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History ready to roll at car and truck show

March 8, 2023 BY

Geared up: Barry Dodson will be displaying his 1970 C-Line International truck at the Clunes Historic Vehicle Show later this month. Photo: RAY EDWARDS

AN annual vehicle fixture showcasing classic cars and trucks is set to return over the Labour Day long weekend for its twelfth year.

Hosted by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia’s Ballarat branch, the Clunes Historic Vehicle Show will take place at its regular location at the Clunes Showgrounds.

The event’s founder and Ballarat HCVC committee member Murray Pope said it’s about celebrating aged and vintage vehicles.

“It’s about showing off those old trucks and old cars, old engines, old tractors, anything old,” he said. “The youngest we like to prefer is pre-1985.

“One of the older cars we get is from a chap from Mount Gambier that brings over a GMT on solid rubber tyres which goes back to about 1917.

“We’ve got about 650 members Australia-wide and we’re dedicated to restoring and preserving old commercial vehicles including utilities and panel vans.

“The show’s definitely an extension of that.”

The show generally gets about 150 cars and 170 trucks on display with an average of 2000 attendees each year.

Food trucks will be onsite as well as a barbecue from members of Clunes CFA and sandwiches, cakes, and tea from Clunes Primary School committee members.

Automotive memorabilia will be for sale and a tractor-towed trailer will be led around the grounds offering joyrides.

Mr Pope said the show’s reputation as a reliable long-weekend attraction has kept it going for more than a decade.

“It’s a fantastic atmosphere and we get quite a few exhibitors having a weekend trip with us,” he said.

“I love the camaraderie among everyone. We get people from Adelaide, Mildura, Bendigo. All over Victoria and then some interstate.”

The Clunes Historic Vehicle Show will take place from 9am on Sunday, 12 March at the Clunes Showgrounds. Entry is $10 and children get in free.