Alliance Airlines boss launches luxury Noosa Concours car event

As cost of living concerns grip the nation one airline boss is bringing the finer things in life – caviar, jets and rare classic cars – to the masses.

As cost of living concerns grip the nation, Sunshine Coast entrepreneur Steve Padgett has launched an ambitious plan to bring the finer things in life – caviar, jets and rare classic cars – to the masses.

The Alliance Airlines chairman is the brains behind this week’s Noosa Concours d’Elegance – a free gathering of the most-expensive and sought after classic cars on one of the nation’s most well-known streets.

Among the feast of machines to descend on Noosa’s bustling Hastings Street – which in a rare move Noosa Council will close to weekend traffic – is a striking 1911 Benz owned by Sir John Monash, Australia’s only Bugatti Veyron and Queen Elizabeth’s Rolls Royce Phantom.

Complementing those famously-connected cars and almost 50 others will be the eye-wateringly beautiful Ferrari Daytona 365, E-Type Jaguar and Mercedes 540 Cabriolet.

Hastings Street restaurants will add to the luxury of the concours by hosting long lunches, champagne and caviar events and cocktail masterclasses.

Guests at an exclusive charity launch party inside Mr Padgett’s Sunshine Coast airport hanger will also be treated to a flying acrobatic performance by Red Bull Air Race champion Matt Hall and a sunset fly-past of a special pink Alliance Airlines’ aircraft.

Alliance Airline chairman Steve Padgett said the free Noosa Concours event would bring together the finest collection of Australia’s most exclusive cars.

Mr Padgett acknowledges the layers of luxury seem out of place when cost of living pressures are dominating national headlines, but he insists the Noosa Concours event is about delivering inspiration and joy.

“The beauty of this is we were very keen to make sure that it remains free,” he said.

“We don’t want just cars that are perfect and cars that are out of people’s financial ability to pay for, but we want cars that people can aspire to as well.

“That’s what we’re trying to do with this free event.”

Mr Padgett said Noosa’s event would be modelled on the US’s hugely popular and successful Pebble Beach Concours – which draws thousands of people each year – and was borne by a labour of love.

“I always loved cars and I had an old FJ Holden when I was young which I’d saved up for years and years and years to get,” he said.

“I always aspired one day, because when I started in aviation I dealt with people who had not only nice cars, but interesting cars.

“We’ve got all the people who love cars and interestingly Noosa has the biggest collection of Ferraris in Australia so there’s a lot of car people around.”

The event will be held in Australia’s Ferrari capital, Noosa.

The Queensland businessman, who learnt to fly at 16 before launching his own aircraft marketing and sales business in 1978, insists he has a bit left in the tank and will continue to oversee Alliance Airlines and his own Sunshine Coast Jet Centre.

“People keep saying when are you going to retire and I tell them I’ll never retire but I might change my occupation, but I just enjoy doing these sorts of things,” he said.

“Something like this appeals … a lot of ways to types of people who love motoring, love cars, and so on so I hope that this will continue either as an annual or biannual basis.

“I’m just happy to be on the peripheral as long as I can.”

Noosa Concours d’Elegance will be held on Hastings Street on July 15.

Originally published as Alliance Airlines boss launches luxury Noosa Concours car event