KEY POINTS:
With a line-up of classic racers and off-roaders through to kid-size karts and super-charged street machines, the inaugural Speedshow in Manukau City really did have something for every motorsport fan.
Organiser Keith Sharp, a former racing driver and driving tutor, came up with the idea for Speedshow after selling his performance driving school.
"I've seen this sort of motorsport-oriented show overseas and wondered why we've never had anything like it in New Zealand," says Sharp.
"Just look at the popularity of so many forms of motorsport locally. There's a diverse and well-supported range of motor racing events with many thousands of Kiwis involved."
About 8500 people were at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre last weekend to see more than 130 exhibits, comprising some of the country's leading race teams, retailers of merchandise and equipment, and top-class vehicle displays.
"The response has been absolutely fantastic," says Sharp.
"We've had fantastic support from our exhibitors.
"Team Kiwi Racing ensured their young star, Shane van Gisbergen, would be at Speedshow to talk with fans and off-road champion Tony McCall put his race-winning off-roader on display."
Race driver Shane Drake showed off his Chicane Clothing range of race gear. "It was a fantastic show," said Drake. "We sold more race gear than we were expecting, so that's very positive."
Sharp says next year's show is already shaping up to be even better.
"A first event of this kind is a series of unknowns, isn't it?
"But with all the exhibitors so strongly positive and keen to come to next year's Speedshow, we've got a great base to build from."
Sharp said the 2008 show will be held around the same time but at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane.
