By Parker McKenzie
A horde of vintage, classic and veteran cars and bikes will descend on Kalorama Memorial Reserve from all over Victoria on Sunday 5 March for the 65th Kalorama Rally.
One of Melbourne’s oldest motoring events, with the first Rally being held in 1956, it also raises funds for Kalorama CFA.
Organiser Paul Edgar said because of the milestone, vehicles of a particular era will be celebrated during the rally.
“We are trying to celebrate the very vehicles that attended in 1956,” he said.
“They were veteran cars, which were cars manufactured up until 1918 and vintage cars manufactured between 1919 and 1929. We are featuring those cars and they will be upfront and centre on the oval.”
Alongside the cars and motorbikes, there will also be a display of vintage fire pumps and agricultural machinery, a CFA kiosk and a variety of food and drinks.
Mr Edgar said he believes the Rally is the oldest running motor event in Victoria.
“It was originally the Kalorama Floral Society festival and the organisers decided they wanted to broaden the parameters, so they invited the Vintage Sports Car Club to attend,” he said.
“That’s where it started and it became the Kalorama Rally.”
The 2022 Rally featured around 230 cars, with the majority manufactured before World War II.
Mr Edgar said last year was well-attended by the motoring and local communities, but “not the best response” compared to other years.
“We had a very good response nonetheless,” he said.
“Believe the event is unique in the sense that it features vintage and veteran cars, not modern classics.
“The Halcyon days of vintage sports cars and motoring from the post-war era, that’s our unique selling point.”
The Kalorama Rally starts at 10am, with an entry cost of $10. Drivers under 25 in an eligible car and children under 16 are admitted free.
Kalorama Memorial Reserve is located on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. For more information on the Rally, visit facebook.com/KaloramaRally
