Maiden motor show may become annual

Oct. 22, 2012, midnight

ALL THAT GLITTERS: Megan Gibbs admires one of the 177 impeccably maintained vehicles on display at the weekend’s inaugural Riverina Motor Show.

TO THE unenlightened, they're little more than masses of metal that take you from A to B, but to the true believers, they are machines with souls.

And some of the district's most soulful vehicles from a 1930s Al Capone-era car to a swag of classic Aussie muscle cars were wheeled out for the inaugural Riverina Motor Show at Griffith Showgrounds on Saturday.

Close to 2000 visitors pored over the 177 masterpieces of metal on display at the event, run by Griffith East Rotary Club and supported by the Griffith Show Trust and the Griffith Custom and Classic Car Club.

Awards were handed out across 15 categories, headlined by Joe Sergi's gleaming purple 1968 Chev Impala convertible, which claimed the coveted "car of the show" title.

Chairman of the show's organising committee Denis Conroy said the event left little doubt that Griffith was a city serious about its vehicles.

"To get so many cars was fantastic and the feedback we had from exhibitors and guests was outstanding," Mr Conroy said.

"Griffith really wants this event and there are a lot of motor vehicle enthusiasts that drag out cars you didn't even realise they had because they don't bring them out very often.

"We are very keen to make this an annual event and maybe incorporate into a whole weekend and have more bikes or even trucks next year."

More than 10 classic XW/XY Ford GTHOs were taken out of mothballs for the show, along with a host of Toranas, Monaros and other classic Aussie muscle cars.

US makes were also well-represented, with Mustangs, Chevrolets, Dodge and Chryslers among the sea of vehicles.

Eight drag cars - including the snarling Gulf Western Oil car - were also on display at the show.

*** Show in pictures

RESULTS

Car of the show: 1968 Chev Impala convertible/Joe Sergi

Best ute: 1956 FJ Holden/Bill Cross

Best hotrod: 1934 Chev sedan/Gavin Gilbert

Best Ford: 1968 Mustang Coupe/Greg Walker

Best Dodge Chrysler: 1973 VJ ute/Mark Thornton

Best vintage: 1930 Willy's Knight/John Gardiner

Best European exotic: 1980 Porsche/Pino Di Fiore

Best unmodified original: 1951 Holden FX/Les and Nancy Smith