Bay to Birdwood 2020: Exclusive live stream broadcast of Adelaide’s great parade of classic vintage cars
Vehicles of yesteryear met the technology of today when the 40th anniversary Bay to Birdwood run was captured by flying drones and dashcams and live streamed to the world. SEE THE REPLAY AND THE PICTURES
SA News
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Organisers of the 40th anniversary Bay to Birdwood vintage, veteran and classic car run have declared its new COVID-safe format a runaway success.
Even the State’s chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier was able to take part yesterday under the new COVID-safe format, looking pretty in pink as a passenger in the 1935 Hudson Eight driven by event chair Michael Neale.
“I felt like I was Phryne Fisher (from Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) out there on the open road, going to look for a crook,” Professor Spurrier said.
Social distancing rules meant that major changes were made to this year’s event, which took place without the usual public start gathering at West Beach and post-run celebrations at the National Motor Museum.
Instead, tens of thousands of spectators set up their deck chairs as families and gathered in small groups along the 72km route to watch the cavalcade of 1250 veteran, vintage and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles pass by.
Thousands more joined in to watch the event’s live stream on advertiser.com.au or its delayed telecast on Channel 44.
After checking in at the end of the run, many participants had organised their own COVID-safe lunch celebrations at pubs, cafes, bakeries and picnic spots throughout the Adelaide Hills, providing a much-needed boost for local tourism.
“I’ve managed to get a seat in the Scenic hotel at Norton Summit,” Prof Spurrier said.
“Coming through this last little stretch, was of course, where some of the bushfires had come through.
“Being able to support tourism, I think that really is a spin-off on the new way that this is being run today.
“We still need to stay COVID-safe and this is exactly what the Bay to Birdwood has shown us we can do today.”
You can watch the replay here of the 40th Bay to Birdwood, provided in partnership with the National Motor Museum and Channel 44.
It includes dashcam footage, crosses to participants in vehicles, drone coverage following the route and messages from interstate and overseas enthusiasts who couldn’t make the event due to COVID-19.
Watch the replay for all the action and up-close vision of more than 1600 historic cars, archival footage from 40 years of Bay to Birdwood fun along with interviews and commentary from special guests and motoring experts and enthusiasts.
