Organised by the Peugeot Car Club of Victoria, this is the first time the annual event has come to Merimbula bringing with it some 40 Peugeot cars, 17 different models and 89 people from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT for good food, camaraderie, tyre kicking and even some low-key motor sport.

President of the Peugeot Car Club of Victoria, Neil Beddoe said it was the biggest such event for some time.

Mayor Kristy McBain was invited to the concours d’elegance at the Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club and asked to award the Mayor’s Choice which went to Flash Flanagan, of Bungendore for his 1955 Peugeot 203. In announcing the winner Cr McBain said a lot of love had gone into the car both inside and out.

The car has been owned by Mr Flanagan’s wife Carolyn for 40 years and was restored 20 years ago. Unfortunately Mrs Flanagan was unable to attend through illness but Mr Flanagan was quick to phone through the news.

“We’ve done all the work ourselves,” he said of the car’s restoration.

Maintenance and restoration was one of the reasons that car clubs first started as a way of exchanging expertise and spare parts, Mr Beddoe explained.

More recently though spares for some of the older vehicles have become increasingly difficult to find but that hasn’t stopped car enthusiasts from renovating their vehicles. Keith and Hilma Bridge, of Nowra own a 1947 Peugeot 202 but when new rear light fittings were needed Mr Bridge discovered that the top section of one particular brand of tinned beetroot was just the job.

Cr McBain thanked the club for choosing the local area for their event and also thanked the many volunteers involved in the Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club.

The Saturday morning event was followed by a motorkhana and driving skills test in the afternoon and a dinner at the Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club on Saturday evening.