Car classics rack up smiles
The crew from Hedland's new Norwest Car Club do not come together over a coffee on the first Sunday of every month only to admire the throaty grunt of 1950s cars or the beauty and grace of sports coupes.
Members, such as prominent Hedland real estate agent Serge Doumergue, also love it when people point and laugh at their cars.
That is because the French-born car collector has not only purchased a luxury Rolls-Royce and 1974 Ford LTD cruisers, but also spends hours in the garage lovingly restoring rare - and odd looking - Citroens.
"My 1964 Ami is such a funny looking car, people always stop and point and laugh and that is half the joy of driving it," he said.
"All these unusual cars need to stay on the road for everyone to see and appreciate and laugh at them."
It is a sentiment backed up by club secretary Josh Chatz, who told the _Telegraph _ during a club gathering over coffee at Port Hedland's Harbour Café last Sunday that it was open to everyone.
"We are all car enthusiasts, so (we have) cars of all makes and models," he said.
"We have members of varied ages from blokes on their L-plates to more senior drivers and we try to get the cars out to support community events and raise money for charity."
Mr Chatz said the group met at Harbour Café for a coffee on the first Sunday of every month and also met on one other Sunday per month to go on a cruise.
On last month's cruise, 17 Hedland classic cars met 45 counterparts from Karratha before motoring on to the Point Samson pub.
Glen Arrowsmith used the Point Samson cruise to give his 1980 WB ute its first run on the road since he started restoring it three years ago.
He said the trip was a blast even if it was on a 40C-plus day and he had not yet got around to installing air-conditioning in the ute.
Mr Doumergue, meanwhile, is about to unleash a newly restored 1961 Citroen Visa - one of only 14 still in existence - on to Hedland roads and said it was great for the community to see the passion of local car enthusiasts.
"When I get my cars, I put Port Hedland plates on them so when people see them they think: 'Wow that is a Port Hedland car,'" he said.
"You need to make an effort to be part of the town."
For more information, phone James Marshall on 0459 500 014 or email norwestcarclub@ outlook.com.
