A great day of cruisin’

Mountain District Car Show putting on a colourful display 131170_03

By GEORGIA WESTGARTH

WHEN the sun comes out, so do the vintage cars.
The warm weather provides the perfect conditions for a day trip through the Yarra Valley, where car shows galore. For car enthusiasts and those that appreciate a good set of wheels and some polished duco, the Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show is for you.
This event has truly grown into its own, from just a small group of cars displayed in the local shopping centre car park, the Wandin Car show is now a huge event showcasing up to 700 exhibitors from all over Victoria.
If you’re after a one-stop shop for cars and bikes, the Yarra Valley turns it up over the summer time, with day trippers taking their fancy four wheels for a spin in the valley’s sunshine and Wandin’s slick four and two wheel show, no exception.
In its sixth year, the show features pre-1985 cars and bikes and refreshments to keep your eyes peeled at the polished goods.
A gold coin donation goes to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, along with a CFA barbecue and wood-fired pizzas, hotdogs and soft drinks available from Wandin Yallock and St Mary’s Primary Schools’, as well as Mr Whippy, who’s known to make an appearance.
You’ll find the gas guzzling crowd at the Wandin East Recreation Reserve from 5.30pm, with last year’s show producing more than 650 cars and bikes. This year, they are hoping to raise more than $20,000 for the Good Friday Appeal and will be open until March 2015.
Show dates: 22 cOctober, 19 November, 17 December, 21 January, 18 February and 18 March. If you can’t make it to Wandin’s car show extravaganza, Healesville put on a fantastic event just a few days later.
Be sure to keep Sunday 22 March free, with the 9th Mountain District Car and Bike show taking over the Healesville Showgrounds.
You’ll get to wrap your eyes around some vintage classics, hot rods and custom cars, bikes, utes and trucks, with live bands playing from 10am, setting the scene for a fun four wheeling day of food, music, cars, prizes and presentations. With more food stalls than ever before, the event is a Healesville favourite, with all the proceeds going to charity.
Children under 16 enter free and entry for adults is just $5.
The Mountain District Car and Bike Show isn’t just a day for the petrol head in the family, but a nice day out for everyone as well as a thorough education in crusin’ .