Car and bike show to be annual Easter event

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17 April, 2022

WORDS/JULIA WADE
PHOTOS/JULIA WADE & RICH POOLEY

Scuttering clouds and threatening rain did nothing to dissuade thousands of locals and visitors making tracks to Mangawhai Domain over the recent long weekend, to check out the classy lineup of sleek curves, glistening chrome and rumbling motors at the Mangawhai Easter Hop Car & Bike Show, on Easter Sunday, April 17.

Organised by Mangawhai Domain Society (MDS) the high-octane event was a dual fundraiser for Mangawhai Surf Life Saving Club and the Mangawhai Domain, incredibly put together in just a few weeks due to a change in the Domain’s Covid settings. Although actual numbers of visitors are yet unknown, MDS spokesperson Brian May says they are thought to be in the thousands, ‘possibly even bigger than the gala’.

“We’re taken aback really by both vehicle owners and the crowd… had a great quick response from sponsors too. It is the only car show being held in Northland so far this year as others have been cancelled, there have been smaller ones but nothing like this… quite blown away,” he says. “We’ve been asked to continue this event perpetually, so going forward the Easter Hop will become an annual show and take place every Easter Sunday from now on.”

Mangawhai Domain Society would like to offer a big thanks to the following sponsors: Bayleys Real Estate, BSG Civil Earthmoving, Tara Iti Golf, Dune restaurant, Dimity Boutique, Heads Up B&B, Heads FM, Hireworks Mangawhai (portaloos), Chase Smith (Harley Davidson Motorcycles), Filters and Foundations water filters, Wood St Pizzeria, Four Square Mangawhai Heads, Top Catch, Mangawhai Tavern, Bammas Surf Shop, Mangawhai Meat Shop, Mothers Car Care, T8 Traffic Control Northland.

1a:

Sponsored by local boutique, Dimity, four fashionable women each received a bottle of bubbles for their efforts to be ‘Best Dressed’ at the Hop, with winner Miss Sandy Dee taking away a two-day accommodation prize with Heads Up B&B, as winner. Pictured from left, Richelle Edwards from West Auckland, Wainui’s Miss Sandy Dee and Helensville locals Julie Thomas and Pauline Body.

2:

Proud owners of their 1951 Buick for over 15 years, Wainui couple Miss Sandy Dee and ‘hubby’, rocked up to the Hop in rosy style, designed and created by Miss Dee herself.

3:

Winner’s of ‘Best Old Classic Car’ (pre-2002) Richelle Edwards and Michael Bradgford toast their sleek-lined 1959 Ford Thunderbird.

 

4:

The stunning condition of this rare 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead earned Auckland owner Rene ‘Best Motorcycle of Any Year’ title.

 

5:

Motorcycles and their owners operate in a special world of their own, a hugely popular active interest for lovers of two wheels in New Zealand, whether the bikes are young, old or older, classic or custom.

 

6:

Mangawhai Heads Four Square cool dude (aka Hamish Strong) teamed up with his fellow local volunteer lifeguard mates (left) Blake Weldan and Nathan Strong, handing out chocolates and hi-fives to the delight of young children.

 

7: As all great events also produce large amounts of rubbish, volunteer ‘waste warriors’ such as Jackie Fanning signed up to Sustainable Kaipara’s eco-friendly recycable bins, to advise visitors of what goes where.

 

7a: Long-time duet, Hibiscus Coast’s ‘Scarlet’ aka Aimee Kelly and Sandy Bannar-Martin, provided a harmonious musical setting with a range of favourite tunes.

 

8: Designed and hand built by Whangarei owners, Don And Shirley Ross, this 1929 Custom C Cab Delivery Hot Rod’s sleek lines and fantastic detail earned the winners title for ‘Best Hot Rod, Ground Up Build’.

 

 

At a length of 5.69m, parking could be a problem for this 1965 Cadillac De Ville.

 

Hood ornaments and radiator caps are a desired art form on many classic cars. An angel leads the way for this 1920s Studebaker, a Tomarata barn find.

 

 

Resting quietly amongst all the classic car commotion was this 70s Chev pickup with adjustable suspension.

 

 

This 9-passenger ’59 Mercury Commuter, with acres of patina, was the people mover of its day. Impracticle it may be, but the cool factor outweighs all that.

 

Shiny chrome is a feature of many American classics. This ’57 GMC pickup had rims you could eat your dinner off.

 

This was just the half of it. With just a couple of weeks to pull it all together, organisers were thrilled by the exhibitor, sponsor and visitor numbers on the day.

 

It wasn’t all American muscle on display. Volkswagen beetles and vans are highly sought after by collectors, enthusiasts… and surfers.

 

There are two old classics in this picture. Which ones are they? We’ll let you decide!

 

Ford, Chevrolet and GMC trucks are a feature of any car show. The deck of this ’66 Chevrolet C10 pickup is a subtle hint to its origins and a real tribute to Americana.