Maree Randall stands with her 1958 Beetle in front of Old Parliament house after driving in the Centenary Vintage Car Rally. Photo: Jay Cronan
About 400 rare cars with a combined value of more than $5 million converged on Old Parliament House on Sunday to mark the conclusion of the National Trust of Canberra centenary rally.
More than two years in the making and with entrants from across the continent, the event began at Canberra's ''port'', Jervis Bay, on Saturday morning before the cavalcade wound its way over the mountains, via Nowra, Nerriga, Tarago and Bungendore, and into the ACT later in the day.
The vehicles cruised down Northbourne Avenue and across Kings Avenue Bridge on Sunday morning before coming to a halt opposite Old Parliament House.
The rally was just one of the highlights of a weekend that celebrated Canberra's enduring love affair with the motor car.
Another outstanding success was the ''Spin Saturday Evening'' at the TAMS depot in Fyshwick.
While the Petrolsexuals, a band formed for the occasion by former Hunters and Collectors lead singer Mark Seymour, were the headline attraction, they faced stiff competition.
SpinWear, a display of automotive-inspired fashion created by three designers, alternated between the elegant, the glamorous and the downright risque.
The Petrolsexuals took to the stage after a breathtaking performance of topless tumbling by two talented female trapeze artists.
Seymour was on top of his game and, with guest vocalist Felicity Urquhart, who travelled from Tamworth for the occasion, had the crowd laughing and clapping and stomping their feet in no time.
Earlier, there were demonstration roller derby matches, the Car Bar and films in a bus at the same venue.
The Museum of the Long Weekend, a tribute to Australia's caravanning heritage, packed in the visitors at Grevillea Park on Lake Burley Griffin.
More than 40 caravans - again, from across the country - told the story of the annual exodus from south to north, and from the inland to the coast.
Caravans and campervans were also well represented at the centenary rally ''show and shine'', which was visited by thousands of car lovers and the curious.
Rally director and National Trust ACT executive director Chris Wain, a long-time car nut whose garage houses a Lotus and a Maserati, came up with the idea two years ago in early discussions with then chief minister John Stanhope about possible centenary activities.
Because Canberra is the only major Australian capital city to be founded after the invention of the motor car, it has a road network that is second to none. This has, in turn, contributed to a love affair with the car, which has given the city one of the highest rates of classic car club membership in the country.
''John was keen for a heritage-themed event that would link Canberra with its traditional port, Jervis Bay,'' Mr Wain said. ''I had previous experience organising motorcycle rallies and the Bay to Birdwood. I also had a strong team behind me.''
Mr Wain said the event had come together well and that even though the number of entries had only reached 300 on Saturday morning, latecomers kept flooding in. ''We had about 410 special rally plates made and I don't think we have any left,'' he said, providing further proof of the rally's popularity.
Nick Nowak, who drove the oldest vehicle in the event - a 1912 Overland - said he had a great time.
''We got up very early on Saturday and drove out to Bungendore,'' he said. ''Nothing went wrong and I've enjoyed it very much.''
Mr Nowak said he was delighted the show and shine was being held at Old Parliament House, the recent home of Wheels, which has now been relocated to the Canberra Racecourse.
''This is where it [Wheels] needs to be,'' he said. ''It is the obvious venue for an event like this.''
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