THE annual Mopar Nationals is on this Saturday at Heathcote Park Raceway. Some of the country’s best Chrysler-built cars – Dodges, Plymouths, Valiants, Jeeps and more – will take part in the event, which mixes a show ’n’ shine, trade stalls and a swap meet with a spot of drag racing and some burnouts. Last year’s Nats was a cracker, with some seriously tough cars rocking up, and this year promises more of the same. Gates open at 8:30am and drag/skid entry costs $90, while it’s $20 to enter the show ’n’ shine or just spectate.

The Scenic Rim Motor Sports Association is putting on a big car show in Logan, Queensland this weekend to help raise funds to secure land for a future motorplex in the state’s south east. Enthusiasts are invited to bring their classics, muscle cars, lowriders, hot rods, street machines, and anything else interesting with four wheels (or no wheels if you want to bring a boat!) down to Logan Street from 7am Sunday morning.

The fifth annual Crown Hotel Buninyong car show is also on this Sunday in country Victoria. The show is open to all hot rods, classics, cruisers, muscle cars, street machines, vintage cars and bikes. It’ll cost you $20 to enter your car, which also gets you a show shirt and entry into the giveaway comps, while it’s free to spectate. The action kicks off at 8am at the Crown Hotel Buninyong, just south of Ballarat.

The Show Us Ya Wheels car show and swap meet is on this Sunday at the Numurkah Showgrounds, Victoria. This great charity event has been running for a number of years now, with free kids’ rides, loads of cool cars and cheap entry! A swap site is yours for $10, and it’ll cost $5 for adults to spectate and kids $2.

The Akoonah Park Men’s Shed group from Berwick, Victoria are putting on a monthly car and bike show over summer. While the show is open to all makes and models, I managed to catch a glimpse of last month’s event and can confirm that some impressive street machines came along. Entry is a gold coin donation, with proceeds going to the Akoonah Park Men’s Shed, which supports men’s health and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

This Saturday Toowoomba’s RB Garage and US Automotives in Queensland are holding a dyno day and show ’n’ shine event. It’ll cost $80 to have a run on the dyno, and that includes two pulls and a display sheet of each of the runs, while the show ’n’ shine is $10 to enter. Show ’n’ shine classes include Elite, Street, Top Resto and People’s Choice, with trophies going to the best car from each. Bring the family along as there will be a jumping castle and free face painting. The action kicks off from 8am.

Calder Park is hosting the Drift Challenge Australia series all weekend, where 70 of the best drifters from around Australia and three Formula D USA competitors will be putting on one epic smoke show. Saturday entry is $20, Sunday $30 or $40 for a weekend pass, plus you can get pit access for $10 or five sideways laps with a pro for $50! Check out the Drift Challenge Australia page for more details.

Willowbank Raceway is also holding test and tune sessions this Friday night and Saturday. As usual it’s $45 to race, $20 to spectate and $20 for a passenger ride if you’re keen to scare your mates down the strip.