Well, it has been a while!

It has been quite a while since I have added anything here due to being busy with Spyder Automobiles, the Friends of Spyder Group via our newsletter email http://www.spyderautomobiles.com.au/newsletter and Facebook group. Our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/@SpyderautomobilesAu has been growing as well. We have had many interesting jobs, events and drives since the last post. I do intend to resume some activity here though!

Our group was originally the idea of John Gregory but he never got to make it happen, I had it in the back of my mind to make this a reality. After a few conversations with Gary Redlich, who had been a friend and client during the 1990’s, it all came together on the June 16th, 2015, originally known as Euro Drivers until June 27th, 2018, when the name changed to Friends of Spyder, fittingly, in our 60th anniversary year.

Since that time Friends of Spyder has grown to an email newsletter of 187 addresses worldwide and the Facebook group of 287 members again worldwide! Our events vary from workshop days to drives of various lengths of up to full weekends.

On the workshop front there have been so many challenging and good jobs. Too many to list so here is a pictorial of some of those jobs and the variety we get involved in!

We are looking forward to a busy and full 2024 which is looking to be one of progression and loads of fun and challenges. I will be doing more posts as we go from various activities and projects we do!

Until next time!!

Post Lock Down Drive November 2020

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Noojee Trestle bridge was our last stop as the full group

Well Victoria and in particular Melbourne had a big dose of Covid 19 during the middle of this year. This had the effect of crippling most activities in that part of Victoria although the rural areas were not so affected thankfully! Our drive was the 15th of November, the first Sunday of freedom! Starting with a BBQ Breakfast at Spyder Automobiles at 8.00am then we were on our way for the 150km adventure. We travelled through open and sweeping roads, narrow, tight and twisty roller coaster styled roads and main secondary roads!

Our Group comprised of 9 cars and 11 people a selection of Porsches, Lotus, BMW, 2 x Xr5’s a and a supercharged Commodore! The biggest issue any of us had was rain, which made life a little less comfortable in the Lotus 7 with no roof and a tiny aero screen! The route we used had been new in the main but covered some roads from last year, this time we went the opposite direction though giving it a totally different feel. The weather was really quite good with about 10 minutes of rain which was annoying more than anything.

Looking forward to the next drive / event everyone who attended had a great morning and we finished at 12.30 so the afternoon was left available for people to do other things! Our aim is to make these drive events fun, safe and enjoyable social gatherings combined with an appreciation of our cars!

Spyder Automobiles Open Morning

Here is the memory of 8 years ago when we moved into our current location, there has been a lot happen since then! We have grown and reinvented ourselves to suit the times and varying changes in the world! Here is to the future what ever it may bring!

via Spyder Automobiles Open Morning

Friends of Spyder drive February 2020

I must apologize for being a bit quiet on here but there has been such a lot going on at home and at Spyder Automobiles! Friends of Spyder has been doing well and growing all the time, the workshop is getting more and more busy and the work load much more consistent!

Friends of Spyder Drive

Our February drive, this was the first for the year and something a little different to what we would normally do. Our drive took us through many different weather and traffic conditions as we passed the Lang Lang Showgrounds which had a huge Show and Shine car show and the traffic there was like peak hour! Along our way we had the odd spots of traffic but in the main it was good, the weather on the other hand was windy wet and blustery in places, happily though most of the trip was clear.

A break at Drouin, then we continued on our way to Neerim South through Jindivick and some really fun roads and great scenery! One disappointment for the day was the SD card in the GoPro failed as we fitted it to the car so no video this time! Hopefully next time!

We arrived at Garage Gallery http://www.garagegallery.com.au/where-and-when/ to a warm welcome from Eric Irvine and his wife and a fantastic morning tea with sweets, cakes and drinks they were wonderful hosts and Eric’s artwork is brilliant, after spending an hour or so with them we headed off back to Spyder Automobiles via the scenic route, for a BBQ and refreshments. This had been probably one of our shortest drives that only covered approximately 130 Km but that was the plan to kick the year off, something a little different and relaxed! All those who attended seemed to have a fun time and that was the aim!
Until next time!

Thanks to Ian (Niko) for many of the photos on here

Breakfast Club July 2019

 

This was the first Breakfast Club I have been to in quite some time and what a day to attend! The winter wind Gods were out in force along with some rain and very chilly temperatures therefore the diehard Breakfast Clubbers were the only ones in attendance! Having said that there was about 40 cars and their associated people either with the cars or chasing some heat or hot drinks in close-by cafe’s!

I took a clients car, a 1986 3.2 Carrera, which is available for sale to make it public. It is a good solid car that drives well and has cruise control, custom front spoiler and 17″fuchs replica wheels.

There were some interesting cars there as well such as the Fiat X-19 race car, the JPS 635 CSI replica a very nice XW Falcon station wagon! Hopefully next time will be in better conditions and we will have more to see!