Classic cars on show

Coast to country: 100 classic cars are set to travel some of Victoria’s most scenic routes, including the Heathcote district, in the lead up to this year’s Australian Grand Prix. Photo: SUPPLIED

CLASSIC car buffs are in for a treat when this year’s Targa Classica passes through the southern end of Heathcote on Thursday, 30 March.

Now in its fifth year, the four-day rally sees 100 cars navigate their way across over 1000 kilometres of Victorian back roads in the lead-up to the Australian Grand Prix.

The final leg is from Nagambie’s Mitchelton Winery to Melbourne and includes Heathcote-Nagambie Road, the Northern Highway and Seymour-Tooborac Road.

Event director Andrew Lawson said roadside spectators would get a great view.

“They’ll see a hundred classic cars ranging in age from the 1920s and there’ll be everything from a Holden Sandman ute to a 1920s Bugatti,” he said.

“There’s a really wide range of classic cars, everyone’s just really out to enjoy Victoria’s great driving roads and to get out into the regions.

“In Seymour there’s quite a big community event, and as we go through each of the towns we try and make sure that people are aware we’re coming so they can get out and enjoy it as closely as they can.”

Mr Lawson said this year’s Targa Classica would add about $1 million into the state’s regional economies and that figure was expected to grow in the future.

“We’re really keen to work with communities and build the event over the years,” he said.

The final day will begin with slow time trials and a display at Mitchelton winery, followed by more time trials at Eastern Lions Kart Club at Hildene.

After the cars have made their way to Seymour there will be a slow drive by in Seymour High Street on the veteran’s walk side.

Mr Lawson said cars would leave Mitchelton Winery at 10am and should start going through south Heathcote between 10.30 and 11.30am.

The Targa Classica draws its inspiration from Italian classic-car events and it began in 2017 as the Targa Florio Australia, a sister event to the Targa Florio Rally in Sicily.

After a two-year hiatus in 2020/21, it returned as an event partner of the Australian Grand Prix and entrants now lap the formula one track as the culmination of the rally.

For more information on the route and events visit targaclassica.com.