THE Nambucca Valley roared to life last weekend as the 47th Annual Valla Beach Hot Rod Run drew thousands of visitors and over 350 gleaming hot rods to the region.
The long-running event, organised by Sydney’s Drag-ens Hot Rod Club, brought an estimated $2 million boost to the local economy, with supermarkets, butchers, bakers, cafes, pubs, clubs, and accommodation providers across the valley enjoying a surge in business.
Nambucca Valley Mayor Gary Lee praised the event’s enduring legacy.
“For 47 years our valley has hosted the Drag-ens’ Valla Beach Hot Rod Run, which started with just 72 cars in 1977,” Cr Lee told News Of The Area.
“The benefit from an extra 2000 visitors flows right across the valley and Council has proudly supported the event with $7000 in sponsorship due to its wide-reaching economic and social benefits.”
The four-day celebration of chrome and custom builds included a poker run to Macksville, a cruise to Nambucca Heads for the much-loved Saturday morning Show & Shine in Bowra Street, and the drive to and from Nambucca Heads which lined Giinagay Road with crowds keen to see the cars cruise past.
As is now virtually a tradition with the Valla Rod Run, road closures were in place around Nambucca Heads to enable visitors to see the cars up close.
Drag-ens Hot Rod Club Valla Committee Vice-President Leigh Anderson said the community’s enthusiasm was palpable.
“Whether you were in Valla Beach, Bowraville, Macksville or Nambucca Heads, there were beautiful, polished hot rods everywhere,” Mr Anderson told NOTA.
“The Show & Shine in Nambucca Heads town centre was a highlight, and we wrapped things up with our presentation night at the Woolshed in Valla Beach.”
To top off what the Drag-ens Hot Rod Club claim was a very successful event, the spring weather over the period of the Valla Rod Run was perfect, enabling the full range of planned activities to proceed in great conditions.
“The roadways, towns and supportive communities here in the Nambucca Valley allow us to have a rod run on the scale we are just not able to do anywhere else in the state,” Leigh concluded.
By Mick BIRTLES
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