By KATH GANNAWAY
IF YOU love the sound of engines revving, or the glint of chrome, and, a great family day out, then you’re in luck.
Four significant motoring events over the next few weeks offer plenty of variety, whatever your preferred genre when it comes to cars, bikes, 4WDs and trucks.
Black Saturday Remembrance Cruise
This event at Healesville is the first to roll out, this Saturday 6 February.
While the emphasis is on commemoration of the Black Saturday Bushfires, and a display of resilience and remembrance, it is expressed through what has become a hugely supported car and bike cruise.
The event displays the strength of the Yarra Valley communities while raising money for the local CFAs who give their time to protect and serve local communities.
The cruise will depart the Lilydale Industrial car park at 3pm, travelling through some of the towns affected by the fires and conclude in Healesville railway precinct at 4pm for a remembrance ceremony at 5pm.
Organiser Stacey Kinsmore encouraged people to attend the remembrance ceremony, see the cars as they roll into the station and help fund-raise for the CFA.
Victorian 4WD Show at Wandin
The Victorian 4WD Show hosted by the Land Rover Owners Club of Victoria is next in line, on Sunday 21 February.
Billed as Australia’s largest outdoor 4WD event, it attracts a large number of visitors each year and provides a great opportunity to look and learn about the latest accessories, motor vehicles, campers and modifications available to four-wheel drivers.
The show is known for its great range of exhibitors and there is also a large representation of local 4WD clubs ready and willing to answer questions about 4WD clubs and enjoying your 4×4 safely.
Demonstrations in the grandstand arena and out in the field provide lots of excitement and the opportunity to see experienced 4Wdrivers testing their skill in a range of scenarios.
There are also lots of children’s activities including free train rides, a jumping castle and a giant slide.
The Victorian 4WD Show is held at Wandin Park Equestrian Centre, 305 Victoria Road, Wandin North.
Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show
This show is a grassroots, family-focused event that has grown extraordinarily over the past six or seven years.
Held on the third Wednesday evening of each month from October through to March, the atmosphere is relaxed and the pre-1985 cars and all-era bikes have that extra bit of shine as the setting sun reflects off the duco and chrome.
Gates open at 6pm, and in addition to row after row of magnificent motors, there are lots of local community groups providing great food and drink, lots of room for the kids and very often live music.
Organiser Cindy Redden-Vitale said in a previous interview with the Mail that her key goal was to get people into the valley to see how beautiful it was and inspire them to come back with their families.
The show raises thousands of dollars each year for the Royal Children’s Hospital and local organisations.
The next show is on Wednesday 17 February at the Wandin East Recreation Reserve, corner of Monbulk-Seville and Old Baker roads.
Mountain District Car and Bikes Show @ Healesville
The Mountain District Car and Bike Show is stepping up a notch with its 10th Anniversary Mega Show at the Don Road Sporting Complex in Healesville on Sunday 10 April.
Run by enthusiasts Jacqueline and Greg Sheppard, the show has become an annual pilgrimage for competitors and spectators from all around the Yarra Valley and beyond.
They have pulled out all stops to make this a special and spectacular display of hot roads, classic, custom and vintage cars, classic and custom bikes and trikes, utes, Chev/F-trucks and some that defy categorisation.
There’ll be trophies, prizes, trade alley and on stage, Jump N Jive and Itchy Fingers, will keep the music flowing, and there will be lots of affordable children’s entertainment.
As with the previous event, this show has raised thousands for local charities over the past decade, while providing a great day out for thousands of people – many of them attending in family groups.
Gates open to the public at 10am.
