Launceston has once again proven that the car-loving community in Tasmania is fuelled by mutual admiration and a healthy dose of mateship.
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Rolling off the tarmac and into UTAS stadium on Sunday again proved again be a huge success for the Van Diemens Street Rod Club's US and Aussie Muscle Car Show.
Car and bike owners and vehicle enthusiasts alike flocked to the famous show for its 31st annual show - the longest running show of its kind in the state.
The show usually attracts 150-200 cars and the story was no different in 2021 with show-goers making their way to Launceston from across Tasmanian to be a part of the event.
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Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 1000 people could pack into the grounds at any one time, but event organiser Tom Hendley said he was happy with how the day had panned out.
Travis Richards brought his 1977 GMC C-30, also known as a "Duallie", up from Hobart for the show.
His car is six-and-a-half metres long and is so low that he had to raise it with air suspension to make the trip up the Midland Highway, but the opportunity to share his appreciation for the car with the car-loving community was one he was never going to pass up.
"You get to see people who you might only see two or three times a year and you get to have a chat and catch up," he said.
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"It's a good part of the car scene and culture here in Tassie. Even though you're at other ends of the state you get to catch up with people. There's a couple of guys here today who have come down from the north-West coast that I haven't seen for a while and we've been able to catch up."
His car has a bit of a backstory and was used as a work car by his friend in Melbourne before Mr Richards brought it to Tasmanian about 18 months ago.
In no time the car became a part of that much-loved Tassie car scene that Mr Richards had described and now the one-of-a-kind car is a regular at car shows across the state.
Van Diemens Street Rod Club member Tony Barnett had come along for the ride and brought his 1934 Chev with him.
The car was an eye-catcher with an iconic hot rod flame paint job bursting from the front of the car and flowing along the flanks.
He said what he loved about being a part of a club that held hot rods so dearly was the uniqueness of the cars he got to see so regularly.
"It's about the individuality of the car. You're not going to see another one no matter where you go," he said.
Mr Barnett's Chev appreciation was one he had inherited from his father, and it was a legacy that he was happy to carry on.
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