The Maitland Street Rodders began meetings and rod runs to car shows in 1975. 

One of the original members, Noel McTaggart, still cruises to meetings in his daily driver – a black 1937 Ford V8 pick-up. 

“I’ve always been interested in cars, my dad used to drop me at the Rickshaws Newcastle hot rod show and pick me up 10 hours later,” Mr McTaggart said.

“Hot rods are rock and roll, they’re from a laid back, simpler time. They have that distinctive sound.”

A few years later, assistant secretary David Whan joined the club.

“My dad only ever had bomb cars, but I used to work in a newsagent and take the hot rod magazines home,” Mr Whan said.

“I’ve been into them ever since.”

Mr Whan’s bright red 1933 Ford tourer graced the pages of the Mercury after it won best in class at the Newcastle Show in 1979.

The club has 35 members and has become a fixture at Steamfest, Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival and car shows across the country. 

Secretary Ron Alexander said they represented Maitland almost every weekend at one show or another, often in the name of charity.

“Every weekend there’s a rod run somewhere. We’ve been all over the state, out west, down to Tassie and South Australia covering thousands of kilometres.”

During the eight years at Steamfest, the club has raised thousands of dollars for Firstchance, an organisation run out of the University of Newcastle for young people with learning difficulties.

The Streetrodders won the state’s best participating club at the Australian Street Rod National Meet in Newcastle in April.

The anniversary celebration will be held at Club Maitland City on June 20 from 6.30pm. 

Dinner, prizes and memorabilia will be included and Jumping Jukebox will provide rock and roll to complement the 1950s attire guests have been asked to wear. 

Tickets cost $55 each. Phone Norm James by June 1 on 0412 616 720.