It never ceases to amaze me how often there seem to be so few press releases covering major events. The recent 43rd Victorian Hot Rod Show in Melbourne is no exception. There were gazillions of amazing participants and there are gazillions of images available (check out this bit of the Victorian Hot Rod Association’s (VHRA) website). But do you think there is any actual decent information?

Thankfully, the VHRA had the results of the show (see below). But there is no information connecting the results with the excellent gallery of images they have made available.

And all anyone else seems to refer to is the bluddy EFIGY. Yeh! It’s nice, and it’s been voted the best concept car of 2007 and it’s won ‘ship-loads’ of prizes…but it’s not what Hot Rod Shows are about. Hot Rod Shows are about what real people are doing with buckets. You know? Real hard core back-yard, innovation! The folks that take a heap of crap and turn it into a neck-breaking, eye-popping spectacle because they love it and their family loves them and they can’t afford it, so they innovate and do it anyway.

Any multi-national ‘do-gooder’ can pick-up a phone and pay gazillions of bucks to the top engineers on the planet and make anything they like. BUT IT’S NOT A HOT-ROD! It’s a promotional concept vehicle, like the Batmobile or the Goodyear Blimp!!!

My favourite bit of the EFIJY

Here is a typical Press Release from the Show:

Holden’s stunning EFIJY, which was judged 2007 North American Concept Car of the Year and has just taken the Dubai Motor Show by storm, headlines a huge entry in this year’s Victorian Hot Rod Show at the Melbourne Exhibition Building over the Australia Day weekend from January 25-28.

Described as ‘probably the most beautiful concept car ever’ when it was named Hot Rod of the Year by the influential Hot Rod magazine in the United States, EFIJY has drawn massive crowds wherever it appears.

“This car exists purely for automotive entertainment,” said Richard Ferlazzo, GM Holden’s Chief Designer who penned and helped build the contemporary reincarnation of a 1953 FJ sedan. “It’s great that it gets to be showcased like this.”

Promoted by the Victorian Hot Rod Association and co-sponsored by Shannons, the show has been staged every year at the Exhibition Building since 1965, where it the historic building’s longest-running tenant.

Over its 43-year history it has become a Mecca for all special and modified car and bike enthusiasts, with a record 160 entrants this year squeezing into the Nicholson Street building for the 2008 show.

Show manager Peter Unsworth expects around 25,000 people to visit the exhibition over its expanded four-day format, with doors opening at noon on Friday, January 25 and closing at 6.00pm on Monday January 28.

“Inside they will find a capacity display of mind-blowing hot rods, wild street machines, way-out customs and some unbelievable motorbikes,” he said. “There are also more trade stands than in any previous year, with many Show Specials on offer.”

One of the highlights of the Victorian Hot Rod Show will again be the judging of the coveted ‘Australia’s Coolest Ride’ trophy for the most desirable road-going vehicle on display, which in 2007 went for the second successive year to the stunning 1932 Ford Boydster of Melbourne’s Mark Course.

For the kids or junior rodders, there will be a display of mini rods, low rider cycles, slot cars and a large model car display – all in the running for trophies and prizes.

Other innovations at this year’s show include an award for the Best Dressed Trade Stand, a Kids Colouring Competition, with trophies for entrants in four categories, while patrons will be entertained on the Saturday night, by a Rockabilly band on an upstairs dance floor.

And here are the Results without associated Images

Mini Rod

1^st Deon Unsworth

Best Club Display

1^st Southern Beaches

2^nd Austin Healey Club

3^rd Let’s Go Cruising

Best Trade Stand

Sheriff’s Model Cars

Best Displayed

Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster

Best Display

1^st John & Gaynor Stevens                      1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe

2^nd Trevor Portell                                     2001 AC Cobra

3^rd Jan Small                                            1973 Mini

Custom — Radical Custom

Les Sherry                                                   1950 Ford Mercury

Custom Commercial

Andrew Watson                                           1950 Chev Belair

Custom Classic

1^st Peter Dean                                          1955 Chev Belair

2^nd Ross Anderson                                   1957 Chev

3^rd Michael Bakker                                   1955 Chev Belair

Bike Chopper

1^st Ronald John                                       1965 Harley

2^nd Maggie Vidivic                                    2006 Python

Bike Show Bike

1^st Lou Ackovski                                    2006 Chopper Bike

2^nd Digga Digioacchino                            2006 Chopper Pro Street

Exhibition

1^st Bruce Keene                                       1965 Austin Healey

2^nd Robert Elliott                                      1961 Austin Healey

Competition Sedan

1^st Elvis Barbieri                                      1971 Ford Capri

2^nd Ron Braniff                                        HB Torana

3^rd Michael Taranto                                 1974 Mazda RX4 Coupe

Competition / Dragster / Altered Funny Car

1^st Damien Scully                                    1923 Ford Altered

2^nd Ken Smith                                          1923 Ford Altered

Street Machine Ute / Pickup

1^st Ian Cornell                                         1957 Holden Crewmen

2^nd Peter Abela                                        1968 HK Holden

3^rd Vincent Dagostini                               1967 HR Ute

Street Machine Wagon / Van

1^st James Ellis                                         1978 XC Ford

2^nd Roderick Gardner                               1970 XW Ford

Street Machine 2 Door

1^st David Dawson                                    1954 Austin Healey

2^nd Jan Small                                            1973 Mini

3^rd Stan Gibson                                       1963 Ford Futura

Street Machine Sedan

1^st Laurie Seguna                                     1983 Gemini

2^nd Con Couvelas                                    1973 XA Ford

3^rd Frank Darminan                                  1983 VH Commodore

Convertible

1^st Ross Anderson

Show Car

1^st Ian Murcott                                        1928 Ford Pickup

2^nd Ricky Bugeja                                      1957 Ford T Bird

3^rd Brett Birch                                         1975 HJ Holden

Street Rod Commercial

1^st John Leggo                                        1933 Ford Woody

Street Rod 4 Door Sedan

1^st Andrew & Lynda Eleftheriou              1928 Dodge

Street Rod Tudor

1^st Peter James                                        1934 Ford

2^nd Bill Cladakis                                       1932 Ford

3^rd Rod Harding                                      1934 Ford

Street Rod Coupe

1^st Ray McDonald                                   1940 Ford

2^nd Leigh Charter                                     1932 Ford

3^rd John & Gaynor Stevens                      1936 Ford

Street Rod Tourer

1^st Alan Newton                                      1931 Ford

Street Rod Roadster

1^st Mark Course                                      1932 Ford Boydster

2^nd Mick Mielczarek                                 1937 Ford

3^rd Kevin Kendall                                     1936 Ford

Street Rod Pickup

1^st Daryl Scholz                                      1928 Ford

2^nd Ian & Lynee Mounsey                        1940 Ford

3^rd Alan Davey                                        1926 Ford

Street Rod Bucket

1^st Leon Odonnell                                   1923 Ford

Standard Paint

Ross Anderson                                            1957 Chev

Custom Paint

Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster

Best Interior

Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster

Best Engine Compartment

Laurie Seguna                                              1983 Gemini

Best Undercarriage

Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster

Top Custom

Peter Dean                                                   1955 Chev Belair

Top Competition Car

Elvis Barbieri                                               1971 Ford Capri

Top Street Machine

Laurie Seguna                                              1983 Gemini

Top Street Rod

Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster

Top Five (Not in any order)

Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster

Laurie Seguna                                              1983 Gemini

Peter James                                                  1934 Ford

Mick Mielczarek                                           1937 Ford

Kevin Kendall                                              1936 Ford Roadster

Australia’s Coolest Ride
Mark Course                                                1932 Ford Boydster