While not yet a match for Bathurst’s Mount Panorama, Forbes is building a reputation as a car lover’s capital, judging by the crowds at McFeeters Motor Museum yesterday.
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A steady stream of locals and passers-by joined members of the Dodge Brothers Club Australasia at the Newell Highway attraction yesterday where about 100 vehicles from another era were on display.
Members of the Dodge appreciation club came from virtually every state and territory for the gathering, an annual rally which also marks 100 years of Dodge manufacturing.
Moss Vale’s Christine Knapman, who with her husband Geoff owns a 1926 Dodge Tourer, said one couple even made the trip from New Zealand for the Forbes get-together.
Mrs Knapman, rally secretary, said the members were happy to see clear skies and warmer weather yesterday for the third day of the meeting.
Today the rally will take the 100-strong convoy to Eugowra and Canowindra, while Parkes is the destination of choice tomorrow.
Already the cars have visited Grenfell and Condobolin.
Geoff and Christine said Forbes was the perfect spot for a meeting of motoring minds.
“It’s New South Wales’ turn to host [the rally] this year and Forbes is just very central for everybody,” Christine said.
Geoff said the rallies are good for the host town’s economy too.
“It gives us a venue, some lovely driving, but also we’re putting money back into a country town, which is fantastic,” he said.
Dodge Brothers Club Australasia concentrates only on vehicles manufactured between 1914 and 1938, just before the brothers sold their company to Chrysler, although there were a few non-Dodge makes and models on display yesterday.
One vehicle attracting plenty of attention yesterday was Nick Hunt’s 1925 Dodge Buckboard.
Mr Hunt, a farmer from near Mount Gambier, found his Dodge in a Ballarat shed, and he recently restored it to its original condition.
“I restored it to its original condition, rather than to a modern condition,” Mr Hunt said of his ‘farm ute’, complete with Jess the Kelpie on board the Buckboard’s tray.
The Dodge vehicles will assemble at Forbes Town Hall this morning and again tomorrow morning before setting off on their final two drives.
