Blistering heat didn’t stop an unforgettable day at the Lardner Heritage Vehicle Display, where the buzz of engines and the blinding gleam of chrome connected a regional community and generations of truckies.
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The event was an unexpected triumph, despite the scorching heat. Over the course of two days, around 1,700 people came together to celebrate their love of trucks.
Though 145 big rigs made an appearance at the show, they weren’t the only machines set up for display.
Moving machines of all kinds were there to satisfy all kinds of interests, including 39 cars, 60 stationery engines, 27 tractors, six steamers, three boats and seven motorbikes.
Several vehicles, freshly restored and eager to make their first public appearance, garnered special attention.
Event organiser Peter Farley says 177 people attended a dinner and auction on Saturday night too.
“The whole day is pretty special; on the Saturday night everyone catches up and has a good yarn,” he says.
“We had so much at the display, there’s too many to single out, like the plastic model trucks, and the remote-controlled ones too, it was so great.”
For Peter and the team, the weekend is a great opportunity to learn about Australia’s transport history and watch old machines run again, alongside the people who had once operated them.
“It’s satisfying to run an event and look into the past,” he says. “A lot of people that come are ex-truckies, now in their 80s or 90s, so now they get to catch up and get a buzz out of it all.”
The Heritage Vehicle Display also means a lot to the local community bringing residents together and showcasing businesses.
The community involvement was evident in many ways, from the local cricket club handling the parking, to catering and gaining the sponsorship and support from the Community bank Drouin & District and Dixon Transport Insurance.
While the Heritage Display turned a spotlight on some classic machinery, it was also a tribute to Australia’s past and Lardner’s community spirit.
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