Museum to Crank Up a fine show

Vintage . . . Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum volunteers Graham Corlett, Deanne Marsden and Alastair Sabiston are preparing for next month’s annual Crank Up. PHOTO: SHELLEY INON

The Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum is cranking up to support the community.

The museum’s annual Crank Up will take place next month, with all proceeds going to the Geraldine Health Hub.

Club spokeswoman Deanne Marsden said a varied selection of tractors would be cranked up, and would do laps around the buildings as part of the event.

Miss Marsden said volunteer club members would be driving the tractor of their choice.

She suspected volunteers would have ‘‘grins like the kids in a candy shop’’.

‘‘As long as their tractor started,’’ she added.

The lure of vintage cars for her was that just by looking at the vehicle you could see how it worked — seeing its brakes and suspension, for example.

‘‘But with the newer ones, it is all computers.’’

She said things people might think of as new concepts — like cruise control — could be found in vintage cars.

‘‘With cruise control, they had a lever.’

Even electric vehicles were no new concept, with the museum housing one built in the area about 60 years ago.

For Miss Marsden, with three uncles in the area working with cars and machines, there were motors and cars everywhere when she was growing up.

She had memories of falling asleep as her grandfather took her on a bumpy tractor ride.

Club member Alastair Sabiston said in 1952 his parents bought their first car.

Mr Sabiston said before that he got about on his feet, covering many miles to get home at night.

His first car was purchased when he was 15; it was a blue Austin 7 which he bought off his brother for £10.

He said the club would like to have younger members — ‘‘some nice young 40-yearolds.’’

The museum had purchased a hoist — with the persuasion of one member — which allowed older members to easily get under the cars.

While the upcoming event would be aimed at cranking up vehicles, it would also be a chance for people to see the museum’s original 1929 Spartan biplane in its new position.

Miss Marsden said the Spartan arrived at the museum’s Morrison Building in the 1980s.

‘‘So it is the first move in 40 years.

‘‘The Spartan is now showcased in an even more impressive fashion than before.’’

She said it was housed ‘‘pride of place’’ in the freshly updated tractor building.

‘‘Now she floats high above the visitors on the ground floor so they can gaze up in wonder.’’

As it was hanging level with the mezzanine floor, the cockpit and motor could still be viewed.

The club would also be having a sales table of doubleup and surplus-torequirement items.

A sausage sizzle and classic car rides will also be on offer.

The Crank Up will be held on October 26 from 10am-3pm.