Classics at Cobargo is the only show of its kind on the Far South Coast. Photo: Supplied.
Next month lovers of classic cars, trucks, machinery and bikes will be heading to Cobargo for the Classics at Cobargo show.
The Far South Coast Classics Car Club takes turns with Cooma Car Club to host a classic car show every second year so that the region has an annual car show.
Cobargo’s Mel Britton is president of the Far South Coast Classics Car Club. She has been doing up cars and been involved in the car scene since she married her husband David 33 years ago.
Mrs Britton said Classics at Cobargo was the only car show on the Far South Coast. Others closed due to rising insurance costs and the amount of organisation involved. Those rising insurance costs led many shows to lift their entry fees to the point people stopped coming.
“That is why a lot of shows haven’t lasted,” Mrs Britton said. “We pay $700 to enter Summernats in Canberra and a lot of smaller car shows charge $25 or $40. It just doesn’t work. It drives people away.”
Car registration for Classics at Cobargo is free and spectators aged 17-plus pay just $5 to go to the show. Entry for 16-year-olds and under is free.
“It is better than nothing for charities and it has to be affordable,” Mrs Britton said. “People are seriously affected by cost-of-living pressures, so we want it to be affordable for everyone.”
Classics at Cobargo includes vintage tractors and trucks. Photo: Supplied.
The inaugural Classics at Cobargo in 2023 raised $14,000 for Cobargo Public School and Quaama Public School. Proceeds from this year’s event will go to Cobargo Scouts and Nardy House, a respite centre for adults and children with profound disabilities.
Holding Classics at Cobargo enabled the not-for-profit club to satisfy its bylaw to give back to the community.
“There were no other car shows anymore on the Far South Coast, so we got a few members together and went from there,” Mrs Britton said. “We had always wanted to do it and two years ago we got onto it.” Her husband was club president at the time.
Given the low entry fee and no registration fee, the show relies on club member volunteers and having “really good” sponsors to pay for the hire of the showground, insurance, radio advertising and promotional material such as posters.
Even more sponsors have come on board, so the 2025 show promises to be bigger and better.
Cars this year will range from modern, classics and muscle to vintage ones with wooden wheels, plus working and vintage trucks.
Classics at Cobargo will be held on 1 November. Photo: Supplied.
“We have so many families down here interested in trucks and machinery given they are farmers, so it creates something for everyone,” Mrs Britton said. “It would not be the same, just all cars. We try to mix it up.”
Entertainment on the day includes live music by local duo 3 Hours South, pony rides and free face painting. Goulburn artist Tony ‘Skid’ Marks will be painting murals and pin-striping freehand on cars.
There will be many food trucks, car-related trade stalls, antique dealers and a swap meet.
A range of awards will be presented at 2 pm. These include best modern car, car of the show, truck of the show and bike of the show. Mrs Britton said the award for best original car was based on the vehicle’s patina. “They are older and preserved rather than ‘cheque book’ ones that people have paid a lot to get done professionally.”
The Far South Coast Classics Car Club has 141 members from Batemans Bay to Eden and Cooma.
“We are a very social club and go on a run every three weeks,” Mrs Britton said. “It is good for the local economy and for men’s mental health, especially for the older men who don’t get out much and their car is everything to them.”
Classics at Cobargo will be held on Saturday 1 November, at Cobargo Showground. Entrants can bring their vehicles and engines from 6:30 to 9 am. Gates open to the public at 9:30 am. Awards will be presented at 2 pm.
