The Star: January 18, 2024
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24 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>January</strong> <strong>18</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
34th<br />
YEAR<br />
Multiple muscle cars to set<br />
Geoff Omnet from Oamaru has<br />
entered his very rare 1932 Ford.<br />
Trillo Metals 34th Muscle Car Madness<br />
<strong>January</strong> 27th-<strong>January</strong> 28th<br />
A&P Showgrounds Rangiora<br />
Early ‘70s Falcons are very popular with<br />
many great examples at the show.<br />
Excitement is building as not only the best, but also<br />
the South Island’s largest automotive frenzy is about<br />
to happen, says spokesperson Craig <strong>Star</strong>e.<br />
Described as a “huge family event”, Trillo Metals<br />
Muscle Car Madness is held on the last weekend of<br />
the school holidays, only days before school resumes.<br />
“So, if you are a ‘petrolhead’ of any age, this is<br />
the place to go, smack in the middle of the South<br />
Island at the A&P showgrounds in the beautiful<br />
country town of Rangiora, just 27 kilometres from<br />
Christchurch,” Craig says.<br />
<strong>The</strong> show will take place on the weekend of <strong>January</strong><br />
27 and 28 from 9am to 4pm, while the lead-up week<br />
will see the town buzzing with the sound of welltuned<br />
V8 engines and the sight of glistening paint and<br />
chrome from 6pm on Wednesday night.<br />
Amongst the entries are 11 cars from Kaitaia, 26<br />
cars from the Toy Shed in Rotorua, a contingent from<br />
Rocket Speed Equipment in Hamilton, and even a<br />
couple of cars from Bluff.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Saturday is always the bigger day, weather<br />
dependent of course,” Craig says, “and regularly has<br />
1500 cars-plus on display, with Sunday having 800 to<br />
900 cars. Don’t come late on Sunday as some out-oftowners<br />
get away early.”<br />
This year’s drawcards are Trevor Halstead’s “bullet<br />
nose” radical custom Studebaker, which Craig notes<br />
has every panel changed from the original and is a<br />
contender to take out some of the awards.<br />
“It is currently the top custom in New Zealand.<br />
Trevor does all the work himself in a modest<br />
shed in the Waikato and has a fleet of owner-built<br />
Studebakers.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> other drawcard is the top hot rod in the<br />
country belonging to Greg Haliday. His 1941 Willys<br />
coupe is world class. It took eight years to build by<br />
Rocket Speed Equipment. It was shipped to California<br />
to be upholstered by the famous Gabe and went on<br />
to enter the very exclusive Detroit Autorama where it<br />
won its class.<br />
“This is the first public showing of the car and<br />
its only South Island appearance. <strong>The</strong> 800-plus<br />
Another new car, this time a chopped 1936<br />
Plymouth coupe from Nelson.<br />
Top hot rod in New Zealand is Greg Haliday’s<br />
amazing 800 plus horsepower 1941 Willys coupe.<br />
TRILLO METALS<br />
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PH 03 379 5585 (2lines) • Fax 03 379 5094<br />
This 1955 Chevrolet convertible<br />
is typical of the classic cars on<br />
display.<br />
Steve Taylor is showing another top<br />
car, a 1934 Ford three-window coupe.
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