Start your engines for Australia Day show

STAFF at the Ballarat Vintage and Collectables Market are gearing up to celebrate Australia Day with a car and bike show family day.

The event will take place on Thursday, 26 January at the former Mill Markets site in Warrenheip.

Having taken over the venue late last year, owner Shane Magri said he hopes the event will be a great introduction for the community.

“This is our first major car and bike event,” he said. “We’ve not even been open for three months now so hopefully it’s a good one to start off with.

“Ballarat’s known for its cars. There’s so many car clubs here and we’re very passionate about it and a lot of people come up here for a good day drive so it’s the perfect destination for it.”

More than 100 classic cars and 20 motorcycles are expected to be featured in competitions that cost $5 to enter.

Categories include a people’s choice award, judge’s award, and pre-1980s and post-1980s vehicles awards with $500 available in cash prizes.

Proceeds from the competition will be donated to the Ballarat Soup Bus and market manager Renae Wilson said it’s an organisation they want to continue to support.

“We just think it’s a really good cause and they’re always reaching out for donations. It helps local families in need and we really want to support that going forward,” she said.

“Previously, we did a big drive at Christmas time where we donated 80 hampers to them.

“We did a car show when this was the Mill Market. That was about three years ago and it was one of the biggest days we’ve ever had.

“I think it’ll be even bigger than last time.”