COOTAMUNDRA Antique Motor Club will celebrate its 30th anniversary this weekend with a trip to Jugiong.
Between 70 and 100 cars are expected to attend the run.
The Club, whose members are all antique car enthusiasts, formed in January 1980.
Demonstrating their commitment to their vehicles and all vehicles with a vintage motor under the hood, a number of Motor Club foundation members are still part of the organisation today, including Noel Ritchie, Gwen Livingstone, John Collins, Ken Frost and Brian and Joyce Richards.
Beginning with only a handful of members, the Cootamundra Antique Motor Club has grown to now boast more than 80 members.
Cars within the club currently include Holdens; VWs; Triumphs; Stidebalers; Fords including V8s, T and Model As; Rileys, Healey Daimler; a Jaguar and even an Amilcar.
The club plays an active role in the community, delivering for Meals on Wheels, and taking part in the Frank DeBritt Run which sees drivers take residents of the Cootamundra Nursing Home, Retirement Village and Day Care on day trips.
One of the clubs biggest events is the Wattle Time Rally, founded by Motor Club member the late Michael Livingstone, which brings many people to Cootamundra, who generally stay in town, eat at local cafes and restaurants and browse the shops, adding to Cootamundra’s economy.
The club also supports many parades, including the Christmas Parade and their cars can often be seen on display at town events, such as the recent Australia Day Breakfast in the Park.
The club often holds fundraisers, donating money to local charities.
All members love their cars and historic motoring in general and can often be seen chatting to community members about their vehicles when showing and the adventures they have had as a result of being an antique motor car enthusiast.
Local residents not involved with the Motor Club are welcome to head out to Jugiong tomorrow and help celebrate the event.
TOMORROW’S Cootamundra Antique Motor Club 30th birthday will be a
special occasion for foundation member and club captain Gwen Livingstone, with the celebration named in honour of her late
husband Michael, who was
heavily involved in the club since its inception in January 1980.
The Michael Livingstone Memorial Run is a tribute to Mr Livingstone, who had many
vehicles over the years, including a Model A Ford, Woodie, a fire engine and a Leyland P76.
Mr Livingstone’s enthusiasm saw him lead the Cootamundra Antique Motor Club on
numerous occassions in his Model A Ford Coupe during the early years of the club.
A car enthusiast through and through, Mr Livingstone helped establish car clubs in Young, Gundagai, Yass and Temora.
Members from these clubs, as well as members from Wagga, Goulburn, Narrandera, Grenfell, Cowra, Canberra and Kiama clubs are also expected to attend this weekend’s rally.
Mr Livingstone was
instrumental in seeing a number of national car rallies staged in Cootamundra and surrounding towns, bringing numerous
visitors to the area.
As well as cars, Mr Livingstone was passionate about Cootamundra, a town he was born and bred in.
In 1988 he was chairman of the committee for Cootamundra’s part in Australia’s bicentenary celebrations, where he offered to organise 300 historic vehicles to pass through Cootamundra on their bicentenary tour from Sydney to Melbourne.
In 1990 Mr and Mrs Livingstone travelled to the United States of America and drove a Model A Ford on loan from friends across the country, a trip Mrs Livingstone remembers fondly.
His commitment to the Motor Club also saw him help instigate the Wattle Time Rally and swap meets.
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