“What’s been great about it has been that it’s just been a natural progression,” Ford says. “It’s been an organic growth, so when people come, they’re coming to something that’s created itself.”
Having taken its fledgling steps away from the initial fanzine with a car show in the country (“we did that just for fun,” Ford says), Chopped has gradually increased in size and scope each year. “It’s basically doubled each year,” Ford says. The first event was held on a country football oval; when the festival moved to an old horse training track, the festival organisers were elated. “That was a real highlight when we moved locations so we could set up a track for dirt drags,” Ford says. “And the response to that has been huge – even if it’s raining, people still love it.”
Eventually, Chopped added a music program to the weekend’s festivities. “Adding the music thing has been great,” Ford says. “We had Six Ft Hick a couple of years ago, and Graveyard Train have played before, and this year we’ve got Graveyard Train and the Hard-Ons headlining, so it’s just an awesome line-up.”
While Chopped has both its origins, and its spiritual focus, in the hot rod and custom vehicle market, its demographic – which includes car lovers from across Australia, and New Zealand – has broadened as the festival has evolved. “Not everyone who comes along has a car, but people still love coming along regardless,” Ford says. While the audience has its fair share of 50s and 60s fashion styling, Ford says the main criterion for attendance is empathy of the mood of the event. “There are a lot of people who really get into that lifestyle, but it’s not a rockabilly event,” he says. “But everyone who’s here just has this vibe, which is really great. It’s so happy and joyous – we’ve never had any issues.”
This year’s Chopped festival will be again held at Newstead Raceway, about one and half hours north of Melbourne. In addition to the display of custom vehicles, there will be a wide range of food, as well as a cocktail bar. The festival event music program includes sets from Los Tones, Twin Beasts (formerly Toot Toot Toots), Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, Mesa Cosa, Graveyard Train, Hard-Ons, La Bastard, Sheriff and a special ‘One Man Band Brigade’ featuring Hank Haint, Made for Chicken by Robots, Bumface and, of course, T-Bone and the Carburetors. “The one-man band car will be going around hassling people during the festival,” Ford says, “so it’ll be interesting to see how people respond.”
While the entry prices are refreshingly affordable – $95 will buy you a three-day festival pass, with daily passes are available for $35 ($25 for children) – the investment in the 50s and 60s vehicular aesthetic is anything but cheap. The entry rules for the main parking area of the festival permit only pre-1965 style hot rods and customs; customs must be lowered and have a wheel alteration. “Even in the mixed car parking area where people are camping, you’ll usually get a whole lot of old 70s cars, and cars that don’t quite make it into the main area – so even that mixed area is great to walk through.”
Into its sixth year now, and Ford hopes the festival will keep growing and evolving. “In general, everything has stepped up a level this year,” Ford says. “The food is even better, there’s a proper cocktail bar and the music line-up is fantastic. We don’t want people to come along and say ‘it’s just like it was last year’. We want every event to be even better than the last time, and that’s what will make people keep coming.”
BY PATRICK EMERY
