Alyssa Walker, The Buloke Times
The people who love cars are like a family, of sorts. “Once you’ve been bitten by the bug,” said Greg, “it stays with you for life.”
And for Greg, Leanne, and Andrew, this love of cars has been the driving factor in them deciding to host Charlton’s very own (and very first) Show ‘N’ Shine, coming up on April 29-30.
Ignition
The idea was sparked in November last year.
The Ford Coupe Club of Australia was holding its big meeting in Mildura – so of course Greg was there, as he “wouldn’t miss it for the world”.
He sat on the edge of his seat, as 30, 40, 50 of “all the Vic brands came rumbling on by, up the Calder Highway”.
(According to Leanne, Greg was also most definitely drooling over all the cars, but there were no other eyewitnesses there to corroborate that statement.)
It was there at Mildura that Greg bumped into the Ford Coupe AU Club’s president and got his details.
He was pumped at the idea of attending a Show ‘N’ Shine at Charlton.
Changing Gears
“Everything the club has done has always been at the same place,” Greg explained. “So they’re all excited to change gears, shake things up a bit and do something a little different. And we’ve got such unique facilities here at Charlton – why not use them? Let’s show everyone a bit of country hospitality, and bring all the old revheads out of the woodwork whilst we’re at it.”
As such, the movie “Love the Beast” – set to open the weekend, at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Rex – could not be more appropriate.
“Eric Bana is one of Australia’s most-loved film stars, but in “Love The Beast” we get a glimpse behind the Hollywood glamour to touch one man’s true passion, his lovingly restored Ford GT Falcon Coupe – AKA The Beast.
“In the spirit of celluloid classics such as “Grand Prix”, “Le Mans”, and “Mad Max”, “Love The Beast” is more than a film for car fanatics. Full of heart, “Love The Beast” is about the defining moments in life and about driving fast… really fast.”
Although, it’s hard to imagine anyone loving the Ford Coupe more than Greg does, with the way he lights up when he talks about them.
“One of a Kind”
“I reckon the Ford Coupe is one of the toughest looking cars ever built. It’s got this big body on it; and the look and the sound, they just scream tough; and, I mean, the feel when you sit behind the wheel?” Greg shook his head. “One of a kind.”
“Greg was always a Ford boy,” said Leanne, chiming in with a smile. “The Ford Coupe was his first love, and his first heartbreak. He had one that got stolen in Queensland back in the day, and he’s always felt a bit bereaved that it was taken from him before he could say goodbye.”
With 12 Ford Coupes set to attend Charlton’s Show ’N’ Shine, Greg won’t be the only one who falls in love with the car.
And the only thing that might be stolen is the Show itself, because it won’t just be the Coupes that are shining. There are going to be plenty of opportunities for the locals to show off their hometown, and “showcase a couple of brilliant things about our community as well,” as Leanne said.
“Blend It”
The $5 entry fee for the film will be fed right back into the town, for example, and the East Charlton Hotel will also be hosting “Blend-It” (a local band) at 8:30 p.m. that same day.
The raffle, barbecue, and refreshments provided on the Sunday (April 30) will all be taken care of by the Year 10 work experience crew.
And the Show ‘N’ Shine itself is also open for locals to register their own vehicles, and share their own love of cars.
Ten people have already stuck their hand up to enter, and with the 12 Ford Coupes also attending, it’s shaping up to be quite the turnout for the debut show.
The more the merrier though, as the saying goes, and the family of car-lovers are always happy to welcome new members into the fold. So for anyone who might be sitting on the fence about entering their own vehicles, it’s time to dust off the paintwork and share your passion with the world.
To register your car, phone 03 5491 1613, or email eastcharlton@gmail.com
In the Blood
“Once you get the smell of fumes in your blood, it’s just something that consumes you,” Greg said, laughing. “I’m just here trying to get people to show us what they’ve got.
“There’s this one bloke – lives in Charlton – has the most brilliant Plymouth Coupe, but because he never has an excuse to bring it out of the garage, no one would know he’s got it!”
“So that’s what we’re trying to do,” Leanne said. “As Greg said, we’re going to bring all the old revheads out of the woodwork.”
The Show ‘N’ Shine itself will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday at the Traveller’s Rest, with judging beginning at 10:30 a.m., before the award presentations (Ford Coupe, Best of the Rest, Peoples’ Choice) are handed out at noon.
So get revved up and ready, full steam ahead, for the Show ’N’ Shine is ready to show you what it’s got.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 14 April 2023.
