Geelong Revival ready to let loose in regular November timeslot

CAR enthusiasts and visitors will be revved up today, tomorrow, and Sunday along Geelong’s picturesque waterfront for the return of the Geelong Revival Motoring Festival in its original November timeslot.

MORE than 1,000 vintage and modern vehicles, 2,200 participants and 170 volunteers will take part in the November 25-27 event, the second instalment of the festival in 2023 following a make-up event in March.

Serving as the last major motoring event on the calendar and an occasion for residents and visitors to welcome the summer months, the community will be out in full force according to event executive Sophia Blakebrough and her team.

“It’s a huge relief for us, it really is, to be able to run this event in November again,” Ms Blakebrough said.

“The events industry has been crippled over the past two years due to the pandemic and the various lockdowns, along with a lot of other parts of the community too.

“The event being in the last week of November is pretty special with things seemingly back to normal. Hopefully the weather holds up, everyone knows this is a go-to event in Geelong, so hopefully we see large crowds on the weekend.”

New additions to this year’s Geelong Motoring Revival Festival include the Hot Wheel Stunt Team led by stuntman Matt Mingay.

Onlookers will have the privilege of witnessing a fully-fledged stunt show along Ritchie Boulevard, complementing the festival’s renowned ‘Pits’.

Up in the air, the RAAF’s Hot Air Balloon will be visible from the shoreline throughout the weekend, while down on the ground The Van Council Panel Van State Titles will be hosted at Geelong Revival for the first time at Transvaal Square.

All the usual attractions including The Quarter Mile Sprints, The Pits, Big Wheels, Shannons Classic Motorshow, Motorcycle Mecca and the Vintage Caravan Display will all be on offer over the three days.

Among the sprint drivers is Newtown resident Laurie Cushion, who will be putting his foot to the floor in his family’s 1984 Holden Gemini aptly named “Kermit” due to its green and yellow paintjob.

Mr Cushion, an owner of 17 cars and a member of Geelong Motorsport Club, Western Districts Car Club, and the Geelong Off-Road Buggy Association, has been a part of every single Geelong Revival since the motorshow was revived back in 2012 except one.

However, the committed car enthusiast said there was nothing remotely close to 12 seconds of streaking down Geelong’s waterfront, particularly on a Sunday, an experience he says is not available anywhere else.

“I love it, I really do, where else are you going to get something like this?” Mr Cushion said.

“We were up at the Hot Rods Show in Bright last weekend, another great place to see cars and all that stuff, we go to all the Hot Rods shows around Victoria, but where else can you do an event like this?”

Tickets are available online or at the gate, dependant on availability. Pit and limited VIP Passes can be purchased at geelongrevival.com.au.