WITH the recent passing of South Australia’s new conditional rego laws, which allow us lucky crow-eaters to drive our modified cars throughout the year on the 90-day logbook scheme, it was only right to head along to the main event of the organisation that made it happen, the Street Machine Association of South Australia’s 36th annual Show ’n’ Shine.

SMASA has gone from strength to strength since the rego boon, which came into effect on 1 July this year. “We had 430 members in February this year, and that’s exploded to currently 1600 members,” SMASA president Glenn Stankevicius said. “Overall there’s 3400 vehicles now on the conditional registration scheme – we had 350 at just one rego day!”

Being community-minded, the Association’s given a cash injection straight to where it’s needed most. “$4000 has gone to charities: Heart & Soul Community Group, a food assistance charity; Beyondblue; the Leukaemia Foundation; and the sponsorship of an SA Variety 4WD Challenge car. We also thanked our hard-working club rego officers with $1500 worth of vouchers. They give up large amounts of time for the cause,” Glenn said.

Out on the oval, the 200 entrants spanned a wide range of auto brands under SMASA’s proud All Makes, All Models banner. It was refreshing to eye off a range of different rides, all preened for their People’s Choice voting.

And while the forecast suggested midday storms, the rain thankfully held off – but the wind didn’t. But everyone played to the conditions, seeing a successful show run and won.

Sponsors stumped up a heap of prizes, including $500 for the Top Street Machine of the day. Jodie Garner (SM, Jul ’12) took home the cash with her pristine MotorEx-spec LC Torana while scoring five trophies all told, and more Meguiar’s gear than she can prod a big stick at. Also collecting a fair share of the tinware was Dan McAuley’s super-tidy HK wags, dubbed Sadie (SM, Nov ’17).

With club rego numbers growing every day, the expectation is that the oval will be chockers next year.

“Summernats 2008 was the last time that I cruised SMOKEM,” said Glen McHale (with son Brayden) of his ex-burnout LH Torry. He’s recently stepped it up with a 540ci Chev fed by twin GT45 turbs. “Now it’s going to be a power-skidder, but mostly it’s for the street,” he said.

Max Bowman’s street-legal 350ci-powered humpy bookends the curvy goodness of the Generals FX-FJ Club of SA club, who fed snags to masses throughout the day.

Lyn Lenthall’s EH ute sports an ex-VK Commodore 202ci EFI donk and HQ stoppers on all four corners. The fresh build is thanks to hubby Peter, a long-term SMASA member. “The Champion Yellow colour was my choice,” Lyn said. “I’d like to daily-drive it, but Pete’s a bit protective as it’s only been to three shows so far.” Pete also made the fibreglass tonneau cover, while their son whipped up the timber floor.

“After attending the Pontiac Nats and seeing four cars in Montero Red, I decided to go with the most outrageous factory paint,’ said Graham Osley of his ’66 Pontiac GTO’s livery. “The GeeTO Tiger paint is factory-approved, famously featuring on their race cars. I recreated it all by referencing old photos.” Graham bought the GTO from Whyalla nine years ago before giving it a rotisserie resto, featuring fresh chrome and new re-cast Hurst rims. “All Tigers run the tail; mine flips back into the boot for driving.”

The Gary Watson Memorial Trophy is given to the car that most matches the tastes of the late Gary: a tough ride featuring big motor, big tyres and preferably blown. This year the recipient was Gary Teague and his ’68 XT, powered by 6/71-blown 302ci Windsor and backed by a C4 with 3000rpm stally and nine-inch. “I’m really proud to have received the award,” said the SMASA member of over 20 years.

SMASA prez – and the bloke who helped bring in the new SA conditional rego scheme – Glenn Stankevicius took a few minutes away from his duties for a family pic. He’s flanked by his three of his four kids: Jaclyn (left), Jonas (right rear) and Jaras (front right), as they stand beside Glenn’s FE and Jonas’s HR. Wife Nadia and daughter Jade not pictured.

Mark Lance married well, inheriting his mother-in-law’s black EH 25 years ago. “The family had it since ’78,” Mark said. “When we got it, it was a daily at first, before we parked it up for 17 years.’ In 2014 he began a rotisserie rebuild, resulting in a silky-smooth body coated in luscious black. Mark’s kept the original 138ci driveline, yet added 60s touches of twin carbs, extractors and deleted trims.

American muscle may’ve been less in number than the Aussies, but they certainly weren’t shrinking violets. The searing yellow of Nick’s tough 1970 Dodge Super Bee caught the eye of punters, and took out runner-up Top Import.

“I’d been searching for a VH S/LE for three years!” said Ashley Carr of her new baby. “I finally bought this a few weeks back; it runs a 333ci Holden, Trimatic with Stage 2 kit, 3500 stall and nine-inch with LSD and 4.5s. It was set up to race, but I’ll be looking after it!”

Geof Tartoosie has flogged off his 308ci in favour of a fresh 383ci Chev donk in his HG Monaro. The motor’s still being run-in, so he can’t give it a full flogging just yet, but it’s something he’ll think about after he’s co-ordinated the Adelaide Auto Expo on 10-11 November

Top Individual Display appropriately went to Mark Turner’s set-up surrounding his HZ pano from the Red Dog film. Fellow Majestic Vanner Steven Smith took out Top Graphics & Mural with his ex-SA FM HX pano.

Dan McAuley (SM, Nov 17) needed a wheelbarrow for his haul, taking home Runner-up Top Street Machine, Top Wagon, Top Paint and Runner-up Top Interior.

Adorned with bomber livery, the RHD ’54 Willys Aero Deluxe sedan of Sean ‘Bluewire Automotive’ Basford took out Top Restored/Original.

After attending the Holden Dream Cruise two weeks ago, Jodie Garner had the detailing work cut out for her to prep her mint LC for the SMASA show. With, ahem, help from her two-year-old son Brock, she managed to shine up the Torry to take out top honours.

Sitting beside Jodie Garner’s trophy-haulin’ LC Torry was Kym and Kate Barlett’s ’68 Pontiac Firebird. With a 400ci Pontiac donk, Pontiac 350 trans, Winters nine-inch and Wilwood stoppers, the Classic American Restorations purple-hued stunner had punters around it all day.

You don’t see too many Monaros up for grabs these days, so this ’73 HQ LS had me salivating. With a noted original 49,200 miles on the clock, a pristine interior and the original purchase docket, this would be awesome in someone’s collection.

It’s only two weeks out from Drag Challenge, but we still felt the need to take the time to support the SMASA show, while using our new club rego. We’ll continue prepping Shane’s ’77 HZ Sandman for DC once it’s back in the shed – and his most unexpected Runner-Up Top Engine Bay trophy is placed on the mantel.