Bay to Birdwood rally in South Australia allows electric-modified historic vehicles from 2022 in a world first

The Bay to Birdwood Run, one of the largest historical motoring celebrations internationally, originated in South Australia in 1980.
Image by Claire Campbell, courtesy ABC News, Adelaide

In a world first, South Australia’s Bay to Birdwood Run from 2022 welcomed electric-modified historic vehicles taking part.

The Bay to Birdwood became one of the largest historical motoring celebrations internationally, with cars dating to the early 1900s taking on the 70-kilometre journey from the Adelaide seaside suburb of Glenelg through the Adelaide Hills to Birdwood, home of the National Motor Museum.

Organiser for the 2022 event, Michael Neale told ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) News in Adelaide that allowing to conversion to electric power would save some vehicles that would otherwise be lost to the event: "Majority of people I've spoken to believe this is a incredible piece of leadership. We are paving the way for a broader understanding of what a historical vehicle is."

Marteen Burger, owner of a Jaunt Motors Land Rover Series III EV, originally built in 1973, said electric-modified modified vehicles were a way of the future and preserved motoring history: "This vehicle has a story. It was a farm vehicle and now we've kept some of that story with it. The dents are still there. Converting the vehicle has required a lot of research and development. It will give her another 50 years of life."

Burger said that “by converting them to electric, they're more reliable, more powerful and a lot safer.We really appreciate the fact the story of these cars gets to survive."  The Bay (Adelaide seaside suburb of Glenelg) to Birdwood Run started in 1980 for pre-1956 vehicles only. It acknowledged the first South Australian driver's licence being issued to Dr William A. Hargreaves in 1906.

After the event attracted 90,000 people watching along Adelaide  streets in 2021, the event was cancelled in 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic. Organisers expected 1,500 vehicles to take part in the 2022 event.

• Information from ABC News , Adelaide.