BRIGHT was in the grips of classic car fever last weekend, as enthusiasts from all over the country travelled to attend the 32nd annual Bright Rod Run.
Everyone had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of some vintage vehicles, kicking off on Friday, November 8, with a Cruising around the Bright CBD, which offered a chance to show off the participants’ prized collections.
Most of the 500 or so cars of every make, model, colour and decade entered in the event did laps of the main and side streets to the eager appreciation of thousands of admiring onlookers.
Viewers were well prepared; setting up camping chairs, tents, eskys and even created signs asking passing motorist to honk their horns and rev the engines, to the delight of the children present.
“It’s been 10 years since I last saw a car show in Bright,” Geelong resident, Darren Blair said.
Latest Stories
“There’s a great variety of cars this year.
“That was the main goal for this trip: to see them cruising up and down the street.
“Some car shows have them parked as a ‘static display’ only, but to see them on the move is amazing.
“This year, I thought I'd bring the boy up for the weekend to see the rod run.
“My son, Hudson, loves the Chevvys and Ford Falcons the best and he loves watching the cars cruising.”
At Pioneer Park, entrant registrations opened up for both the Poker Run and Pin-Up fashion show for the following day and at 6pm there was a Bench Session and entrant barbeque, hosted by the Bright Rotary Club.
On Saturday, the celebrations began in earnest as every possible car park, either real or imagined, was occupied to show off the participants' prized vehicles.
Merchandise and food stalls were set up along the boundary line of the Pioneer Park Oval as classic cars which had won previous awards were carefully lined up in the middle of the oval for attendees to admire.
By midday, ‘Minne and the Moonrakers’ started playing a series of Rock ’n’ Roll tunes from the dance hall temporarily installed over the netball courts, followed by the 'OH BABE' Live Show and Rock & Roll Dance Display with Johnny's Rockers later in the evening.
Arguably, those that had the best view of the parade were the paragliders, circling their way towards town and appreciating the dots of colour far below.
They could probably hear the revving of engines from up there, too!
Iconic local locations were used as checkpoints in a game of Poker Run.
Participants drove to Nightingale Orchards in Wandiligong, The Red Stag and Emu Farm in Porepunkah and Michelini’s Wines and the Happy Valley Pub in Myrtleford and back to Bright, collecting poker cards along the way, hoping to have the best hand at the end to raise money for Country Hope Charity.
“The people are the best part of any car show; they’re a really good bunch," said Bright Rod and Kustom Club Inc. volunteer, Lauren Golden.
"The first year I volunteered, I was new to the area and it turned out to be a great way to network and meet people.
"This is the third time I’ve volunteered at the Bright Rod Run.
“I’m looking forward to the Revival Show on Saturday night.
"Previously, the pin-up shows have been held at 2pm and the audience was only really full of the participants’ family members.
"Now, it’s at 6pm, hopefully there’ll be a bigger audience.
“The kids get really into it: they put so much energy into their dress-ups, they love it!”
Wangaratta resident, Brendan Smith, said he gets to car shows as often as he can.
"I've brought along my 1934 Chevvy Pick-Up," he said.
"I built it over eight years, it’s been finished for two years and on the road for the past 12 months.
“During the build, people would say to me: ‘You can’t do that!’, thinking of how much this or that costs, or how much time I was putting into it.
"I don't like it when people say that to me, because, why can't I?"
Damian and Sandro De Simone, along with Elvio Artico and Elvio Artico Jr. arrived from Melbourne for the weekend, eager to see the beautiful collection of cars at the Rod Run.
“I’ve been to the Bright Car Show every year since 2013," Elvio Artico Sr said.
“We drive up every year; always in a family group.
“My 1957 Chevvy Bel Air won the People’s Choice Award in 2013.
“I restored it over six years and when I entered it in the show, everyone seemed to like it; it was a great surprise.
“You don’t have to be an idiot on the road to appreciate a beautiful car; just drive normally and let people admire them."
“The part I was most looking forward to at the Rod Run was the Cruising on Friday," Damian De Simone said.
"We did a couple of laps to kick off the weekend.”
On Sunday, the Bright Rotary Club hosted the entrant breakfast at 8am before the Bright Rotary Market, Mega Automotive Trade Show and 'Show' n 'Shine' began at 9am.
The afternoon concluded with trophy presentations between 1:30pm and 2:30pm.
Overall, the region hummed with the revving of nearby engines and locals and visitors alike marveled at the show of classic cars on display.
