Noosa Beach Classic Car Club
The year was 1988 and Noosa, particularly Hastings Street, was going through a bad period in business due to a general downturn in investment and a slump in the stock market, not to mention, NO BEACH! There were 22 empty shops in Hastings Street and the general feeling from the traders was gloomy, so it was decided to have a “Beach Party”.
A beach was created in Hastings Street by means of 10 tip-truck loads of sand, as there was none on the beach at the time. All sorts of ideas for entertainment were canvassed, one of them being a Street Parade with expo stilt walkers and a car show. Thus the 1st “Car Classic” was born.
The number of cars was not big, but the show was a great hit, with a 1905 Renault, 1924 Bentley, 1926 Salmson racecar, 1954 D type Jaguar Replica, 1958 Goggomobile Dart, 1956 Mercedes Benz Gullwing, 1926 Mercedes Benz 540K, 1967 Mercedes Benz 250SL Roadster, 1926 Austin 7 Boat-tail, 1938 Jaguar SS100, 1904 Rambler Single Cylinder, 1963 Lynx Race Car, 1935 Porsche Cabriolet, Lola Le Mans Race Car, Ciacattolo Group A, Cobra Replica, 1934 Ford Coupe, Dick Johnson’s Ford Sierra Race car, and a replica of a 1886 Benz Patent Motor wagon (This was one of eleven built by Mercedes Benz’s apprentices at Stuttgart Germany)
Only 10% of Lions Park was used and featured a “hospitality tent” with complimentary champagne, orange juice, beer and soft drink for the exhibitors. There was a $1 admission fee for the public and no charge for the exhibitors.
The 1st “Classic Car Show” was a huge success and the number of cars grew rapidly each year, 47 in the 2nd year; 120 in the 3rd and now nearly 300 cars are on show.
In 2001 “The Marque of the Year” was introduced. These have been:
2001 Jaguar
2002 Ferrari
2003 Mercedes Benz
2004 Porsche
2005 Lamborghini
2006 Corvette
2007 Aston Martin
2008 Maserati
2009 Bristol
2010 Alfa Romeo
2011 M.G.
The “Noosa Beach Classic Car Show” has grown to be a Premier Car Event attracting exhibitors from far & wide.
In 1998 “The Inaugural Historic Noosa Hill Climb” organized by The Historic Racing Club of Qld, in conjunction with the Noosa Beach Classic Car Club, roared up “The Hill” at Gyndier Drive on the 21st & 22nd of November.
Since then, this event has also established itself as one of the elite Hill Climbs in Queensland, also attracting competitors from far and wide.
Noosa Beach Classic Car Club has donated in excess of $140,000 over the years to worthy charities and needy causes.
- Category:
- Community organization