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Planning for Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In well underway

The next Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In will be on April 27, 2025

Wangaratta Chronicle

9th Dec 2024

Updated, October 29, 2025

PLANS for the fifth biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In to be held on Sunday the April 27, 2025, are well underway.

The organisational 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 vehicle buffs could relate to and to 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 Inn 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.

A passion for flight and history

Two renowned aviators play a key role at the Wangaratta Motor Show & Fly-In

Wangaratta Chronicle

February 21, 2025

Updated, October 29, 2025

DOUG Hamilton and Lou Harper of Precision Airmotive based at Wangaratta Airport, have been a driving force in the development of the biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In since 2017, when the event was relocated to the airport to incorporate vintage aircraft in the already impressive ground line-up.

They have both held key positions on the organising committee in an effort to share their passion of flight and historic aircraft preservation.

Doug and Lou have organised and coordinated the fly-in section of the Wangaratta Motor Show, inviting aircraft enthusiasts from near and afar to be a part of the display.

Lou has carried out the roles of committee secretary and treasurer for numerous events and Doug has been deputy chairman for all three past events held at the airport.

Born in Wangaratta and raised on a tobacco farm in Markwood, Doug became intrigued with planes and flight at an early age.

He had an uncle who owned a Tiger Moth that fascinated him and probably sowed the seed to fly.

As a youngster he made and flew model aircraft as a hobby.

At the age of 20, Doug obtained his pilot’s licence at the old Wangaratta Airport.

He had started a business as an earthmoving contractor, which meant at times he had to travel long distances between work and home.

It became much quicker to fly than drive and was also much more enjoyable.

Doug’s initial interest in aircraft restoration was inspired by the purchase of an airplane that was in storage at Airworld, a 1941 Harvard, which was reasonably complete.

He bought that plane from Wangaratta council and restored it in his hangar on his farm at Whorouly.

He still owns it and it remains one of his favourites.

While continuing to operate his earthmoving business, Doug began to collect and restore various aircraft which added to his collection.

He was encouraged by Joe Drage, who he came to know well with the Airworld connection.

Doug and Lou took over the aircraft restoration hanger at the airport about 10 years ago and since then have run the business which employs a team of people who deal with all aspects of aircraft restoration.

“We sometimes restore aircraft for museums, which are usually for static display, but more often fully airworthy planes for private collectors in Australia and overseas,” Doug said.

He has lost count of the number of different planes that he has flown.

“I have been incredibly lucky to have flown some amazing aeroplanes, from relatively modern Cessnas to exotic and rare warbirds such as Spitfires, Kitty Hawks, Boomerangs and Mustangs, that I would never have believed as a youngster I would ever get to sit in let alone fly."

“Each of these different aircraft presented its own unique challenges as a pilot."

“The first V12 that I flew was a Spitfire, it was quite a daunting experience as the aircraft was very valuable both in dollar and historical terms."

"Flying any of these planes is a challenge, which is what keeps me interested.”

Some of the planes that will be on display at this year's fly-In include aircraft already housed in the Precision hangar such as a P51 Mustang, two Pilatus PC9s (ex RAAF Roulettes), a Beech 18, Harvard, Focke Wulf 190, Grumman Goose, plus a variety of visiting warbird, antique and historic aircraft showcasing an era from the late 1920s through to modern planes.

The Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In will be held on Sunday, April 27 at Wangaratta Airport from 9am to 3pm.

Also on display will be a vast array of historic trucks, tractors, fire engines and ambulances, veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, motorcycles, stationary engines and more. The Wangaratta Lions Club will provide catering and a jumping castle will keep the children entertained.

If you have an historic vehicle of any description and would like to participate in the display contact Martin Ziermann on 0456 039 902 or Steve Doig on 0432 298 127.

A family obsession with Holden cars

Classic cars will be a key part of the he Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In on April 27

Wangaratta Chronicle

March 7, 2025

Updated, October 28, 2025

KEN Essenhigh has had an obsession with Holden cars since his childhood and his son Brent and grandchildren Liam and Harrison follow in his footsteps.

Born in 1954 at the Benalla private hospital, Ken was raised in Swanpool and later moved to Docker where his father ran a dairy farm.

His first driving experience was on the farm in his father’s HD Holden station wagon, where he used the manual beside him on the bench seat to show him how to work the gears.

Then he was given a 1938 Morris 1300 Commercial truck to use as a farm vehicle to further hone his driving skills.

Ken bought his first Holden when he was 17 years of age.

It was a white HT Holden ute bought from Don Telford, a local painter from Wangaratta.

Ken’s father bought it for him for $1500 and Ken paid him $15 a week until the loan was paid out.

The HT served him well for the next four years until the engine blew up.

Instead of repairing the Holden, Ken chose to buy an XT Falcon V8.

This proved to be the worst car he has ever bought and put him off Fords for life.

After the Falcon, Ken owned several Celicas during the mid-1980s.

The purchase of his next car, a Commodore VH SLE V8, was inspired by the birth of his son Brent, as it was impossible for his wife Leanne to place and secure a baby bassinette into a two door Celica.

Ken graduated from Wangaratta Technical School in 1970.

He applied for two Jobs, one with Telecom the other with the SEC.

He started as an SEC linesman on January 18, 1971 and retired on January 18, 2016 after 45 years of service.

Ken still works as a licenced electrical inspector to feed his Holden obsession and to keep his cars going.

He has owned more than 30 different Holdens over the last 45 years.

With the exception of the HR/HD range, Ken has owned one of every model Holden produced and has always had a Holden ute.

He has restored many of the Holdens in his collection and has amassed an abundance of knowledge about Holden components and mechanical systems.

His participation in Wangaratta Speedway events prompted much of his mechanical expertise as engine rebuilds became a standard task for the competition of racing.

Ken’s mechanical insights were boosted by his old mates Ken Simmons and John Blackwell, old school mechanics who showed Ken the tricks of the trade.

Ken is far from a purist when it comes to vehicle restoration.

He has modified all of his Holdens by fitting Tasman or Simonds wheels and enhancing engine, steering and braking systems to create a safer car.

In 2000, Ken and several other Holden enthusiasts created the Wangaratta Early Holden Car Club Inc to share their passion with likeminded enthusiasts.

The club was formed with 25 initial members which has grown to around 75 members to date.

Monthly meetings and club runs to places of interest form the activities for members.

Ken loves to have a chat and to share his knowledge and passion for Holden cars as well as to hear the stories from those that are inspired by seeing his cars.

His commitment to the biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In has seen him serve on each of the organising committees for the past eight years.

“It’s a great chance for the family to get together and see something different from yesteryear," Ken said.

"We have organised a great display of historic vehicles, trucks, tractors, fire engines, ambulances, stationary engines, planes, motorbikes and more.”

The Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In is held on Sunday, 27 April at the Wangaratta Airport on Greta Road.

If you wish to be a part of the display with your Historic Vehicle ring Martin Ziermann on 0456 039 892 or Steve Doig on 0423 298 127.

Geoff Lee: A lifetime connection with Fergie tractors

A passionate Fergie fan plays a key role in The Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In

Wangaratta Chronicle

March 28, 2025

Updated, October 28, 2025

THE Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In Event is created by many dedicated individuals who have a desire to share their interests and passion with others.

From trucks to tractors, fire engines to ambulances, veteran to vintage, classic to modern, motorbikes to military, stationary engines to aircraft all are welcome to participate.

Geoff Lee of Molyullah is one individual who has shared his passion for the Fergie tractors within our region for decades and his presence at the upcoming show next month is truly appreciated.

Geoff was born in 1942 at Benalla Bush Nursing Hospital.

His parents were farmers who ran a small hilly property of 300 acres in Samaria.

As a child Geoff went to Samaria Primary School No893 and he often rode a horse the 5kms to school and back.

In 1948 his father could afford to buy a small Fergie tractor TEA20 for 600 pounds, which modernised the horse and collar farming practise for the Lee family forever.

Geoff had his first experience of driving this Fergie tractor on the farm at six years of age, when he and his father were dredging a dam on the property.

As he was of small frame at six, Geoff had to stand on the clutch pedal to operate the tractor, whilst listening to his father's instructions to move forward and back.

After this experience he became more skilled and confident to drive the tractor for a variety of tasks around the farm.

Geoff left Benalla Tech/High School at age 14 and a half to help his father build their new house on the farm in Samaria.

Soon after, Geoff began working in the timber industry, felling timber, cutting up fence posts and timber yard rails for application in rural fencing and cattle yard construction.

As a young adult he also ran a market garden in Benalla in the 1960s growing pumpkins, potatoes and lettuce, then transporting it to the Vic Market in Melbourne himself.

During this time the Fergie tractors became integral to cultivating and harvesting his crops and he owned several, including a petrol 35 and a diesel 35 and a 2-cylinder John Deere that he used for pumping and harrowing.

For his rural contracting work, Geoff has owned up to eight tractors to undertake the variety of tasks needed to sew and harvest crops to clearing paddocks, building and repairing fences as well as supplying fire wood to clients.

He serviced and repaired all of his machinery, including the tractors, chainsaws, and pumps and farming appliances, gaining insight through experience and determination rather than formal training.

Geoff has been self-employed for all of his working life and has taken only two sick days in his whole life.

He has three children - Mark, Dianne and Kerry - who have supported Geoff in his Fergie tractor restorations.

His first tractor restoration was a little grey Fergie tractor that had a cement mixer attached to the PTO.

It was owned by one of his neighbours in Molyullah and had been parked in a shed and forgotten.

He rebuilt the engine, resprayed it grey and refurbished the moving parts to make it shine like a new tractor.

Geoff joined the Harry Ferguson Tractor Club in 2000 and has taken part in many Tractor Treks organised by himself and other members of the club.

The extensive treks have taken Geoff from Cook Town to Cape York, from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Alice Springs in South Australia along the Telegraph Track and a tour of Tasmania.

Geoff has been involved in the Molyullah Sports Day at the Molyullah Recreation Reserve since he was a child.

As an event it has been running for 124 years on Easter Monday.

“We used to run a Molyullah Gift with five or six bookies on hand to take bets," he said.

"The horse racing track was over the back of the sports ground on private property now and I remember us standing there with top hats on watching the races.”

Geoff was a regular competitor in the horse events at the sports day and has organised the tractor display for decades.

He joined the committee of management of the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In after being encouraged by Richie Gardner and Mick Daws, the co-founders of the event, to bring along his extensive collection of Fergie tractors to display.

“It is a great opportunity for young folk to see how tractors were made and how they evolved to change the face of farming and working on the land," Geoff said.

"The historic motor show and fly in is a great day for the family and exhibitors.

"I am proud to be a part of this event and I look forward to many more.”

The Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In will be held at the Wangaratta Airport on Sunday, 27 April commencing at 9am for members of the public.

If you have an historic vehicle and wish to be a part of the display contact Martin Ziermann on 0456 039 892 or Steve Doig on 0423 298 127 to register your vehicle.

Don James: From horse and wagon to trucks

James family 1941 Ford 3 ton truck will be at the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In

Wangaratta Chronicle

April 4, 2025

Updated, October 29, 2025

DON James has had a variety of different careers contributing to the economy of Wangaratta and surrounds and has loved them all.

He developed a passion for trucks, Holden cars and motorbikes as part of his journey to adulthood and he likes nothing more than to share his collection of treasures with others.

He has a strong belief that you should always give back to the community that you belong to, a philosophy which was instilled by his father who served in Borneo with the 2/5 Commando Squadron during World War Two.

His father insisted that all members of the family become blood donors and Don has recorded 260 donations.

This same spirit has motivated him to become an integral member of the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In organisational committee over the past 10 years.

Don was born at Wangaratta Hospital with his twin brother David in 1953.

His parents, Jack and Jean, ran a sheep and wheat farm in Boweya, which was bought by Jack as a settlement block after his return from the Second World War.

Growing up on the farm with his four siblings - Jan, Murray, David and Noel - meant that Don was part of the family team, working alongside his father harvesting crops and helping out in the sheering sheds.

As teenagers, Don and his brothers took on the sheering themselves and operated the machinery for planting and harvesting the wheat and oat crops.

The family lived through the transition from horse drawn to machinery propelled farm equipment.

In 1946, Don’s father and his Uncle Alan bought a 1941 Ford 3 ton truck at a war surplus disposal auction at Bandiana.

The truck replaced the wagon and horse team which had previously carried their farm produce.

The truck was in great demand carting loads of bagged wheat and oats from district farms to the St James and Devenish rail siding silos each harvest time.

In 1964 the Ford truck was sold to a neighbour, Bert Martin, after his father had purchased a larger S Model Bedford truck to keep up with the demand.

After 45 years of sitting in Bert’s shed, Don and his siblings approached Bert’s son to buy back the 1941 Ford truck.

Ian Martin generously gifted the truck back to the James family, who are in the process of restoring the truck to its former glory.

After Don’s father had purchased a Bedford truck to ship the wool from the farm to another transport provider, Don and his older brother Murray decided to take the bales to South Melbourne themselves.

Then they began to cart sheep to the saleyards in the stock crate for locals and other farms from as far away as Timboon and the hills of Corryong.

From this enterprise they eventually bought a Mercedes Benz semi-trailer and began to work in the transport industry, transporting livestock, hay and other goods as required.

They engaged in this business for some 15 years, after which Don and his family moved from Boweya to Wangaratta and Don began working on the duplication of the Hume Freeway driving a water tanker.

He was back doing what he loved and that was driving trucks.

This time he was given a Big Mack truck, which was strong, powerful and reliable.

Once the freeway work in the area had been completed, Don worked behind the counter at Wangaratta Saw and Lawnmower in Faithful Street for six years.

The owner then moved to premises in Tone Road and shortly after Don was offered the opportunity to buy the business.

He continued to run it for the next 10 years with a staff of five employees.

In 2009, Don sold the business and began a new career as a sales rep for a company in Melbourne that sold mower parts.

After six years as a sales rep, Don had earned the right to retire from full time work and made the time to devote himself to his extended family.

Don and his wife Lyne have three children - Alison, Amanda and Scott - and seven grandchildren.

The James family 1941 Ford 3 ton truck will be on display at the Wangaratta Historic Motor to be held on Sunday, 27 April commencing at 9am.

Entry for adults is $25 and children under 15 are free.

A huge display of trucks, tractors, fire engines, ambulances, veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, motorbikes, military vehicles, stationary engines and aircraft will keep the family engaged for hours.

The Lions Club of Wangaratta are catering for the event along with several street traders offering a variety of food a drink options.

Ron Chapman: preserving history

Warby Engine Club displays will be at the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In

Wangaratta Chronicle

April 11, 2025

Updated, October 29, 2025

RON Chapman has been a member of the Warby Engine Club for the past 20 years and has amassed an eclectic collection of rare tractors, railway trikes and fire trucks.

Ron was born in Geelong in 1957 to Jack and Irene Chapman who ran a dry grocers store selling biscuits, flour and cooking ingredients.

He was the youngest of seven children.

Ron left school at 16 to become an apprentice sheet metal worker at J.C. Taylors in Geelong and stayed with the company for over a decade.

In 1976, Ron married Elizabeth and in the early nineties the collapse of the Pyramid Building Society forced the Taylors, his employer, into receivership.

As a consequence, Ron and Elizabeth moved to Coffs Harbour, so that he could continue to work at his trade.

Ron’s first tractor restoration was completed while living in Coffs Harbour.

He was gifted a Howard 2000 by his father.

The problem was that the clutch did not function and repairing it was not an easy task.

As luck would have it a repair shop called Geriatric Tractors was nearby and Ron was able to source the parts and be given advice from an expert as to how to complete the repair.

Ron and Elizabeth moved to Wangaratta in 1999 to be closer to their families in Geelong.

They purchased a property that had an established dog and cat kennel business and began operating Kelly Country Pet Resort.

Ron also held part-time positions at Nortons Plumbing and at OP Industries, fabricating sheet metal stainless steel bins and air conditioning units.

His son David and his grandchildren Lucas and Mathew share his obsession with engines and rare machinery.

Since joining the Warby Engine Club, Ron has participated in numerous club displays at the Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Mansfield shows and the Beechworth Drive Back In Time event.

He has held the positions of president and vice-president and performed the duties associated with those roles, conducting meetings and organising events for members.

The 45 year old club currently has 58 members and is one of the oldest engine clubs in Australia.

Ron’s involvement with the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show committee was inspired by Richie Gardner and Mick Daws, the co-founders of the event, who approached the Warby Engine Club to become part of the group in 2014.

“I thought that it was an excellent idea to include the local clubs who wanted to be involved in the motor show to provide an event where members could mix and interact,” he said.

Ron is also proud of the contribution that the event has made to the local community, with proceeds from the Saturday night auction and the Sunday display being donated to individuals suffering hardship and to local health and wellbeing institutions to help make a difference.

Part of the Chapman historic machinery treasure trove will be on display at the Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In to be held at the Wangaratta Airport on Sunday, 27 April commencing at 9am.

Entry for adults is $25 and children under 15 are free.

A huge display of trucks, tractors, fire engines, ambulances, veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, motorbikes, military vehicles, stationary engines and Aircraft will keep the family engaged for hours.

The Lions Club of Wangaratta is catering for the event along with several street traders offering a variety of food a drink options.

The 5th biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In charity auction

Charity auction and dinner a highlight of historic vehicle and fly in event

Wangaratta Chronicle

April 17, 2025

Updated, October 29, 2025

THE biennial Wangaratta Historic Motor Show & Fly In has become one of the major events of the North East region.

It will be held on Sunday, 27 April at Wangaratta Airport from 9am to 3pm featuring a display of a vast array of historic trucks, tractors, fire engines and ambulances, veteran, vintage and classic vehicles, motorcycles, stationary engines and more.

Some of the planes that will be on display at this year's event include aircraft from the Precision Airmotive hangar including a P51 Mustang, 2xPilatus PC9s (ex RAAF Roulettes), a Beech 18, Harvard, Focke Wulf 190, Grumman Goose, plus a variety of visiting warbird, antique and historic aircraft showcasing an era from the late 1920s through to modern planes.

The Wangaratta Lions Club will provide the catering and a jumping castle will keep the children entertained.

If you have an historic vehicle of any description and would like to participate in the display contact Martin Ziermann on 0456 039 902 or Steve Doig on 0432 298 127.

On the Saturday evening before the event, the organising committee will hold a charity auction in the terminal building at Wangaratta Airport.

Dean Rees will conduct the auction of donated goods from business owners of Wangaratta and surrounds.

The Saturday evening dinner and auction is open to all exhibitors and members of the public.

Guest speaker will be Stephen O’Hare who will talk about his jet powered truck ‘Waltzing Matilda’.

Bookings are essential, please ring 0456 039 892.

After the 2021 show, the organising committee donated $5000 to the Wangaratta public hospital and a further $5000 donation to the Peter MacCallum Cancer institute in Melbourne.

From the 2023 event the organising committee made significant local donations supporting the Wangaratta hospital by purchasing Vital Signs Monitors to the value of $7200.

The second charity, the Wangaratta Area Suicide Prevention Group, was awarded $2000 to support its work in raising awareness of mental health in our area with the ‘Blue Tree’ Program.

This year the organising committee will target several local charities to help individuals and groups in our community.