The Lang Lang Hot Rod and Classic Car Show and Shine, Swap Meet and Lawn Mower Racing is a great family day out. This long-standing event is run by the Rotary Club of Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang and presents a huge range of show cars, motorbikes, jet cars, rare bikes, rotary aeroplane engines, and trucks.
Photo copyright Gayle Beveridge-Marien
You can expect as many as 500 vehicles on display, maybe even more, so allow plenty of time to have a look. I'm not a car enthusiast, but I can't resist a good show and shine. It's the vintage and veteran vehicles I love to look over. I'm always amazed at the variety of motorbikes too. It's a bit of a hobby of mine to photograph the distinctive shapes and the bonnet ornaments and I love looking inside the old cars with beautiful polished wood finishes.
Photo copyright Gayle Beveridge-Marien
Trophies are awarded to cars in a variety of categories. In 2022, for both classic and custom cars, awards were given for Vehicle 1900-1948, Vehicle 1949-1966, Vehicle: 1967-1984, Vehicle: 1985-2002, Vehicle: 2003—2022. For both classic and custom motorcycles, awards are given for Motor Cycles 1900-1970 and Motor Cycles 1971—2022. Additionally, there was a President award, a People's Choice award and a Club Award for Greatest Member Attendance.
Photo copyright Gayle Beveridge-Marien
The swap meet is not only for those interested in buying or selling car and bike parts and accessories but also household goods and pretty much anything people had lying around home and want to move along.
Photo copyright Gayle Beveridge-Marien
There are plenty of rides and activities for kids of all ages. Past shows have included a Pirates and Princesses adventure playground, laughing clowns, a giant slide, walk on water-balls, pop a duck, a baby bouncer and a basketball bounce. Some of the children's activities and the swap meet are set up in the large indoor pavilion. There will be a kiosk for snacks and drinks and a variety of stalls.
Photo copyright Gayle Beveridge-Marien
The lawn mower racing is always a draw card. Who even knew that was a thing! This annual event is put on by the Victorian Mower Racing Association on a specially designed track at the rear of the showgrounds. Mowers from 110cc Juniors through to 450cc Super modified class A Mowers will be racing. Some of them reach speeds of up to 75kmh. Practice kicks off at around 9am and the racing starts at 9.30am. The Trophy presentation is scheduled for 2pm, depending on racing completion. A relay race with different categories of mowers is usually the last race of the day. There will be children's activities in the lunch break and the mowers will be on display.
Image from the Lang Lang Hot Rod Custom and Classic Car Show 'N' Shine and Swap Meet Facebook page
The Lang Lang Hot Rod and Classic Car Show, Shine and Swap Meet and Lawn Mower Racing is on Sunday 12th February 2023. Public entry and trade stalls entry are from 7am, vehicles and swap meet stall holders can enter from 6 am. The show is held at the Lang Lang Showgrounds, 120 Westernport Rd, Lang Lang, VIC 3984. Pubic entry is $10 per person, with children under 16 for free. Show car and bike entrants, including the driver, is $10, Show car and bike judged entrants, including the driver, is $15, and Swapmeeters, including insurance, is $25. Card payments are accepted, but cash is preferred. For more details
click here to visit their website or
click here to visit their Facebook Page. Email enquiries can be directed to info@langlangshowshine.com
Photo copyright Gayle Beveridge-Marien
Lang Lang is about an hour and a quarter from the Melbourne CBD via the South Gippsland Highway and an easy thirty minutes from Cranbourne. Lang Lang is a small town in West Gippsland of around 2,500 people. For many years, it was well known for the Holden-operated Lang Lang Proving Ground. Holden used the Proving Ground for vehicle development, and durability, safety and exhaust emission testing. The almost 900-hectare site with 44 kilometres of sealed and unsealed roads opened in 1957. Sadly, General Motors announced in 2020 that they were retiring the Holden brand. It was the end of an Australian icon, but you'll find plenty of Holdens at the Lang Lang Show and Shine.
