LANCEFIELD Romsey Lions Club is gearing up for its annual car show and swap meet, bringing together motoring enthusiasts for a chance to enjoy some of Victoria’s finest classic cars.
Set for Sunday, the swap meet and car show will this year be at Clarkefield Recreation Reserve after moving from Romsey as a result of works to prepare the grounds for major sporting events.
The event has taken place every year since 2013, however there was a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, while last year’s event was affected by adverse weather.
Lancefield Romsey Lions Club member Ged McLaughlin said the group was excited to get the show back on the road at Clarkefield.
“We haven’t had one for a couple of years so it’s good to be back on again. The work they’ve done at Romsey [Park] means we can’t use it for the swap meet anymore … a couple of days ago I thought it looked like the MCG,” he said.
“They’ve put a lot of work into it so I can understand what they’re on about, and the other site where we go doesn’t give us enough space for a proper swap meet and car show, so that’s why we have taken it to Clarkefield.”
The show will feature more than 100 classic cars from Holden, Chevrolet, Ford, and other manufacturers, as well as about 30 members of the Renault Vintage Car Club who will use the event as part of their monthly drive.
Up to 200 stalls will also feature at the swap meet, giving visitors a chance to talk with enthusiasts and purchase hard-to-find parts.
Members of the Lions’ monthly arts and crafts market will also have a stall on the day, while food will be provided.
Mr McLaughlin said hosting the event at Clarkefield Recreation Reserve created difficulties with providing sufficient facilities, however the Lions Club were thankful for the support of partners like Bendigo Bank and Clarkefield Development Company.
“We do have issues because there’s no toilet facilities and there’s no power, so that means we do have a lot more expenses to hire toilets and generators,” he said.
“We’ve got support from the Bendigo Bank, they’ve granted us some funds to hire these things.
“We don’t know about the weather, but we have had up to 200 cars in the past, so we’re hoping somewhere within that range again this year.”
The swap meet and car show will be open from 8am to 2pm, with car entry for $15 and sites available for $20, while extra passengers and the general public can enter for $5 per person.
For more information, call the Lions Club on 0400 938 160.
