THERE’S been a slight rejig of vehicle judging categories for this year’s Leongatha Rotary Show ‘N’ Shine & Swap Meet, with the Leongatha Velodrome and surrounds expected to be at near capacity for the Sunday, March 16 event.
Attendees will be well catered for, with more food vendors this year, offering a variety of sweet and savoury options.
There’ll be 17 vehicle judging categories this time, ‘Best Japanese Car’ being a new section, while truck categories have been reduced from three to one.
The event is renowned for its high-quality judging, Chairman of the Show ‘N’ Shine committee Jim McNiven one of eight officials determining the winners,
He stressed the judges are all experienced in the type of vehicles they will be adjudicating on and it’s not just a matter of deciding which vehicle looks nice.
“That attracts people to want to get their cars judged,” Jim said.
“They want you to put the effort in and they let you know they appreciate it.”
People will be queuing well in advance of the gates opening to pick up a Swap Meet bargain, with that section of the event expected to be double the size it was last year.
Organisers have been busy handing out brochures at Swap Meets in the region, receiving positive feedback, many people declaring they’re keen to be part of the Leongatha selling action.
“If half of them that said, ‘Yeah I’ll be there’ actually come, we won’t have room for everybody,” Jim said, noting he expects the Swap Meet to be bigger than Ben Hur and for the show cars component of the day to be just as popular.
There is capacity for approximately 400 cars.
Anyone intending to leave before 1pm will be required to park in a separate area, with organisers ensuring vehicles on the oval are not moved during the event in order to keep attendees safe.
Emergency service representatives will add their vehicles to the day’s display, with the possibility the SES, ambulance, police and fire brigade will all be present, that dependent on operational requirements that arise.
Jim made it clear why the event won’t change too much this time, declaring “The formula has worked pretty well in the last few years.”
As well as being a great family occasion, the event is a major fundraiser for Leongatha Rotary Club, contributing to its local projects and other Rotary initiatives further afield, Jim stressing that the beauty of the organisation is that funds go where they are most needed.
“All profits raised end up where they’re meant to be,” he said, with Rotary’s volunteer structure enabling that to happen.
So, come and have a ball at an affordable price while you contribute to the cause.
Entry details:
Express entry is available for Swap Meet traders and show car exhibitors by visiting leongatharotary.org.au/show-n-shine and clicking on the express entry link.
Costs are just $20 for a swap meet trader, $10 for a show car and driver and $10 for each additional adult passenger.
It costs $5 to enter a show car for judging.
General admission is $10 for adults and free for children.
Swap Meet traders and food vendors enter via gate 1 only from 6am, show cars enter via gate 3 only from 7am, with general entry on foot via gate 2 from 7.30am.
For further information or inquiries please contact organisers via the Leongatha Rotary Club’s Facebook page or call Jim McNiven on 0418 559 119.