2025 Coasters Coastal Cruise Rod Run – Port Macquarie
On Friday 7th February 2025, the Coasters Hot Rod Club held their 23rd Coastal Cruise weekend in Port Macquarie with 89 cars participating.
They kicked off with steak/sausage sandwiches and drinks on the wharf with DJ, Nathan Astbury from NJA Events, providing great music for the ladies, and later the guys, who all kicked up their heels for an entertaining night on the wharf.
Most were up bright and early for the local Men’s Shed fundraiser brekky. Later the hotrods lined up for a coastal cruise down to Royal Hotel Kew, where entrants purchased a tasty lunch and chilled out with a cold drink. They were treated to some great live music, becoming a “pop-up” Mini Show N’ Shine.
Some free time for all with many choosing a swim in the Edgewater Caravan Park pool. Later on, entrants paraded into the Town Square of Port Macquarie for a great Show N’ Shine with a large crowd of spectators. The Port Macquarie Police provided a classic V8 Ford GT highway patrol muscle car for viewing along with two officers who chatted to the onlookers before deciding their Police Trophy choice.
Afterwards it was back to the Edgewater wharf with the beautiful back drop of the Hastings River and a rising moon for another night of laughs, dancing or just chilling out with music again provided by Nathan. All in all, a good time was had by all!
Sunday morning there were sausages, bacon, eggs, fruit platters and more on the wharf with the stunning views over the Hastings yet again. This was followed by the raffle draw, the presentation of trophies, and farewell to the rodders. The Club wish to thank Michael Barnes for again making these superb glass trophies and to their sponsors, Darkside Rods & Customs, Meltique Beef, Hare & Forbes, Unimig, ASRF, Shannons, Coates Hire, Pacific Quick Change, Royal Hotel Kew, Mick Campbell, Ken Mason and Jim Pearson Transport. Their support goes a long way to helping our local charities like the Men’s Shed, PMBH Oncology Unit, and particularly the SES, who have managed the car park traffic for 23 years. They also provided a free sausage sizzle and water to the general public on the evening which was well received. The recipients for trophies for the selected awards are recorded further below.
On a sadder note, as many of you would be aware, the past President and a Founding member of the Coasters HRC, Bill Reid, passed away in July 2024 after a sudden, and short illness. This prompted the Club to initiate a Perpetual trophy appropriately named “The Billy Reid Memorial Trophy for Excellence in Hotrodding”. The Hot Rod Run Committee chose the winner, based on a selective criteria, keeping in mind both the recipient’s active involvement in hot-rodding over many years and Bill’s ethos about hot-rodding, “You own it, you build it, you drive it!”
Congratulations to the inaugural winner Entrant #61, Chris Jenkins with his black 1940 Ford Coupe, which he has owned for over 30 years. Chris was clearly moved and honoured to be the first recipient of this award. His commitment and dedication to his cars and in hot-rodding, both in Australia and almost annually to the USA, and active contribution in the ASRF, is admirable and commendable. Also, he and/or his wife, Deb, have attended 22 from 23 Coasters Club Rod Runs in Port Macquarie since the first in 2002, including 2 “non-runs” during Covid-19. Great to see the coupe back at the Coasters run this year and looking good, after its latest rebuild! Here are all the winners!
Junior Colouring Comp: Fletcher Reid 3-Year-Old Division
Encouragement Award: Luka Reid Respray of 1936 Ford Deluxe Sedan
Police Choice: Paul Nielson – #76 1930 Ford Model A Roadster, Red Mint
Top Paint: Kevin Owen – #21 1928 Ford Coupe, Green
Caravan Park Choice: Alan Harden – #10 1937 Ford Cabriolet, Green
Sponsor Choice (Kew Pub): Rob Miller – #88 1936 Auburn Speedster, Red/White
Best Represented Club: Maitland Street Rodders 11 Entrants
Furthest Distance: Barry Wilkins – #70 Wrights Creek, Far Nth Qld
Hard Luck: John & Sue Keighran – #22 1956 Ford Pickup, Orange
Easy Street Club Suspension collapsed – near Taree.
Billy Reid Memorial: Chris Jenkins – #61 1940 Ford Coupe – Black
