The Inaugural Long Beach
Show & Shine
Swap Meet
Since moving down to the beautiful South Coast of NSW I have been surprised with the number and quality of custom and exotic cars on the road. When you think of it, it’s only natural due to the roads, surroundings and access to Canberra and surrounding areas that make it a no brainer for a day trip or club run. I was wrapped to hear there was a Show & Shine and Swap Meet planned right here in my backyard of Long Beach. The meet planned for the Sunday of the June long weekend.
Long Beach is about 7 kms North of Batemans Bay and the meet was held on a tree lined reserve that runs along the beach with toilet amenities and playground making it the ideal place for such an event. Being walking distance for many of the locals and whilst I drove my C3 Corvette I wasn’t alone, the quality, variety and number of vehicles from local and nearby areas made the event a winner!
I caught up with Harry Farrant, manning the gate. Harry is a member of the Long Beach Community Association which in the past year has organised the Christmas Fair, Easter Fair and Spring Fair. Harry is also a member of the Eurobodalla Vintage and Veteran Car Club and thought, (in his words) “wonderful” to get the rest of the surrounding car clubs from all over the local area to attend.
When you talk local in the “Euro Shire” we are talking Nowra to the north, Moruya, Bega and as far as Eden to the south and Braidwood, Canberra and Goulburn to the west just to name a few.
Wrapped with the turnout, Harry had this to say about the day.
“It’s been a fantastic turnout! First try and it really has been terrific! Nearly 100 cars and 50 bikes which was really good and it’s been such a fantastic turnout, in fact it’s been that good that people are already taking about next year! The only thing is space and running out of land. I think by the time everyone gets word of it we will have an even larger variety of cars and bikes and it should be really terrific, bigger and better next year!”
The event caters for all tastes with modern, vintage and custom attendees. There is only the one prize at this time “Peoples Choice”. I’m sure the categories will grow next year.
The area is family friendly, there is a playground and the aforementioned amenities block, the street is quiet with plenty of parking and the layout in the grounds cater for several food trucks and vendors. Not to forget the swap meet/boot sale!
Events are never easy and Harry would like to thank the Planning Committee for their months of planning and the “rest of the crew” for their help and hope to see everyone next June long weekend Sunday meet.
All proceeds and other events go straight into local infrastructure. This particular event’s proceeds are going towards sails for the playground in Sandy Place, Long Beach.