Bay to Birdwood takes a new twist The Bay to Birdwood will have a James Bond theme this year. Event chairman Martin Haese with his 1969 Jensen car and "'Bond girl" Esther Cleland outside the Adelaide Casino. Picture: Noelle Bobrige IN A twist on the James Bond theme for this months Bay to Birdwood Classic, organisers say a major route change has stirred, not shaken the event. The September 29 cavalcade of up to 1800 classic cars will break with decades of tradition, heading into the Adelaide Hills via Glen Osmond Rd and the South Eastern Freeway instead of North East Rd. Bay to Birdwood chairman Martin Haese said the change was prompted by escalating traffic management costs, backlash from some hills residents about road closures, the need to get entrants to Birdwood faster and a desire to ensure the event's long-term future. "It keeps local (hills) communities happy and it's less expensive and keeps our entrance fees affordable," Mr Haese said. "Our overarching theme is sustainability - we've been going for 32 years and we want to be going for another 32," Mr Haese said. The new route, using Onkaparinga Valley Rd as the link between the freeway and the National Motor Museum at Birdwood, also made the event accessible to many different hills communities, he said. Anywhere between Verdun and Charleston there are a million and one good vantage points. There is no need for road closures on the new route, which is to be trialled for this year's Classic for vehicles of 1956 to 1977 vintage. Mr Haese said the route for next year's Bay to Birdwood Run, for pre-1956 vehicles that might struggle to get up the freeway, was yet to be determined. "Stirred, not shaken"" is the tagline for this month's Classic - a reversal of the way super spy James Bond likes to have his martinis prepared. "Bond without his cars is not Bond so it's a pretty good fit for the Bay to Birdwood," said Mr Haese, who nominated the classic Aston Martin DB5 as his favourite Bond car.