There were top quality quiffs and fabulous frocks all round as Ballarat finished off this year’s Rockabilly Beat Festival over the weekend.
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The sun shone clear and bright on Saturday for the big events of the day – The Show and Shine, Battle of the Bands and the Ballarat Beat Pin Up competition.
The gleam of chromed machines extending along Lydiard Street drew many admiring punters to saunter through, with the ducos of vintage cars polished to a mirror sheen.
Great marques of the past and present were spread on both sides of the historic street – Dodge, Pontiac, Cadillac, Ford, Buick, Chevrolet.
There were restored vehicles and highly-modified hot rods, some well-weathered utilities and a selection of choppers and motorcycles.
‘Tiger’ White travelled up from Melbourne’s southern suburbs for the weekend, one of many tourists who made the journey to Ballarat for the yearly celebration of all things tattooed, pompadoured, primped and pimped.
“You just have to love American cars of the 40s and 50s,” said Mr White, whose own quiff showed no sign of wilting in the heat.
“They were so much better than other cars being made; they had so much more style. They had bigger and better engines, and they loved to show off what they could do with chrome and glass.”
Inside the Mining Exchange this year’s Pin Up competition drew a big crowd despite the heat, with giant fans at the rear of the hall doing their best to keep everyone comfortable.
The various categories drew plenty of entries – Miss Psychobilly, Miss Geekabilly, Miss Classique and Mr Ballarat Beat among others.
Loud cheers were reserved for the Miss Ink-spired category, with the contestants creatively displaying their tattoos to the music of the Andrews Sisters and Judy Garland. Judges Lucy Webster and Miss Von Smitten said the contestants were not judged on their tattoos but the effort they put into their appearance and the crowd’s response.
The Battle of the Bands was popular with the crowds as the afternoon wore into evening, and there was a great display of rock ‘n’ roll dancing to accompany the double-bass slapping, guitar twanging mayhem.
Sunday dawned overcast for the Best Dressed competition but the clouds cleared later and the crowds returned, with organiser Kesh Manton saying Ol’ 55 and the burlesque shows were highlights of the Beat.