Slow start for vintage van display

Organisers hopes of enticing 100 vintage caravans to this year’s South Australian Caravan, Camping and Outdoor Adventure Show, have been dashed, with less than half that number registered with less than three weeks to go.

According to Shani Oaten, promotions and events manager for the Caravan & Camping Industries Association of South Australia which is organising the event, 44 vintage caravans have so far signed up to take part in the inaugural Vintage & Classic Caravan Grand Parade, part of this year’s SA Caravan Show at Adelaide Showground from February 20-24.

Ms Oaten said that while registrations were still acceptable after the official close-off date late last month, late entries would miss out on a spot in the official event program.

“This is the first time we’ve done it, so we didn’t really know where it would end up,” she said. “We would have liked more (entries) if possible, but for the first one we’ve done we’re very happy with that (number).”

She said one factor contributing to the disappointing response was not being able to hold the parade on the Saturday rather than Friday, due to the area reserved for the vintage display being required for extra visitor car parking on the Saturday, the busiest day of the show.

A first of its type for a mainstream caravan show, the Vintage Parade will see classic models, ranging from the 1930s to ‘70s accompanied by matching ‘classic’ tow vehicles, make their way from the Adelaide Shores Caravan Park, to the Adelaide Showground by 11am on February 22.

There they will stay until 6pm, with owners instructed to stay with their vans and field enquiries from the public. And there should be plenty to talk about, with one of the oldest vans a 1930s Eccles de luxe collapsible timber model, plus a few more recognisable brands including Millard, Viscount, Franklin and Roadmaster.

According to the Vintage Grand Parade website, there will also be a few, hand-built one-offs, along with an iconic American-built Airstream Trade Wind and a Propert Folding Caravan, both from the 1960s.

Organisers are expecting more than 40,000 people through the gates of South Australia's biggest caravan and camping show. Around 250 exhibitors, promoting the latest RVs, accessories and tourism destinations will be spread across five indoor pavilions and outdoor display areas of the Adelaide Showground in Wayville.

As well as some new model launches, including two all-new models from Melbourne's reborn Regent Caravans, other attractions at this year's show include Nissan’s just-released new V8 Patrol tow vehicle, an SA police van display, and free Ferris Wheel rides over the last three days.

See the show website
for full details.