Classic hits make for happy days

Two of three 1960s Ford Mustang coupes imported from America will be packaged as special prizes and the third will be auctioned.

It's a celebration of the golden years of the 1950s and 60s, when rock 'n' roll ruled, cars had bench seats and push-button radios, guys wore quiffs and cuffs and slicked-back hair, and girls moved to the rhythm in polka-dot poodle skirts.

Yep, it's the annual Whangamata Beach Hop - and organisers reckon this weekend will be the grooviest yet, with 70,000 visitors cramming the Coromandel resort town.

"We've got hundreds of Australians coming across and many Americans are here already," said Beach Hop spokesman Noddy Watts.

"It's going to be a mix of Happy Days, Grease, and American Graffiti, with classic cars and hot rods on show and 20 rock bands belting out non-stop hits."

But the retro action isn't confined to the cars. There's a vintage fashion show, hop idol, retro beauty show, 60s long board surf fest and a rock 'n' roll church service, says Watts.

Much attention, however, will centre on three 1960s Ford Mustang coupes, packaged by the organisers as special prizes.

One will go to a member of the public who buys a $5 programme, one to an official Beach Hop entrant, and the other will be auctioned with a reserve of $15,000. The Beach Hop last year gave away a 1959 Pontiac. "The promotion drew such a massive crowd we decided to go bigger and better this year," says Watts.

"We imported the three Mustangs from America. One's a 1966 and the others two are 1965 models. Matamata Panelworks straightened out 45 years of abuse and Thames Auto Painters did the rest, in red, white and blue.

"Each car sports new Cragar wheels from the US and will have Kicker sound systems installed."

The Beach Hop officially gets under way tomorrow, with a drive to Pauanui and a beach party followed by a drive-in movie back in Whangamata. But a convoy of classic cars and hot rods will start things rolling today with a drive to Waihi.

Each day the cars head to a different location around the Coromandel, where some of the 20 rock 'n' roll bands, including four from Australia, perform. On Friday, official participants (about 850 cars) drive the 15km Thunder Cruise from Whangamata to Onemana and park on a reserve next to the beach.

The big day is Saturday, when a cavalcade drives through downtown Whangamata before dispersing to five different show areas.

Some of New Zealand's best dragsters will join the parade. "They will be started up in unison every hour during the day," says Watts. "A special treat for us this year will be the appearance of Australian drag racing legend Victor Bray, who has shipped his original Castrol Edge 1957 Chev dragster over just for the Beach Hop."

People will start to drift away on Sunday - but not before the nostalgia fair, classic car show and top 10 shootout, where the overall winner among the top five cars and bikes will be announced.