By KATH GANNAWAY
THE Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show is revved up and on track for another hugely successful season.
The more than 500 cars and bikes, and the community atmosphere and support for the season opener at the Wandin East Recreation Reserve on Wednesday night brought an enthusiastic response from exhibitors and visitors.
Organiser Cindy Redden-Vitale was thrilled with the night and with the venue that provided the perfect stage for the pre-1985 cars and the all-era bikes, the community food stalls and social groups which now make the third Wednesday over summer a time to catch up, enjoy a meal and talk the torque.
Now in its fifth year, the event, which started out in the main shopping car park at Wandin, has grown enormously and attracts enthusiasts from all around the Yarra Ranges and beyond marking it as a valuable marketing tool for the region.
“My key goal was to get people into the valley to start off with, so they would see how beautiful it is and come back with their families on the weekend.
“I think it’s a good advertisement for the Yarra Valley,” said Cindy, adding that people come from as far away as Bacchus Marsh, the Mornington Peninsula, St Kilda and Pakenham with a lot of new vehicles making the trek out to Wandin on Wednesday night.
Seville enthusiast Tony Fanfulla has been involved since the shopping strip days and says it’s an event that really brings people together.
His car of choice is a 1965 Buick Skylark Convertible (red).
“It’s obvious that there’s a big demand for people who have that interest to gather, have a chat and a look,” he said, adding that what was also amazing was the number of people who go along who aren’t car owners.
“You run into people you haven’t seen for a long time, it’s out of the way, the kids have a ball with lots of other kids from the local schools… it really brings everyone together.
“It’s run by just a couple of local people and they do a good job,” he said.
Rob Watson, whose mid-70s spring car turned a few heads on its first outing, was also impressed saying he had been to the show as a spectator in the past and was happy to be taking a more hands-on part of what is a great event for enthusiasts and for the wider community.
The show raised $32,000 for the Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal and other local groups and businesses who provide a fantastic range of food and drinks.
The entertainment value will go up a gear in November with popular band The Last Stand returning to add to the atmosphere.
The Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show is held on the third Wednesday of the month from October through to March from 6pm to 9pm with entry by gold coin donation and cars and bikes $5.
Phone Cindy on 0423 354 217 for further information.
