What's On: Hot rods and custom cars roll into Whangarei for annual event

Cars lined Whangarei CBD at last year's Rev Up Whangarei Hot Rod and Custom Car Show, and even more are expected this weekend. Photo/Tania Whyte

Colour, art and noise.

Barbara Massicks, secretary of the Whangarei Rod and Custom Club, says that's what attracts people of all ages to car shows.

So she's expecting a big crowd in Whangarei tomorrowas cars, ranging from a 1923 T-Bucket to the latest Dodge Challenger or Mustang, roll into town for the second annual Rev Up Whangarei Hot Rod and Custom Car Show.

"It's the colour, the art and it's the noise - it appeals to a wide range," she said.

Massicks said the event, which starts at 9am and is presented by LJ Hooker and the Whangarei Rod and Custom Club, started as a way to draw people into Whangarei CBD, and to tie into the Whangarei Festival of Motorsport.

She said 140 cars were at the inaugural event last year, this year they are expecting more than 200.

"All of us in the car club, we've got close to 180 members, and we go to car events all over the country - the Beach Hop and Americarna and all sorts of events - and they all started out small and then they just grew and grew and grew."

Massicks said cars will line James St, the Cameron St Laneway and John St while the Canopy Bridge car park has also been reserved for cars too as last year some people turned up with cars without registering.

"We've got rock and roll dancing, we've got the hip-hop dancing, we've got the girls on the roller blades. We just need the sunshine," she said.

Memory Lane Gallery and Tattoo Studio were also hosting a three day event which started yesterday.

Massicks said there would be competitions on the day including Best Dressed and Best Shop.

After the car show the fleet will head to Countdown Tikipunga before rolling out at 3pm for the NSRI Memorial Cruise to Tutukaka.

Meanwhile, on Sunday from 6am there will be the Swapmeet and Car Display at the Heritage Park in Maunu.