Coronavirus restrictions have forced the cancellation of one of the city's big events, the Gnoo Blas Classic car show, next February.
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However, organisers will instead create an art and photographic show based on cars.
We'll have a car show, but without the cars.
- Denis Gregory, Gnoo Blas Classic car show organiser
Organiser Denis Gregory said it was the first time in 26 years the car show would not be held, but he said he wanted to keep the event alive.
"We'll have a car show, but without the cars," he said.
Mr Gregory said car lovers who normally entered their cars for the show would instead enter a photograph, drawing or painting of their machine.
He said he was looking at possibly using the Orange Function Centre to display the entries on the weekend of February 20-21.
Mr Gregory said the show's sponsors had indicated they would support the art show meaning prizes would be offered in all the regular categories.
He said he had been forced to cancel the car show now as entries were due to go out next month and there was too much uncertainty about whether it could go ahead.
"Next February is not that far away," he said.
"We can't go ahead and do that. It would be pretty impossible.
"This year we had 650 entries, they came from 110 postcodes. From all over the state, they came from Melbourne and they came from Brisbane.
"We also had about 5000 people [as spectators]."
Mr Gregory said he was expecting strong support for the event.
"We're pressing on regardless. We're hoping that we'll get 400-500 entries," he added.
"It's a bit of a novelty as well. It's never been done before.
"If it is a success, when things get back to normal, we could run it in conjunction with the car show."
Mr Gregory said the car show was one of the biggest events on the Orange calendar.
He said each year at least 250 people attending the show stayed two nights in Orange which boosted trade for accommodation, meals and fuel sales.
Mr Gregory said the annual motoring enthusiast's Saturday night dinner at the Orange Ex-Services' Club was attended by more than 300 people.
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