Last weekend saw the annual Camperdown Cruise fire up once again bringing rockabilly fans from all over the country for the four day festival held at Camperdown in south west Victoria. This historic town opens its doors every year as rockabilly bands from around the world converge on the little town ready to bring a taste of the fifties back to its tree laden streets. Read More →
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PSRA (Performance Street and Race Autoshow) 2013
This long weekend in June saw the inaugural opening of the Performance Street and Race Autoshow, known as PSRA, come to fruition showcasing new cars, new performance products and a fantastic array of hi-performance showcars and bikes. This will become Australia’s version of SEMA, a similar event held in the United States, and will be an annual show utilizing the facilities at the Royal Melbourne Show grounds for hopefully many years to come.
The layout showcased a mix of old school rides and equipment mixed with the latest high tech gear available for today’s modern machines which had a strong showing as well. An automotive enthusiast could purchase him or herself some serious equipment for their ride covering everything from the ground up, from the latest sticky boots, big rims, wild wrap around vinyl, performance gear from engine to differentials, interior mods including bass driven stereo systems.
Spending motivation came from the many custom and wild rides, old and new, found spread throughout the large pavilion including a good selection of the wild two wheeled varieties known to most as Harleys or “hogs”. Cars and bikes alike showcased the skills of the professionals as well as the DIYs with their polished and pristine finishes leaving many a punter heading home with reinvigorated enthusiasm and fresh ideas.
The ambience was befitting such an event with the deep base of stereos and a DJ pumping out the latest driving tunes broken up periodically by the high revving exhaust note of a performance vehicle being put through its paces on the dyno.
The three day event closed with the customary trophy presentation and thank you speeches by the organisers and promising to continue the professionally run event next year so, if you missed out on this one, check out the pics, mark it in your calendar for next year and start saving your pennies!
Keep on cruisin’
Cheers,
Greg
Vic Hot Rod Show 2013
For those of us with a strong interest in the automotive scene, Australia Day traditionally sees many events happen from bbqs with your mates bullshitting about car related topics through to cruises with your local club or mates while bullshitting about car related topics. This year we could add a major event to our Australia Day program as the date fell on the same weekend as the Victorian Hot Rod show held in Melbourne at the historic Exhibition Building. Cars and bikes from far and wide were able to cruise up to the four day event and create a fantastic show outside while taking in the spectacle inside. Throw in some beautiful sunny weather and there was no excuse for not getting your ride out and going for a spin.
Inside saw a variety of new show cars on display from a wildly blown veedub beetle to an immaculately customized EH Holden. The usually flawlessly presented rods could also be found on show from 32 highboys to 40s coupes and sedans among others.
Upstairs kept budding rodders entertained from small scale drag racing and model cars through to a wide variety of trade stands ready to dress you or your ride up or to simply enhance your home or garage with art and memorabilia. Downstairs had its fair share of trade stands covering everything from clothing through to magazines on the very subject.
The closed off areas outside the World Heritage listed building catered for more club displays with Saturday hosting Australian marques while Sunday was reserved for the American breeds.
The picturesque Carlton gardens gave a stunning backdrop to the many rods, classics and custom found out front around the fountain and in the side lanes. A day could easily be lost perusing the show from inside and out but never wasted!
If you are yet to take in this automotive spectacle, why not make it your Australia Day tradition and come on down! Hey, bring your mates and it’ll give you something to bullshit about around the bbq next time…Yeah right! Like we need something to bs about!
Keep on cruizin’
Cheers,
Greg
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!
Geelong Revival 2012
For 10 years Geelong’s own speed festival has laid dormant at the back of the events cupboard, covered in cobwebs and dust till finally a group calling themselves The Geelong Revival organization brought it back out into the open, dusted it off, tweaked it to their liking and laid it out for those of us who still have a hankering for some good old fashion eighth mile racing!!
Taking place along Geelong’s beautifully presented waterfront, this classic car spectacle, covering all genres from around the globe, ran across two days seeing a wide array of fantastic automotive creations from a bygone era through to a smattering of later model equipment test their mental against the clock as they gave their machines all they’ve got. From vintage race cars of the 1920s, home built equipment, MGs, minis, midgets, Aussie and American iron and every other conceivable racing marques, car enthusiasts were guaranteed to have their fill of automotive memorabilia from a cacophony of roaring engines, squealing tires and fumy exhausts while being visually stimulated by the varying shapes and designs of these classic beauties!
To compliment the eighth mile racing, Shannons Insurance sponsored a classic car and bike show seeing polished and pristine machines of all makes and models cover the lush grass areas and waterfront real-estate found around EasternBeach and stretching as far as Cunninghams Pier. If that wasn’t enough to keep you busy, the Steam Packets market ran all weekend while Sunday saw the inaugural running of the Fashions on the Field parade adding a touch of class to the whole festival.
I could continue to rave on about this event but like I said, it’s a visual thing so why not take it in yourself with a gander through my pics and let your imagination take you through the motions those who attended experienced and hopefully we’ll see you there next year guaranteeing the same professionally run, if not bigger, event in all areas!
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
Susie Harris Memorial Fund classic car show 2012
Have you ever looked at a car show listing and thought” never heard of it”, looked at its location and thought “never had one there before”? Well these thoughts crossed my mind as I viewed the listing for the inaugural Susie Harris Memorial Fund classic car show located in the exclusive suburb ofBrightonand wondered what variety of automotive history would turn up? You could not have expected a more eclectic range of vehicles to be on display as their marques covered most of the globe including one fromRussia! The age of these collectable motorized works of art started at around 1912 and spanned through to present day super cars. There was one glaring omission though and that was no Ford was on show, not that they weren’t welcome! Who knows why? Next year’s fund raising event should see the grounds atSt Leonard’s College filled with all marques while helping a very worthy cause, changing the course of Motor Neurone Disease.
Keep this one penned in your calendar and we’ll see you there next year!
Keep on cruzin’
Torquay motor show 2012
The Rotary club of Torquay is responsible for putting on the Torquay motor show held every year along the picturesque Victorian foreshore. This event was scheduled for late last year but Mother Nature wouldn’t have a bar of that and decided to rain all weekend thus seeing the event postponed. She tried it again this weekend but ran out of puff much to the delight of the organizers, car owners and punters alike. The event started off quiet but as word spread, more people bought out their pride and joys for an excuse to drive to the coast and show them off. The variety of makes, models and styles of vehicles on show always amazes me with everything from vintage rarity to the latest super cars.
To add to the atmosphere, rock ‘n roll dancers showed off their moves to the sounds of classic and modern rock while a diverse number of trade and food stands were on site for those necessary extras. Time (and good weather) will see this event grow in statue as a major show for your calendar, mark it down for next year, check the radar and we’ll see you there!
Keep on cruzin’!
Motorclassica 2011
Well, Motorclassica is over for another year but we had a ball while we were there checking out all the classics on show in their immaculate condition. The trade displays and art show, which we were a part of, definitely added to the overall event seeing a large number of people make their way through theRoyal Exhibition Building. Feel free to leave feedback and add us to your favorites if you want to keep up to date with what we do. See you there next year!
Cheers!
Motorclassica 2011, coming soon!!
Motorclassica 2011 will be held on the 21st to the 23rd of October at the Exhibition Building (the old one) in Melbourne and is expected to be a spectacular event with some of the greatest classics from around the world on show! Below is a slideshow of highlights from last year, just to give you a sample of what to expect and if you do make it, we’ll have our trade stand on show up stairs, feel free to stop past and say “G’day” and check out our show specials or what we can do for your pride and joy!
Hope to see you all there!
Cheers,
The team from CPAA!
