Image credit: Tyr – Xplorer Studio.
The iconic Bay to Birdwood, which is celebrated as one of the premier historic motoring events globally, is set to make its grand return on Sunday, 22nd October 2023, taking to the streets of Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills.
This prestigious event, which has been a significant part of the South Australian events calendar since its inception in 1980, features a parade of over 1,500 historic vehicles, with approximately 90,000 spectators eagerly awaiting the annual motoring spectacle. The route, which stretches 67 kilometres, begins at West Beach and culminates at the National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills.
Bay to Birdwood holds a distinctive place in the heart of motoring enthusiasts, not just from South Australia but all across Australia and overseas.
‘With so many carefully prepared vehicles and ensembles on show, it’s no surprise we see so many people lining the route on Sunday Morning each year’, says Michael Neale, Chair of the Bay to Birdwood. ‘With vehicles spanning the 20th century, through the period of two world wars, through to the early 1990s, it’s the history of modern motoring before your eyes!’
On Saturday 21st October, the eve of the big parade, a group of expert judges will review all Award entered vehicles at the Migration Museum in the City, but to be considered for any award category, it’s mandatory for vehicles to complete the Bay to Birdwood parade, with the winners announced at the Finish Festival at the National Motor Museum, Birdwood.
Among various awards, the Concours d’Elegance Award and the Preservation Award stand out, with this year also marking the return of the newest award category—the EV Conversion Award. Introduced in 2022, this award is distinctive as it celebrates electric-converted historic vehicles.
‘There’s growing popularity for conversion of historic vehicles from their original internal combustion engines to EV powertrains’, says Michael Neale regarding the EV Conversion Award. ‘With increased environmental awareness, it’s an important priority for many. The Bay to Birdwood’s EV Conversion Award initiative may encourage car lovers to make those conversions as historically sympathetic as possible.’
The parade will elegantly wind from Anzac Highway, progressing up Greenhill, Fullarton, and North East roads, passing through the townships of Tea Tree Gully, Inglewood, and Gumeracha, and finally culminating at Birdwood. And, a long-standing tradition at the Bay to Birdwood is, of course, the encouragement for entrants and Finish Festival attendees to don period clothing to tie in with the theme of the event.
‘Through our National Motor Museum, the History Trust is proud to present this signature annual celebration of the citizen collector and all things motoring history and auto-design’, says History Trust CEO Greg Mackie OAM.
Birdwood’s Finish Festival at the National Motor Museum promises to offer a vibrant atmosphere for all participants and attendees of the event. There’ll be entertainment by DJs and live musicians, and guests will also have the opportunity to admire a vast array of historic vehicles whilst engaging in conversations with their owners. The festival will also feature gourmet street food served by local food trucks, showcasing the best of local Adelaide Hills produce.
Tickets for the Finish Festival can now be pre-purchased via the official website below, and the event promises to be a fun-filled day celebrating the history and beauty of motor vehicles.
What: Bay to Birdwood.
When: Sunday 22nd of October.
For more info and tickets, click here.
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