Articles by Greg Stokes

The strength or success of anything in life is measured in numbers and the annual Repco Beach Hop in Whangamata is no exception. After 21 years it has become Australasia's largest event of its type catering for automotive fun and rock and roll music. With last year's Covid delayed event being held in November, it gave the Beach Hop crew only a few months between this year's event and last. Despite that, it went off without a hitch and as usual…

For the third year now, Chris Hornblow and Shane Adlington have organised the annual Model A Day at Chris & Raewyn’s fantastic property in Oratia, West Auckland. This year on Saturday 27th February, there were 48 cars in attendance which included one Model T that snuck in and additionally there was also a Fordson tractor! The diverse mix of restored or barn found stockers through to fully hot rodded versions of Henry’s finest came from all over…

Wild Bunch drag racing is strong and its return is in its second year and is starting to dominate the drag racing calendar. Back in the late eighties/early nineties at Champion Dragway (now Meremere Dragway), a new class of quarter mile drag racing was sweeping the nation – WILD BUNCH! This class essentially took the street appearing two door saloon car and stuffed it full of supercharged methanol fuelled drag racing goodness. Crowd appeal was…

The world may be crippled by Covid 19 but in New Zealand, the Jalopy Dust Up was a dusty but fun way to see in 2021. Hosted by Noddy Watts of Beach Hop fame (Australasia’s biggest hot rod, classic car and rock & roll festival) and his partner Andrea, the Dust Up was just what the doctor ordered. · Let’s face it, 2020 in New Zealand consisted of two lock downs, numerous cancelled or delayed events and an event like the Jalopy Dust Up was a sure…

Covid 19 sure put the handbrake on 2020 and as a result is a year that many of us would rather forget. The worldwide pandemic created havoc through all aspects of everyday life including the fun we have with cars. Fortunately for us all here in New Zealand there has been a sense of normality or an appreciation for a "new normal". A Covid delayed Beach Hop in Whangamata was no exception back in November. Originally scheduled for March this year,…

The Covid19 pandemic was something I thought I would never see in my lifetime and I bet many people can say the same thing. When the country went into Level 4 lockdown it was only businesses of essential services which could keep pressing on. New Zealanders had to adapt to a whole new type of normal with new terminology where days were measured by case numbers and isolation and on it went. New Zealanders were suddenly told to stay at home and…

With the Corona Virus pandemic sweeping the world it was only a matter of time before New Zealand would be affected. Since the first confirmed case in New Zealand we have had constant media thrashing on the subject and as the world has started shutting down country by country the media hype has heightened. Is it hype or is it precaution? Is it a virus or is it politics? There are so many points of view about it all – it’s a case of taking the…

Once again I was called up to join the judging team for the prestigious America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award. This has been running since 1949 at the Grand National Roadster Show held on the last weekend of January at the Pomona Fairplex in California, USA. Last year was my first time on the judging team which comprises of industry movers and shakers such as noted hot rod builders like Bobby Alloway and Pete Eastwood and automotive designers…

Time sure flies when you are having fun! It seems like yesterday that we attended the annual Rebel Round Up at Pukekohe Park Raceway and it’s on again Saturday 15th February. The hot rod and custom car themed event tips its hat to the whole culture around it celebrating days gone by with live bands, retro fashion and of course the old style hot rods and customs themselves. The action packed event is a celebration of everything old & cool with…

Speaking from the hot rodding background I know and love so well, I enjoy the history and the collectibles associated with it all. On that note and added to the fact I have written for various national and international publications – I really enjoy reading and collecting hot rod magazines. My collection is not museum excessive in size or age but I simply collect what I like. Over the years these magazines have served many purposes from…