Update12.45pm: It is fair to say Ron Foy has come prepared for anything.
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He has brought his 1945 NM Mack, a military truck used during WW2 and is it carrying a 1942 bren gun carrier.
“There’s probably less than 10 of these left on the road in Australia,” Mr Foy said.
“They are a pretty unique vehicle.”
The truck was the first military vehicles to come out that could carry tanks and big guns, though they were really general service trucks, Mr Foy said.
He has tirelessly restored both vehicles.
See more of the interview here:
Update, 11.45am: The last of the cavalcade cars are arriving just in time for the Show ’n Shine to begin.
Over 200 cars are on show, with Shane Jacobson readying to take the stage to interview owners about their beloved vehicles.
Update, 11am: Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce chief executive Geoff Gwilym says the unique thing about today is ‘there is one car for every year from the birth year of VACC’.
“We don’t think that’s ever been done in Australia before,’’ he said.
Update, 10.50am: It won't be long before the cars roll into Bendigo – where they will then go on display during a show and shine event near the Town Hall.
Here’s a snippet of the action at Calder Park before the cavalcade left for Bendigo along the Calder Freeway.
Update, 9.29am: Celebrity and event patron Shane Jacobson has waved off 100 cars from the Calder Park Raceway. The cars are beginning the trek to Bendigo.
Cars are expected to begin arriving about 10.30am, rolling in to the Town Hall precinct.
Some of the older cars will be towed up the Calder, particularly those from the 1920s who just can’t make it to 110 kilometres per hour.
More to come.
Earlier:
The Calder Highway will become a mobile museum this morning as 100 cars representing 100 years the VACC has operated roar into Bendigo.
The cavalcade of iconic cars, trucks, ambulances, hearses and motorbikes will be waved away at 9am from the Calder Park Raceway by celebrity and event patron Shane Jacobson.
From there it will wind its way to the VACC’s birthplace in Bendigo.
Such is the scale of the event the VACC believes nothing like it will have been attempted before.
The cavalcade will come on the last of three days of events in Bendigo.
Yet Saturday afternoon will see the high profile celebrations, with the Centennial Cavalcade rolling into the CBD lead by a 1918 Buick Roadster, the VACC’s David Dowsey said.
“There will be over 60 brands, including exotic cars like Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Aston Martins,” he said.
Then enthusiasts will be able to settle in for an afternoon Show ’n Shine in the Town Hall precinct featuring 200 cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and motorcycles. Cars will literally take centre-stage, with Mr Jacobson interviewing their drivers, sharing stories and celebrating histories.
The festivities are intended as a way of saying thank-you to Bendigo, because without it and three businessmen who banded together to protect industry members, the VACC would not now represent thousands across the state.
The VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ’n Shine from 12pm until 4pm on Saturday 22 September in the Bendigo Town Hall precinct. The free event will showcase up to 200 cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and motorcycles.
The 100 cars taking part VACC Centennial Cavalcade will leave the Calder Park Raceway at 8.30am and arrive in Bendigo at about 11am.
More to come.
Read more about some of the car enthusiasts taking part and the extraordinary stories behind their pride and joys:
Camping enthusiast to drive distinctive motorhome
NO MATTER where Alan Stevens travels, it always feels like home.
That’s because the camping enthusiast from Eaglehawk has an impressive collection of vintage camping vehicles, but none more distinctive than his 1952 Austin Loadmaster motorhome.
The vehicle is certain to catch the crowd’s attention when it appears at the VACC Centennial Cavalcade and Show ‘n Shine in Bendigo later this month, an event that will celebrate the formation of VACC in Bendigo in September 1918.
Vintage work vehicles to make the Calder 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.
‘Legendary’ Alvis 12/50 roadster to go on show for cavalcade
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.
Happy wife, happy life: How Barry Collett can keep motoring
Barry Collett has a good understanding of the saying, ‘Happy wife, happy life’.
The British car enthusiast from Wandong is the owner of a highly desirable Austin-Healey 3000, but his wife, Margaret, is less enthusiastic about the breezy, open-top sports car. Mr Collett needed to remedy the situation if he was to continue enjoying his recreational motoring.
“My wife absolutely hates the Austin-Healey 3000, so I went looking for something with a ‘lid’ on it,” he explained.
Castlemaine’s Paul Vellacott has a life-long love affair with Lancias
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.
The car Jim Andreadis dreamed of, the one he got and the one he fell in love with
IN 2005 Jim Andreadis flew to America to buy a race-track tuned muscle car and came home with an enormous luxury vehicle he says handles like a wheelbarrow full of wet cement.
Mr Andreadis aimed to buy a 1969 Boss Mustang in 2005 but was thwarted when the car sold at auction for twice the advertised estimate.
Admitting he was caught up in the hype of the glamourous Florida auction event, Mr Andreadis then became enamoured with a 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire sedan.
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