IT’S the largest event to be held in Portland since, well, the last time it was held, and the foreshore certainly looks the place to be tomorrow.

Classics by the Bay show ‘n’ shine  has navigated the coronavirus pandemic pretty much unscathed and will be back again possibly bigger and better than ever.

It is run by the Portland Classic Auto Club and president Craig Dennert said he hoped there might be 400 vehicles on show.

Any make or model of vehicle (including cars, motorbikes, tractors, trucks and others) is welcome to take part in the event – there have regularly been more than 300 in recent years – and there are a few extra highlights as usual.

The first is the line-up of Holdens – Mr Dennert said there should be one of each of the 47 models produced by the company lined up.

There will also be a Peter Brock/Doug Chivas LJ Torana, which these days is used as a promotional vehicle but which in 1973 was involved in one of the most famous incidents in the history of the Bathurst 1000.

With Chivas behind the wheel, the team was set to win the great race, being a lap up on Allan Moffatt, but the vehicle ran out of fuel on the summit of Mount Panorama.

After coasting down the hill, the car stopped, and Chivas had to push it along the pit lane to get it refuelled.

The team still finished second, despite Brock driving most of the last lap with a blown-out tyre.

And where’s there’s Brock, there’s also Larry Perkins, with his VP Commodore also on show.

“But it’s not just a Holden day,” Mr Dennert said of the show ‘n’ shine.

“Whatever anyone wants to bring, they can bring.”

A regular guest will also make his annual appearance – Fletch from the television show Classic Restos (which has featured the event in the past).

“He loves Portland,” Mr Dennert said.

The venue has resembled a worksite recently with a walkway being built through the middle of it, but Mr Dennert said Classics would be largely unaffected by that.

However there would be ‘COVID safe’ rules – those attending need to QR code to get in and show proof of double vaccination.

Entry is by gold coin and the event starts at 10am.

Anyone wanting to enter their vehicle can contact Mr Dennert on 0408 554 069.