Planning for Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In well underway
Wangaratta Chronicle
9th Dec 2024
Plans for the fifth biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In to be held on Sunday the 27th of April, 2025, are well underway.
The organizational committee, with support from the Rural City of Wangaratta Council, have embarked on another ambitious project to bring together the most diverse display of historic vehicles and machinery in the southern hemisphere.
The committee comprises representatives of local clubs in Wangaratta including: the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club Australia (northern branch); Early Holden Car Club; Veteran, Vintage & Classic Vehicle Club of Wangaratta; Harry Ferguson Tractor Club; Warby Engine Club; Wang Rod & Custom Club; Precision Airmotive & Classic Air Adventures and the Lions Club of Wangaratta.
The initial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show was held at the Wangaratta Livestock Exchange carpark in 2017 and included 200 exhibits, which attracted a crowd of 2000 spectators.
The event was inspired by Richie Gardner, the northern branch president of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia and Mick Daws, a member of the Warby Engine Club.
The concept was to include a variety of historic vehicles including trucks, busses, fire engines, ambulance, police cars, veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, tractors and stationary engines in a display for the public in an attempt to create an event that all historic buffs could relate to and raise funds for a nominated local charity.
Since then, the event has grown and over $30,000 has been donated to local charity organisations from proceeds generated.
Last year Northeast Health Wangaratta was gifted $7200 for vital signs monitors and the suicide awareness program – Blue Tree received $2000.
In 2018 Doug Hamilton and Lou Harper joined the committee and introduced the concept of a ‘Fly In’ as part of the show and the venue was changed to the Wangaratta Airport.
Since then, the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In has evolved to become a significant event for enthusiasts of historic vehicles to attend.
“The Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In is a great day for families to enjoy the vast array of display vehicles and to experience the unique thrill of the WW2 planes flying overhead”, committee secretary, Steve Doig, said.
The Lions Club of Wangaratta have supported each of the four shows by catering for the event and the local CFA volunteers have assisted by managing parking on the day.
Entry forms for display vehicle participants will be available soon on the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In website www.wangarattahistoricmotorshowandflyin.com.
