Photos thanks to Semi Gloss Productions and Retro Betty. Additional writing by Francie Flathead.

It’s a small paddock bash in regional New South Wales, but it’s grassroots events like Stroppy Jalopy that are at the heart of Australian hot rodding and motorsport.

In its third year, Stroppy Jalopy is a paddock bash that’s 50/50 mud run and motorkhana, and 100% good times. From a bigger perspective, the event is also part of a resurgence of small and exclusive grassroots car events where driving your ride is essential. The event is held just outside the small town of Leeton, in south western New South Wales, every August.

Stroppy Jalopy saw more than 20 entries for this year’s event, and was open to pre-70 cars, bikes and even dragsters, with the size and range of entrants growing with each year. This year’s racing was a little more interesting, with weeks of rain prior to the event weekend making sure the tractor was working hard both on the track and in the car park. The up-side was it made for some spectacular mud sprays during racing.

Stroppy Jalopy 2016 mud run and motorkhana from Retro Betty on Vimeo.

The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down at Stroppy Jalopy, with bands and food the features. This year rockabilly bands The King Hits and The Fuelers, both from of Canberra, kept punters entertained throughout the night, as did the rubber action in the shed (pictured below).

For more information on Stroppy Jalopy, visit the Facebook Page.

Stroppy Jalopy artwork by Smith’s Kustoms.