Some of the vehicles at the New Zealand Hot Rod Association National Hot Rod Show at Hawera's TSB Hub Stadium.
Some of the vehicles at the New Zealand Hot Rod Association National Hot Rod Show at Hawera's TSB Hub Stadium.
Te Awamutu Rod & Custom Club members recently represented Te Awamutu and Waipā at the annual New Zealand Hot Rod Association (NZHRA) National Hot Rod Show, which was held at the TSB Hub Stadium in Hawera this year.
This Custom Street Rides-sponsored event was previously a victim of Covid-19, with planned dates cancelled twice.
The show, hosted by Egmont Rod & Custom Club, featured more than 65 of the country’s finest hot rods, street machines and customs and the Te Awamutu club was privileged to have four cars that were handpicked by the show committee take part.
Two Te Awamutu members were featured in the prizegiving.
There is plenty of friendly rivalry between hot rodders as owners of the big two, Ford and General Motors, Mopar (Chrysler) and rarer marques such as Hudson and the likes of Halstead‘s Studebakers like to have bragging rights.
This year it was a Ford that took the top honour in the custom car class - Paul Gibson winning with his radical 1967 Ford Anglia, with an Aussie Barra straight six turbo under the bonnet.
The multi-award winning 1967 Ford Anglia belonging to Paul Gibson.
Halstead was heard to say that he not only lost to a Ford, he lost to an English Ford.
Also on show from Te Awamutu was Craig and Margy O’Hanlon’s 1934 Ford Coupe “The California Kid” in the custom hot rod coupe class and club president Murray Peterson’s Chevrolet Pickup “Mater” in the post-48 commercial class.
Craig and Margy O’Hanlon's 1934 Ford Coupe "The California Kid".
Neither came away with prizes against the stiff opposition but they were happy to have enjoyed the experience of the show and the activities, meals and hospitality shown by the hosts Egmont Rod & Custom Club.
Te Awamutu Rod & Custom Club club president Murray Peterson's Chevrolet Pickup 'Mater'.
Entrants were treated to bus tours to the Hillsborough Car Museum, featuring Holdens of every description, Tawhiti Museum and the Elvis Presley Museum.
There was also a tour to Custom Street Rides, a hot rod building facility that highlighted the growing number of hot rods, classics and special interest vehicles being built around the country.
This growing number of cars and popularity of all forms of motoring hobbies was highlighted in a recent survey of all current hobby car owners by Glasshouse Consulting for the NZ Federation of Motoring (FOMC), to which NZHRA belongs.
Barra turbo motor-vation for this award-winning Anglia.
This survey concluded the total economic footprint in New Zealand of the historic and classic vehicle sector is $11.4 billion, showing how car-crazy New Zealanders really are.
Te Awamutu Rod & Custom Club has some events coming up that car enthusiasts can enter and it has also announced it has secured the New Zealand Hot Rod National Rod Run for 2027.
