Last weekend, the Parkes Antique Motor Club (PAMC) held a pre-1931 Vintage and Veteran Autumn Tour from Friday, May 4 until Sunday, May 6. A raffle on the day raised $675 for CDS.

The tour featured an impressive combination of some very rare vehicles to the more popular and famous rides, all travelling from around the country and locally in the Central West. Names like Chevrolet, Chrysler, Buick, Austin and Dodge rolled through the streets and roads of the Parkes Shire.

But perhaps the most eye-catching was the 1924 three litre VDP Bentley coming from Gunnedah, the Parkes-owned 1912 Albion (owned by Phil Dixon), 1911 T Ford from Narrabri, 1921 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce from the Entrance and a 1918 57 Cadillac from Mudgee.

There was also a 1924 Gardner travelling from Wagga Wagga, which is believed to be the only one in Australia.

And so far the oldest car that entered in the tour was a 1908 AX Renault from Mittagong. Club president Tony Horsington couldn’t be more thrilled about the event.

“You won’t get this many vehicles of this kind in the one place anywhere in Australia this year,” he said.

“Parkes is privileged to have them. It’s also the only national heritage event in the Parkes Shire this year.

“We belong to the Council of Heritage Motor Clubs NSW, that’s based in Canberra,” he said.

“We’re encouraging people to come and take a look.

“We as an antique motor club believe it’s important to keep vintage and veteran vehicles alive to show younger generations what transport was like in the earlier days.

“Not everyone was travelling around in a Sandman, if they were lucky,” he laughed.