The highlight of the Hunter Valley Torana Club’s calendar, Toranafest, is fast approaching, with more than 300 cars set to descend on the event’s new location – Maitland Showground.
Toranafest 2015
The festival often pulls in some big names, too, with former racer Jim Richards, as well as the late Peter Brock’s wife Bev and son James Brock set to attend this year’s event on September 20.
It’s actually a two-day event, but the first day is dedicated to a car run (the public in their own Toranas are welcome to join club members en route or catch up for a chat at a hotel or café along the run route).
The run departs “Moto Farm”, 2285 Pacific Highway, Heatherbrae (near McDonald’s) with the destination yet to be decided, club president Josh Lackey told Unique Cars.
“At this stage, we are still trying to confirm the run location depending on roadworks. The details should be available on Facebook soon,” he said.
The Hunter Valley Torana Club was formed in 1979 and has run Toranafest for 21 years – but had shifted location from the Newcastle foreshore to Maitland this year, Mr Lackey said.
“We’re trying to do things a little simpler this year,” he said.
The showground gates will open at 9am on the Sunday for the general public to come and check out why the Torana is so beloved by car enthusiasts.
There were plenty of reasons why he and his fellow club members were passionate about Toranas, Mr Lackey said.
“The racing history, the fact that it was Australian made … it was pretty much a 70s thing,” he said.
“Australians like to support their own things. The history at Bathurst (is one reason the marque is admired). Peter Brock won many races in these Toranas – he won one race by six laps one year.”
All proceeds from Toranafest go to Ronald McDonald House – Newcastle, Riding for the Disabled and Dog Rescue Newcastle.
For more information, call Josh Lackey on 0431 349 388 or go to www.toranafest.com.au
