Classic cars to cruise Torquay

THE annual Torquay Motor Show will make its return next month, with up to 400 cars and bikes set to descend on Elephant Walk.

Thousands of locals and visitors are expected to attend the event, which will be held on Sunday, February 9 between 8am and 3pm along Torquay’s esplanade.

This year’s motor show will focus on the 100th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company in Geelong and the vehicles it produced before World War II, most notably the iconic Model T and Model A, of which about six will be on display.

“For me, it’s trying to imagine people living in that era and the kind of conditions that they would have experienced,” motor show convenor Trevor Hall said of the Model T’s enduring appeal.

“You see them today and they’re out and mobile, but everything else is three to four times quicker and more comfortable.”

Ford Australia was established in Norlane in 1925, with a large factory constructed to support the production of these vehicles which, at the time, marked an innovative step forward for both affordable automobile transportation and mass production using assembly line methods.

By the company’s 50th anniversary in 1953, Ford had also become Geelong’s biggest employer with a workforce of more than 5,000 people.

Now in its 15th year, the motor show has long been a major fundraising event for the Rotary Club of Torquay, with all proceeds to be dispersed across the club’s wide-ranging projects, both locally and abroad.

 

 

It will once again feature the traditional convoy-style Great Ocean Road Cruise, this year starting at Mt Duneed Estate before continuing out towards Moriac and through the region’s coastal hotspots.

This year’s show also boasts new technology, including an online registration system and judging app, which promises to enhance the experience for all attendees.

Pre-booking through the new online registration system is strongly encouraged, with attendees who organise their tickets ahead of time set to enjoy priority access to the show on the day.

Registering online will also enable car enthusiasts to help select a winner for the People’s Choice Award, a prize set to be introduced for the very first time at this year’s event.

New event sponsor Priceline will provide a $1,000 travel voucher prize to both the winning vehicle and one lucky voter, while a further 24 awards will be up for grabs.

Rotary Club member Howard Randall said the changes introduced this year were aimed at further engaging attendees, helping to maintain the show’s reputation as a beloved community event.

“We get locals and tourists.

“It’s a good thing for the town to draw in people. People come and say overnight. It’s a good tourist attraction as well as a fundraiser for Torquay.”

For more information, head to torquaymotorshow.com.au