EVENT: HotRod Hooligans & the Yarra Valley Archery Park Annual End Of Season Get Together with proceeds aiding Ronald McDonald House.
LOCATION & VENUE:
Yarra Valley Archery Park, Don Rd Launching Place.
About 15 minutes further out from Lilydale and away from the city on the Warburton Hwy.
Set among lush green paddocks and trees with a backdrop of hills, this venue has comfortable facilities and suitable amenities for servicing a large gathering of people.
Great timber lined club rooms with a bar, beer garden, pool tables etc all set up for archery and socialising. There is heaps of space in the surrounding grounds and paddocks. A truly beautiful place
With all the activities of this event in full swing, visually the event reminded me of a fete in a Midsommer Murders episode but with an Ozzy/HotRod flavour.
REVIEW
If you enjoy the beauty and socialising of the Bright weekend, you would have enjoyed this HotRod Hooligans event.
Many Rodders came and many people rocked up to look at the cars and enjoy the day. Kids were catered for with rides and lucky dips, Food and drinks were reasonable and there were many great stalls with favourites such as Atom Bomb Baby in attendance.
There were three bands. Flyin Saucers first, then Gaitorbait, then last the Atomic Hi-Tones who also provided the PA for the day and why I came to be there from 7am. Local raised on RnR young DJ Matt, provided music between band sets.
The bands were fantastic. Credit where credits due. I over heard the organizers praising them at the end, so well done guys and the gorgeous Belinda.
"Several thousand dollars were raised for Ronald McDonald House" was announced at the days end. Final figures I don’t know.
We encouraged friends (who are not into cars, music or dancing) to come along for a family day out. They rang today to tell me they absolutely loved the day and want to buy a Hot Rod now. They never saw their kids all day, thanks to the purchase of all day ride wrist bands.
The weather was so unbelievable perfect, Warm and sunny without a breath of wind.
People and cars started to roll in slowly at first then there was no stopping them, they just kept coming. By the height of the day, the place was packed with cars, bikes and people were every where looking at cars, laying on the grass, relaxing, eating, drinking or listening to the bands. Also heaps of families and kids.
The photos below offer a glimpse of the venue and the day. Enough to know what you missed if you weren’t there, and what to make sure you don’t miss next year.
There was no dance floor but that didn’t stop the keen who danced on grass or concrete. I am sure if asked the organizers next year would get one.
Although it was a Hot Rod event, there was something for everyone and every age.
FOOTNOTE:
On a personal level, I don’t know how Cliff got through the day. His injured foot was in a real bad way and he was in agony. I though he might have got blood poisoning. He had to be there early to set up the PA and was last band on plus pack up so couldn’t/wouldn’t leave. He took some super dooper prescription only pain killers and laid down on the grass for a rest several times. Doghouse Dave (Detonators/Gaitorbait) at one stage came to ask me if Cliff was OK, saying he just saw him flat on his back behind the car.
But the show had to go on so Cliff rallied all day to get things done and still went on with the Atomics. As soon as he finished, he laid in the car while the rest of the band and us girls packed up.
No ones else was any the wiser. I thought we’d be straight to the hospital after the gig, but in the car he said he felt a bit better.
Last edited by FIGJAM; 08-04-2008 at 10:33 AM.
Reason: resizing pictures
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