Thousands Attend Inaugural myPlates GR8PL8 Event to Share the Personal Stories Behind Their Cars and Number Plates
Rain didn't stop thousands of New South Wales motorists from turning out to celebrate the stories behind their personalised number plates, with more than 800 vehicles and approximately 2,000 people attending the inaugural myPlates GR8PL8 event at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Sunday.
The event brought together car lovers, families and collectors from across the state, showcasing everything from rare supercars and vintage classics to motorcycles and everyday vehicles. But while the cars attracted attention, it was the stories behind the plates that became the day's biggest talking point.
Before the event, almost 1,000 personalised plate owners shared the inspiration behind their registrations. Their responses revealed plates created to honour parents and grandparents, celebrate children's birthdays, commemorate important life milestones, reflect lifelong passions and preserve cherished memories.
"People often think personalised plates are about making a statement with the car, but we've found they're much more likely to tell a personal story," said myPlates CEO David McGrath.
"Whether it's remembering someone special, celebrating family or reflecting a passion that's lasted decades, every plate has a story. Bringing hundreds of those stories together in one place made for a truly memorable day."
One of those stories belonged to Penrith local Tony Hawton, whose personalised plate reflects more than 40 years of devotion to Australian motorsport. Having attended the Bathurst 1000 for more than four decades, Tony was among hundreds of owners proudly sharing the inspiration behind their vehicles.
Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed live entertainment, food vendors, giveaways and family-friendly activities alongside displays from car clubs and motoring enthusiasts from across New South Wales.
More than $9,500 in prizes were awarded across categories including Best in Show, Most Creative Plate and Most Stylish Plate. An additional $2,000 in Content Creator Awards remains up for grabs for attendees who share their event content before Monday, 6 July, tagging @myPlates and #GR8PL8.
Among the most memorable entries was 50LTL – a Honda Monkey Bike that arrived tucked into the back of a Honda Jazz. The creative display earned runner-up honours in the Most Stylish Plate category and quickly became one of the event's biggest crowd favourites.
Following the strong turnout for its debut, myPlates hopes GR8PL8 will become an annual celebration of the people, stories and community behind personalised number plates.
