Like cars, like father, like son
AT the tender age of nine, Nate Irvin belies his tender years when helping his dad work on the family’s injected HK Premier.
Dubbo Photo News caught up with the budding mechanic at the last Classic Cars and Coffee in Victoria Park and he said the HK is a beast.
“These old cars just sound a lot better,” he said. “This car is old but it’s cool.”
Nate says spending time with his dad with their hands full of tools working on the car is a great thing.
“I like helping dad work on it and driving with dad to Cars and Coffee.”
His dad Carl is better known as Spud, a Minore local who has been a fan of cars since he wasn’t much older than Nate.
“Ever since I was 16 I’ve been I interested in cars. My first car was a HQ (Holden), I had an HQ Monaro until I was 26, a twodoor, and then I built a Torana, sold that and started building this – as we got more kids we sort of needed more doors,” Spud explained.
“It’s a 1968 HK Holden Premier with an injected LS (motor). We’ve been building it over the past five years
“The missus nicknamed it Date Night because we only ever seem to use it on date nights,” he laughed.
Spud reckons the monthly meet at Victoria Park is one of the best days of the month.
“It’s just good to have an excuse to get the car out and it’s for a good cause so I’m always happy to donate to the Make a Wish Foundation,” he said.
“We just wander around looking at cars and having a few yarns, finding out what people are building, what they’ve got going on, that’s what it’s all about.”
Classic Cars and Coffee founder Owen De Carle is hoping for a massive turn out this Sunday, March 6 from 8am.
“It’s going to be a huge weekend with the Westview Drivein showing The World’s Fastest Indian on Saturday night and plenty of people coming from out of town then staying for Classic Cars and Coffee on Sunday,” Mr De Carle said.
He believes the hunger for the casual, social event where people can simply rock up in their ride if they have one, or check out the best selection of classic cars in Dubbo, has grown as people realise the social aspect is so profound after two years of lockdowns that took much of the joy out of life.
“Initially it was just the car guys but we get a lot of people from the general public now, more and more, just coming down to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the day, look at the cars and just talk to people but there’s still probably a lot of people out there who don’t realise yet what it’s all about.
“Vic Park is just the best setting you could imagine. It’s such a great atmosphere here with the trees creating the shade and the breeze, and just having that avenue full of cars.”