This year was the 25th Anniversary of the Phillip Island Classic Races and a record number of VICMOG members turned out to celebrate the event. Early on Sunday morning, 15 Morgans met up in the car park of The Settlement Hotel Cranbourne for breakfast then the run down to Phillip Island.
Ahead of us, VICMOG President, Chris Page, and his team of helpers had made a very early start at Phillip Island, claiming and fencing an exclusive piece of Real Estate on Shannons Walk and setting up a couple of tents and the VICMOG banner.
With the arrival of the convoy from Cranbourne added to the Morgans that had made it there independently, there were 23 Morgans in total including an Aero, a Three Wheeler and a Flat Rad. At the risk of sounding a little biased, it was pretty clear that we were the best looking group of cars on Shannon’s Walk and the organizers did agree, awarding us the plaque for the best club display.
Out on the track we had two Morgans from NSW competing (Stuart Littlemore in his Red Plus 8 (No 8) and Graeme Downer blue with silver wings Plus 8 (No 39) as well as VICMOG Members Tom ffrench in Morgasm and Peter ffrench in a 1967 Elfin 300.
It is always a great thrill watching the Morgans out in their element on the track but I have to say for me the most memorable sight of the day was in an earlier race for Touring Cars under 3 Litres watching a pack of Mini Coopers swarming down the straight like a nest of angry wasps while the Cortinas and Capris fought to reel them in. It just took me back more years than I care to admit.
Another highlight of the day was the opportunity to wander around the pits and see the magnificent cars close at hand. Despite the fact that Melbourne always seems to turn on a scorcher for this particular Sunday and the trip home in a Morgan is something akin to 90 minutes in a fan forced oven, this is one day that you just cannot afford to miss.