FTO Drivers Club, Western Australia

[marke]

Anyone got any idea's where we could go for our next meet? I know Rich had an idea from someone about a trip down to Bunbury. How many of you want to go that far? does anyone have any other idea's at all?

Mark

[RichardH]

Regarding Bunbury, Jeff Crisdale has put together this gem of a plan...

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Have you ever driven the Bunbury - Donnybrook -Mummbellup - Collie - Burekup circuit around Wellington Dam?

Nice drive indeed. Lots of hills, hidden valleys..lovely forest...pretty good quality roads and lots and lots of sweeping curves with not much traffic. It would be a full day trip though (approx. 550km round trip to Perth) with an itinerary something like:

1. Leave early - say 6.30am (is that too early?) from meeting place in the carpark at Gateways Shopping Centre near the intersection of Kwinana Fwy and Armadale Rd.
2. Easy 40km drive down Fwy to Mandurah (1st pit stop about 7.15am).
3. Leave Mandurah approx. 7.30am and continue down Old Coast Rd to Bunbury (approx. 105km) for well deserved morning tea in the Cafe strip (about 9.00-9.30am)
4. Cruise around Bunbury City sights (I have a few spots in mind - the lookout and lighthouse area for one and the beachfront another - for approx.1 hour. (say 9.30 - 10.30)
5. Head 36km to Donnybrook (arrive approx. 11am) - 15 min pit stop.
6. Drive 29km east to Mummballup then 21km north to Collie - LUNCH stop. (approx.12noon to 1.00pm)
7. Drive west to Wellington dam (arrive approx. 1.30pm) for sightseeing (approx. 45mins) Leave approx. 2.15pm.
8. Drive back along SW Hwy (approx. 110km) to Pinjarra Central Park (late afternoon tea approx. 4.00pm-4.30pm)
9. Return 86km to Perth approx. 5.45-6.00pm. Celebrate safe return!

Hehe. What do you think? Is that too far for one day of "cruising"?

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I'm certainly up for it!

- Rich

[Fred]

I'm up for it as well.

Just one thing, when do we fill up? Don't think many ftos can last 550km with their full tank.

Cheers

Fred

[Zan]

Wow! That sounds like quite a trip.

Count me in for this.
But we do need to find a gas station that sells Premium (Hi octane preferably).

[marke]

That is one momma of a trip, a loong day out and a lot of tired eyes at the end

Im in, so long as we can find a ultimate98 pump somewhere or at least a premium.. and preferrably one that will be able to handle the refuelling of 10 or so FTO's

[BASSULA]

Just a thought..dunno really but faye suggested why not do it on a long weekend and say stay the night in bunbury or something.. may be a bit better and a chance to get to know other FTO drivers on a more sociable level. just a thought coz 550kms in 1 day is a FREAKIN long way!! and from the last 1 if ya coulnt tell 7am on a sunday morning isnt the best of times.. hehehe

[RichardH]

> faye suggested why not do it on a long weekend and say
> stay the night in bunbury or something..

Great idea!

We were hoping to arrange an overnight run to Margaret River a while back, but couldn't get things together (I think Christmas overtook us or something).

However, with the way Easter and general Perth long weekends are, we might be better off leaving on just a "normal" Saturday (lunchtime?), and come back Sunday evening.

Just thinking of the terrible long weekend traffic, caravans, boats, jetskis, Combi vans full of surfboards, fully booked accomodation... aieee! Normal weekend would be my preference!

- Rich

PS. You can use the BP website to locate places selling BP Ultimate 98 within 25 km of Bunbury...! And the winner is: BP Australind, on Old Coast Road - less than 10km out.

[JeffC]

Hmmm ..... or bust??? ;o)

An overnighter? Sure! With re-fuel of 98 RON to boot. And I can definitely recommend the "Only One Thai" restaurant in Bunbury too. Top tucka!

Now, I am definitely not wanting to do this in 40+C heat, so can we defer this for ummm, say 3-4 weeks? Max day temps should be on the wane by mid March (say Sat 15/Sun16) with March ave temps being 29C day and 15C night compared to Feb 31C / 17C ave. Those few degrees mean a few ponies lost, no? hehe.

I'm looking forward to this!

Jeff C

[marke]

I can't imagine getting this organised in any less than 4 weeks anyway. I don't really wanna be doing this in 40c heat either, maybe a few weeks into autumn, 6 weeks say?

somewhere around 17 march?

Mark

[RichardH]

Can't do March 15/16... That's the weekend of my monthly MC Motorsport fix, and it's already booked!

Can do March 22/23, March 29/30, or April 5/6.

Karen and Katrina will probably be coming down as well - just in the wagon. Not so squeezy.


Jeff, anyone, what's a good place to book for the overnight stay around there?...

- Good parking... cars out the front of the rooms, like a motel maybe?
- Somewhere slightly away from the Bunbury yobs - less chance of keyed door panels, hehe.
- Not excessively expensive, but certainly not the Roach Motel.

I'll do some checking. If some folks want to doss down in the same room to save money, make sure you bring at least one Playstation2 down!!!

- Rich

[JeffC]

Hi Rich!

I'm fine with the late March / early April dates at this time.

Did you receive my e-mails with the info on a couple of accomodation possibilities? Can you post those pages up here for looksee by others?

Cheers,

Jeff

[BASSULA]

this is all good for me except for the 29-30 march as CABIN autosalon is on that weekend and I MAY be running 1 of the events for them so that would count me/us out that weekend..

a week either side is ok tho..

cheers

[Fred]

Next event�.. BBQ at Lancelin either on Sunday the 25th May or 8th June.

I will be doing a run this Sunday to sort out the route, if anyone wants to come along please let me know.

Proposed plan
Meet at Joondalup shopping centre on Sunday 20th April, 10.00am
Leave approximately 10.30am.
Itinerary:
Head to Guilderton (Moore River)
Lunch at Lancelin
Stopover at Ledge Point
Final run to Two Rocks & Yanchep

I know this will be a busy Easter long weekend as well as school holidays. Worst of all, it will be double demerit points.

But if you are clueless about this long weekend, why not come for a drive? I trust the FTO owners to use proper sense and drive at the speed limit. I can't be held responsible should you have your photo taken by a multinova.

If I have enough interest for Saturday the 19th, I can accommodate to that.

As I said, this is only a trial run, the final plan will be set for late May or early June.

Email me at [email protected] to register your interest for this Sunday

Cheers
Fred

[Zan]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

20th April is a little too early notice for me.. but late May or June would
be great.

cheers,
Zan

[elmo]

Sounds like a good trip.
Just a one day er then?
I'm keen but not till next month. Anytime then would be good.
Need some work on the beast so wont be able too till then.