HISTORY OF THE VETERAN AND VINTAGE CHEVROLET ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA -
VVCAA
The VVCAA was established in June 1967. It was born from the
dissatisfaction of a number of Chevrolet owners with the operation and
outings of one of the larger all-make vintage and veteran clubs popular at
the time. Their concern was with the mix of car types and sizes (e.g.
Rolls-Royces and Austin 7’s) on outings, and the lack of focus and
discussion with such a diversity of models and makes. These Chev owners
began to think that forming their own club might be the way to go! A
Register of Chevrolet owners had been started by Ted Cleary in late 1966,
and this enabled the level of interest in forming a Chev club to be gauged.
A meeting of interested owners was held in Parramatta Park in March 1967.
This meeting decided that a club should be formed, and set the date for the
first General Meeting of June 4, 1967. A temporary committee was also
formed, meeting in May to establish arrangements for the forthcoming GM.
That first GM was held at Mr Trevor Long’s house at Cabramatta in June
1967, where a first committee and a constitution were agreed upon. The
first President was Ted Cleary and the Vice President was Ian Maris.
A journal was commenced, the first edition was produced that June and the
title of “The Royal Mail” was decided upon. This remains the title to this
day. That first edition was priced at 20cents, with membership costing $1
and a magazine subscription costing another $2!
The Club’s first run was held on 23 July, 1967 with 6 cars attending,
commencing at Parramatta Park and ending at Mulgoa Park. The Club’s
Anniversary Run each year continues to be a run to Mulgoa.
Club meetings commenced from about July or August of 1967, being held in a
hall in Marsden St, Parramatta. A club emblem was developed by Ken
Robinson, member No.14. By September, 1967, there were 28 members, with 60
journals being mailed to all then known interested Chevrolet owners seeking
their membership.
As a one-make car club the VVCAA took off, so to speak, and quickly gained
more members. At the first anniversary run at Mulgoa in July, 1968 12 cars
attended; some then on concessional registration, which had been secured
during that year. The first weekend run was held in February 1969 to
Jenolan Caves. There were about 45 members in the club at that time.
Also in 1969, a Division, or branch, of the Club was established in
Queensland. At that time all members were in the ‘national’ club, thus the
first Queensland member was Bryan Cantrell with membership #50, with Harry
Burton being the first Qld ‘Director’. A first half-way run with NSW and
QLD members was held at April 1971 at Urunga. There were about 360 members
in both branches at the time. A half-way run was held again in 1973 - these
Easter runs remain on the events calendar with the 2009 Dalby Rally
attracting a large contingent of interstate cars for this Queensland event.
With the success of the Qld Division, a new division was established in
South Australia in May 1975. At its first meeting 65 potential members
attended, indicating the level of interest at the time, which still remains
very strong in that state.
In 1977 the VVCAA turned 10, and a major rally to Mudgee had been in the
planning for almost 2 years. As a week-long rally, it had several days of
country runs, a concourse and numerous social events that cemented the
national nature of the Club and fostered many friendships among interstate
members. There were about 700 members nationally at the time, and of those
over 340 attended that Mudgee Rally in 169 vehicles. It was subsequently
decided that a major rally would be held on each five-year anniversary.
This rally provided a fillip to the club and membership increased, as
indeed did the number of cars under restoration. Several Club cars have
been well regarded at the then CVVTMC (now CMC) Concourse Days over the
years, reflecting the high standard and accuracy of the club members’
restorations.
In 1981 a third branch of the Club was formed in Western Australia, with
Roly Richardson as the first President there. The WA members remain a
staunch base to the Club and are the ‘travellers’, most notably to the east
for the big rallies. The Beazley family, for example, was often commended
for their many trips across the Nullabor in one Chev or another to attend
east coast rallies.
A second week-long national rally was held at Parkes, NSW in 1982 for the
Association’s 15th anniversary. Over 200 old Chevs attended, with about 430
members, spouses and children. At the time the VVCAA had about 880 members
in total.
In the five years that followed the Club decided that its coverage of
eligible vehicles should increase. Having been founded with an cut-off date
of 1942, it was decided that this would be raised to 1948, as Australian
Chevrolets to 1948 were a continuation and refinement of the earlier
vehicles.
In 1987, the Club’s 20th year, the national rally was held in Nowra. Over
180 Chevs attended. A highlight for every driver on that rally included the
arduous trip up to the Kangaroo Valley from Nowra; a testing, long and
steep climb that saw many vehicles boil and stop part-way up! The next
national rally, in 1992, was to Cowra, NSW with about 180 cars also
attending that rally. The great encouragement to the organisers of these
rallies was the large number of members who were prepared to attend;
bringing with it feverish work for many to finish their restorations to the
standard required for a longer-distance rally.
During the next few years the Club decided not to hold concourse events –
that is, to not judge the best restored cars for each year. While
high-quality restorations are always appreciated in the Club, the high cost
led to the desire to foster the use of the Club members’ cars, rather than
seeking their 100 point restoration.
The 1997 national rally was to Forbes, NSW. Over 200 old Chevrolets, and
over 500 people attended for the week. The next national rally was to
Goulburn in 2002, where over 145 Chevs made the journey. The Wagga Wagga
National Rally in 2007 is the most recent rally and was attended by 120
cars. A most successful rally it provided some of the most pleasant touring
undertaken by Chev members in recent years.
For over 40 years the Club has had a very strong support base. The
popularity of Chevrolets when new, and the ready supply of parts has
ensured that cars can be restored and kept operational with relative ease.
A very large number of members of the VVCAA have exceeded 30 years of
membership in the Club, and there are a number of 40-year members! This
demonstrates the loyalty and friendship of members in the Club, as well as
the enthusiasm that comes from a solid, established hobby club. And, we
must mention that old cars are not just for men. There are more than
several women who own old Chevs in the club, and of course, those who enjoy
the support of their wives in both their interest and enthusiasm for the
VVCAA and its activities.
Today the VVCAA has over 690 members, including spouses and children, and
over 670 listed vehicles. While many of these are yet to be restored, it
indicates that the old car movement, and especially old Chevrolets, still
evoke a desire to preserve our motoring heritage.
A recent change to the Association – and much debated – was to open the
Club to include later model Chevrolets. A rolling 30-year cut-off was
settled upon allowing Chevrolets (to original factory specification) from
the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and soon the 1980’s to be eligible to join. This
change has furthered interest in both newer models, as well as the earlier
models, in the Club.
The VVCAA is open to all –you don’t have to own a Chevrolet, just have an
interest in their preservation and use!
|
