The BMW Drivers Club of Melbourne has successfully held the German Auto Show with more than 500 German cars going on display at the famous Sandown International Raceway.
Having taken the organising reins from the VW Club of Victoria at the start, who had run the event for seven years prior to the cancellation of 2020, the club was forced to wait another year to host the show due to last year’s event also being a victim to COVID-19.
However, it was a case of third time the charm for the event with no major restrictions being put in place and allowing the event to proceed.
With the weather providing perfect conditions and a large team of volunteers putting in days of hard work, the event eventually went ahead with more than a thousand people coming through the gates and spending hours at the event.
From the minute the event opened, the steady stream of people didn’t stop as passionate car enthusiasts of all ages came and enjoyed both the car displays and the extra entertainment put on.
Throughout the day, awards were also given out to the best presented and most popular cars in nine categories/marques.
Some of the most notable award winners included the Best BMW Driver of Keith Olsen and his E9 CSL Batmobile, Murray Allen’s 1952 220 Cabriolet A being dubbed as the People’s choice, Patrick Feilding and his i8 Roadster winning President’s Award and the 1936 Mercedes Benz 50K pf the Dymond family, which won the Best in Show.
The event also raised funds for Beyond Blue, which saw $10,5000 donated to the Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation – more than double the club had anticipated.
BMW Drivers Club of Melbourne Vice President Jo Mawson was thrilled with the day and how it turned it, thanking all the people who helped it get ahead.
“To have over 500 German cars and 1000 walk-ins on a bright sunny day at an iconic race track was a fantastic cocktail for success and we were absolutely stoked with how it turned out,” Mawson said.
“Our volunteers were amazing, hardly stopping for a break. We had a fantastic turnout of over 40 volunteers and there were no issues.
"On behalf of the club, I would like to thank our major sponsors for the day Shannons Insurance, who brought their Super Rig and John Bowe along to entertain all our attendees. Traction Tyres/Yokohama, Bell Motorsport, Jay Leno Garage Products, All Commercial All Residential, Southern BM, Makulu Vehicle Storage, German Auto Haus, E30 Racing, Victorian Flag Marshalling Team, SONAX, Adex Detailing, German Tivoli Club.
“We would also like to thank all our volunteers who gave so much of their time, without them we would not have been able to achieve such an amazing day.
“We are not sure who will be running this event next time, but it grows and grows each year and I am sure 2023 will be even bigger and better.”
2022 German Auto Show winners
Best BMW – Keith Olsen E9 CSL Batmobile
Best Other – John Brook-Smith – Messerschmitt
Best VW – Neville Thomas, 1962 Micro Bus
Best Porsche – (sorry no name was given) 2016 Cayman GTS
Best Audi – Peter Davis, 1988 Quattro
Best Mercedes – David Pye, 2021 GT black
People’s choice- Murray Allen, 1952 220 Cabriolet A
President’s Award – Patrick Feilding, i8 Roadster
Best in Show – Dymond Family, 1936 Mercedes Benz 50K
