The run to the Birkenhead Tavern on Sunday 17^th November was enjoyed by 30 members and guests departing the Feathers Hotel and travelling through Adelaide.

It was a run organized by Harley Cooke and was a little different than our usual runs through the hills. We mainly travelled in convoy which created a spectacle for the other road users. We headed west towards the Adelaide coastline and along the esplanade at Semaphore towards Outer Harbor ending at our venue for lunch, The Birkenhead Tavern.

 

The menu was not only comprehensive and generous in its servings but ticked all the boxes for a high quality “pub style meal”.

A good solid turn out and a fun day with lots of laughs and smiles.

Many thanks to Harley once again for organizing something a little different.

This annual event began in 2011 for South Australian and Victorian Aston Martin owners to come together and share a long weekend of cars and camaraderie but members of AMOC from anywhere in Australia are most welcome to join us.

This year the event was held from Friday 11 to 13 October 2024 in the coastal town of Victor Harbor, 80km south of Adelaide, surrounded by fabulous scenic driving roads.

“Victor” as it is known is situated on the wide sandy arc of Encounter Bay, named in 1802 by Matthew Flinders, and is a vibrant beachside town that offers a huge range of activities and scenery, and the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula is the perfect area to explore for those who may wish to extend their stay.

After travelling 750kms the Victorian AMOC nestled into their accommodation ready to join the South Australians on two days of scenic runs and a selection of our local foods and wine.

The event started with a welcome dinner preceded by drinks and canapes which were generously funded by the local Aston Martin Principle “Solitaire Automotive”.

68 members and guests from both states started the weekend with a 100km run through the Fleurieu Peninsula ending at “The Winehouse” Langhorne Creek. “The Winehouse” was one of the first collaborative cellar doors in SA, allowing a number of producers to sell their wine from the one premise.

 

 

After returning to our accommodation and resting up we gathered for dinner at a local hotel which was a nice finish to a big day.

Day 2 brought on another 115km run travelling through the Inman Valley ending at the Murray Mouth.

Inman Valley was surveyed in late 1839 by a party under Senior Surveyor N. Lipscomb Kentish, formerly of Sydney, assisted by Surveyor Henry Ide, formerly a corporal in the Royal Sappers & Miners. They pegged out the sections and also a line of road suitable for drays leading from Rapid Bay to Encounter Bay, which is now Inman Valley Road.

The mouth of the Murray River is about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) south east of Goolwa and about 75 kilometres (47 miles) south-south-east of the Adelaide city. The mouth is an opening in the coastal dune system which separates the river system from the ocean and which extends from near Goolwa in a south-easterly direction along the continental coastline for about 145 kilometres (90 miles).

Water flows throughout the mouth from two directions. Firstly, the flow from the west passes along a passage known as the Goolwa Channel which is bounded by Hindmarsh Island to its north side. Secondly, the flow from the east passes along a passage known as the Coorong Channel.

We relaxed and enjoyed a much earned lunch at the Islanders Tavern overlooking the water ways of Goolwa before heading back to our accommodation and preparing for the evenings dinner.

The SA branch of the AMOC had organized a goodbye BBQ where we all unwound from the weekends adventures. A wonderful opportunity to catch up and recall all the fun times with our Victorian counterparts.

This event shows no signs of slowing down and builds in numbers every year. We look forward to the next catch up where the SA members will be travelling to Victoria for no doubt another fabulous gathering.

Co-written by Cintra Amos AMOC SA Secretary and Martin Farkas AMOC SA Area Rep.

The run to FermentAsian last Sunday was nothing short of a perfect event.

27 members and guests gathered in the car park having a chat and welcoming new members before the run began.

It was an entertaining run along with some challenging sections and finishing with some hidden straights allowing us to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather.

Thank you once again to Tom Hutchinson and John Hendrickson for their dedication in re-running their route numerous times to make sure it was accurate.

For those members that couldn’t join us Tom travelled to one of the last corners along the route and added some balloons to the sign post just to make sure we wouldn’t miss it. He then came home, printed the photos of the corner and then joined us at The Feathers car park ready for the departure.

Hats off to you Tom, that’s true dedication to make it a success.

Lunch was a shared menu from the chef which covered all tastes and I believe there were no complaints.

Service was organized, efficient and friendly and we basically had the restaurant to ourselves.

Thank you to James Hardstaff from Solitaire Aston Martin for bringing the “NEXT GENERATION VANTAGE” as it allowed our club members to view this magnificent marque well before most other people.

 

The October runs and evening events scheduled for the Stately Affair are also available to those that are not staying at the Bluff Resort.

We will need your expressions of interest as to which drive or meal you intend to participate in sooner rather than later as we already have 59 VIC and SA members attending.

Some venues have a booking limit to please let me know ASAP.

Just an excuse to get together for a fun night out.

magnificent Italian fair with good company.

Tuesday night the 4^th June saw us have our first non-run winter dinner at the Parkside Hotel with 21 members enjoying the evening with a selection of food from the hotel’s À la carte menu.

Lots of laughs and discussion around the table while we waited and when the meals arrived I don’t think anyone was disappointed.

 

During the wait it gave me an opportunity to report on the club’s progress with the “Stately Affair”.

We have 40 members from Victoria and South Australia registered to attend and their accommodation booked.

There are still some sea view rooms available and we are looking to get even more local members attending.

It is one of the events held where the 2 states get together and share a weekend of fine food, great driving and above all camaraderie.

 

The Friday night welcome dinner is booked at “The Whalers Restaurant” just below our accommodation.

Saturday’s drive will be encompassing some of the region’s most spectacular scenery and is sure to be a winner as John and Cintra Amos will be organizing the run. We will finish the run at “The Winehouse” for lunch, having been there numerous times in the past it has always proven to be a winner amongst members.

We will park all our cars on their back lawn where they will be lined up providing a wonderful display of the Aston Marque.

Following lunch we head back to the accommodation for a refreshing drink or rest before we head out to the “Port Elliot Hotel” for dinner.

Sunday sees us heading out on another adventurous drive and lunch before finishing with a private and cozy BBQ “farewell dinner” by the accommodation’s poolside.

 

This has always been very well attended and has been the foundation of many a friendship within the club.

If you are deliberating as to whether to join us please make the effort as I can assure you that you will not be disappointed with the weekend.

These gatherings have lasting memories for those that have attended.

19^th May 2024 run to Howards Vineyard.

28 members braved the cold morning with a warm cup of coffee at the German Arms in Hahndorf prior to the run.

Stuart and Rhonda Barnes had organized this 90km run with long straight roads through Strathalbyn and Callington and short winding sections

through the back of the Adelaide Hills to Howards Vineyard for lunch.

Apart from the temperature, the noticeable lack of traffic and bike riders made it a drivers dream run.

Many thanks to Stuart and Rhonda for organizing the day and to all who attended.

As I have said before the greatest compliment that a committee can expect is when a club gets participation from the members.

We are now going into the Winter break from runs but will still be gathering for dinner so please keep these dates free.

19^th May 2024 run to Howards Vineyard.

28 members braved the cold morning with a wm cup of coffee at the German Arms in Hahndorf prior to the run.

Stuart and Rhonda Barnes had organized this 90km run with long straight roads through Strathalbyn and Callington and short winding sections

through the back of the Adelaide Hills to Howards Vineyard for lunch.

Apart from the temperature, the noticeable lack of traffic and bike riders made it a drivers dream run.

Many thanks to Stuart and Rhonda for organizing the day and to all who attended.

As I have said before the greatest compliment that a committee can expect is when a club gets participation from the members.

We are now going into the Winter break from runs but will still be gathering for dinner so please keep these dates free.

21^st April Autumn run.

AMOC South Australia run to St Hugo Winery in the beautiful Barossa valley.

We started the day at the Feathers Hotel car park.

The weather was a picture perfect day and everyone turned up very keen to start the run.

A couple of the members that reside in the hills chose to join us along the way to save the trip down the hill.

A prudent decision considering the push bikes we encountered heading up Greenhill Rd.

Once we cleared the hill and turned North the run through the hills towards Mt Torrens was alive with Autumn colours. Very little traffic to report and upon arriving I didn’t hear any murmurings of wrong mileage.

A quick drink before lunch and a chance to take in the views of the winery.

We sat down to in all honesty probably one of the best meals we have encountered all year.

March 2024 – Bene Aged Care

Well today was like no other that I have experienced.

We started the day with everyone spot on time (except for me who ran 2 minutes late).

When I arrived I was greeted with the usual banter from a handful of members that one can expect when you are the last one to arrive, but it was all done in a friendly and courteous manner.

We chatted briefly while the guests from Bene Aged Care gathered to the tune of James Bond playing on one of their carers phone.

It really did make the day for so many of the residents as they associate our marques with James Bond.  There were 45 in all that came out to see our cars.

We were treated to coffee and cakes and spent a good hour and a half watching the smiles and happiness on the faces of the residents.

We then commenced our run to the Uraidla Hotel and enjoyed a beautiful lunch under the canopy of the beer garden.

I would personally like to thank Neville and Sally Clarke, Harley and Annette Cooke, Bob Crosby, Tom Hutchinson and John Hendrickson for taking time out of their day to attend. It was so gratifying those that attended decided to make it an annual affair.

The happiness it brought made it all worthwhile,

Martin Farkas

Dear Members;

After a very successful extraordinary general meeting held on the 7^th February I can now present you with a list of committee members

that were elected to run the club for the next 12 months.

During this period the committee will dedicate themselves to producing an exciting collection of runs and dinners that will not only provide you with

the opportunity to bring your cars out but more importantly continue the camaraderie of like-minded individuals who just enjoy each other’s company.

This email will be going to current members and past members in an effort to reinvigorate your interest in joining us for a drive, a meal or just catch up

and see what the club will now be offering.

I hope you will join with me in congratulating these people as they will be your port of call during the calendar year.

Mr. Terrence Holt, Assistant Area Rep and AM Monthly scribe.

Mrs. Cintra Amos, Secretary, Nationals 2026 committee.

Mrs. Bitten Pedersen, Treasurer, Nationals 2026 committee and Social Media.

Mr. Richard Dyson- Harvey, Sponsorship, Nationals 2026 committee

Mrs. Angela Farkas, Nationals 2026 committee

Mr. Stuart Barnes, Nationals 2026 committee

Mrs. Rhonda Barnes, Nationals 2026 committee

Mr. Chris Barron, Runs organization

Mr. Harley Cooke, Runs organization

Any suggestions, constructive criticism or advice is always welcomed as we would like to build the club into something everyone will be proud to be a part of.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Our first run date is the 5^th March to the “WINEHOUSE” in Langhorne Creek. (Details to follow)

Our next dinner meeting will be Tuesday the 4^th April. (Details to follow)

If you would prefer not to continue to receive information from the AMOC SA please just hit “REPLY” with unsubscribe in the subject section.

We will be sorry to see you leave but respect your wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Farkas

SA AMOC Area rep. 2023

martin@martinrogers.com.au