AUSSIE CARS IN THE LOOP
By Dave Roberts
Yarloop, not necessarily bustling
metropolis, but clearly a community where the South
West Life can be enjoyed, and home to so much history...
The workshops will continue to develop and the importance
of them will continue to grow as the way we used
to work recedes into history.
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Yarloop is also the home of the "in
the loop" series of events and festivals.
A couple of years back (2003), Classic Holdens
in the Loop was put on to boost morale in
the town and develop some traffic for local
traders. Two thousand people attended, and
in a town like Yarloop that was a pretty big
effort, but the pattern was already being
set, and those who cme to look at the classic
Holdens were part of a broader show than that.
The Yarloop Progress Group, who organised
the show, had also secured the first RAAF
flypast ever for a country event and "the
odd stall".
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Having designed a successful event
and offered more than they'd advertised, they had
to answer the critics that they'd been grossly unfair
to "the other tribe". Fabulous Fords in
the Loop was next, again with a broader appeal than
just the outrageously good car show, and attendance
grew to 4 000.
Last year the Ford vs Holden idea
wasn't enough, and the first Aussie Cars in the
Loop was run, bigger car show, bigger supporting
festival, and clearly more fun.... 6 000 people
attended.
This year, Yarloop again
hosts Aussie Cars in the Loop. It's a massive, free,
fun day. Last year there were 328 aussie cars on
display, with just as many cars from other clubs
doing the day as a run and supporting the event.
This year the hope is for more than 400 aussie classics.
The size of the day is significant, but the Progress
group have been very selective, and they promise
that the craft and produce market there will not
only be substantial, they've consciously selected
for quality.
There's an all day variety show, with
popular music, country Music, the Australian Army
Big Band from Irwin Barracks, Irish Dancers, and
maybe the odd surprise. Kid's entertainment runs
all day with Freddy fire Engine, the Lions Train,
and more. In keeping with the Automotive theme,
the Police Road Safety section will be there with
Tango 1 (that's their drag car). There are only
2 restored fairground organs in WA, and one of them
will be at Yarloop. In case none of this appeals
and you're being dragged along, there's a garden
centre.
Yarloop is on the Harvest Highway.
The notion building on the produce that's generated
by communities along the South West Highway is gathering
pace, and the association has set up a wine and
cheese expo.
It's all on. I don't even think I've
covered it all. The day is compact, running from
10:30 - 3:30. If you don't want to drive there,
the Australind from Perth and Bunbury runs through
Yarloop and a booking will get you hours in Yarloop.
A train ticket is probably a good idea if you're
spending significant time in the Wine and Cheese
expo.
This sounds like a genuinely good
time. The committee putting it on are doing amazing
things and the community and some good size corporate
supporters are doing a significant thing. Most of
you don't come from Yarloop, but it's gotta be worth
the drive.... see you there.
April 2005
