HOT rodders will be out and about in East Gippsland this weekend for the Lakes Entrance Country Cruise.

Organised by the Thunderbirds Rod and Custom Club every two years, the event has already attracted entrants from as far afield as Goulburn in NSW and Horsham, as well as across the La Trobe Valley.

Co-ordinator Bob Dykes said he was expecting to see more than 200 entries.

"The main age bracket of the cars is late 1920s through to late fifties," Bob said.

"The oldest at this stage, though, is a bright-red 1923 T Model Ford bucket - a car which was recently named best T-bucket in Australia."

Thanks to sponsorship from the East Gippsland Shire, all public displays of the cars are free to the public.

The event opens with registration at the footbridge on Saturday from 10am, with a display to follow in Myers St.

On Sunday, organisers say they will stage "Australia's largest highway hot rod cruise", leaving Lakes Entrance at 10am for Paynesville.

On Monday, there's a "wind-down cruise" planned to Nicholson, via Bruthen.

For more details, phone Bob on (03) 5155 1136.

Big names

RESIDENTS of Echuca and Rochester will have the chance to see some magnificent old cars this weekend.

Members of the Veteran Car Club of Australia will hold their winter rally in the area from Friday to Monday.

On view will be such illustrious motoring names as Ford, Hotchkiss, Maxwell, Sunbeam, Fabrique Nationale, Delahaye, Cadillac, Minerva, Sizaire et Naudin and Renault.

The program includes visits to Ayson's Reserve at Burnewang on Friday, a 150km country run on Saturday and a static display at the Echuca Steam Rally on Sunday.

For more details, phone Brian on (03) 5484 2244.