Gold Coast Monster Machinery Day arrives at Broadwater Parklands for 16th year

The Gold Coast’s Monster Machinery Day is back on the Gold Coast for another year - here’s everything on offer this time around.

THOUSANDS of dads and kids who love the rattle and roar of huge engines in oversized machines are gearing up for Monster Machinery Day at Southport – but few of them are as excited as Councillor Dawn Crichlow.

Cr Crichlow was the brains behind the event when it fired up 16 years ago, and has since watched it grow to become one of Southport’s biggest free events.

And when it roars into life again on Sunday on the Southern Lawn of the Broadwater Parklands, the city council’s heavy plant including excavators and beach tractors will be lined up alongside decommissioned army tanks, while stunt motorbike riders will take their lives in their hands in a show to get the heart racing.

The Sabre Tank is just one of dozens of vehicles on display this weekend. Picture Glenn Hampson

The Ferret Scout car is also ready to go. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“I went to the office and I said, all this equipment is owned by the ratepayers and they’re never allowed to go near it or touch it, what if we had a day to display them?” Cr Crichlow said of how the show began.

“And they went along with it straight away. I think it’s one of the best events we put on because people are able to see their money is being well spent.

“I’m good with ideas. I’m an ideas person and I always have been.”

More than 12,000 attended last year.

This year crowds will be able to have an up-close look at military vehicles including a Sabre tank and a scout car, watch three stunt motorcyclists take on the “Globe of Death”, and crawl all over more than 50 city council vehicles including excavators, road sweepers, beach tractors and emergency vehicles.

Dozens of giant vehicles are available to check out on Sunday. Picture Glenn Hampson

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Owner of Tank Ride Tim Wood said he was excited to share his collection of tanks with Gold Coasters “on a grand scale”.

“You really start to appreciate the reaction when my kids’ friends come over, because they live with it all the time and they’re used to it,” he said.
“But when their friends come you get the real honest reaction of ‘this is insane, who has tanks’. I’m passionate about it and seeing the kids’ reactions really motivates that passion.”

The Monster Machinery Day runs from 9am to 3pm on Sunday ((MAY 26)).