Sign In / Register
The Mangawhai Domain will turn into a large set of car “pits” on Easter Sunday April 5, when around 500 vehicles are expected to take part in what could be the biggest car show in the village since the event started in 2019.
The Mangawhai Muscle and Classic Car Club will donate 100 per cent of this year’s Mainstream Easter Hop proceeds to the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service and the Mangawhai Domain Society.
Event organiser Bryan May highlighted the steady growth of the show over the years, with participants travelling from places such as Whangārei and Hamilton. He said the event started modestly, with a Facebook group and a first gathering of around 30 people.
“Most of the cars are normally American classics, but we also see Australian cars and a few old English cars. We have hot rods with modern engines in old cars – there’s something for everyone,” he said.
The event, which attracted around 350 cars last year, will also feature live music, food stalls, a bouncy castle, prizes and dress-up activities for girls.
As a long-time car enthusiast, May believes Mangawhai’s strong interest in classic vehicles is partly due to the number of retirees living in the area.
“We like to celebrate this day for the whole community. It’s a big fun day for locals. The town is full and we’ve got so many cars around. It’s one of the major events in Mangawhai now.”
The event will be held on April 5, with vehicles arriving from 8.30am and the show starting at 10am. It is an alcohol-free event. Entry is cash only and costs $20 per car (including occupants) or $5 for walk-ins.
