MotorEx #22: Australia’s Largest, Most Prestigious Custom Car & Bike Show
The 2024 edition of Meguiar’s MotorEx held at the Melbourne Showgrounds attracted some of the best custom cars and motorcycles Australia has to offer, catering for all types of motoring enthusiasts.
More than 700 vehicles, amounting to $50 million in value, converged on the showgrounds where a healthy crowd were in attendance throughout the weekend to soak in the some seriously impressive vehicle displays, as well as drift and burnout demonstrations.
Shannons Insurance aligned with MotorEx as one of the exhibiting automotive partners, with prime position in the Inauguration Pavilion. Shannons team members were on hand to field customers’ and event participants’ insurance queries and quotes.In the Inauguration Pavilion, covers were lifted off highly anticipated custom vehicles, including Supercars ace Cam Waters’ XB Falcon Hardtop featuring an FPR/Tickford Racing tuned Windsor V8 outputting 745hp at 6800rpm.
Although Supercars derived, Waters’ 369ci V8 probably far exceeds Supercars Gen 2 regulations …
Other vehicles making their public debut included Serg Derose’s Green Ford XY Falcon which packs as much stance as it does power, Dragos Bjelogrlic’s Red Ford XE Falcon featuring a twin-turbo small-block Ford engine and Robert Rampton’s Ford XY Falcon dubbed ‘Old Gold’ following its immaculate ‘better than factory’ restoration.
As is tradition at MotorEx, there are awards and prizes on offer to participants, the coveted Superstars Awards tops this list. The Super Six represents the top-six points scoring finalists for the event and the entrant with the highest accrued overall points tally is awarded Grand Master.
To become a Superstar, entrants must have qualified at the previous year’s MotorEx, or at an eligible aligned qualifying event.
Following a thorough judging criteria, Craig McKenzie was crowned Grand Master for the event thanks to his striking White 1967 Holden HR Ute, known today as 1FATHR. In its previous guise, when it was Yellow, the same car claimed the ‘Best of Breed Street Machine’ award in 2007.
Joining McKenzie in this year’s Super Six was, Joe Bauer (Maroon 1968 Dodge Charger), Bob Bull (Orange/White 1939 Ford Cabriolet), Robert Kastoun (Black 1949 Chevrolet 3100), Pete Lewis (Astill Saphire Blue 1977 Ford XC Falcon) and Dean Rickard (Green 1969 Holden HT GTS Monaro).
2025 MotorEx Superstar qualifiers were also announced, Ron Barclay (Blue 1967 Chevrolet Camaro), Adam Bickerstaff (Green 1956 Ford F100), Ross Gangemi (Red 1965 Ford Mustang), Bob Grambau (Black 1933 Hot Rod Coupe), Jordan Lord (Green 1974 Holden HQ Premier) and Waters with his previously mentioned Dark Purple 1974 XB Falcon Hardtop.
Headlining the drift display was Drift Cadet, who offered the opportunity for ticket carrying patrons to purchase tickets for a ride in the passenger seat during drift demonstration sessions.
Burnout sessions from some absolute monsters also wowed spectators, including Geelong-based Matt Watts who unveiled his revamped Toyota Corolla at MotorEx.
Keep an eye out for news and developments for the 2025 edition of MotorEx in the coming months – and if you’re thinking of attending next year, do it.
