Gisborne hosts successful NZHRA Street Rod Nationals over weekend

By Kim Parkinson

Gisborne Herald·

21 Jan, 2025 03:33 AM3 mins to read

Hundreds of hot rods and street cars parked up on Grey St in the Gisborne CBD last Saturday. The public were able to check them out as part of the NZHRA Street Rod Nationals hosted by Surf City Rod and Custom Club. Photo / Strike Photography

Millions of dollars worth of cars, but a priceless figure in passion sums up the hot rod and streetcar enthusiasts who converged on Gisborne for the NZ Hot Rod Association Street Rod Nationals over the weekend.

Host club Surf City Rod and Custom Club turned on a top weekend for the many visitors who pitched their tents at Showgrounds Park in a collective gathering of like-minded car lovers.

Surf City secretary Kevin Birtwhisle said it was an “excellent weekend” and there had been a lot of positive feedback from the out-of-towners.

“We were so happy to have good weather and the biggest buzz was seeing everyone having such a great time and complimenting us on the event.”

The public turned out in droves on Saturday to see the cars displayed in all their glory in a Show N Shine held in the block between Grey St and Palmerston Rd.

Birtwhisle said club president Jono Hall did an admirable job of corralling a huge number of cars into position with military precision.

The public certainly appreciated it. Many were blown away and for the older generation, it brought back memories of their youth.

A range of activities were enjoyed back at Showgrounds Park on Saturday afternoon and Surf City member Jono Higgins’ efforts in the tug of war, car balance, grass khana and piston throwing saw him named Top Participant at the prizegiving on Sunday.

Surf City also won the traditional boat race.

Sunday featured a Poker Run around the district, which involved participants making up a hand of poker by collecting a playing card at the beginning and end and at stop-offs in between at the Bushmere Arms, Wainui Beach School and Kaiti Hill.

They finished the run at Awapuni Sports Stadium where cars parked around the border of the field, making for an impressive display.

With cars valued from $70,000 to more than $300,000, the collective value was in the ballpark of $15 million to $20m.

“A lot of cars have sentimental value, too — some which you couldn’t purchase no matter how much you offered,” Birtwhisle said.

The Long Distance Award went to a participant who drove from Gore in Southland.

Many stayed at Showgrounds Park while others booked into motels and Airbnbs, and they all congregated at the events centre for meals and entertainment, and the prizegiving on Sunday.

The top 10 hot rods and top 10 street machines were voted for by fellow car owners.

A hot rod is a car dated from pre-1949 while a streetcar is post-1949.

The top street machine went to Palmerston North’s Jimmy Keys for his 1950 Ford Mercury while the top hotrod honours went to Hamilton’s Sharon Allen for her 1932 Ford Roadster.

The best nostalgia award went to Ōhope’s Mike Roberts for his hand-built Model A pick-up.

Birtwhisle said he could breathe a sigh of relief now the event was over and rest easy knowing the event had gone off without a hitch.

Eastside Street Rods, who won the Best Participating Club with 36 cars entered, are hosting the 2026 Street Rod Nationals.