Lord’s Raceway was the place to be for car enthusiasts on Sunday, with thousands of people flocking to the 26th annual Centre State Swap Meet.
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Hot weather didn’t deter people from wandering through the stalls filled with memorabilia, vehicle parts, vintage signs, collectables and bric-a-brac, while classic and vintage cars were lined up track side.
Paul Anderson from Bendigo was there with his “labour of love”, a 1973 HQ two-tonne ute.
The car, nicknamed “The Coffin”, took 15 months to create and is now a regular at car shows in the area.
Decked out with a coffin and skeleton, Mr Anderson drew inspiration from the many skulls tattoos that adorn his body.
“People don’t customise a farm ute, but I think outside the box and this is what I came up with,” he said.
“I drive it – it’s not a trailer queen.”
Julie and Lyle Wilkinson made the trip from Wellsford to sell their wares – a mixture of collectables, badges, car parts, bric-a-brac, and diecast models.
“It’s a hobby, we don’t do it to make a living,” Ms Wilkinson said, adding a cooler start to the day helped with crowd numbers.
“They started coming in at 5.30am in the dark with their torches.”
Justin Maroszek travelled a little further, heading up from Melton with his street and car-related signage.
Mum Yvonne arrived the night before, helping to set up her son’s stall with his father.
“We do as many swap meets as we can for him,” she said, with the pair helping to fund their son’s hot rod project, a 1957 Buick.
Noel Watson’s completed hobby was on show – a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner convertible which he restored over five years.
The Heathcote man estimated he had restored more than 20 cars in the past 30 years, with his favourite a 1968 Dodge Charger.
“It’s only a hobby – I really enjoy doing it,” he said.
The annual swap meet raises funds for the Centre State Rodders along with other local charities. It is normally held in late January, near the Australia Day long weekend.