Castlemaine and Maldon were overrun with about 100 hod rodders from as far away as Sydney for the three-day Castlemaine Rod Run.

Motor enthusiasts enjoyed a mystery tour of the district through Campbells Creek, Guildford and Newstead and a pack lunch at Maldon Primary School ahead of a concert by Sun Rising and a giant Show and Shine to be held on Sunday on the Western Reserve.

Castlemaine Rods President Geoff Knape said it was going well so far.

“It is about meeting old friends more than anything,” he said.

“We started out doing something for the 50th anniversary of the ‘32 Ford and the ‘34 Ford and when it came to 75 years we did a run.

“This year the theme is 60s and 70s and there are quite a few that were built back then and are still on the road, virtually the same condition.

"I love the style of the cars."

Greg Mortensen who was at the run for the first time in his 1944 Ford Deluxe, said he has always been interested in cars.

“That is my life now, since I retired, what I do is play with cars," he said.

“My wife Marion and I also have a vintage caravan. We had it from new in 1967 and we had our honeymoon in it in 1969. We towed it behind a car the same as this to Sydney.

“I have just finished my wife’s car, a 66 Dodge Phoenix in pink. I have the same one in light blue and the number plates are HIZZ and HERZ.”

Lara O’Toole, who has been coming on rod runs all her life said it was a good family event.

“I have been taken to hot rod runs since I was 0,” she said.

“A lot of people know each other, it’s a social thing.”

All proceeds raised from the event will go to Castlemaine Health.