More than 500 cars set to roll into Cooma for bigger-than-ever Motorfest

Car enthusiasts across the Snowy-Monaro region and beyond are praying the rain stays away as close to 500 vehicles of all ages and types prepare to gather in Cooma for the 2022 edition of Motorfest.

Everything from vintage classics and hot rods through to the latest performance cars and electric vehicles will be on display with trucks, tractors, boats, bikes and other machinery at the Cooma Showgrounds on Saturday, 5 November.

The Cooma Car Club first launched Motorfest in 2000 as a biennial attraction. It has since fallen foul of bushfire and COVID twice since 2019. But far from sitting on their hands, organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure this year’s event marks a triumphant return.

Cooma Car Club president Rogan Corbett describes it as “COVID-buster, designed to get people out and about again”.

“We’ll have everything, from a 102-year-old Model-T Ford to the latest Ferrari supercar,” he says.

The club numbers about 350 members, but Rogan says cars roll in from all over south-east Australia, including Canberra, Sydney, Wagga Wagga and the South Coast.

Star entrants confirmed for this year’s event include a BMW Isetta “bubble car”, an LJ Holden Torana XU-1 and a matching SLR, several Ford Falcon GTs of various eras, Holden Monaros spanning the entire lineage, Ford Mustangs, original Snowy Mountains Scheme Land Rovers and a 16-litre Kenworth truck.

This year also marks the first time electric vehicles (EVs) will feature, numbering about 15, several thanks to the car brands themselves including Kia and BMW. EVs will also include those built by the owners themselves.

“We were a little bit hesitant opening it up to EVs, but we thought we’ve got to move into the future,” Rogan says.

Australian motorsport hero Colin Bond will also attend as guest of honour. Bond won the 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 (now Bathurst 1000), and multiple Australian rally championships between 1971 and 1993.

“Many of our members followed Colin through his racing career and we are all looking forward to hearing more stories from those days,” Rogan says.

Colin will give a talk about his experiences and help choose the Car of the Day, presenting the trophy to the winner. Up to $4500 worth of trophies will be given out to winners and finalists across a number of best-in-show categories.

The entertainment front will be covered by country singer Paul Costa and his band. Member for Monaro Nichole Overall and Snowy Monaro Regional Council mayor Narelle Davis will also make an appearance.

Adding to the festivities will be the arrival of about 80 cars taking part in an re-enactment of the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon. The rally recreates the 10-day, 6000-km Aussie leg, spanning Perth to Sydney. Cooma serves as the last checkpoint before the finish at Warwick Farm Racecourse.

The convoy will be welcomed with a celebratory dinner and farewelled at a dedicated breakfast the next day at Cooma Car Museum.

In a bid to draw even more people and displays in, the entry fee has been waived for all display vehicles – general admission will be $5 per head with those under 12 years free.

As in previous years, Motorfest 2022 will also double as a fundraiser for local charities. This year’s proceeds will go towards the work of Cooma Hospital Auxiliary and Cooma Community Chest. Service clubs will run food trucks at the event.

Rogan describes the reaction from the community as “fantastic”.

“Everyone is really looking forward to it, so we’re just praying for no rain.”

The Cooma Motorfest is open from about 9 am to 3 pm, Saturday, 5 November at the Cooma Showgrounds, Boundary Street, Cooma.