Old Crock's Run 2024
About
The Old Crock’s Run was held on Sunday, 5th May 2024, marking exactly 90 years to the day of the inaugural event in 1934. It was a great event for pre-1935 cars, with classic and modern cars also welcome to enter.
A total of 200 vehicles and bikes entered the event, including 77 pre-1935 vehicles. The cars left Victoria Park Grandstand and traveled to Wigley Reserve, Glenelg via Anzac Highway. At Wigley Reserve, the Old Crocks were parked separately from the post-1934 cars. Clubs were invited to park their post-1934 cars in designated club areas. Food and beverage outlets were available at the reserve, and visitors and entrants were encouraged to have a picnic on the day. The event featured interviews, competitions, activities, and entertainment for the whole family.
Entries were open to pre-1935 cars and motorbikes, as well as post-1935 cars and motorbikes. Entrants received a commemorative pennant, and trophies were awarded for different classes. The entry fee was $30 per car and $20 per motorbike, which included a $5 donation to Variety & Trees for Life.
History of The Old Crocks' Run
Following an event for the veteran cars and motorcycles in Victoria in 1931, Dr Cliff Downing thought it a possibility to have a similar event in Adelaide. With the help of Percy Wien-Smith, the hunt for early vehicles began in 1932. By mid-1933 information about the quite a few cars had come in and a meeting was held on December 14th, 1933, to start organising an event.
On January 16th, 1934, thirteen cars were in running condition and a formal meeting was held at which the Veteran Car Club of SA was formed, and a committee elected to organise the formal side of the club. The Old Crocks’ Run was to be held on Anzac Day, but the State Branch of the RSSAILA objected, and the later date of May 5th was chosen.
The 18 pre-1914 cars and 10 motorcycles left the city and travelled to Glenelg via the Highway Inn for a water stop for the radiators. The vehicles paraded around the Glenelg Oval at the half time interval of the days football match. The vehicles were also enjoyed by thousands who lined the route, and the press treated the vehicles as a joke in their reports.
The old car movement rapidly expanded and soon sporting events for other types of cars, both young and old were arranged. Today South Australia comprises many clubs looking after a variety of older vehicles.
