Motoring event on the cards

Round the Houses motoring events will be revived in Geraldton if a plan mooted by a group of WA car enthusiasts gets the nod.

The group wants to stage an event during the Geraldton Sunshine Festival to commemorate the last official motor car program in the city 50 years ago.

Bruce Pollock and Peter Harold from the Triumph Sportscar Owners Association looked at potential courses in the CBD and surrounds on Tuesday.

They had met with local organisations to gauge the level of support – and run their idea past representatives from the City of Greater Geraldton, Mr Pollock said.

“We have a lot of classic car owners from all over WA who would support a Geraldton event, ” he said.

“We looked at two very good locations, one near the marina and the other near Maitland Park.

"One of the groups we met with was the Show and Shine Committee, who liked our idea, which would be held on the same day as their event.”

“The Maitland Park circuit is ideal for what we both want to do.”

Mr Pollock and Mr Harold believe Geraldton can replicate the success of similar events in Albany and Northam, both of which attract large crowds.

Up to 80 pre-1980 vehicles would be involved in Round the Houses, with 10 separate events being conducted.

Several roads around Maitland Park would need to be closed to enable a Round the Houses-style event.

Mr Harold said it was not a race but a reliability trial.

Mr Harold hopes to compete in the event himself in his Datsun 260Z.

“These cars are at least 35 years old, some a lot older, ” he said.