thecountrydriver
Lifestyle motoring
Driving the great touring roads of North East
Victoria and the Southern Riverina
Writers: Bill Buys | Chris Riley | Darryl Starr | Paul Murrell
Photo: 2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR
NORTH East Victoria and the Southern Riverina region of New South Wales - Australia's premier inland playground - boasts thousands of kilometres of highways and byways, where every road trip begs you to 'take the long way home'.
The region has some of the best driving roads - and attractions - in the country, plus there are so many other interesting back roads through awe-inspiring scenery to choose from. So, what are you waiting for? Fill your tank/charge your battery and hit the road.
Content : Our Top 6 regional drives | Motoring yarns | Road test | Historic Winton
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Historic Winton: 30 Minis entered for Trophy
THE 48th Historic Winton, to be held at Winton Motor Raceway on May 24/25, will be jam-packed with highlights, including an all-Mini race in tribute to racing legend Ted Brewster, a Mk II Jaguar that was driven by Stirling Moss, and the Bumblebee for MND fundraising panel van.
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About 30 Minis will pay tribute to the 90-year-old Mini racing engineer and driver, with Minis from five States competing in the Ted Brewster Trophy.
Another Mini legend, Linda Devlin will be on track vying for honours in this race and the N category races, against Cortinas, Mk II Jaguar and FJ and EH Holdens. On display will be Chris Lavender’s 1963 Mark II Jaguar which Sir Stirling Moss drove in an exhibition lap at Amaroo Park in 1984.
Ken and Kim Edmondson’s restored HX Holden Panel Van, the Bumblebee, celebrates 50 years since the introduction of the Holden Panel Van, and raising funds for Neal Daniher’s Fight MND charity.
The Parade Lap traditionally held on Sunday will also be held on Saturday and the Shannons Car Park will again be packed with veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, plus The Historic Motorcycle Club of Victoria will showcase some rare and remarkable motorbikes. (Photo - Bruce Keys)
Back words: Never stop learning
IT is always a surprise when you (by that, I mean ‘me’!) learn that something you have always believed turns out to be completely wrong.
It never failed to irk me when anyone pronounced Vanden Plas as Vanden Plarss when the correct French pronunciation would make the final ‘s’ silent.
However, I recently learned that the company’s origins are Flemish, so the correct pronunciation does actually include the final “s”. Mea culpa. My apologies to Mike Brewer (and the many others) who was right all along, even if (as I strongly suspect), it was unintentional. Harder to forgive, however, is his mispronunciation of the name Michelotti. Unable to decide if it was Mishelotti or Mikkelotti, in a recent program, he alternated between the two throughout. - Paul Murrell - seniordriveraus.com