Bay to Birdwood

Judging vehicles at the end of the 2015 Bay to Birdwood

Start of the Bay to Birdwood, 2018

The inaugural Bay to Birdwood took place in 1980, after the idea was raised by Bob Chantrell, of the Federation of Vintage Car Clubs (SA), inspired by the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. The FVCC approached Donald Chisholm[1] OAM,[2] general manager of the National Motor Museum (also known as the Birdwood Mill, reflecting the building in which it was housed), who agreed to be co-organiser. He suggested and agreed to provide a perpetual trophy for the "Concours d'Elegance", with its design based on the Shearer Steam Car, which would remain on display at the Mill. S.A.S. Channel 10 would provide television advertising and a documentary after the event, and proceeds from the event would be donated to its Christmas appeal. Starting at Colley Reserve in Glenelg, its name derives from Holdfast Bay, on which Glenelg is situated.[1]

In 2001, several changes took place. SA Water took over as sponsor, and there were several changes to the committee, which would not only organise the Run, but also the Classic event, which had previously been organised by the National Motor Museum. From 2001, both events would be organised by the same committee, and both would follow the same route, the starting point of which was changed from Glenelg to the Barratt Reserve at West Beach, owing to traffic bottlenecks around Glenelg. The cars would turn east past the airport and along Tapleys Hill Road to Anzac Highway, with computer-controlled traffic lights adding smooth passage.[3]

As of its 30th anniversary in 2010, the Bay to Birdwood Run was being held every two years, open to vehicles manufactured before 1956, alternating each year with the Bay to Birdwood Classic for vehicles manufactured from 1956 to 1977.[4] In 2013, the route of the Classic changed its previous routing: instead of travelling via North East Road, the cars would travel along Tapleys Hill Road, Anzac Highway and Greenhill Road and then turn into Glen Osmond Road and travel up the South Eastern Freeway. This would take the cars past Verdun, Balhannah, Oakbank, Woodside, Charleston, and Mount Torrens en route to Birdwood.[5]

Prior to 2020, the Bay to Birdwood Classic event was held in odd-numbered years and was for vehicles manufactured from 1956 to 1986, thus focusing on vintage and veteran vehicles. Since 2020, the annual event has welcomed all historic vehicles regardless of manufacturing year.[6]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bay to Birdwood was one of the first major large-scale public events to take place after the first national pandemic restrictions, and the 40th anniversary edition was modified to suit the changed conditions for public events.[7] The format was popular, attracting around 90,000 spectators. However the 2021 event, due to take place on 26 September, did not go ahead, due to an increased number of cases of COVID-19 in the state.[8][9]

The 2022 event, to be held in October, will include electric-modified vehicles for the first time, and some 1,500 drivers are expected to participate.[9]

The archive of programs from all events is available on the Bay to Birdwood website.[8]

The Bay to Birdwood is now one of the biggest historical motoring celebrations of its type globally, including cars dating back to the early 1900s.[9] Since 2020, the annual event welcomes all historic vehicles regardless of manufacturing year.[6]

The event organisers, the History Trust of South Australia, curates the proportion and representative numbers of different eras of motoring heritage with an emphasis on early motoring and pivotal significant periods in motoring history. Thousands of spectators line the approximately 70 km (43 mi) route to view the passing parade of historic motoring from vantage points along the side of the road. The run includes antique, veteran, vintage, post-war/early-classic, classic, post-classic and modern classic cars, motorbikes, buses, military vehicles and occasionally fire engines.

The Bay to Birdwood starts on the Adelaide foreshore, leaving from Barratt Reserve in the Adelaide suburb of West Beach. It concludes at the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills town of Birdwood, approximately 70 km (43 mi) from the Start. Participants and spectators can view the hundreds of entrant vehicles displayed in the grounds of the museum. Many drivers dress in attire to match the period of their vehicle.

• Official website
• Bay to Birdwood Run 1980–2010 : ISBN 9780980708585, by William Hall Watson, past president, Federation of Historic Motoring Clubs SA Inc, former member Bay to Birdwood Run Committee Inc.