By Tyler Wright
The Monbulk Car Show returned with a bang this year, with the event on the town’s main street on Sunday 26 March the most successful yet.
Monbulk Car Show committee member and Monbulk Fire Brigade 2nd lieutenant Glenn Hickingbotham said an estimated 4,000 people attended the show in 2023.
“Main street was packed, which is great to see…we were at capacity…our capacity is around 330, 340 cars,” Mr Hickingbotham said.
“Unfortunately, we can’t fit anymore in due to the size of our main street but we do want to keep the show at the main street due to the support for local traders and community to come together.”
The local CFA’s biggest annual fundraiser, the show saw bold Holdens, Chevvys and McLaren sports cars and modern customs lining Main Road and part of Mount Pleasant Road, a CFA demonstration and visits from revheads from around Victoria, with Macclesfield Fire Brigade members also volunteering from 6am to 4pm on the day.
“We decided to do a little competition, when we were doing presentation, we called to ask people to call out where they came from, and we’ll give [the prize] to the furthest distance; the furthest one was from a small town near Sale,” Mr Hickingbotham said.
“There are locals, but there are a hell of a lot of people that come out of the area…I heard people saying they were driving off through Belgrave at the end, and there was a stream of classic cars, show cars heading out.
“That was incredible. That’s a long way to come for our little show.”
Trophies were also handed out for Best Panel and Paint, Best Original Restoration, Best Pre 1980 Vehicle and Best Post 1980 Vehicle.
Funds from the event’s entry fees are still being tallied, with the cash injection set to go towards general equipment for the Monbulk Fire Brigade, as well as a rescue support vehicle replacement, Mr Hickingbotham said.
“Volunteer fire brigades do still have to raise money to do different things, It’s not all covered by government,” he said.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to get heavily involved with the car show and built it to what it is now.”
The Monbulk Car Show raised $22,000 for firefighters in 2022.
