Collectors Enter Gumeracha “Show N Shine”

By Graham Edwards

The Auto Collectors Club of Murray Bridge (ACCMB) participated as a club at the recent Lions Gumeracha Show N Shine. Sunday the 20 th November, 28 ACCMB members including guests, met at their Johnstone Park clubhouse in perfect weather for a fun day out together.
Run organizers, Graham & Maureen Edwards greeted and welcomed all as they arrived, with Maureen getting members to fill in the daily run book, while Graham was busy handing out to drivers their windscreen entry sticker and direction sheet to Gumeracha.
With all chores completed, run organizers led 15 assorted makes, models, colors and size vehicles out of Johnstone Park onto Adelaide Road, down Thomas Street, right onto Cypress Terrace and left onto Mannum Road before heading to Palmer.
For once the convoy travelled up Palmer Hill without any roadworks holdups, onto Tungkillo and through the winding road through the dry countryside before travelling through the historic township of Birdwood, the home of the National Motor Museum, past the well renown “Big Rocking Horse” before arriving at the Gumeracha Oval to participate in the annual “Show N Shine”.
Car by car ACCMB members arrived at the oval and were guided into the area allocated to the ACCMB members to park their “pride and joys”, thus forming the official ACCMB club display. ACCMB banners were placed at either end of the 15 car line up, indicating the presence of the almost 48 year old club.
Members and quests went about setting up their chairs and tables behind their respective vehicles ready for judging.
As usual, at the stroke of 11am, the celebration of Remembrance Day (although one day early) took centre stage with a brief service, followed by the laying of wreaths and the playing of the “last post”, in remembrance of the fallen soldiers in past years.
Perfect weather conditions made it enjoyable for all attending, with participants and the general public wandering around inspecting the large display of well prepared vintage, veteran, classic and hotrod cars along with many motor bikes or just choosing to sit by their respective vehicles and just “chill out”.
Other attractions this year were the children’s bouncing castle, which was well patronized, the “Rocker cover races” in the centre of the oval, a silent auction for those who wanted a bargain, view the trash and treasure stalls, and if you had your dancing dress and “blue suede shoes” on, you could “Rock and Roll” to the magnificent beat and sound of the band “The Lincolns”.
As the day drew to a close, it was time for the announcing of the trophy winners of the “show and shine”.
Although the ACCMB didn’t win the “Best Club Display”, it should be truly proud of their effort, being the only club featuring 15 different brands, makes and model vehicles, all meticulously prepared and presented for the judging – not just one brand name of car, however for ACCMB members, Howard and Myra Wright driving their immaculately presented 1960 Mk11 Jaguar Sedan, it was a good day out, winning the Best Pre 1978 car of the show.
With many ACCMB members suffering an early season dose of “mild sunburn”, it was time to thank run organizers Graham and Maureen for another great day’s outing before heading back to Murray Bridge any which way.
If you have a flair for collectable motor cars or just wish to belong to a group of like minded people and would like to see what the ACCMB has to offer, come along and join them on the first Tuesday night of each month ( no meeting in January ) at 8pm at the Johnstone Park Community Complex or view the clubs website — autocollectorsmurraybridge.com