Classic car meet a stirling weekend

1959 Pontiac Strato Chief with a 350 Chevy engine. Photo / Alistair Davidson from NZ Petrolhead

Gary Stirling, the circuit manager of Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, lives onsite and has been passionate about motorsport since he went to a motocross meeting in the Hawkes Bay as a young boy.

He owns a 1959 Cadillac and envisioned a hot rod event at Hampton Downs along the lines of the Beach Hop, but with the show cars parked around the circuit and lots of entertainment for the two days.

"Some people prefer garden gnomes, but I prefer Porsches in my garden and a constant variety of other racing machines," said Stirling.

"Just the satisfaction of meeting thousands of racy people each year is really rewarding."

Stirling's idea is to park 600 show cars around the circuit and allow the public to walk the race circuit to see them.

Some of the cars will be parked in club groups and some in single-make groups such as Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Buick, Ford and Cadillac etc.

"You can bring anything along to show as long as it is a V8, V10 or V12. A V16 would also be welcomed with open arms, but there have not been many V16s made in the history of the automobile," said Sterling.

The event happens this coming weekend, February 26-27. Saturday is more of a static day, with trade stands, a blower bash and burnout competition and rock bands. Sunday has a different feel with a track cruise and demonstration of V8 F5000's, Can-Am cars and Trans-Am cars.

The inaugural event will celebrate all things V8, including V8s from Australia, Europe, America and Asia (JDM). There will also be an Auto Trade Show, demonstration racing cars, bikinis, Metalman Burn out Competition, Kids Zone and even cheerleaders, and all at a licensed premises.

Kicker Car Audio are special guests and will be hosting New Zealand's largest display of supercharged V8s. A People's Choice competition will be running on Saturday with Mothers' Car Care Prizes up for grabs. "Dr Detail" will be on hand, offering advice on caring for your car's interior and exterior. The Pavilion will have a selection of new handpicked V8-powered vehicles from select dealers.

Three top bands have been engaged for the Sounds of Chrome Hauraki live classic rock concert on the Saturday afternoon and timeless rockers Dragon headline the night with The Jordan Luck Band and Dirty Dozen.

Mothers have come on board as the sponsors of the Masters of Metal and are hosting the inaugural Mothers V8 Auto Festival.

It is only $40 to register your car and includes one passenger for the weekend. As an entrant you will get to do parade laps of the new circuit, participate in the battle of the exhaust noise, watch the impressive stunt show and be eligible for prizes.

There is also now camping onsite - places are limited. For more information call us on (09) 280-6504 or go to www.hdticketing.co.nz.

Hampton Downs Motor Sport Park is just 30 minutes south of Papakura, or 45 minutes north of Hamilton.