Helen Symes and Dino Palumbo from Willagee with their 1957 Chevy.
Camera IconHelen Symes and Dino Palumbo from Willagee with their 1957 Chevy. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Willagee man ready to rev again for Variety Creative Car Cruise

Headshot of Josh Zimmerman
Josh ZimmermanMelville Gazette

AFTER a one-year hiatus, Dino Palumbo’s 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is revving up for a return to the Variety Creative Car Cruise.

The Willagee resident and his black Chevy featured in the first five car cruises but last year he was forced to hitch a ride with a friend because his usual co-driver Helen Symes was unavailable.

This year the 60-year-old Bel Air is back, one of 24 cars set to adventure through the state’s Coral Coast.

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Beginning in Gingin on March 9, the fleet of classic, muscle, sports and modified vehicles will travel through Dongara, Port Denison, Geraldton and Jurien Bay before reaching the finish line in Wanneroo.

Participants contribute a minimum $4000 donation, which is used to provide equipment, programs and experiences to WA kids who are sick, disadvantaged, or have special needs.

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Mr Palumbo, who bought his Chevrolet Bel Air more than a decade ago from a seller in Melbourne, said he returned to the Variety Creative Car Cruise every year for the camaraderie among the group.

“It’s just a great bunch of people and we have a lot of fun together; we usually catch up throughout the year but the cruise is our big get together,” he said.

Some of the expected highlights of the event include skydivers delivering breakfast to the participants on the beach in Jurien Bay, picturesque beachfront stops, visiting local schools along the way and go karting to the finish line in Wanneroo.

The temperature at the start line in Gingin is tipped to hit the high 30s but Mr Palumbo said he was not worried about the lack of air-conditioning in his classic car.

“Four windows down and flat out; we should be all right,” he said.

The 2016 Variety Creative Car Cruise raised over $185,000.

For more information visit www.varietywa.org.au.