Great Lakes Historic Automobile Club's flagship car show, Motorfest, is held annually on the Sunday of the King's birthday long weekend, at John Wright Park in Tuncurry.

Created by the Great Lakes Historic Automobile Club some thirty-odd years ago, this annual event has become a great day out for families and car buffs alike, often attracting crowds in the thousands. The Great Lakes Historic Automobile Club invites all motor clubs to join us overlooking beautiful Cape Hawke Harbour at Tuncurry. The club expects the event will exceed our very successful 2023 event where we had more than 290 vehicles on display.

Each year sees increasing interest in displays by numerous car clubs with trophies to be awarded to 'Best Club Display' for the winner and runner-up.

Prizes and trophies, provided by local businesses, will be presented across a broad range of vehicles. A new category of 'Under the Bonnet' was trialled at the 2024 event and was equally successful in 2025.

Everyone Welcome

If it's on wheels... We welcome it at Motorfest!

Motorfest is not restricted to car clubs, so motorists with vehicles that may be of 'special interest' are welcome to join in with fellow enthusiasts. Come on down to John Wright Park with your vehicle between 8am to 2pm on the Sunday of the Kings Birthday long weekend. We are also expecting a good display of motorcycles.

Annually featuring Veteran, Vintage Classic Cars, Motorcycles, Muscle Cars, Hot Rods, Stationary Engines, Street Machines and more. Every year, our Club strives to put on a bigger and better event.

Rocker Cover Racing

When you head to a classic car show, you should always expect the unexpected - and 2025’s Mid Coast Ford Motorfest at John Wright Park delivered that in spades!!

Organised by the passionate crew at the Great Lakes Historic Automobile Club, the event had all the vintage metal and chrome you could wish for. But it was something entirely new that stole the show: Rocker Cover Racing.

If you haven’t heard of it before, you’re not alone. While this quirky competition has been around in the US since 1987 - where the first Valve Cover Nationals drew 53 eager entrants - it’s only just beginning to rev up here in Australia. And judging by the smiles, cheers, and laughter, it’s here to stay.

About a dozen homemade racers lined up at the start gate, each one painted and designed to stand out. The battle down the track was fierce, with gravity doing most of the work as these creative machines hurtled towards the finish. In a nail-biting final, a Ford Falcon 6-cylinder rocker cover took on a Valiant slant-6 - and it was the Valiant that edged out the win by the slimmest of margins

The crowd loved it. In fact, it was such a hit that by day’s end, car clubs were already throwing down challenges, and GLHAC had fielded requests to hire out their track. Could we see Rocker Cover Racing added to the Triumph Nationals next year? It’s definitely on the cards!

And the fun doesn’t stop there. For 2026, GLHAC plans to expand the racing action even further - including Tonka Racing for the younger enthusiasts. Imagine the joy on the kids’ faces as their trucks thunder down the track!