THERE were Monaros as far as the eye could see in Hamilton last weekend as the local offshoot of the Victorian club, Monaros Out West, hosted their annual May weekend event for collectors to show off their prized Holden models. 

Monaro enthusiasts drove their cars from as far away as Bendigo, South Australia, and Melbourne to join the Holden fanatics.

Three generations of Monaros were well represented at the event, including classic, modern and limited-edition saloons and coupes, including the first model ever built, a 1969 HK, right up to the last model produced in 2004, a CV8z.

Monaros Out West is comprised of an informal membership of four local couples who regularly meet up to ‘rev’ their engines and ‘talk the torque’.

Monaros Out West group spokesperson and Monaro Club of Victoria committee member, Jody Golding, said most of the local Monaro enthusiasts were also members of the Victorian club, however they decided around 15 years ago to host their own small local gatherings.

“What started out as some of us meeting up for coffee events in other towns like Horsham and places like that, eventually turned into weekend events,” Ms Golding said.

The meeting over the weekend was Monaros Out West’s annual May event, which is hosted the same weekend every year, with a bigger biannual event in November, usually on Melbourne Cup weekend.

“We aim to hold the events in different places in the district, this year in Hamilton, last time Horsham,” Ms Golding said.

“We do that so that metropolitan enthusiasts – including people from Adelaide - can experience what we have in western Victoria and incorporate our local tourist attractions into the weekend.”

The convoy started off at the Sir Reginald Ansett Air Museum last Saturday before heading to lunch at Coleraine to visit Glenelg Fine Chocolates and Geoff Waters’ Classic Cars, a vast private collection of more than 60 vintage and classic cars and automotive memorabilia.

“He’s actually got the very first car I ever owned, a Vauxhall Viva, the car I learned to drive in”, Ms Golding said.

The Monaro Club of Victoria was established in 1973 and comprised of members from all around the state.

President, Malcolm Mitchell drove his 1972 LS white Monaro HQ, with a black roof, to Hamilton for the weekend, which was the first time he has attended a Monaros Out West event. 

He said that since COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced, the opportunity to get out of the city and meet other members hadn’t arisen, however, meetings have still been held via zoom.

“Before COVID-19 the club events were more Melbourne central,” he said.

“But a lot of country groups, like Monaros Out West, although they do travel to Melbourne for special functions like state or national titles, don’t get many opportunities to catch up with other members as often.

“But now with our member meetings on zoom, we’ve actually been able to connect with them more.

“It’s really increased engagement with fellow members.”