Summer-fruit orchards, hillside vineyards, and the new Highlands Motorsport Park are just a few stand out features that Cromwell in Central Otago have going for it. Whether it’s fun in the sun while relaxing on the shores of Lake Dunstan, watching the boats and jet skies, or using Cromwell as your gateway to the winter wonderland beyond, this beautiful little town has it all.
As well as being beautiful, Cromwell delivers some pretty grunty events, such as the ever-growing-in-popularity Cromwell Classic and Hot Rod Festival. The Alpha Street Recreational Reserve was teaming with vehicles who came along to the Southland Ford Falcon Club Inc-organized event on January 17.
The event weekend started on Friday evening with a cruise organized by the Cromwell-based Alpine Street Machine Inc. For a gold coin donation, which was given to charity, cars gathered at an empty field on Barry Ave at around 6pm with cars leaving with a police escort at 7pm. The club was pleasantly surprised and appreciative of the support of locals who pulled up chairs and sat outside their homes, with a cold one in hand, to watch and enjoy the cars as they snaked their way through the streets.
Saturday dawned fine and hot for the big show. Car set-up started around 8am with long queues rolling into the park. Stall holders were well into setting up, with plenty of people on-site. Die-cast models, prints, and enamel signs were just a minuscule selection of the items available for purchase, along with plenty of food stalls to keep everyone energized and hydrated to tackle the soaring temperatures that went well into the 20s. Final entries ended up totalling 746, including bikes, making sure the judges were kept on their toes with a hard job finding their top 10.
The day was rounded off with prize-giving for the following top vehicles before everyone dispersed to, more than likely, check out the awesome scenery, or to settle in for the remainder of the afternoon with a cold one or two.
Here are the results, and don't forget to keep scrolling down as there's a gallery filled with shots of the event bwloe:
Top three bikes (in no particular order)
- Carie McCarthy — 2010 Misfit Custom Chopper
- Nigel Longmon — 2012 Pro Street
- Mary (no last name provided) — 2006 Harley Rocker Mystery Trike
Top 10 cars (in no particular order)
- Warren Black — 1972 Holden Monaro
- Brendon Shearing — 1971 Holden Monaro
- Paul and Robyn Mullan — 2005 Ford Mustang Stillen GT
- Ken Stenton — 1969 Dodge Charger RT
- Phil Creedy — 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air
- Alan Sutton — 1931 Auburn 898A
- Logan Heywood — 1978 Ford F100
- Tony and Vanessa Coulston — 1972 Ford Falcon XY GT
- Wayne Williams — 1938 Chevrolet
- Manny Sim — 1934 Ford Coupe Americar
Judges choice
- Warren Black — 1972 Holden Monaro
People’s Choice
- Roger Whyte — 1978 Ford Falcon XC Panelvan
