with no thoughts of the real world.
My view is that there was more interesting cars parked on the side of the road watching than on the run. The earlier [why] start meant less spectators on Anzac Hwy than usual. A little early on a Sunday for many.
The commentator at the start was waffling about that a third of the entrants were new,, probably because they had burnt many of the others in the past!
I entered the day entries closed, as late as a week before the event I got an email that they would still accept entries,,, at the increased fee. The program has 1755 official entries plus the Police, ETSA etc entries.
I do know after last time many regular entrants did not enter,, a well known circuit owner has given up after 2 years ago. And he had multiple entries for vintage and classic events.
There was a HUGE amount of interstaters this year, maybe a quarter? Are the Victorians taking over the event!
A friend was on Hwy 8 Friday and said he saw a LOT of cars coming over from Vic.
