I wasn’t really sure what Spin Saturday was. And, after spending a few hours there, I guess I’m still not really sure. From what I can tell it was all about cars and wheels, loosely tied to Canberra and the Centenary celebrations. That said, it wasn’t a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
I’m first distracted by the Morris cars just outside the entrance. I’ve grown to become a bit of a fan, particularly after the Morris 100 celebrations earlier this year.
LOVE this!
Okay, love this too
Lovely detail on the other side
The afternoon is a free event, so we wander on through. We’re handed a program, and NRMA presents us with an opportunity to win a weekend away at Merimbula if the key attached to a form we fill in unlocks the NRMA box.
The promise of a variety of wheels is not wrong: Roller Derby skates on show
It’s a little quiet in the sun, so we head to the hangar. I head straight to the cars…
Until I realise the action on the stage is a helluva lot more interesting: Warehouse Circus with a spinning German wheel.
Spinning the wheel on one’s own and holding on…
… takes serious skill.
She later did a flip through the wheel (!) – just missed the shot
These two boys would swing through the wheel while it rolled – very cool
Fantastic finale!
Okay, back to the cars.
Outside, a big crowd is gathering.
That’s because cars are about to get crushed.
It’s cleverly done. The machine opens and closes its mouth at us in a menaching fashion. And then it crushes. A little girl near me cries. (I can understand why!)
*Cue sound effect of glass and metal splintering*
More crushing
Crushing *and* lifting
Victory over the car
Car gets put in the crushing machine (I know it’s clear that I don’t know the names) and compacted into a square. The Green Machine lifts it out again and parades it for all to see.
Aaand we’re done
It’s not a weekend without a healthy dose of Frugii.
Inside the gallery is spray painting by CIT students… I’m not expecting much, but I’m impressed.
This gets the nod of approval from me!
Love the detail on these
Standing is tiring, so we briefly sit down for a rest at one of the many tables provided. NRMA men wander around handing out frisbees (more ‘wheels’!) before a loudspeaker announces dances: Canberra wheels through the 60s-now.
It’s worth standing up for, and I’m glad I capture some of the 1980s – Calwell High have put together a pretty extraordinary performance.
What can I say? Jumps impress me.
So do big finishes!
For the 90s, some ladies from Coco Loco are brought in to symbolism the advent of ‘multicultural Canberra’.
Multicultural Canberra in the 90s
For the 2000s, all the dancers come back to the all the stages for a big finish, and there’s a big (and well deserved) crowd.
Ta da!
It wasn’t quite what I expected; like with the other Canberra 100 events, in the gaps between the shows, there’s not a great deal else to see. But, what we did see was worth heading along for.
Date: Saturday, 19 October 2013
Cost: Free
Worthwhile factor: Worthwhile
Want more? The Museum of the Long Weekend is also on this weekend, and more SPIN events are on next weekend!
Related articles
- Spinners rev up for ACT centenary show (news.com.au)
- Canberra International Riesling challenge tasting (inthetaratory.wordpress.com)
- Mt Majura (inthetaratory.wordpress.com)
- Taste and Test at Sage Dining Rooms (inthetaratory.wordpress.com)
In The Taratory 
What a hoot. And great photos. We went to the TAMS hangar today for the Griffyn Ensemble’s contribution to SPIN. It was wunderbar but in a different way to what you experienced yesterday.
We went along too. I’m still a bit confused about what it actually was, LOL, but I did love the car crushing and Frugii. Oh, and getting a look inside a truck – I always wanted to check out where the driver sleeps. 🙂
It wasn’t bad, was it! I wish it had a bit more promotion and a bit of a better narrative re what it was… but it certainly wasn’t a bad way to spend the arvo!