Torquay Motor Show celebrates its 10th birthday

THE Torquay Rotary Club looked back at 10 years of its popular motor show in Torquay on Monday.

The club invited the sponsors and supports of the annual event held at Elephant Walk to the dinner, held at the Lions Village.

Long-time motor show supporters Gary and Karen Grant were also honoured by being named Paul Harris Fellows by the club.

Organising committee member Amanda Hough said the pair thoroughly deserved their recognition by the club and the Rotary movement at large.

“When we had this idea for a motor show over 10 years ago, someone told us to get in touch with these two because they knew how to run a motor show – and thank god, because we had no idea.

“Karen and Gary set us on the right path, and we’re still using that knowledge.”

Mr Grant said he was naturally interested in historic cars, so it was easy for him to be enthused about a motor show.

“We don’t look at these sorts of things for any real recognition; we do it because we love sharing our passion.

“I’m a person who’s very conscious of motor cars and the social use of motor cars, because it’s very easy for people like me to be labelled with terms that are very wrong – petrolhead or hoon or something like that.

“I always try to run an event that does something for the community; that helps communities or something very special.”

Ms Hough said the Torquay Motor Show was not only the club’s biggest fundraising event but also the biggest event run by the club, with “all hands on deck” needed to make it happen.

The event raised about $14,000 this year, attracting more than 350 vehicles and about 6,000 spectators.

The next Torquay Motor Show will be held on February 11, 2018. Head to torquaymotorshow.com.au.