Byford Classic Car Club will soon be hosting its biggest event of the year.
On Sunday 12th April, from 8:30am to 10:30am at Byford and Districts Country Club, a large meet and greet event will take place.
The club has advised residents to: “Get ready for a morning packed with chrome, coffee, and community vibes, as up to 200 classic cars cruise into Byford for a spectacular meet and greet and car display.
“Whether you’re a car lover, a local, or just looking for a great way to spend your Sunday morning, you’re invited.”
Entry will be by gold coin donation, and a raffle will occur. All proceeds from the event will go towards Operation Sunshine WA, a volunteer run charity helping women and children displaced by family and domestic violence or under the care of child protection services in Western Australia. It provides a variety of support services and items, such as clothing and backpacks, necessary for individuals in such a position.
All classic cars are welcome at the event. To be eligible for such a classification, the car must be at least 30 years old.
“We do this event every year. This year we’re only doing the one, but generally we run two every year,” said club secretary Tunney Western.
“It has always charity based, since we are a non-profit as well. Basically, everybody’s a volunteer on the committee and everything we get from our sponsors goes to charity, like the funds that we raise with the raffle tickets. We just do that to kind of help out people who need it.
“My husband and I own nine cars in total. Five are modern and the other four are classics.
“Unlike some other car clubs, all models are welcome here. We don’t discriminate between Ford and Holden, for example. We’re very much an open car club, so any make, any model, any year is welcome.
“Generally, we get about 200 cars, and then we get about 1000 people that come through.
Cars must only be 30 years old to register as classics, but Mrs Western recalls seeing some very old models at previous events.
“We’ve had cars from the 1920s and 1930s even. In Perth in general, there are some immaculate old classics that are around. A lot of people just don’t know about them.”
Mrs Western credits the number of classic cars around to the C4C scheme, a programme she hopes to draw attention to in order to boost the ownership of classic cars.
The Department of Transport’s Concessions for Classics (C4C) scheme was introduced on 16 April 2021 and is an opportunity for owners of older vehicles. It offers up to 75 per cent off registration costs, along with potential insurance savings, which can make a huge difference for local enthusiasts and families trying to keep their classic vehicles on the road.
“Many people still assume concessional licensing is difficult or only applies to a small group, when in fact, it is available for eligible vehicles 30 years and older. At the moment, that means vehicles manufactured in 1996 or earlier, and because it is now on a rolling schedule, next year it will move up to 1997 vehicles,” Mrs Western has said.
“Only approved DOT motoring clubs can sign off for the scheme, so awareness is incredibly important. Byford Classic Car Club is an incorporated, volunteer-run, not-for-profit club, and our club by-laws specifically include managing member eligibility for the C4C concessional licensing scheme. Our membership fees are also among the cheapest around.
“For many local residents across the Shire of Armadale and Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, this could be the difference between finally registering their classic car properly or leaving it sitting in the shed because of cost. Indeed, this is a cost-of-living strategy.
“Why have one car when you can have way more of them for way cheaper? Why would you pay $1000 if you can pay $250 for rego, you know? They don’t have to go to the wrecker when they get old, because there are so many cars that do go to the wrecker. Sometimes they sell them, but sometimes they don’t.”
