Huge crowd expected at Dannevirke Wheels Club's Wheels With Attitude

The 1903 Rambler was Dannevirke's second vehicle, owned by Mr E A Ransom, who later became mayor of Dannevirke.

The Dannevirke Wheels Club is expecting a bumper crowd at the annual Wheels With Attitude on Sunday.

The 20th annual event will celebrate vehicles of all shapes and sizes, including 75 years since the first Jeep went into production with the first model, the World War II Jeep, in 1942.

"A 100th anniversary to celebrate this year is the formation of the Motor Trade Association in Feilding on April 30, 1917," Wheels With Attitude co-ordinator Ken Mills said.

Mr Mills and his father were both members of the association and he said that on June 12, 1917, 52 representatives from the lower North Island, including Dannevirke, formed the association under the name of the Motor Garage Proprietors Association of New Zealand.

In later years the name changed to Motor Trade Association (MTA).

"Dannevirke became a branch of the MTA and was known as the Southern Hawke's Bay branch and included Norsewood and Makotuku," Mr Mills said.

In 1976/77 Dannevirke businessman, Maurice Clarke was elected the dominion president of the MTA.

Wheels With Attitude

• Show and swap meet: Sunday, January 29 at the Dannevirke and Districts A&P Showgrounds.

• Open 10am to 2pm.

• Exhibitors $2 | Swap meet Stallholders $5 | Adult $2 | Children $1.

"Dannevirke and the surrounding district has plenty of history linked to motor vehicles and over the past 115 years many makes and models have driven in our area including Rolls Royce, Bentley, Daimler and Mercedes. You name it and it's probably been here," Mr Mills said.

The first recorded motor car in Dannevirke was a 1903 Oldsmobile imported by Mr A W Collett of Collett and Edkins whose business in Barraud St included a foundry and coach building, Mr Mills said.

"Dannevirke's second vehicle was a 1903 Rambler imported by Mr E A Ransom who owned a saddlery business in High St. Mr Ransom later become the mayor of Dannevirke from 1910 to 1919."