With 40 degree Celsius weather forecast for the first day of the 11th Kustom Nationals, fans of this event could be excused for deciding to keep their rides tucked away while chilling out in the comfort of an air conditioned room somewhere, preferably with a drink in hand, but anyone who attended Friday nights opening event held along the picturesque foreshore of San Remo will testify that this did not happen! We arrived late afternoon and were amazed to see the huge number of cars and bikes parked up ready to take in all that the Nats could offer. Read More →
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Auto Euphoria 2012
Tuners across Melbourne converged on the Royal Melbourne show grounds over the weekend to check out Auto Euphoria and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The two day event housed inside one of the pavilions on the grounds encompassed all that today’s late model automotive technology has to offer. From some of the wildest creations found on the Melbourne late model show scene through to the latest gear available for your ride, enthusiasts were treated to an onslaught of bling, bags, turbos and automotive attitude not to mention the latest club hits pumping out across the show thanks to a number of djs and serious in-car stereos. Enhancing the atmosphere was the eye catching promotions girls who could be seen strutting their stuff throughout the show as they helped to promote the various businesses associated with this craft while keeping photographers busy.
While there was a strong showing of highly modified Aussie machines, the rest of the world was well supported with show cars created from Japans finest in the form of Mitsubishis, Mazdas, Toyotas and Hondas while Europe’s choice of wheels were Subarus among others and the more exotic Mercs and BMWs. Not to be left out, some classic American iron could also be found in highly detailed displays and a couple of late model rides as well. Various businesses also showcased their finest work with well executed displays and merchandise.
The organizers can give themselves and their supporters a big pat on the back for successfully pulling off a sensational event leaving happy car enthusiasts wanting more. This one will grow in size and could well be found in the newly constructed exhibition building at the Melbourne show grounds next year so airbag that ride, turbo that donk, slam in a bitchin sound system and we’ll see you there!
Smokin’ Aces car and bike show 2012
For a first time show, this auto spectacular had the makings of a long established event with a life of its own. Held on the picturesque Williamstown docks with the Melbourne skyline as a backdrop, high quality cars and bikes covered the concrete grounds and pier while rock and roll tunes courtesy of Itchy Fingers resonated across the docks adding to the atmosphere. The visual spectacle was further enhanced as rock and roll dances kicked up their heels showing us how it used to be done in the good ol’ days.
Heading inside the Seaworks Maritime shed, punters were greeted with high quality automotive eye candy from the well known twin blown Mustang to Case’s gorgeous red period style T bucket and a variety of other highly modified and detailed rides gleaming in all their show quality glory.
Outside hosted more impressive wheels on show including Peter Grmusa’s mad burnout XA Falcon ute appropriately named Evil XA and flanked by some equally impressive Bowtie hardware. Hogs, rods, Stangs, Holdens, Falcons, customs and muscle cars alike filled up all available spaces beholding a sight of visual colour and shine for owners and enthusiasts alike to take in. When done indulging in their favorite vocation, Pirates Tavern became a welcome spot to put your feet up and enjoy a beverage of the liquor variety while munching on one of the many takeaway foods on offer.
Beautiful model, Sandy was on hand to help with the announcements and presentations, seeing trophy winners receive their glass awards with flare while the guys and girls from Rev Heds had the cameras rolling all day to capture all the action for those who didn’t get the opportunity to take advantage of the great weather and attend.
A big congratulations needs to go out to the guys and girls of the Smokin’ Aces car club for putting on such a professional and well executed event. All in all, this is one for the whole family to enjoy and if this inaugural event’s first go is anything to go by, next years can only be more impressive and should not be missed.
Keep on cruzin’
Cheers,
Greg
American Breed car show 2012
Chamois were the order of the day for this year’s American Breed car show held at the Manhattan hotel in Ringwood, Melbourne. Dark clouds and showers tried to dampen the enthusiasm of the American muscle car clan but it’ll take more than a little rain to do that! The car park filled quickly as usual with every conceivable American built muscle car marques from stock and modified Chevs, Fords and Dodges through to rare beasts like the Roadrunner and Buick Wildcat filling spaces. Not to be left out, an array of four door and pick up Yankee iron helped mix up the range of vehicles on show while a smattering of new builds and imports caught the attention of the diehard fans bringing them in for a closer look.
The event is put on by the always proficient 60s American Muscle Car Club seeing those who have attended in the past, coming back time and again knowing they’ll get their moneys worth while the hotel always has great lunch time feeds for the hungry crowd.
If this is your scene or you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, check this one out next year, you won’t be disappointed! With plenty of American iron being shipped to our shores, there’s sure to be new rides turning up every time!
Keep on cruzin’
Cheers!
Greg
Shannons show and glow 2012
The picturesque town of Ballarat in Victoria hosted the Shannon’s show and glow motoring show today along the tranquil shores of Lake Wendouree. I not sure if the show was complimenting the market stalls found around the lake’s foreshore of if it was the other way around. The turnout of cars was huge with many local car clubs participating as well as clubs from out of town. Scores of individual entrants also proudly displayed their classic cars seeing the lush green grounds covered in almost every marque conceivable.
The locals turned out in droves to enjoy the glorious weather and take in the motoring spectacle as they strolled around the lake’s 6 km walking paths for an enjoyable day out.
The range of motoring art on displayed included vintage vehicles from as early as 1912 through to the latest $450,000 Mercedes Benz convertible and everything in between. Classic Australian and American iron, commercials, exotics, sports and muscle cars could be found gleaming with astute pride along with the owners that have kept them in this condition.
This annual event is a great opportunity to visit the historical town of Ballarat and take in the many other activities it has on offer. Why not book it in for next year, bring your walking shoes and we’ll see you there.
Keep on cruzin’
Cheers,
Greg
Camperdown Cruise 2012
What is it about Rockabilly festivals that draws the crowds? Is it the vibrant colours of the 50s and 60s and the sound of rock and roll music mixed with the rumble of old school V8 exhaust systems reverberating throughout the show? Is it the ability to take you back to a time of apparent innocence before you were born or, if you were lucky enough to experience this time, is it the memories this atmosphere unlocks from the nether regions of your mind and come flooding back to you? What ever it is, the rockabilly era is still alive and well, strongly supported by those who refuse to live by today’s social rules and choose to do it their way. These rebels of today’s current social standings have fashioned a community dedicated to the preservation of this past time in all its artistic glory.
To fittingly showcase such a festival, one has to find a suitable backdrop in order for it to take on a life of its own and only in the preservation of country towns can such a backdrop be sourced. Camperdown, found along the Princes highway in South West Victoria, two and half hours out of Melbourne settled amongst lush green plains and extinct volcanoes is such a place. Having managed to fend off the encroaching arm of modern architecture and maintain a perfect time capsule of a bygone era, it lends itself perfectly to this style of celebration. With its historic buildings, wide tree laden streets and clock tower as the centerpiece, Camperdown maintains that indispensable layback atmosphere required for a weekend of cultural festivity seeing the locals embrace travelers from all across the country as they descend on the quiet little town.
The festival runs over a full weekend allowing punters to wholly absorb the street atmosphere, with its wide array of automotive art on display, from old school constructed hot rods to classic custom led sleds covered in period style paint jobs and pin striping while being complimented by a cacophony of other modified vehicles in all styles and marques. Trade stands a plenty run the length of the wide grassy center island which separates the main road from the side road giving old and new rockers an opportunity to update the rides or wardrobes.
As darkness descends on the country town, it comes alive with the sounds of rock and roll thanks to an assortment of rockabilly style bands skillfully keeping the cultural theme alive and kicking. They come from all corners of the country with some bands and singers coming from as far as Sweden and Spain! With names like The String Busters and Danny & the Cosmic Tremors, the rock and rollers were guaranteed to be kicking their heels up until well after the midnight hour! The weekend finishes up Sunday arvo with the obligatory thank yous and trophy presentation seeing one lucky entry get the privilege of having his or her car grace the next official advertising displays for the following year’s party.
A big congratulations needs to go out to Arthur and his team who proficiently organize and execute this event every year seeing it go off without a hitch…well, none that we see anyway. So, if you’re up for a taste of the rock and roll past, feel like submerging yourself into the fifties atmosphere, then pack up the teardrop caravan, hitch it to the back of your classic ride and mosey on down to Camperdown next year for a rockin’ good time!
Cheers.
Keep on cruzin’
Pipeworks classic and unique car show 2012
Held on the paved grounds inside the Pipeworks market complex, which are soon to be demolished to make way for another large business, car enthusiasts from around the area gather together and present a snapshot to the locals and shopping public with what we regard as our own form of art and culture.
While this show is small in statue, it’s band of loyal followers with their diversity of classic and unique rides sees that it gives a great insight to a public audience who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to view this scene, a chance to take in the restored and modified car scene in all its glory.
Aldo, with his classic HZ, one owner, four door Monaro has presented this show for the last seven years with the aplomb that comes from experience in this field. Entertainment on stage came in the form of an Elvis impersonator and was supported by another one man band filling the air with classic tunes befitting the surroundings. With a trophy presentation and raffle draw to close the proceedings and a public audience with a new appreciation for our vocation, we headed off to our various locations satisfied we had represented this leisure pursuit well.
If you would like to join this small friendly group of car enthusiasts, then keep an eye out for the next one sometime next year and show those who are unfamiliar with our scene, what we are all about.
Keep on crusin’
Greg
The Old School Street Cars club Car show at Meredith 2012
If you’re looking at these pics and reading the heading thinking “where the hell is Meredith”!? Well I’ll tell you, it’s situated on the Midland Highway, halfway between Geelong and Ballarat and was certainly put on the map today thanks to the first annual Old School Street Cars club Car show held, incidentally, at Meredith.
The guys and gals of the Old School Street Cars club, based in Geelong, turned on a great show for car punters and locals today. Helped along by a wide variety of vehicles ranging from a 1926 model T that looked like it just came off the production line, classic Aussie Holdens and Fords, stock and modified and a wide range of American iron, they came from everywhere as far as Bacchus Marsh and Colac to partake in this event. Not to be left out of this decadence of automotive exhibition, the Harley riders brought a decent collection of hogs along for the showing too, giving the locals a timely wake up call on their way through. What a way to greet the day!
An early coffee was the best way to start the proceedings before the sun came out to bath all in its warmth. The dedicated cooks were kept busy throughout the day feeding all who attended with an appetizing sausage sizzle. Kids could go nuts on the jumping castle or settle down for some face art with cool animated face painting. The vast grounds saw plenty of space for families and friends to set themselves up with a picnic arrangement.
So if you’re after a cruise to a quiet country town, a picnic with the crew and a visual stimulation of automotive art, then check out this event next year and we’ll see you there.
Keep on crusin’
Cheers,
Greg
Bacchus Marsh show n shine and swap meet 2012
Nothing like a good country swap meet to bring out a wide variety of fantastic rides, throw in some great weather and a rockin’ band and you’ve got yourself a great day out! This is exactly how the Bacchus Marsh show n shine and swap meet played out today with another enormous turnout of cool cars and bikes. Bacchus Marsh is perfectly placed when it comes to convenient locations for such a gathering. With easy access from the major cities such as Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat and a stones throw away from much smaller community, it’s no wonder it has such a big following. As a club run event, the Marsh Rodders do themselves proud every year by keeping it informal yet organised.
With more Harleys than you’d dare to poke a stick at and every conceivable set of wheels from classic vintage Fords, Buicks and Dodges through to the latest Camaros, Mustangs and Pontiacs, a wide variety of locally built iron and many classic American imports on show, the car enthusiasts were well catered for and not to be outdone, the swap meet sites were plentiful with many bargains on offer for those who knew where to look.
The hungry punters were well catered for too with a variety of food stalls on offer while the shady grounds provided cool shelter from the warming sun. A large playground kept the little troops entertained throughout the day giving Mum and Dad time to take in the surrounding exposé.
Keep an eye out for this one next year and keep on cruzin’!
Cheers!
Cruzin Knights show n shine 2012
Sunday the 7th of October saw the Cruzin Knights car club host its 2nd annual show n shine to raise funds for the Cancer Council of Australia. Held at the WerribeeCivicCenter, it was the perfect place for car and bike enthusiasts alike to cruise down in their rides and park up for a great family day out. Those who braved the chilly Victorian spring day weren’t disappointed with plenty of quality vehicles on show from hot rods, classic cruisers and muscle cars through to drag cars and even a rail. Not to be left out, the kids were treated to an abundance of activities from a jumping castle through to a petting zoo and other entertainment.
Much needed funds for the Cancer Council of Australia would have been raised from this car show and will see it return year after year with continuing support from those who embrace this vocation be it showing their own pride and joy or simply attending and enjoying the ample array of automotive art that we all devote our spare time to restoring and maintaining.
Mark this one down in your calendar for next year and we’ll see you there.
Keep on cruzin’
Greg
Caprice Photography Automotive Art 