The countdown is on to this year’s Trident Tyres South East Street Machines 45th annual Show ‘n’ Shine.
The event is staged by South East Street Machines, comprising a social club of people with a passion for motoring and modified cars.
The club was formed in Mount Gambier in 1977 – and in broad terms – a Street Machine is a vehicle that has been modified for performance and/or aesthetics that was built after 1948.
SESM is the oldest registered Street Machine club in SA and one of the oldest in Australia.
The Show’n’Shine the club runs is the longest continually running event of its type in Australia and is something the club is very proud of and members work hard to maintain the annual tradition that started back in the late 70s.
The first event was held at Blue Lake Sports Park (South Gambier) in 1978.
An event has been run every year since then, this year marks the 45th.
Over that time the Show’n’Shine has had a number of locations, starting out on ovals and reserves around town before growing to become a two-day indoor event on the indoor tennis courts at the Active8 sports centre on Penola Road.
During this time the event attracted high-level show cars from across SA and Victoria as well as special invited guests from as far away as Sydney.
The 30th show was the final event at that location, when an alliance was formed between the club and the organisers of the Autofest series of events to bring the automotive festival to the Mount Gambier showgrounds.
This continued for a number of years until circumstances required the club find another venue.
The 40th and 41st shows were held on the netball courts at Margaret Street, when again, a new venue was needed due to the building of Wulanda.
Since then events have been held on Hastings Cunningham Reserve and that’s where this year’s event will be.
Over the years the club has ridden the wave of rising and falling, then rising again with membership numbers and currently has in the vicinity of 150 members.
The club has donated tens of thousands of dollars to various local charities, built and maintains a permanent clubrooms and was instrumental in the implementation of the current historic vehicle registration scheme (club rego), all while still organising its annual Show’n’Shine event.
Members also regularly attend events run by other clubs around the South East and Western Victoria.
The Trident Tyres South East Street Machines 45th annual Show’n’Shine will be held on Saturday, September 30 at Hastings Cunningham Reserve.
The event is open to all types of modified, custom, classic, vintage, restored, performance, unique, competition or interesting cars, trucks, and bikes
Display vehicle set up and parking will be from 8.30am and gates will open to the public at 9.30am.
Trophy presentations will be at 1.30pm.
Trophies and prize packs will be presented to the Top 5 Cool Rides, Peoples’ Choice and Entrants’ Choice supported by Shannons Insurance, plus the Longest Distance award presented by Roger Smith Autos of Millicent.
Display vehicles and spectator vehicles should enter the reserve from Millard Street (off White Avenue) and follow the signs to public parking and display entry gate.
Pre-entry for display vehicles is not necessary, all entries can be done on the day.
There will be plenty of food and drinks with the 5GTR FM barbecue, a coffee van, plus a doughnut and icecream van on the day.
No alcohol is permitted at the event and organisers respectfully ask there are no dogs, pushbikes or scooters in the display area.
There is no cost to enter and display a vehicle.
It’s just $5 per person for driver and passengers with under 16 free.
Entry cost for spectators is $5 for adults with under 16 free.
Visit the South East Street Machines Facebook page or call Jason on 0459 154 488 for more information.
