Articles in ‘Motoring’

The Classic Motorcycle Festival is set to be bigger than ever this February. · Last year, 3,500 racers and spectators descended on the famous racetrack in Pukekohe in the first week of February. Over 300 racing machines from the 1940’s through to the 1990’s came to compete from all over New Zealand and the world. · The Festival, which is in its 42nd year, is famed as being the largest Classic Racing Festival in the Southern Hemisphere.…

Cast your mind back to 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 huge as these cars were something people could relate to in the crowd due to their bodies looking very much…

The late 1960s saw the best pre-Formula One racing this country has ever experienced. Racing took place over January, during the European winter, giving the Formula One teams a chance to test new chassis and suspension systems prior to the upcoming European season. The only difference was that the engine capacity was limited to 2.5 litres, as opposed to the Formula One limit of 3 litres. As a young motor sport enthusiast, I was teamed up to…

Pukekohe motor racing star Liam Lawson has returned home from another successful season in Europe, where he finished runnerup in the Euroformula Open (EFO) championship and won the Rookie of the year title. Lawson was signed by the Red Bull Junior programme at the start of this year and has endured an intensive year of racing in two championships across Europe. Red Bull management wanted him to concentrate on the EFO series but they also…

At the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California back in January it was an honour for us to meet Jim "Jake" Jacobs who was the other half of Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts which GMS Hot Rods are dealers for. Pete & Jakes were founded in 1973 shortly after the late Pete Chapouris and Jim “Jake” Jacobs met and had their iconic coupes featured in Rod & Custom Magazine – these two cars changes the face of hot rodding to what we know today.…

Four guys from New Zealand recently did a whirlwind trip to the USA in August for the 50th NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. Leaving cooler temperatures behind in New Zealand’s winter, the group was blessed with temperatures in the 30 degree range as they touched down in Chicago before heading to Louisville. The 50th anniversary of the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Street Rod Nationals attracted over 13,000 vehicles on…

Due to the 3M sponsored visit of internationally renowned automotive customizer Chip Foose, this year’s CRC Speedshow was set to go off the hook. There were so many attractions to the show which kept the increased public numbers entertained all day. The CRC Speedshow has become the must do event for anyone with the slightest interest in all things automotive. We attended the show on two levels – one as a trade vendor with GMS Hot Rods and two…

The annual CRC Speedshow has become New Zealand’s premiere automotive event which caters for all things automotive related and everything in between. This year’s event is sure to be a very memorable one with the guest appearance of renowned USA automotive designer Chip Foose. If that name sounds familiar you would have seen him on the highly popular Overhaulin’ TV series. Chip is regarded as an all-round good guy and is highly regarded in the…

In the automotive world and in particularly in New Zealand, we have our fair share of artists. To be more precise, these artists can work sheetmetal into beautiful art forms as they restore, recreate or design their own automotive fantasy. Allow me to introduce Mike Roberts. A truly humble man, Mike just likes to do the best work he can but also with the most creative and individual flavour.. Back to that humble approach which Mike portrays, it…

The motor's running so belt yourself in for a great ride! Steel 'n' Wheels Festival 2019 is hot on our heels. Put it on your calendar and don't miss it. Four hours packed with a variety of exciting displays, mean machines, live music and markets. Something for everyone; vintage and classic cars, hot rods, trucks, tractors, military, bikes and more! · Freestyle NZ FMX riders will wow you with their outlandish stunts, see the World War II…