Motorclassica’s first-ever Live Restoration Theatre will be the centrepiece of a three-pronged education-theme at the 2018 event.
The Southern Hemisphere’s premier automotive exhibition for classic and collectible cars and motorcycles, Motorclassica, now in its ninth year, will again be staged at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, 12-14 October.
Set to be the most interactive show ever, the 2018 Motorclassica has brought education to the fore with its innovative Live Restoration Theatre, its Schools Program and the new Future Lab feature.
“With Motorclassica now established as the premier event of its type in Australia, we are constantly seeking ways to add new elements and extra value for show goers,” Motorclassica Event Director Paul Mathers said.
“Given the event’s credibility and unique status as the only annual automotive exhibition of its type in the country, we also felt that we have a responsibility to pass on the knowledge and expertise we have collectively gathered over many years, to the next generation of enthusiasts.
“Hence, we are again running our Schools Program and have added the Future Lab, both of which aim to excite and educate young people about the opportunities for careers and involvement in the automotive and restoration industries.
“Centrepiece of our education theme will be the Live Restoration Theatre which we anticipate will be hugely popular with 2018 show goers. We believe it’s the first time something like this has been done at a consumer event in Australia.”
Motorclassica’s Live Restoration Theatre will feature five separate workshops set up inside the Royal Exhibition Building, each demonstrating live various stages of the vehicle restoration process under the watchful eye of Greg Maskell of Shepparton’s Maskell’s Customs and Classics.
“We want to both entertain and educate by example, so we will even have a Paint Booth set up outside the main building, with vision of the work being done streamed live to audience inside,” Greg Maskell said.
Restoration and classic car guru Brian Tanti will host the Theatre, talking show goers through the work being done live, as they watch five different cars in various states of restoration.
Support for the new Live Restoration Theatre will come from Hare & Forbes Machinery House and PPG paints.
Future Lab is another new feature for 2018, aimed at educating show patrons about the latest in automotive technology and its role in the future direction of the automobile. A hands-on zone, with communal and interactive areas, it will showcase Registered Training Organisations and Technology companies, and projects such as the Formula SAE University Engineering program.
Motorclassica successfully introduced a Schools Program in 2017 and following on from that, will continue the program this year, on the Friday.
Invited High School students from around Victoria will spend the day at Motorclassica undertaking gender-inclusive and hands-on education in various aspects of the vehicle restoration industry, along with careers guidance and advice on pursuing a life in motoring – from collecting to motorsports, and design to automotive trades.
“It’s important that we engage and excite these young people so that we have a generation to pass the knowledge onto … these are the experts and enthusiasts of the future,” Paul Mathers said.
Alongside these features will be Motorclassica’s mainstay, the annual Australian International Concours d’Elegance which this year will feature 135 cars, 50 motorcycles and a unique collection of 18 microcars.
As always there will be special anniversary exhibitions too, plus special guests on the main stage throughout all three days, a new-look Club Sandwich car club display adjacent to the main Royal Exhibition Building, and the annual Tour Classica which kicks it all off.
Motorclassica every year draws together a unique mix of rare, exotic, classic and collectable cars and motorcycles, alongside the latest contemporary sports and performance models.
2018 Motorclassica tickets are on sale now at: www.motorclassica.com.au
