More than 100 cars that are more than 100 years old will gather in Forbes this September.
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And they’re planning a special treat for the community in the form of an evening parade with their gas and kerosene lamps alight.
The Veteran Car Club of Australia, for cars produced up to 1918, is coming to Forbes from September 23.
At this stage 140 vehicles, with several motorcycles from the era, are registered for the event, bringing hundreds of visitors to town.
The highlight of the tour for Forbes residents, and they’re hoping people from surrounding towns will come too, will be a “gas light parade” on the Wednesday evening.
Rally director John Burke explains that the headlights on the veteran vehicles run on acetylene gas.
It’s produced in a canister not unlike a coffee dripper on the running board of the car, where water drips onto the rock to produce the gas.
The gas is piped to the light on the front of the car where the motorist lights it.
Rally organisers are currently working with Council and the business chamber to put together a very special evening to showcase the cars as well as create a nice night out in the town centre.
It’s a fairly rare opportunity and a show stopper in the communities where the rallies are held.
This trip has been in the making for four years, as the national club meets once a year rotating through the states.
This year it’s NSW and Forbes has been chosen as the centre for the week-long rally.
Two of the organisers, Mr Burke and Jeff Palmer, were in Forbes last week to continue preparations.
They’re looking forward to a wonderful week, with plans to visit Eugowra, Canowindra, Grenfell, Parkes and Bedgerabong enjoying country hospitality.
“We’ll be taking the back roads, our top speeds average 30 to 70km an hour,” Mr Burke said.
The rally is open to veteran cars, that classification is for those produced pre 1918, this year that means they’re at least a century old.
Organisers are expecting cars from as early as 1904 as well as some vintage motorcycles for the rally.
The most common car is the T Model Ford, there’ll also be rarer cars of the era.
There will be plenty of opportunities to see the vehicles including an afternoon display with period costume, organisers would love everyone to put the event in their diaries now.
