Mt Donna Buang Cruise 06/07/2008

[Ben_GTI]

As discussed at the Melbourne Pub meet I'm going for a drive around the Mt Donna Buang Area on Sunday the 6th of July.

Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you drive a VW or not, do come along.

I'm thinking meeting at 10am at the maccas on the corner of Springvale Rd and the Maroondah hwy. That way there is still 30 minutes before breakfast finishes.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14359221514420738260,-37.818480,145.176580%3B3747529420133484717,-37.688244,145.527217%3B8225121329411809391,-37.697510,145.575780%3B2529573906733152576,-37.706740,145.681910%3B3963868356313743300,-37.750039,145.708179%3B2727719717317081896,-37.747732,145.706050%3B6763357631266908754,-37.562833,145.906589%3B15060961130662312341,-37.654470,145.513310&saddr=Maroondah+Hwy+%40-37.818480,+145.176580&daddr=Unknown+street+%40-37.688244,+145.527217+to:Donna+Buang+Rd+%40-37.697510,+145.575780+to:Donna+Buang+Summit+Rd+%40-37.706740,+145.681910+to:Donna+Buang+Rd+%40-37.750039,+145.708179+to:-37.751851,145.724158+to:Warburton+Wood+Point+Rd+%4 0-37.562833,+145.906589+to:Maroondah+Hwy+%40-37.654470,+145.513310&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&sll=-37.748186,145.707507&sspn=0.020292,0.04446&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.776142,145.27668&spn=0.162277,0.355682&z=12

Then we'll head up the Maroondah (with a full tank of fuel) to just before Healesville and meet at lake Coranderrk (see map) for some photos.


Then we go down to Warburton to see the shop with the "well hung meat" and follow Warburton-Woods Point Rd and Marysville-Woods Point Rd to Marysville at which point food will sound good.


It'll be a cruisy drive down the black spur after that back to Healesville

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14359221514420738260,-37.818480,145.176580%3B3747529420133484717,-37.688244,145.527217%3B8225121329411809391,-37.697510,145.575780%3B2529573906733152576,-37.706740,145.681910%3B3963868356313743300,-37.750039,145.708179%3B2727719717317081896,-37.747732,145.706050%3B6763357631266908754,-37.562833,145.906589%3B15060961130662312341,-37.654470,145.513310&saddr=Maroondah+Hwy+%40-37.818480,+145.176580&daddr=Unknown+street+%40-37.688244,+145.527217+to:Donna+Buang+Rd+%40-37.697510,+145.575780+to:Donna+Buang+Summit+Rd+%40-37.706740,+145.681910+to:Donna+Buang+Rd+%40-37.750039,+145.708179+to:-37.751851,145.724158+to:Warburton+Wood+Point+Rd+%4 0-37.562833,+145.906589+to:Maroondah+Hwy+%40-37.654470,+145.513310&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&sll=-37.748186,145.707507&sspn=0.020292,0.04446&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.64849,145.71785&spn=0.325113,0.711365&z=11

Google Maps reckons its about 3 hours driving time, 175km or so. I am open to changing the route if anyone knows any other good roads in the area. Mt Donna Buang does get cold, it is the closest place to Melbourne that gets snow.

Thoughts?

[velly_16v_cab]

sounds like a good idea, we will find out if the Lancer of love can cope with the snow lol

[Jon_Vr6]

Id be up for this,
but that sunday i'm racing mountain bikes up in Bendigo.
grr, Im local round here too

[velly_16v_cab]

doh, i may not beable to make it, i am double booked :duh:

[MK2 GTI]

I'll most likely be comming, Havn't been on a cruise in ages!

[STV4SYT]

Looks like i have aligned the planets crrectly with my job change and can get back to the uk for 3 weeks in between, leaving that sunday. it does get bloody cold up there, wont be too many bikes out id imagine either. though i have done it once before and exhausts come in as very handy hand warmers.

[GoLfMan]

id be in for that, thats a very nice cruise and will be nice for some snow play and something different :D

[GoLfMan]

bump on this one too, im pretty keen

WHO'S IN?

[Tim]

if im not at work ill be there :)

[Ben_GTI]

I think it will be a good cruise :driver:.... but then I may be bias hahaha. I mean come on starting with a maccas breakfast!! what more could you ask for.

[Volvo Driver]

This I could make as long as I remember it's on, the 760 will be done and it does have suspension upgrades so it won't wallow through the corners and it's a Volvo so it's designed for snow :p

[Jon_Vr6]

This I could make as long as I remember it's on, the 760 will be done and it does have suspension upgrades so it won't wallow through the corners and it's a Volvo so it's designed for slow :p

fixed :) :biggrin:

[Volvo Driver]

Yeah, I didn't get a turbo, but it will be fast eventually. Still got as much torque as a Mk3 TDi or VR6 (240ishnm's)

[ScienceVR6]

put me down for a solid maybe....

[FknDubbin]

I wont be... Its Seans gf's 21st the night before and **** may get messy and i dont wanna thrash around Buang in that weather! I really wanna organise a night cruise one night but.

[burtybear]

Then we go down to Warburton to see the shop with the "well hung meat"
Thoughts?

= Ben's organising :biggrin:

[Shteifen]

cant confirm at this stage as copious amount of alcohol may be consumed the night before but no plans at this stage. will try get a mate who also owns a vw to come ( maybe this time he will).

i shall look forward to it!:)
-Steve

[Volvo Driver]

I will be there, gf will probably be as well. entered it in my phone to remind me :p

Also am seeing if any people on turbobricks would like to come as well, so I won't be the only RWD car there!

[Ben_GTI]

so I won't be the only RWD car there!

I'm trying to convince my brother to bring his E30, but he is afraid it will blow up before he makes it to maccas. Which may be a distinct possibility...


Burt, your memory serves you way to well!!:biggrin:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/06/moto_0015-1.jpg

[blutopless2]

might come along with the missus if we can get a baby sitter. :)

[nemo]

I'll be breaking in the GTI on it's virgin cruise. Looking forward to it! :driver:

[Shteifen]

i look forward to the HOOTERS.

my brother would come with his E30...but he'll be in america by then. sucks for him, he doesnt get hooters.

i love hooters

-steve

[Ben_GTI]

Group photo at Hooters anyone? hahaha.

[Shteifen]

will hooters be involved?
:biggrin:
-steve

[blutopless2]

are we stopping anyplace for lunch?

[Ben_GTI]

Well we should be able to make it to Warburton for a snack and have a late-ish lunch at Marysville.

If we head off on time, I know I can make it to Marysville by lunchtime.

[GoLfMan]

If we head off on time, I know I can make it to Marysville by lunchtime.

i could make it by breakfast the day before, my Polo is just that fast :nana::mowlawn:

[Volvo Driver]

I'm still in, car's rego'd and goes rather well actually, so combined with the good handling, I might be near the front of the pack :p

[Ben_GTI]

i could make it by breakfast the day before, my Polo is just that fast :nana::mowlawn:


Yea Polo's are that fast hey? :)

[Ben_GTI]

2 more sleeps!!!!:)

[MK2 GTI]

I don't think i'll be able to make it, Im goin into the city tonight so it depends if i can get up or not lol.

[GoLfMan]

i too wont be able to make it, need to work on the mk1 cos it threw a timing belt last night ;)

[GT3]

Just a suggestion, ...but any chance this could be postponed to next Sunday??

[Ben_GTI]

It could, but late notice would mean that some people would still turn up and next Sunday is no good for me. I'm still going to have some fun, the weather has been nice so far today so it should be good.

[GT3]

..next Saturday ??:biggrin:

[Volvo Driver]

Do I post in here or is there a reveiw page too?

Just got back, sorry for not meeting you guys after Marysville, wasn't sure where Ben went nor the others behind me. Had A LOT of fun driving, even though I lost an indicator lens due to the base being stuffed from an accident from a previous owner.

[Shteifen]

ya i lost ben and the trusty volvo after leaving marysville too. i THINK i saw him parked on the side of the road watching cars go by but i couldnt stop so i just kept going through healsville and couldnt see anyone anymore so went home.

was a good day, minus that windy road that drained most of my life.

i like going fast.

-steve

[GoLfMan]

sounds like a top day fellas, post some pics :D

[Volvo Driver]

Bens the only one that took pics. And you really backed off heaps compared to the rest of us too! THere were a few guys who were just outright tools that didn't move over when they were going 20km/h+ under the speed limit through the mountains but Ben and me got around them more often then the others.

I could probably go harder next time once I put on a rear sway bar and stiffer rear springs. And my brakes were great too, almost no fade, but I didn't try pulling up frm 160km/h to 80ish :p

[vkswgn]

Yeah, somehow on a dead-straight road we managed to lose everyone :biggrin: .
Trust you all found your way home. I was following what I thought was a familiar white volvo, but turned out to be a camry :duh: Lucky I knew where I was going.

Was a good run - nice to stretch the polos legs.

Till next time,

Andrew

[Tim]

spewing i couldnt make it guys. I was stuck at work all day.
Did anyone get any photos? what were the roads like? nice and slippery or not too damp?

[vkswgn]

And you really backed off heaps compared to the rest of us too! THere were a few guys who were just outright tools that didn't move over when they were going 20km/h+ under the speed limit through the mountains but Ben and me got around them more often then the others.



Mate, congrats on your courage but you were getting pretty close to the cars going the other way - not sure if you noticed :eek: . Remember that if you're going 100 and he's doing 80 you're coming together at 180!!! Even if you're in a Volvo it's still gonna hurt :frown: .

Anyway, nice to meet everyone - was good fun.

[Volvo Driver]

Yeah, somehow on a dead-straight road we managed to lose everyone :biggrin: .
Trust you all found your way home. I was following what I thought was a familiar white volvo, but turned out to be a camry :duh: Lucky I knew where I was going.

Was a good run - nice to stretch the polos legs.

Till next time,

Andrew

Yeah, i got a bit lost at healesville, didn't get why everyone was basically stopped, went around, then saw the melbourne sign and thought it said go another way, so yeah, got stuck behind all the traffic again, but still didn't see you guys. And that guy in the Camry down the hill was such a wanker, going half the speed limit passing all those turn offs and not turning off!

[Volvo Driver]

Mate, congrats on your courage but you were getting pretty close to the cars going the other way - not sure if you noticed :eek: . Remember that if you're going 100 and he's doing 80 you're coming together at 180!!! Even if you're in a Volvo it's still gonna hurt :frown: .

Anyway, nice to meet everyone - was good fun.

Yeah, I wasn't being too careful at times, other times I just went in too fast, but I had a pretty good view of the other side when I was going over the line, didn't seem I was going over too much once in the corner though?

[Ben_GTI]

Hey guys thanks heaps for coming along. Sorry about the drive back from Marysville, I managed (just) to get past the Camry woman and yea I was waiting for you at the lookout.

It was hilarious while we waited for you at the lookout, the Camry people and the X-trail gave me the dirtiest looks I have ever received! lol. I mean its not my fault it looked like I was approaching light speed when they were doing 20km/h.

The roads were a little slippery with leaves and crap but otherwise okay. The black spur was a much cleaner road minus the Camry. The Reefton spur made everyone a little sick though hehehe.

Okay photo time!!!

1st Meet up Point
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060029-1.jpg

Volvo Farts Dirt
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060026-1.jpg

Just a little cold
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060044-1.jpg


Cars at the top
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060036-1.jpg

[Ben_GTI]

More Photos:

Summit series
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060048-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060033-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060034-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060035-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060039-1.jpg

The Volvo seems to drink more fuel.... or the driver just likes the scent in the cabin while driving

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060043-1.jpg

[Ben_GTI]

Last one

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/07/P7060047-1.jpg

[Ben_GTI]

I also found out something interesting about my car today. If I am half way through a corner and I just touch the brake (even just slightly) the nose dips, the back wheel lifts off and I loose grip.... Well I guess it will just be less braking then hey? hahaha.

I just never though the back inside wheel ever contributed much. But on the bright side I have successfully broken in my new tyres and all traces of moulding have been removed :)

[velly_16v_cab]

mid corner braking is never a good idea :duh:

looks like you guys had a great time, shame there was no snow :frown:

sorry i couldnt make it, i spent the weekend down Torquay slashing about in the water.

[Shteifen]

ya i did back off a bit. i gotta do a bit more work to my suspension before i can go around corners that fast. sloppy mk3.

Plus i was MASSIVELY hung over so that didnt help especially with those really windy roads before we got to marysville. i call that dedication.

too bad we didnt get any pictures of all those old classic cars on that massive cruise! there was like 50 of them! all makes and models, mostly 1920's-60's American classics. freakin gorgeous. noone mention anything about them being not vw's cos i dont give a crap they are still awesome :biggrin:

-steve

[Volvo Driver]

ya i did back off a bit. i gotta do a bit more work to my suspension before i can go around corners that fast. sloppy mk3.

Plus i was MASSIVELY hung over so that didnt help especially with those really windy roads before we got to marysville. i call that dedication.

too bad we didnt get any pictures of all those old classic cars on that massive cruise! there was like 50 of them! all makes and models, mostly 1920's-60's American classics. freakin gorgeous. noone mention anything about them being not vw's cos i dont give a crap they are still awesome :biggrin:

-steve

There were a few nice ones there, driving hungover isn't too smart either, but that's fair enough for not driving too hard.

I didn't get around to filling up again during the week and I'd already used most of a tank during the week, didn't want to run out :p bloody thirsty slow thing, I really need a rear sway in and stiffer rear springs and a manual.

I liked the Rambler that I saw at one point a lot. As well as the custom Ranchero ute.

[nemo]

Sorry about my lack of attendance - after a big week I woke up when you guys would have been at the lookout point! Oh well. Looked like a lot of fun. Hopefully I'm free for the next one :)

[Ben_GTI]

The Reefton spur is a very long drive of very twisty road. I was getting a bit tired towards the end of it.

I still haven't managed to get all the mud off the Polo after my little adventure while we were waiting at the turn to Marysville. Got everywhere underneath the car hahaha.

[Volvo Driver]

Yeah, didn't get why you went in there :p

[Ben_GTI]

Well sometimes things seem like a good idea... but then turn out not to be. At least I told you not to follow me hahaha.

[Shteifen]

as my mate Gaggaz would say..."It had to happen"