COOL cars lined Marine Drive on Saturday 7 March as the Reflections Hot Rods Run Show and Shine event took over the Tea Gardens riverfront for the second year in a row.
Up to 128 cars, along with 31 stalls, brought out plenty of pedestrians to look over the many prides and joys of more than 200 entrants, who had come into Tea Gardens from all over Australia, the farthest being in from Berrimah, NT.
The Original Tea Gardens Ferry ran special half-hour tours of the river, on what happened to be a gorgeous day for it, while the bricks-and-mortar businesses along the riverfront benefitted greatly from the influx of human activity and interest.
Artists from the Galleries in the Garden brought out their works for a pop-up Art Mart, and mainstays like Tea Gardens Hotel, Tillermans Restaurant, and MeMa’s Bakery did perhaps their biggest day of business all year.
“It was impressive seeing the hot rods lined up and rolling down the road this morning,” said Tillermans’ Peter Hodges.
Green Paws’ dog show returned to the Tea Gardens riverfront, too, with many furry winners, including “waggiest tail”.
Among the throngs of onlookers during Saturday’s Show and Shine along Marine Drive, were plenty of people striking up conversations over their shared enthusiasm for big American cars, Australian relics of industries long-gone, or several uniquely detailed oddities.
Most are lovingly restored, and clearly worshipped, the evidence in the shiny, solid designs and paint jobs rolling down the street.
Both mornings (Saturday and Sunday) the Tea Gardens Lions ran the barbecue breakfasts for Hot Rodders staying at Hawks Nest Reflections caravan park, and the big presentation of choice awards was held at the Hawks Nest Golf Club Saturday night.
A massive auction was led by local real estate agent and auctioneer John Rumble, raising even more money for local causes – auction items revealed a definite auto sub-culture, with framed car factory photos, a Mr Horsepower hand-painted saw, or car maintenance kits worth hundreds.
All the auction items were donated, as the Hot Rods organisers did an excellent job rounding up sponsors for the second year of the event, and even the banners went for big bucks, along with the top prize of a three-night stay at The Surf Yamba.
Monies raised at the auction and raffle have been donated chiefly to the local Free Clinic Bus, but also, as a special thank-you to the Lions, an extra sum towards the Lions’ current off-leash dog park project in Hawks Nest.
“We have the oldest average demographic in Australia in Tea Gardens, many of whom appreciate the Free Clinic Bus Service for getting to medical appointments and visiting friends in hospitals,” said Jan Peeters, President of the Free Clinic Bus.
“Our 25 volunteer drivers, four co-ordinators, and five-days-a-week transfers could not run it without such support.”
Many of the Rodders are expected to stay throughout the week, ready to attend the local motor event, Motorfest, set for a massive showing of over 400 cars upon Hawks Nests’s Myall Park on Saturday 14 March.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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