LOVERS of all things vintage will be in their element at the Hotspur Recreation Reserve tomorrow and Sunday, when the Southern Vintage Engine & Tractor Pull Association, along with the Hotspur community, hold the (Hotspur) Smoky River Vintage Rally.

The family friendly event will run both today and tomorrow with a range of attractions and demonstrations on offer to meet everyone’s interests.

Hotspur local and Recreation Reserve Committee member, Norm Spencer, said preparations for the event began 12 months ago and the response from the community had been overwhelmingly positive.

“(Interest) is out of control, we’re going to be full up,” he said.

“It’s all systems go ... it’s been a real community job.”

Mr Spencer said attendees would be blown away by the broad selection of items and exhibitors covering all things vintage.

“There will be a fair few older crafts - a stonemason, blacksmith, blade shearing - there will be a sawmill but it’s not that old,” he said. 

“There’s a steam engine, you don’t get them at very many rallies.

“There’s a bloke coming from Adelaide selling batteries, people will be there selling bric-a-brac stuff or vintage stuff, like parts or (those) sort of things.

“There will be normal vintage engines, tractors, cars, trucks, normal rally stuff.

“One of the main features will be a vintage tractor pull and a collection of vintage horticultural machines such as rotary hoes and market garden type stuff.”

Mr Spencer said his family would be displaying their massive collection of vintage market garden equipment which includes “somewhere between 150 to 200 items”.

“There will be some very rare stuff and a lot that people haven’t seen before,” he said.

The two-day rally will also feature a full contact medieval combat and encampment display by the Hamilton Re-enactment Society, as well as workshop held by a whip maker where participants can make a whip to keep.

Tomorrow night will also see a two-course dinner provided by the Duyvestyns with all proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The rest of the rally will be catered by the Merino Lions Club, who will provide a selection of hot food and drinks across both days.

This is the first time the Smoky River Vintage Rally is being held, however, Mr Spencer said plans are underway to have it become an annual event held on the first weekend of April each year.

Being the closest vintage rally to Mount Gambier, Mr Spencer said they had attracted a lot of attention from across the South Australian border, with other people travelling from as far away as the middle of outback New South Wales.

The rally is a cash only event with more information on entry prices and camping options available on the Southern Vintage Engine and Tractor Pull Association Facebook page.

Mr Spencer said the event would not be possible without the help of their sponsors which include Grange Concrete, Hamilton Skip Bin Hire, Hamilton Produce, Vickery Bros, Elders Casterton, and Heywood Ag.