Saturday, March 17, 2018

Shannon's Classic Car Show 18 March 2018


Following on from the successful move to Ascot Racecourse in 2017, the Shannon's Classic Car Show returned to Ascot in 2018. Because I had been the principal organizer of the 2017 I was nominated by the Council of Motoring Clubs committee to organize this year's show. For a number of reasons I ended up organizing the show basically single handed. Paul Blank of Automotive Event Management (and SIVA) provided invaluable support with the maps, space planning and marking out. http://www.classicrally.com.au/

In 2017 we struggled to gain any traction with the media. There was only a single article in The West Australian the Saturday before the show. Lack of coverage and the threat of thunderstorms on the Sunday conspired to drive both exhibitors and visitors away.  The show only barely covered its costs.

This year we managed to attract a significant amount of media attention. Kalamunda Community Radio KCR 102.5 FM invited me to speak on their 'Round the Bend' classic motoring show (Saturday mornings at 9.30am) on two occasions. They also ran regular promotional spots for the show and, even more importantly, attended and broadcast their Sunday program from the show itself. https://www.kcr-fm.org.au/

Curtin Radio 100.1 FM also ran regular promotional spots for the show.  In exchange, we included a flyer for the Curtin Radio Classic Car Spectacular in the program flyer. https://curtinfm.com.au/

Have A Go News, a newspaper for senior citizens featured an article on the show as well as the flyer and an online banner. https://www.haveagonews.com.au/


The Southern Gazette, part of the Community News Group, ran a local interest story about Reg Blewett's collection of Model A Fords, attending the show as part of the 90th anniversary celebrations put on by the Model A Ford Club. This was a front page feature which undoubtedly helped us promote the show. https://www.communitynews.com.au/southern-gazette/?select-publication=19



Channel Seven's Today Tonight current affairs show probably picked up the story from Southern Gazette and asked to do a feature. It was a really well put together segment and ran in prime time on Friday 16th March and did no end of good for the show. I have been stopped by people on the street who recognize me from the feature. I now have a catchphrase, "No shed is ever big enough."




You can watch the feature on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TodayTonight/videos/1734511463254969/

On Saturday 17th March The West Australian motoring section ran a story by motoring editor Alex Forrest which covered the show. https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/motoring/time-for-big-0-celebrations-ng-b88769920z


By good fortune the weather on the 18th was glorious - you couldn't have asked for better car show weather. We had a record attendance by 66 motoring clubs, showcasing slightly under 1000 cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles.  Approximately 8500 people filed through the show - another record. This year we were successful in our fund raising, turning a real profit for the first time in almost a decade.  It was a very satisfying outcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/1896150347373925/

My photographs of day are here: https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2018/03/shannons-classic-car-show-2018.html

 

Sunday, February 18, 2018

1951 Tatraplan review in Motor Manual


Australian Monthly Motor Manual was a technical magazine from the 1940s through to the 60s. Occasionally, new vehicles were reviewed or premiered, as with this February 1951 edition, which announced the imminent arrival of the Tatraplan on the Australian market. One Tatraplan was displayed at the Melbourne Motor Show that year, but the expected vehicles were delayed and did not arrive until late in 1952. It is believed that 12 Tatraplans were shipped to Australia. By the time they had arrived the Tatraplan had stopped production, which did nothing to encourage sales. As noted in the Motor Manual below, the Tatraplan was quite expensive at 1475 pounds (in Melbourne. It was 25 pounds cheaper in Sydney). At least one of the Tatraplans made it to Perth, but it's certain that it went east in the 1990s as a restoration project. My Tatraplan was one of the original 12 cars and lived most of its life in Melbourne.



For more of Tatra posts check out my dedicated Tatra blog: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/