Bay to Birdwood

Last updated

Bay to Birdwood
Bay to Birdwood logo.png
StatusActive
Genre Motor sports, classic cars
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s) South Australia
Years active42
FounderBob Chantrell, Federation of Vintage Car Clubs (SA)
Donald Chisholm, National Motor Museum
Most recent2020
Previous event2019
Next event2022
Sponsors National Motor Museum
South Australian Government
Shannons
Website baytobirdwood.history.sa.gov.au

The Bay to Birdwood is a motoring event of citizen-collected vehicles that takes place annually in South Australia, formerly consisting of the Bay to Birdwood Run (for pre-1956 vehicles) and the Bay to Birdwood Classic (for 1957-1997 vehicles), which ran in even- and odd-numbered years alternately. Since 2020 it has been a large-scale run including vintage, veteran and classic cars and other road vehicles. It commences in the coastal Adelaide suburb of West Beach and concluding at the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills town of Birdwood.

Contents

History

Judging vehicles at the end of the 2015 Bay to Birdwood Bay to Birdwood 2015.jpg
Judging vehicles at the end of the 2015 Bay to Birdwood
Start of the Bay to Birdwood, 2018 At the Bay to Birdwood Start, 2018.jpg
Start of the Bay to Birdwood, 2018

The inaugural Bay to Birdwood took place in 1980, after the idea was raised by Bob Chantrell, of the Federation of Vintage Car Clubs (SA), inspired by the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. The FVCC approached Donald Chisholm [1] OAM , [2] general manager of the National Motor Museum (also known as the Birdwood Mill, reflecting the building in which it was housed), who agreed to be co-organiser. He suggested and agreed to provide a perpetual trophy for the "Concours d'Elegance", with its design based on the Shearer Steam Car, which would remain on display at the Mill. S.A.S. Channel 10 would provide television advertising and a documentary after the event, and proceeds from the event would be donated to its Christmas appeal. Starting at Colley Reserve in Glenelg, its name derives from Holdfast Bay, on which Glenelg is situated. [1]

In 2001, several changes took place. SA Water took over as sponsor, and there were several changes to the committee, which would not only organise the Run, but also the Classic event, which had previously been organised by the National Motor Museum. From 2001, both events would be organised by the same committee, and both would follow the same route, the starting point of which was changed from Glenelg to the Barratt Reserve at West Beach, owing to traffic bottlenecks around Glenelg. The cars would turn east past the airport and along Tapleys Hill Road to Anzac Highway, with computer-controlled traffic lights adding smooth passage. [3]

As of its 30th anniversary in 2010, the Bay to Birdwood Run was being held every two years, open to vehicles manufactured before 1956, alternating each year with the Bay to Birdwood Classic for vehicles manufactured from 1956 to 1977. [4] In 2013, the route of the Classic changed its previous routing: instead of travelling via North East Road, the cars would travel along Tapleys Hill Road, Anzac Highway and Greenhill Road and then turn into Glen Osmond Road and travel up the South Eastern Freeway. This would take the cars past Verdun, Balhannah, Oakbank, Woodside, Charleston, and Mount Torrens en route to Birdwood. [5]

Prior to 2020, the Bay to Birdwood Classic event was held in odd-numbered years and was for vehicles manufactured from 1956 to 1986, thus focusing on vintage and veteran vehicles. Since 2020, the annual event has welcomed all historic vehicles regardless of manufacturing year. [6]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bay to Birdwood was one of the first major large-scale public events to take place after the first national pandemic restrictions, and the 40th anniversary edition was modified to suit the changed conditions for public events. [7] The format was popular, attracting around 90,000 spectators. However the 2021 event, due to take place on 26 September, did not go ahead, due to an increased number of cases of COVID-19 in the state. [8] [9]

The 2022 event, to be held in October, will include electric-modified vehicles for the first time, and some 1,500 drivers are expected to participate. [9]

The archive of programs from all events is available on the Bay to Birdwood website. [8]

Description

The Bay to Birdwood is now one of the biggest historical motoring celebrations of its type globally, including cars dating back to the early 1900s. [9] Since 2020, the annual event welcomes all historic vehicles regardless of manufacturing year. [6]

The event organisers, the History Trust of South Australia, curates the proportion and representative numbers of different eras of motoring heritage with an emphasis on early motoring and pivotal significant periods in motoring history. Thousands of spectators line the approximately 70 km (43 mi) route to view the passing parade of historic motoring from vantage points along the side of the road. The run includes antique, veteran, vintage, post-war/early-classic, classic, post-classic and modern classic cars, motorbikes, buses, military vehicles and occasionally fire engines.[ citation needed ]

The Bay to Birdwood starts on the Adelaide foreshore, leaving from Barratt Reserve in the Adelaide suburb of West Beach. It concludes at the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills town of Birdwood, approximately 70 km (43 mi) from the Start. Participants and spectators can view the hundreds of entrant vehicles displayed in the grounds of the museum. Many drivers dress in attire to match the period of their vehicle.[ citation needed ]

Past winners

Concours d’Elegance

Bay to Birdwood Run

The trophy for winners of the Concours d’Elegance, which is based on the design of the Shearer Steam Car, is engraved with the winners' names and held at the museum. [1]

Bay to Birdwood Classic

Preservation Class

In 2016, the Bay to Birdwood introduced a new judging category and trophy for vehicles that are substantially unaltered from original delivery and have not been restored or modified.[ citation needed ]

Bay to Birdwood Run
Bay to Birdwood Classic

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bay to Birdwood Programs 1980-2020: 1980". Bay to Birdwood. p. 3. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  2. Williams, Kristy (25 January 2021). "OAM honour for former director of Maranatha House, Donald Chisholm". Daily Liberal. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. "Bay to Birdwood Programs 1980-2020: 2001". Bay to Birdwood. p. 3. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  4. Walsh, Ashley (24 September 2010). "Bay to Birdwood 30th anniversary". ABC Local. Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  5. Walsh, Ashley (26 September 2013). "New route for Bay to Birdwood Classic". ABC Local. Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  6. 1 2 "About The Bay to Birdwood". www.baytobirdwood.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  7. Anderson, Lainie (15 March 2021). "How the Bay to Birdwood survived and thrived in a global pandemic". Bay to Birdwood. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Bay to Birdwood Programs 1980-2020". Bay to Birdwood. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Hams, Shari (21 June 2022). "New life for vintage cars turning electric in return of South Australia's annual Bay to Birdwood Run". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 22 June 2022.