Nostalgic hot rods sure to appeal at CRC Speedshow

Media statement

7 July 2012

Nostalgic hot rods sure to appeal at CRC Speedshow

This year’s CRC Speedshow offers a trip back in time with a nostalgic display of hot rods from the 1960s and ‘70s as part of the 2012 New Zealand Hot Rod Association (NZHRA) 50th anniversary national hot rod show.

One of the headline cars of the nostalgia display is the 1919 Dodge bucket named ‘Vandal’ originally built by Tauranga hot rod builder John (‘JR’) Reid as a teenager.

Greg Stokes, co-ordinator of the nostalgia hot rod display on behalf of the NZHRA, says ‘Vandal’ was Reid’s first hot rod which was later rebuilt and renamed ‘Black Sabbath’.

“Reid’s heavily-customised 1919 Dodge bucket was built in the late ‘60s and appeared in the March 1972 edition of New Zealand Hot Rod Magazine,” says Stokes who also works for the magazine.

“The beautifully-restored car is now owned by the Caske family of Palmerston North and is regarded as a very timeless and extremely well-built car. It was a competitive award winner in its day at hot rod shows throughout New Zealand .”

Stokes adds: “John Reid didn’t follow trends back then but in fact set trends with an extensive level of detail and workmanship which led to a 45 year career in high end hot rod design and fabrication. Fifteen years ago he founded the international award-winning company, Rods By Reid, in Tauranga.”

Stokes says the display of nostalgia hot rods and drag racing vehicles highlights New Zealand ’s rich history with custom-built vehicles.

“Restored hot rods like ‘Vandal’ are alongside un-restored but immaculate hot rods still owned by their original builders as part of a small display of authentic old hot rods and drag racing cars, among the 71 vehicles which make up our 50th anniversary national hot rod show.

The NZHRA display is a show within a show organised by two Auckland hot rod clubs – Glen Eden’s Harbour City Rod Club and Howick’s Southside Streeters.

CRC Speedshow runs for just two days, 21 and 22 July, at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland and features a wide array of new cars and motorcycles, race cars and race teams, motorsport equipment and services, entertainment and live action, and competitions and prize draws. Tickets are available at the gate and the latest show news is updated on the website, www.speedshow.co.nz , on a regular basis, or follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.

ENDS/

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