With 230 cars and 494 people registered for the 2008 Street Rod Nationals it was looking great before it even began!

With all the negative press in the media lately in relation to car enthusiasts, it’s a pleasure for me to be able to generate some positive media.” That’s what Mike Seque, the Senior Constable from Methven, had to say about the Nationals in a letter to the organisers. He went on to say, “Congratulations to the NZHRA and the organising committee of the Street Rod Nationals held in Mid Canterbury over the Easter weekend 2008.

Approximately 500 people in 230 hot rods and classic cars enjoyed five fantastic days and nights in Methven and Ashburton. The police did not have to deal with a single incident relating to the event. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and got the opportunity to enjoy all that’s great about living in this part of the country, and consider holding future events here again. Thanks to everyone for doing their bit and making this a huge success.” It was the icing on the cake for the team that put together an event that ran like clockwork over Easter weekend.

It began on the Thursday night with a low-key meet and greet in Methven. Friday kick-off was at the crack of midday, in order to give the sore heads gained at the previous night’s fetivities some time to recover. The Rodders Games, as some called it, included chasing sheep and attempting to round them up into a trailer. For those not that way inclined, jousting and the velcro fly wall were among the many other activities to get the attendees out of their comfort zone.

One of the focuses of the whole event was the family, so throughout the weekend kids were well catered for ” including a baby-sitting service, McD’s cruises and movies for the little ones while mum and dad went on a ‘refreshment cruise’. Yeah, right.

Saturday dawned and many red-eyed rodders mounted their steeds and headed off on the 120km cruise throughout the central South Island, ending back in Methven. Despite the drizzle that started to fall, the grasskana after the cruise was a real hit, with many top contenders for Sunday’s prizes covering their pride and joy in good ol’ fashion dirt. Peter Kilgour in his ’39 Chevy Sedan took the honours, showing them all how it’s done on the green stuff.

Saturday was wrapped up with a couple of bands taking the stage and some more meet and greet action, all topped off with good quality grub. Sunday dawned to a brilliant and perfect day for a car show. Not a cloud in the sky ” something the North Islanders just simply couldn’t comprehend on an Easter weekend. With an area open for the public to park their classic/rod/street machines, there were more than 500 cars on display. With a cover charge of just a fiver the crowds poured in from the time the gates opened until the doors shut.

The standard of machinery on display was impressive. What made it even more so was the lack of ‘trailer queens’. These pieces of metal were meant to be driven ” and they are. While cruising among all this fine transport I noticed a congestion to rival an Auckland motorway. Sure enough, in the middle of it all was the 1959 Chevy Impala proudly owned by one Barry Carmichael. Needless to say, this beast and its owner took out the coveted People’s Choice award for the day ” and the Top Street Machine award to top it off. Packing some very serious rubber underneath to match the serious sounds (from engine and stereo alike), it is easy to see why it was the crowd favourite. Another traffic jam was caused by quite a different machine altogether. This one belonged to Tim Armstrong from the Yankee Haulers club, who took the Top Hot Rod award with his stunning ’34 Ford 3 Window Coupe. No mean feat given the cars present.

All in all it was a very well-run event that was a great hit with those who entered for the whole weekend and those who came to the show and shine on the Sunday. Mark it down in your calendar for next year as a must-do event.

Vehicle – NZHRA Club – Sponsor

1. Tim Armstrong – 1934 Ford 3W Coupe
   Yankee Haulers – Burkes Metalworks
2. Mike Nagle – 1935 Hudson Terraplane
   Palmerston North Hot Rod Club – Canterbury Radiator Co Ltd
3. Andrew Searby – 1934 Ford Coupe
   Rod Benders Inc – Ashburton Glassworks Ltd
4. Ian Jones – 1932 Ford Roadster
   Nelson City Inc – Auto Glym
5. Peter Coulter – 1934 Nash Coupe
   Cambusters Inc – American Auto Parts Ltd
6. Ken Brown – 1937 Ford Tudor
   Pukekohe Hot Rod Club – BB Signs
7. Mal Hurrell – 1932 Ford Coupe
   Christchurch R&CC – Independent Metal Traders
8. Roy Rawson – 1937 Ford Cabriolet
   Southside Streeters Inc – Classic & Custom Auto Interiors
9. Ron Gubb – 1937 Ford Coupe
   Oceanside Street Rods Inc – Charter Trucks Ltd
10. Thomas Rawson – 1933 Roadster
    Southside Streeters Inc – Custom-made Garage Doors

Top 10 Street Machines

Vehicle – NZHRA Club – Sponsor

1. Peter Addis – 1949 Mercury
   Con Rodders Inc – Rides by Russ
2. Glenys Elliot – 1956 Ford Thunderbird
   Hurricane Rodders Inc – Topnotch 4 Square Supermarket
3. Neil Baker – 1957 Buick Super Riviera
   Southside Streeters – A to B Autos Ltd & Rentals
4. Brent Mains – 1965 Chev Impala
   Americars R&CC – Vehicle Certification Services
5. Karen Collins – 1961 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
   Garden City R&CC – Robinson’s Dismantlers
6. John Della Mura – 1949 Buick Super Convertible
   Northern Street Rods – Mobile Finance
7. Les McNeill – 1957 Chev Bel Air
   Te Awamutu R&CC – Outlaw Performance
8. Alan Shannon – 1951 Chev Custom
   Cam County – The Rock, 93.7FM
9. Sean Williams – 1956 Chev Bel Air
   Southside Streeters – Magwarehouse
10. Peter Addis – 1949 Mercury
    Con Rodders Inc – Rides by Russ

Story and Photos: Sean Craig