This section aims to help familiarise you with the Committee Members of the Club and let them share their story with you.
Up first is our Club President, Alan Benedetti!
Hi! I’m Alan Benedetti – Club President and Federation Delegate.
I’m happily partnered for just over 7yrs – we live in West Footscray and have a fur-baby named Ernest (he’s a delightfully pretty, but badly-behaved, grey tabby cat).
I work in car transport – if you ever need/want to move a recent acquisition, drop mea line and I will see what I can do for you – friends and Motafrenz members always get a good rate…
I’d procrastinated about joining Motafrenz for many years, but a couple of friends bit the bullet before me – as a thank you, one of them decided to bring me along and join me up. This was in May 2012. I’ve really enjoyed my time in Motafrenz and continue to do so.
Since joining the Committee in July 2013, I’ve held the role of Events Coordinator (2yrs), Federation Delegate (4th year now) and Club President (2nd year).
My role as Federation Delegate entails traveling to 4 meetings held around Victoria to discuss various issues facing the motoring community.
Much has been discussed about ways to improve the Club Permit Scheme, changes to Government legislation and services to the motoring public as a whole. I report back to the Committee and share information that is relevant to our members.
As President, I chair our meetings, attend external community events and, if necessary, become the face of the Club.
Over my life, I’ve owned 9 cars and currently have 2.
As a kid, I was always into cars and motor sport – luckily my mother likes motor sport as well and we were regulars at the Baskerville Circuit in Hobart.
I’ve owned 3 Fords – an Escort (1st car), KA (the weird euro hatch & 5th car) and a Focus XR5 (7th car & off the last batch of them imported to Aus). I’ve owned 2 Toyotas – a Corolla wagon (1981 KE30 5sp CS & 2nd car) and an AE82 Seca CSX & 4th car). The remainders – a Jellybean Mazda 121 (3rd car & saved my life in a serious car accident), an AH Astra Hatch (6th car and seemingly cursed), a 1990 Volvo 240 wagon (8th car, still owned and rare 5sp) and a Polo GTi hatch (current car, 1.8 turbo and manual).
I’ve always had a thing for Volvo 240’s – I think it was the “anti-race car” that was turned into one in the late 80’s & early 90’s that really did it for me. When I decided to get a classic, this was my first thought (but not my only one).
I was looking on CarSales and stumbled across the ad and sent off an enquiry – I think the rare nature of a manual is what sold me. I had the car transported from Alice Springs where it had spent nearly 10yrs and have completed an assortment of repairs and slight improvements since it came into my life 3.5yrs ago. I’ve only had a couple of big problems but am aware of a few issues to be looked at. Parts are pretty easy to come by too which helps!
