Ex-Naracoorte local Cindy Turnbow, pictured with her 1926 Overland, really got into the "spirit of the twenties" dressing up each day of the rally. She now resides in Ballarat.
Cindy Turnbow poses with some of the Vintage Drivers Club vehicles in her elaborate twenties get-up. She took home the best dressed lady at the Bay to Birdwood on September 30.
A dapper David Couper gets ready for the next leg in his Italian 1926 Lancialambda. He restored it mostly himself and has owned it for 28 years. Mr Couper took home second prize for best dressed gentleman in the Bay to Birdwood on September 30 and comes from Montrose, 35km east of Melboune.
Lance (left) and Toni Hingston travelled from Tasmania to participate in the rally with their 1930 Singer Junior. They have been the proud owners for the last 44 years and undertook the restoration themselves. The car has done three long rallies - one 40 years ago and two this year but "goes well", Mr Hingston said.
Tasmanians Lawrie and Maree Bellchambers cruised into town in their 1930 Model A Ford Sports Coupe. They have owned the vehicle for eight years. The couple enjoyed their short stay in Naracoorte and wished they could have spent more time here.
The Vintage Car Club line up their vehicles in Naracoorte before hitting the road to Horsham last week. About 30 cars participated in the rally. Unfortunately three had to pull out before the Naracoorte leg due to breakdowns, one being a 1928 Chevrolet which had never been restored.
Elly (left) and Philip Richardson came all the way from Tasmania to participate in the rally with their 1930 Model A Ford Sports Coupe. It was purchased about five years ago and was already restored. "It has held up well so far (during this rally) with no mechanical problems at this stage," Mr Richardson said. "It has never done a trip this big but hasn't missed a beat yet."
Steven and Toni Bishop, from Tasmania, with their 1928 Model A Ford Roadster. The couple restored the vehicle themselves but made very few modifications and have been the proud owners for 20 years. "We all have our problems," Mr Bishop said when the Herald asked how it was holding up during the rally.
THIRTY vintage cars rolled stylishly into Naracoorte last week as part of the Vintage Drivers Club's most recent event.
Aptly named the Spirit of the Twenties, the rally featured cars predominantly from the 1920s and early 30s.
The group of about 70 drivers and co-drivers hit the road on September 22 from Melbourne for a two-week cruise through parts of Victoria and SA.
Rally director Daryl McMahon said each vehicle would have travelled almost 3000km while tackling several reliability trials including an observation run and a hill climb.
The leg from Naracoorte to Horsham was an economy run designed to determine actual mileage economy and fuel usage.
With people from all over Victoria, Gippsland, Ballarat and even four couples from Tasmania, the crew enjoyed taking in the sights during their brief stay in Naracoorte.
Naracoorte Historic Vehicle Club hosted a dinner for the members and most had a chance to check out the Naracoorte Caves and, of course, the local car club's museum.
"For us the important thing is supporting the local car and service clubs along the way," Mr McMahon said.
"We have been amazed with the hospitality of all the country car clubs who have gone out of their way to help us."
Naracoorte club secretary Daphne Burford said it "was an absolute pleasure to host the Vintage Drivers Club.
"It is great for Naracoorte to be able to have groups like this come and we organise something similar about four times a year."
