New Porsche event to be back while preparations flying for Valiant Charger 50th birthday

The inaugural Luftwasser event, organised by the Classic Porsche Australia group headed by Sal Fernando, exceeded expectations.

Sporty Porsches from 1958 on came from as far away as Brisbane, Adelaide and Tasmania for the occasion which featured an Albury riverside display, track day at the Wodonga TAFE circuit at Barnawartha North and outing to Jingellic.

The gathering's name derived from the German words for air and water, indicating the two types of engine cooling systems used by Porsche.

Mr Fernando said the event would definitely be back on the Border after positive feedback.

"We had a series of suggestions to have it at Noosa but we're going to stick with Albury-Wodonga, the facilities in the towns are magnificent," Mr Fernando said.

"Noreuil Park was absolutely idyllic and then we drove up to Jingellic which was lovely and then there were the facilities at Quest Wodonga which was able to accommodate all of us."

Mr Fernando said it was the first time his group had held such a big event and he estimated up to 220 visitors participated.

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He expected next year's edition will be in March, but not on the Victorian Labour Day weekend due to a clash with the Phillip Island Classic which this year had minimal crowds because of COVID.

However, it will not be on the same weekend as Chryslers on the Murray which is traditionally held in the Twin Cities in March and would have been on this weekend without the pandemic.

That event has been postponed until the last weekend in October with organiser Rod Taylor anticipating a bumper crowd with 2021 being the 50^th anniversary of the famous Charger model.

The new date will be a week before the Bright and Yarrawonga rod runs and precede Melbourne Cup week.

Mr Taylor said it was "phenomenal" how many Chargers were being restored, with 300 to 400 expected, including a factory car, raced at Bathurst by Leo Geoghegan, that is now in the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills.

Border Charger enthusiast Peter Hudac is restoring a VH model he bought in 2016.

"I was working towards March but when the show was put back to October it was good because with COVID I haven't been able to get parts and with labour too it's been hard in the car industry," Mr Hudac said.

The 52 year-old builder has appreciated Chargers from a young age, with that Valiant being the family car.

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