Rockin’ and roddin’ the borough!

Rod runs are a great opportunity to pack up the family and friends, fire up the the rods and rides, hitch the teardrop van if ya got one and go explore a country town somewhere while surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

The Queenscliff rod run, organised by the Geelong Street Rodders has been a mainstay on the Victorian automotive social calendar for many years now bringing valuable tourist dollars and attention to the small coastal fishing borough of Queenscliff.

Each year, the first weekend of February sees the historic town come alive with the vibrant sights and sounds of hot rods, custom cars and classic rides. The town folk open their arms and doors to the travelling spectacle as they embrace what it means to be a rodder or automotive enthusiast.

This kind of spectacle creates its own attention even if you’re not a die-hard hot rod fan. Everyone likes to watch these unique artistic creations in motion as they cruise by and it was certainly evident on the Saturday night as the rod run entrants cruised up and down the main drag all night showcasing their pride and joys to the throngs of doting public that lined the street, cameras in hand as they took in the visual sensation.

As with most rod runs, there’s a basic plan run over the weekend for attendees to ensure a full weekends entertainment involving any chance to cruise the cars is had. The Geelong Street Rodders’ rod run is one of the more full itineraries when it comes to program highlights! Friday night is the usual registration and bench racing session complimented by a bbq and drinks as hundreds of rods gather together on the local sports oval for a catch up.

Saturday caters for families and couples with a number of options to be chosen. With the warm sunny weather pushed the temperature into the 30 degrees so many opted for the water featured parklands of Adventure Park. With the rolling grasslands nominated as parking for the rods, this in turn created its own spectacle as an impromptu car show and a bonus for those visiting the park, unaware of their lucky strike.

For those who prefer the sanctuary of the less lively attractions and are more at home in the laid back atmosphere of the country style tours, the winery tour encompassing the many vineyards of the peninsular was the flavour of the day as they cruised the picturesque country roads stopping periodically to sample the wide variety of high quality wines produced in the region along with nibbles or a complete meal.

While Sunday’s show n shine is supposed to be the highlight of the event as with most rod runs, the Geelong Street Rodders have trumped their own main day with a spectacular cruise night on the Saturday night! Staring life as a cruisy way to see out the Saturday, it has morphed into a spectacle of its own seeing the number of cars cruising and spectators almost as large as the events Sunday crowds! According to sources, this years’ cruise well exceeded all expectations as eager enthusiasts arrived early to get the best spots for viewing the rolling automotive party as the custom and classic rods and rides rumbled by inadvertently recreating scenes of a favourite past time as emulated in the movie, American Graffiti.

Adding to the overall experience of the cruise scene was a live band set up outside on the footpath playing their own style of classics and rockabilly. Rosie and the Kings rockabilly ambience, with Rosie’s bright red hair and strong vocals flanked by the slicked back sixties style dos of the other three male band members and their talented musical skills resonated off the historic towns shops and pubs giving punters a night they won’t forget in a hurry and guaranteeing to tell their friends what they missed out on!

Sunday’s perfect weather topped off the weekend with a huge show n shine of both run attendees and cruising day trippers, seeing the numerous grassy parklands filled. Food stands and trade stands were kept busy all day as folks perused through the marquees and many cars on display. With presentations completed early afternoon to allow those who travelled the distance to get an early start for home, many said their goodbyes and vowed to be back next year!

With Queenscliff having one road in and out, it was another opportunity for locals to set up the picnic table and chairs by the sides of the roads and watch the procession of rods and rides as they made their way out of the borough and back to home.

To run an event of this magnitude and to run it flawlessly takes commitment from many people and the Geelong Street Rodders’ Queenscliff Rod Run committee have succeeded in once again running an exemplary weekend event that the ASRF are proud to support and that the rodding community are excited to participate in! Hats off to all who helped run such a show and look forward to doing it all again next year!

Keep on cruisin’

Cheers,

Greg

If you want to receive regular posts of future events, cars and other automotive articles of interest, click the follow button on the blog page!