There’s a well-known show on TV these days called American Chopper. Chances are that if you’re reading this, you’re interested in all things mechanical, so have probably seen it. If not, it’s worth a watch.

Unlike most reality shows, there are no hot chicks; instead it’s about a father and his two sons who spend their lives building some of the most outrageous Choppers you’ll ever see. It’s not the motorbikes that make the show worth watching though, it’s the behind the scenes banter, bickering and pranks that go on between dad and kids that make it a laugh.

Now it’s likely that if there were to be a reality show about the build of this gorgeous 1969 Chev Camaro it would be much the same. Father and son team John and Shane have had (more…)

It’s well known that at Sony Xplod Beach Hop 2011 there was rain… and plenty of it. So maybe it was the two-year gap between the last sunny event and this year’s one that made it seem all the more special, or maybe it really was. From talking to various entrants, spectators and traders, all agreed it was the latter, and the event should go down in history as one of, if not the best ‘Hop’ yet.

Everywhere we went, we were met by people saying just how big the event was, and it wasn’t until head event organiser Noddy Watts announced on Saturday afternoon that entrant numbers were limited to 100 cars less than last year that we had any idea that was the case, as it certainly didn’t seem that way.

With so much going on over all five days of the event, it’s almost impossible to keep up to date with what’s happening, so the easiest way is to pick and choose what you want to do, or what you want to see, and then do as much as you can. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll (more…)

It was like being in a marriage!” says Phil Wright of his role as builder/project manager for this flawless XB GT coupe. As the owner and only full-time hands-on staff member of Matakana-based panel specialists Auto Body Works, his role was to deliver the owner, Ed Fernley, what he wanted — even if there was the odd disagreement between them.

“Ed had plenty of his own ideas, and knew what he wanted, but sometimes he was keen for my suggestions and ideas also, so the end result is (more…)