By KATH GANNAWAY
THE Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges has plenty of horse-power to get your engines revving over summer.
If the glint of sunlight hitting the chrome of a classic Chrysler makes your heart skip a beat, or the rumble of a magnificent old Indian makes you want to take to the road, you’ll be in your element at any one of the region’s popular summer car shows.
Car and bike shows, along with car club rallies, bring thousands of people into the region each summer, and while there’s a lot of under the bonnet turbo gazing, spit and polish, and swapping stories of piston passion at these events, you don’t have to be a petrol-head to appreciate just why these shows are so popular.
Spectacular hot rods, classic, custom and vintage cars and bikes are the star attractions, but these shows, run by locals to benefit local community groups, are geared to appeal to a broad demographic – particularly families.
‘Family friendly’ means everyone from toddlers to grand-dads with row after row of magnificent machines, music, children’s entertainment and activities, and fantastic food on offer.
The Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show draws huge crowds from October through to March at the Wandin East Reserve.
Held on the third Wednesday of the month, the locals embrace it as a chance to get together, appreciate the colour and spectacle of the main attraction, have a bite to eat and kick back to a band as the sun slowly disappears behind the tree-line. For visitors, it’s a charming taste of country hospitality.
The show has raised over $120,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and the local CFA over the past six years and numerous other local groups benefit as their volunteers man the food stalls.
The annual Mountain District Car and Bike Show, celebrating 10 years on the road in 2016, is another community success story.
The turbo-powered one-day event held each March at the Don Road Sporting Complex in Healesville raises funds for several local organisations.
Among the vehicles that roll in each year are beautifully restored cars of all ages, work-weary trucks, chromed-up bikes and cars that have become a canvas for spectacular artwork.
The amphitheatre at the complex is an ideal exhibition space for the swarms of vehicles that pour into the town and there’s loads of space for a bit of jiving to live music, the great food and market stalls and children’s activities.
The organisers of this event also run the Monbulk Late Night Shopping Cruise bringing the main street to life on the second Wednesday each month through until March.
Stroll, browse, buy and drool (and that’s just the cars)! The local RSL is open on the night with a live band.
A very different type of car show, also growing in popularity each year, is the Black Saturday Remembrance Cruise in February.
Join the cruise of around 500 vehicles at Lilydale for a leisurely drive through Yarra Glen and Toolangi or go along to view the cars at the finish point in Healesville.
The historic railway precinct is transformed into a showcase of cars and bikes of every ‘denomination’, and live music and food and drink are also on offer.
There’s also time for reflection with a pause at 5pm for the Remembrance Ceremony.
Road Map
Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show
Wandin East Reserve
Wednesdays – 16 December, 20 January, 17 February and 16 March
6pm – 9pm.
Contact: Cindy 0423 354 217.
Black Saturday Remembrance Cruise
Lilydale to Healesville Railway Precinct
Saturday, 6 February
3pm from Lilydale/4pm at Healesville.
Contact: Stacey 0421 321 203 or visit the facepage blacksaturdayremembrancecruise
Mountain District Car and Bike Show
Don Road Sporting Complex, Healesville
Sunday, 20 March
10am – 4pm
Contact: Jacqueline 9737 9660 or visit www.mdcbs.com
Monbulk Late Night Shopping Cruise
Main Street, Monbulk
Wednesdays – 10 December, 13 January, 10 February and 9 March
6pm – 9pm
Contact: Jacqueline 9737 9660
