COVID 19   VERSUS   THE BOW-TIE

Hi Bowties,

As this is SAD NEWS in relation to the National Chevrolet Festival we feel once again we should identify ourselves to you, the National Festival Committee Members are;

 Craig O’ Donohue,      David Shaw,      Ron Baker,                                                                                                                     Michael Johnson,     Ian Cole,    Patrick Prusakowski.

And let’s not forget Peter Mantel who we are sure attended every meeting

Over the last two and a half years we have formed a cohesive and well run

Committee and also formed long-term friendships as well.

We thought we had beaten Covid 19 by rescheduling the festival from 2020 to 2021 and were on the money and then came the Delta Variant and the rules changed  

SO, BOWTIES IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT WE HAVE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE 2020/21 NATIONAL CHEVROLET FESTIVAL IS CANCELLED AND DUE TO THE ONGOING RISK OF COVID VARIENTS WE CANNOT SIMPLY RESCHEDULE IT MUST BE CANCELLED OUTRIGHT.  PLEASE ALSO KEEP IN MIND IT IS ALL VERY WELL TO ATTEND BUT GETTING BACK HOME AFTERWARDS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM…….IF THEY CAN CALL A LOCKDOWN WITH 4 HOURS  NOTICE!!!

For the record it would have been a cracker of an event and if you read all the

Bow-Tie articles or checked the web all those things mentioned were real.

I know of no other Show and Shine that has a Paddle Steamer moored out front, We were going to.

What about the fact you could get a coffee or even a full breakfast before a run,

We arranged this

And boy were the ladies in for some fun with the local CWA hosting a get together

I could go on but I am sure you get the picture we covered all the bases.

As far as numbers go Victorian Members should be proud as we made up 54 per cent of the total numbers which have been listed elsewhere but here are the majors again……

112 Entrants  –  61 from Vic,  20 from NSW, and the other states making up the balance.

We are talking well over 200 people plus many locals.

As late as Tuesday the 10^th we were receiving Entries!!!……So Sad.

Several entrant numbers were used to evaluate the various Festival budget positions and we exceeded these and would have been in a strong financial position had the Festival been run.

If you are wondering why now ????  Why not wait????

The answer is simple ……

Wednesday 11^th August was the deadline for major financial commitments that once made could not be cancelled…..think trophies and apparel for starters

In relation to Entrant fees etc Craig will automatically contact you and arrange your refund so take a breath it will automatically happen without your input.

ALL IS NOT LOST…..

We are on the cusp of the cut-off date for the August Bow-Tie we needed to get this information out to you, but we ask you, Please…….. do not rush in and cancel your accommodation just yet.

Spare a thought for the Yarrawonga / Mulwala businesses who have been so accommodating to this Committee and are being crushed by these lockdowns     in these times they still need our support so Bowties why not Step Up and treat yourself to a weekend away when things settle down…. After all, you have already paid the deposit. It is an easy thing to change your booking to a date that fits in with you plans.

Once the Festival cancellation is sorted, we may even organise a CCCV Club run up there so please reconsider that snap refund.

The Festival Committee would also like to acknowledge and thank the following people who agreed to sponsor the Festival;

Festival sponsor – RACV

Trophy sponsors –

• Invisible Car Bras (James Pierce),
• Chris O’Shea Motor Trimming,
• Pro Steer Down Under (John Smith),
• Enterprize Automotive (David Keeley),
• PCB Automotive,
• Temple Body Works
• Maguires.

It is also very pleasing to note that four of the Sponsors were Club Members and all the above Festival Sponsors warrant your interaction if your Chevrolet requires attention in their field of business

Finally (and at this early stage in the cycle) NSW will host the next National Chevrolet Festival hopefully sometime in 2022.

Please stay healthy and get the jab

Ian for the Festival Committee