IN TIMES of need Aussie car enthusiasts sure know how to band together, and last weekend 450 cool cars and bikes hit the road to Grantville for the Bass Coast Show ‘n’ Shine to raise money for the Simpson-Brewer family.

Pro Street stalwart and master craftsman Craig Brewer lost his battle with cancer last year and the massive turn out for the big fella’s family shows just how much he will be missed by the Melbourne street car scene. The Bass Coast Show ‘n’ Shine at Grantville has been running for a few years now and it runs every second year to raise money for worthwhile charities like the CFA or Cystic Fibrosis. This year they called it the Craig Brewer Memorial and raised $13,308 for the Simpson-Brewer family and the local CFA.

There was a strong mix of Aussie muscle on the day as brand loyalties were put aside, and light throttle cruising won the day. Many started their day at Calder Park, while others joined at Cranbourne on the way to the Grantville Reaction Reserve. So many cars jammed into so small and area created some traffic chaos with lines stretching for 2km, but everyone got in eventually for a top day of hanging out with good mates and cool cars.

Brendan Cherry brought his wild turbocharged Monaro out for a cruise, a rare slow speed moment for the ballistically quick Holden

It doesn’t matter how many rat rod pick-ups we see, they’re all cool

Zoran from Competition Engines had his eight-second twin-turbo Fairlane out and about

Plenty of cool traffic for a good cause

Suns out; guns out!

Dave Guilfoyle’s blown HQ Monaro featured on the cover of our December 2015 issue

Mick McGrath’s LJ Torana is one of the quickest nitrous streeters in the country. It runs mid-sevens with big block grunt

Warren Eustace towed his blown small block-powered burnout monster to the reserve and then cruised it in

Craig ‘Shonky’ Brewer’s own HR Panel van – known as Frog Stomp was prepared by good mates Rob and Daniel for the event. The van was driven from back of reserve to main spot in centre by Rob Camilleri with Craig’s son Scott was in passenger seat. His eldest daughter Tily, who had never been in the car got to drive it back to the trailer at the end of the day.