Big fun in a small package - Hay Mini Nationals 2024

Local car enthusiasts Tania and Matilda Nisbet (top) and Michelle Spence were snapped getting ready to take part in the annual street parade.

Images: The Riverine Grazier / Cheyenne Hurst.

By Tertia Butcher

Organisers of the annual Hay Mini Nationals were delighted with strong interest from participants this year. President Declan Dwyer told The Riverine Grazier demand for accommodation was up from previous years and he enjoyed welcoming a good contingency from Tasmania as well as growing numbers of Mini car collectors from Canberra. The usual meet and greet took place at The New Crown Hotel on Friday evening.

A total of 165 cars proudly took their place in the street parade on Saturday morning, including 129 Minis from throughout NSW, Victoria and South Australia and an entry from Tasmania. Standard Vanguards were again included in the street parade with members taking the opportunity to unveil a plaque at the mounted Vanguard in Murray Street. Members gathered for the unveiling in front of the mounted Vanguard donated to Hay Shire Council last year with Hay Shire Mayor Carol Oataway and Deputy Mayor Lionel Garner.

Another highlight on Saturday was the much-anticipated market stalls along Moppet Street during the Show and Shine judging. It was Brandon Burns’ canary yellow Mini which caught the eye of Mayor Carol Oataway when she announced the winner of the Mayor’s Choice Award. This year the highly entertaining rocker-cover racing was held in Moppett Street, to the delight of children.

The adrenalin-fueled Hay Heroes and Heroines and other motorkhana events took place at Willunga on the Mid-Western Highway on Saturday, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night.

Below: Gallery of images from the weekend. Images: The Riverine Grazier / Margie McClelland

History of Hay Mini Nationals

This Blast from the Past article is created from the article The Birth of a Legend – The Hay Weekend, by Lorrie Anshan, on the SA Mini car club website.

Each June long weekend, hundreds of mini car enthusiasts, bless our town with fun, frivolity and business. Generations of spectators, young and old, line the street to gaze at the parade, and queue to watch the Mini races. Some attendees are even second and third generation Mini aficionados. They bring their vehicles from all over Australia to attend this event.

The event begins with a welcome party on the Friday night, a parade down the main street on Saturday morning followed by one of the most spectacular show and shines in the country. Then on the Saturday night the action really starts with adrenaline charged side by side Hay Heros under stadium lights. Sunday morning, the main event kicks off with the Hay Mini Nationals Motorkhana.

At one end of the field, some of the finest drivers in the country will be vying for hundredths of seconds. At the other end, juniors as young as 12 will be competing for their own bragging rights in Australia's biggest and most competitive motorkhana. This is all capped off with a massive fancy dress Presentation Party held at the Hay Memorial Hall on the Sunday evening. Each club attends in their own fancy dress theme with a DJ keeping the crowd jumping. Awards are presented for the winners of all the weekend's events, and then the party moves into full swing with some of the die-hards kicking on until well into the next day.

Going some 56 years strong, the Mini Nationals in Hay are something that started from a one-off event. Following the success of the Mini Monte Rallies (and post event parties in Sydney) in ’65, ’67 and ’68 John Stoneham (SA) came up with the ‘Let’s party on again in June’ concept and was supported by the NSW club. A motorkhana was to be held for fun and add some spice to the party.

1968 saw a pretty basic weekend. No luxuries like motels and beds. The boys stayed in cabins or tents at the Caravan Park, the girls mostly slept on the floor in the upstairs lounge of the Commercial Hotel. This lounge was also the scene for the first entertainment that grew to become ‘The Party’. 1971 The year of getting big. The ‘khana really became serious, going from 2 lanes to 6 and having proper pit areas and flagged garages etc. The party was taking on a life of its own – the Vics came in fancy dress, made up of characters from Clockwork Orange and The Sting, other clubs wore outrageous gear, fire crackers were detonated in iron garbage bins, and the after party parties became more memorable.

Following this, the event moved to bigger grounds, the entries increased. Members attended from Tasmania, and from Western Australia came eight people making the long trek across the Nullarbor in two minis. Victorian members flew to Hay in light planes and one year the motorkhana ground was flour-bombed from the air. The Hay Pony Club catered for lunches and special horses versus cars events were run. Roomy tents were erected at the grounds to act as crèches for the growing crop of junior members and for scoring.

Now, many years after the first Hay event it remains a legend. The junior members who slept in the crèche tent in the ‘70s are now running and competing in the event and producing the next generation of junior members. Many changes of ‘khana grounds and events have occurred. The party was tried in the RSL club, but it staggered back to the Hall and DJs have replaced the bands. New motels have been built and booked out; there is no longer the need for some blokes to bed down in nearby shearer’s quarters.

The bowlers have surrendered the town to the car clubs and the procession and display of marvellous Minis involves the townsfolk of Hay. The show and shine give today’s Mini restorers an opportunity to show off their skills and talents, as well as show just how pristine the car can be. Hay Heroes is as much a spectator event as it is for the drivers with car clubs wildly cheering for their fellow members as they go head to head in 100th of a second competition.

But the fact remains that even though this level of competition exists, they are all still great mates from all around Australia, who will share drinks and laughs at any time! Who would have thought that such a major sport event could have grown from an excuse for a Party? Not only is the event loved dearly by Mini afficionados, but locals. Not only is it a lively and fascinating event, but it has brought attention revenue, tourism and the most polite and lovely visitors to the town.

May the event run for many more years tocome.