After a pandemic pause, this weekend sees the Geelong Revival returning for the second time this year.
You can never have too much of a good thing, and history shows that the Geelong Revival is very much one of those. Like many events, the Revival was put on hiatus for a couple of years, but organisers are more than making up for that in 2022 by running a second show this weekend.
While the March event was a welcome return, this weekend’s Revival brings the date back into line with its traditional, late-spring timeslot when the November skies are (hopefully) clear and sunny. Also returning is a non-stop array of amazing classic sports machines doing what they do best: starting up with a mighty noise, blasting out some cobwebs, producing some sweet-sounding revolutions, then hurtling towards a distant finish line.
The weekend eases into action on Friday night with ‘Sunset in the Park’ at the Upper Hearne Parade Carpark. Replacing the ‘Friday Night Cruise’, the twilight coffee and cars-style gathering runs from 5:00 to 9:00pm, with light food and refreshments available.
The true action kicks off with a bang on Saturday morning, with Tim Coleman giving motorcycle trials demonstrations from 9:00am. An hour later, it’s all happening with the Shannons Classic Motorshow, Motorcycle Mecca, Big Wheels display, Vintage Boat display and Supercar Paddock available for access from 10:00am.
Shannons is sponsoring the Classic Motorshow in Steampacket Gardens which promises hundreds of classic, modern and performance cars from all over the world, all contrasted against the tranquil Geelong waterfront. We’re proud to lend our support to such an inclusive car show; if it’s interesting, it’s welcome. But the Revival encompasses so much more.
In an unusual twist, the Geelong Revival has come to the rescue of the Victorian State Van Titles who were without an event for 2022. The vanning scene was frowned upon back in the day, with the cars and their owners gaining something of a reputation. But vans have now come of age, or at least matured a bit, along with their custodian. Street machine culture traces its history back to these customised rolling art pieces, and while paintjobs, interiors and drivelines have evolved, the Aussie van scene has The Big Three at its core, so get ready for plenty of Holden, Ford and maybe a few Chrysler panelvans. And possibly disco balls.
For those who chase adrenaline rather than somewhere to sleep, there’s Motorcycle Mecca, a ride-in/ride-out, all-day motorbike show, with manufacturer displays, live demonstrations and literally hundreds of your favourite two-wheeled machines from the vintage to the modern era. Motorcycle Mecca is so big, it has its own selection of food vendors, meaning you could come for the Mecca and stay all day, without even seeing the Sprints!
Of course, the Quarter Mile Sprints is Geelong Revival’s party piece; a curved, 400m track beyond compare. A wide range of historic car and bike classes will tare down the tarmac, as they have done most years since 1956, for the coveted Geelong Revival Motoring Festival trophy.
If that’s too loud, Electric Evolution on Eastern Beach Lawn is a celebration of one of the oldest methods of vehicle propulsion, electricity. Encompassing the cars of the future and re-powered, re-purposed classic cars of the past, it will surely surprise and delight…and maybe even change the opinion of the odd die-hard petrolhead in the process.
At the opposite end of resource paradigm, the Supercar Display is back again by popular demand; extreme machines with many cylinders and doors that go up, out or over. And while they may look fast sitting still, there’ll be plenty of live demonstrations down the Sprint track with some big-name drivers at their wheels.
Speaking of big-name drivers, stuntman Matt Mingay will be on-track at Geelong for the first time since his life-threatening 2016 Stadium Super Truck racing incident. Naturally, Matt will be bringing his beloved Hot Wheels Stunt Team along with their monstrous Hot Wheels Truck full of activities, video games and collector-edition Hot Wheels cars; you may even get yours signed by Matt himself.
Combining all these amazing displays, demonstrations and racing categories is no mean feat, but add a small collection of Vintage Boats and a huge Trade Expo Area, and you’ve got an event truly worthy of a big circle on your calendar. If you can’t make it on Saturday, please be assured organisers, 170 volunteers, 500 show car owners, 400 racers, and 2200 participants will be waking up bright and early on Sunday morning to do it all again.
Spectator entry is free for most areas, and a little extra will get you full pit access, so get along to the 2022 Geelong Revival; it only comes along once a year. Usually.
GEELONG REVIVAL MOTORING FESTIVAL
25 - 27 NOVEMBER 2022
GEELONG
Waterfront Geelong, Victoria
For more information, visit geelongrevival.com.au
