The Father’s Day weekend has become the most jam-packed weekend in the Aussie hot-car scene, with huge events like Red CentreNATS, World Time Attack Challenge and Dubbo Motorfest filling the 2024 calendar. And for Victorians, the jumbo Acland Street Father’s Day Car & Bike Show is a must-do. Hosted by Elvis Barbieri and the ever-busy Showcars Melbourne team, the event sprawls across St Kilda’s palm-dotted foreshore and popular shopping precinct. 

Our cold little state was slammed with some of the roughest weather on record in the days leading up to the show, but Elvis was as ready as he could be. “We couldn’t keep up with the weather apps, it was moving that quickly on Saturday night,” he laughed. “We knew there wasn’t any rain coming, so our main concern was wind. We had plans A, B, C and D ready to go.” That included no flags on Acland Street that could be whisked away, and setting up food trucks and carnival rides to prevent a wind tunnel from forming on the enclosed street.

“It worked out really well,” Elvis said. “The turnout was huge – I couldn’t believe it! To still pull so many people and cars on a day like that is not a bad effort.” 

When Elvis says huge, he’s referring to several hundred cars and somewhere over 50,000 visitors enjoying the free show, making it probably the biggest Father’s Day event in the state. “We had a few high-end cars pull out, which is fair enough, but we still had some really good cars come out,” he said. One of those was Frank Darmanin’s 900hp, LS Next-powered VH Commodore (SM, Jul ’24). “That’s what Frank built it for, to show people you can drive them!” said Elvis, who was responsible for the VH’s stunning BMW Pearl Blue paint. “People respect the cars there, and we really had no incidents on the day.”

This year’s show marked its 11th running, and it remains as popular as ever thanks in part to an ever-changing roster of cars. “We turn over probably 40 per cent of the cars each year,” Elvis said. “People in Acland Street might move to the park, and a lot of new cars will come in. I can’t believe just how many cars are in the scene; it’s amazing how we can roll over so many.” In fact, aside from Greg Angus’s HQ Monaro racer, not a single car in this feature is a double-up on our top picks from last year. 

Speaking of Greg’s Monaro, the public start-up is one of Elvis’s favourite parts of the show. “The drag guys all love it when he fires up the car – when he got on the two-step, it was like I was back at the Nationals at Calder Park in the 90s,” he laughed. “All the workers and promoters love it, too – the passion is amazing.” 

Family entertainment is another element of Elvis’s proven formula. As a dad himself, he understands how to draw in and retain young families. “When I used to go to shows with my kids, they’d want to leave in half an hour,” he explains. “When there’s dodgem cars or something to convince them to hang around a bit, they’ll be happy. You can spend three or four hours there, have some lunch, listen to the band, and make a really good day of it. That’s what it’s about, and it’s free!” 

For helping it all come together, Elvis would like to extend his thanks to his wife and family for their support, the Showcars Melbourne team for their help, and main sponsors Rare Spares, Shannons, PPG, Meguiar’s, the Acland Street Village Business Association and Network Fire Systems.

GALLERY:

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Ian Hubbard’s 1960 Buick Invicta oozes late-80s cool. Sporting a subtle pink pinstripe along its flanks and rolling on Dragway billets, it toured the show scene back when the bodystyle was uber-rare in Australia. It runs a 454, TH400 and 9in, with a ’59 El Camino dash inside. “They were on some good shit back then,” Ian grinned.

2. Jason’s VH SL/E runs an LSA combo turned down to 670hp. “Originally it was built for some drag racing as well, but we thought it was too good to race,” he said. Diamond-stitched Coulson seats and heaps of sound deadening make it a comfortable family ride.

3. Robbie Kerr has owned his LH toughie for almost 15 years. “I bought it as a roller in primer and did everything else,” he explained. The LS2 wears an LSA 1900 blower for 630rwhp on E85, running through a ’Glide and 9in. “It’s nice and smooth – it just doesn’t stop too well,” Robbie laughed.

4. Zac Weiss brought along his race-proven LC. “It’s had Holden V8s in it, a small-block Chev, and finally a single-turbo RB,” he said. “It’s got a GTX42 on it, running low boost – 32 or 33psi – and it’s gone 8.90@155mph.” 

5. Zac’s son Ayden was handed the keys to their 383-cube HT GTS. “It was a rolling shell; I helped Dad build the motor and gearbox in the garage,” Ayden said. “It’s been our baby ever since!” Having just turned 18, he was one of the youngest to park on Acland Street.

6. Tim Martenstyn’s HG wagon (Sleepers, SM, Jun ’20) recently had a birthday. The 355ci SBC now turns a TH700, while other additions include Wilwood and HQ brakes and Weld rolling stock for a killer stance. “I really enjoy driving it, and it cops attention everywhere it goes,” Tim grinned.

7. Jim Mullins swapped a race boat for this ’67 Nova SS with all the fruit! Packing an 8/71-blown 400 Chev, big tubs and heaps of custom work, it pulled a big crowd on the day. Painter and bike customiser Joe Pegoraro did most of the work, including under-bonnet murals.

8. “This is my first ever car,” said Drag Challenge racer Tony Marakis of his sweet XW ute. “I was 14 when I bought it!” Up front is a 351 Clevo good for 480hp, paired to a C9 auto so that Tony’s wife can also enjoy the car to its fullest.

9. Growing up, Bash Arabi dreamed of owning a yellow XY GT. After an RX-2 Capella as his first car, and a hot XR6 Turbo, he’s now enjoying trouble-free cruising with his family in this schmick four-speed GT replica. “The only thing it’s done in 15 years is a coil,” he said.

10. Ali’s XB run hides a 3V-headed 410ci Clevo, transbraked C10 and 9in with 3.7s for a punchy and stress-free 325rwhp. “It’s got hydraulic lifters; you can drive it on the street or take it to the track,” he said

11. Con at Kinglake Car Bike & Customs recently saved this ripper factory windowless XA panel van from a shed. A mechanical refresh and buff job had it back on the road, and it’s just gone to a new owner, who will hopefully keep the epic raked stance! 

12. Starting as his P-plater ride with a worked 202, David Asciak’s LX Torana now features a street-friendly 308 with L34 heads, and rolls on widened HQ stockies for a cool, no-nonsense look. Under David’s ownership, it’s worn white and gold paint, but it’s currently dressed in Barbados Green as part of a COVID-era revamp. 

13. Danny Howe has joined the show in a few different Garden State-plated hotties, and this time he plonked his Barra turbo XE ute (SM, May ’21) next to the St Kilda tram tracks.

14. If there was a ‘Best Tyre-to-Flare Ratio’ trophy on offer, Terry Papanik’s LH Torana would’ve been a serious contender. With 383 Chev power, it has run into the 9.90s, naturally aspirated. It’s also a regular on the street scene.

15. Greg Angus’s Supercharged Outlaws HQ Monaro always forms a focal point on the end of Acland Street. As per show tradition, he fired up the spicy 376ci SBC in front of a big crowd. Hands on ears, folks!

16. One of Australia’s top Commodores parked up in a suburban street at a free show? You bet! Frank Darmanin’s incredibly detailed PROGM8 VH (SM, Jul ’24) was given pride of place on Acland Street, between the live music stage and bustling shops.