New hot rod, custom car and drag racing display on this weekend.
A new event on the hot rodding calendar will showcase some of New Zealand’s high-end street rods and custom cars as well as the country’s fastest drag racing machines in Auckland this weekend.
The inaugural Mount Shop Rod & Custom Autorama at Henderson will see about 70 vehicles on display during Saturday and Sunday.
The record breaking Marsh Motorsport Top Fuel dragster will be on show at Autorama in Henderson this weekend. Photo/Colin Smith.
Among the highlights is a celebration of the work of renowned hot rod builder John Reid, whose Tauranga-based Rods by Reid operation is the recipient of the Panhead Custom Ales “Builder of the Year’’ award.
Seven ‘‘Rods by Reid’’ builds will be on display this weekend including the latest creation — a ‘32 Ford Pickup which will be making its public debut.
‘‘It’s still a work in progress but it’s ready to show,’’ said John Reid.
‘‘It’s in bare metal and is pretty much ready to be stripped for painting. It’s been in build for a long time because it will be our own private vehicle.
‘‘My wife has always wanted one but there’s been quite a few times when it hasn’t been the priority.’’
The pick-up is built from an original ‘32 body sourced from California that Reid says still had sign writing on the doors.
‘‘It’s all steel with some some subtle modifications to just about every panel.
‘‘The engine is a 302 Ford stroked to 347 cubic-inches and is fuel injected. It has an automatic transmission and our Rods by Reid independent front suspension.’’
From the world of quarter-mile racing there will be the Mount Shop Top Fuel dragster of the Marsh Motorsport squad which raced through the 4secs and 300mph barriers during a landmark season of Kiwi drag racing and also the 6secs Evil II twin turbocharged Altered in which Tauranga’s Karen Hay has become the quickest and fastest female racer in New Zealand drag racing history.
Another attrcation is the Nanotek Mobile Car Cleaning club spotlight celebrating the Scroungers Car Club and a display making the 75th Anniversary of the 1940 Ford. The event also supports the Cancer Society.
Event organiser Greg Stokes says a show such as Autorama is long overdue in New Zealand.
‘‘This type of show reflects the high level of investment of time and money put into vehicles within the hot rod and custom car scene,’’ he said.
‘‘In addition, the show supports a very worthy cause while promoting the hot rod and custom car hobby to the highest level in New Zealand.’’
The Mount Shop Rod & Custom Autorama is held at the Te Pai Netball Centre, Te Pai Place, Henderson, Auckland with the doors open from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sunday.