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Paul Vellacott has had a life-long love affair with Lancia motor vehicles.
The Castlemaine resident obtained his licence on his 18th birthday in 1958 in his 1927 Lancia Lambda, and has maintained a passion for the brand ever since.
Founded in Turin by Fiat racing drivers, Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin, the brand quickly became known for innovation and excellence.
“They had by far the most technologically advanced car of the ’20s, the Lambda, and then the Aprilia in the ’30s and the Aurelia in the ’50s,” said Mr Vellacott.
The latter also marked the commencement of a post-war Lancia tradition of naming cars after Roman roads, in this instance, the Via Aurelia.
After touring the streets and back roads of Italy, a 1958 Lancia Aurelia B24 convertible, owned by Mr Vellacott, will participate in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine in Bendigo later this month. The event will celebrate the formation of VACC in Bendigo in September 1918.
The VACC was founded in Bendigo by three local local car dealers before quickly expanding to represent employers across Victoria’s burgeoning automobile industries.
The group is organising for 100 motor enthusiasts with vehicles manufactured in each of the 100 years the group has existed to drive up the Calder Highway to Bendigo, including Mr Vellacott’s.
In the mid-’90s, Mr Vellacott purchased the car from a friend, who had imported it from Italy in 1990.
“It is pretty rare, at the most there’s probably two or three in Australia,” Mr Vellacott said.
“It was in pretty good condition when it came to Australia, but I had it restored in 2014 by a very competent man who is a good friend of mine and now it is in very good condition,” he added.
Mr Vellacott said the Aurelia is fantastic to drive.
“Lancias have always handled extremely well. It has traditional Lancia independent front suspension and a de Dion rear end. It also has a rear mounted transmission with inboard brakes, and a 60-degree V6 aluminium block engine,” he said.
The free event will showcase up to 200 cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and motorcycles.
Meanwhile the VACC Centennial Cavalcade will feature 100 different vehicles from 100 different years, driving from Melbourne to Bendigo.
What else can you expect during the cavalcade?
NO MATTER where Alan Stevens travels, it always feels like home: Read more here about a camping enthusiast from Eaglehawk who has an impressive collection of vintage camping vehicles, but none more distinctive than his 1952 Austin Loadmaster motorhome. The vehicle will be included in the cavalcade.
GEORGE DAWSON has been surrounded by commercial vehicles all his life: The Bendigo resident obtained his first truck in 1950, running it twice weekly between Raywood and Bendigo as a general carrier. Three years later, Mr Dawson and his father successfully tendered for a school bus contract at Raywood.
With help from retired panel beater Ian Rye, Mr Dawson has lovingly restored two vehicles to participate in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine in Bendigo later this month.
AS A QANTAS pilot, Peter Miller is used to operating modern, sophisticated machinery, but since retiring nine years ago he’s found more time to pursue one of his other great passions, vintage cars.
Mr Miller, of New Gisborne, is the proud owner of a rare 1925 Alvis 12/50 roadster and is looking forward to participating in the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine.
“I’ve owned Alvis cars for quite some time but the 12/50 is legendary, it’s just an absolutely fabulous motor car and I’ve always wanted one. They are very hard to find so when it came on the market I didn’t hesitate,” he said.