Whiti Beach Meet Car Show: A Roaring Success for Car Enthusiasts and Charity

Raising big for charity and a car enthusiasts big day out!

It was third time lucky for organisers from the American Muscle Street and Custom Club Whitianga who were finally able to host the event at Buffalo Beach reserve after two postponements due to bad weather. Cars entries came from Whitianga, Coromandel town, Pauanui, Tairua and Whangamata, and also further afield across the North Island including Auckland, Hamilton, Waiheke Island, Taupo, and Pukehina. 

In the huddled conversations around cars, the event clearly demonstrated that it  was a fantastic opportunity for proud car owners to showcase their vehicles and connect with other car enthusiasts.

It was just what Whitianga needed, a chance to take the family out for the day showing the kids the car your parents had, the toy you wish you had never sold, or perhaps a chance to see the car, bike, or truck of your dreams up close. A big thanks goes out to all the vehicle owners who took the time to polish and enter their toys, and all of the event sponsors, because if it wasn’t for them along with the organising committee we wouldn’t have had a show.

– Reg Smith, American Muscle Street and Custom Club Whitianga committee

Activities and fundraising throughout the day 

Event initiatives run by the Whitianga American Muscle Street and Custom Club and Mercury Bay Lions raised approximately $8,000 on the day. Fundraising included a gold coin donation raffle of a ‘pink Cadillac ride’, car show entry fees, auction and sales of prints and Mothers products. Proceeds will be donated equally to support the Mercury Bay Cancer Support Trust and Project Mammogram Whitianga. 

And, the Whiti Beach Meet was not just about cars and vehicles. Visitors also enjoyed a range of activities throughout the day, including food and drinks from local vendors, live music, raffles, and fun activities. All entrants and visitors were encouraged to dress up in retro style or in the year of their car or just dress up in a fun theme. 

Highlights of the event fundraising was the auction of a painting of a pink Cadillac by local artist Julie Smith and the draw to win a cruise in a Pink Cadillac for lunch at Luke’s Kitchen (car donated by the Club members Doug and Denise Campbell and lunch donated by the Luke's Kitchen team).

The painting was won at auction by Dave Gunner and the Pink Cadillac cruise raffle was won by Whitianga local Olivia Down who had donated to the Whitianga Lions Club donation bucket collection on the day. Julie also sold prints of her drawings of cars, trucks, and animals at the event, with the proceeds going towards the fundraising for the two local causes. 

Pictured above: Pink Cadillac and auction winner Dave Gunner with Julie Smith (painter of the Pink Cadillac)

Thank you to sponsors

The American Muscle, Street and Custom Club Whitianga Committee would like to acknowledge all sponsors for the day including Farmer Auto Village and CFM, All About Whitianga, Christensen group, Peninsula Cars and Commercials Service, Grace O'Malleys, Hart & Associates Limited, PlaceMakers, Mothers New Zealand, Ace Panel & Paint, Guthrie Bowron, the Warehouse, Pacific Coast Marine and Diesel Ltd, CRC, Mercury Bay Pharmacy, Whitianga Waterways, Unichem, Super Liquor, Countdown, Roar, Jim Ross, Doug Campbell, Raewyn Knight and Percy Flutey, Debbie Farrell, Peter and Penny Murray, Reg and Julie Smith. 

We had an outstanding  response from local businesses and sponsors, who donated merchandise for categories, spot prizes, and raffles. The Main sponsors Farmer Auto Village and CFM along with lots of local and Auckland businesses donated prizes plus the Semi-trailers were loaned by the Christensen group for the event. Over 50 prizes were given out to the entrants, either as spot prizes, category prizes, or best-dressed prizes. 

– Reg Smith, American Muscle Street and Custom Club Whitianga committee

Vehicle and best dressed category winners   

There were no restrictions on the year model, make, or type of the vehicles that could be entered and shown at Whiti Beach Meet resulting in  a diverse range of categories for the judging team to deliberate upon. 

Best Dressed Categories – Man, Couple and Woman

Best Dressed Man: Charlie Lodge (pictured above left)

Best Dressed Couple: Lee & Alan Alsemgeest (pictured above middle)

Best Dressed Woman: Ann Ganley (pictured above right).

Best Under 4 wheels

Winning motorbike description: 1960 AJS 16c Motorbike

Owner: Phillip Low

Award presented by: Reg Smith, Committee, American Muscle, Street and Custom Club Whitianga. 

Best Caravan

Wining caravan description: 1959 Cadillac & Caravan

Owner: Deane Parkinson

Award presented by: Reg Smith, American Muscle, Street and Custom Club Whitianga.

Best Truck

Winning truck description: 1940 Ford Pickup

Owner: John & Rhonda Rutherford

Award presented by: Chris & Fiona Ward.

Best Sedan

Winning sedan description: 1071 Ford Fairmont

Owner: Gavin Parker

Award presented by: Chris & Fiona Ward.

Best Coupe

Winning coupe description: 1956 Chev Belair Sports Coupe

Owner: Chrissy Chapman

Award presented by: Jason CFM.

Best Convertible

Winning convertible description: 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible

Owner: Ron & Tracey Julian

Award presented by: Cathy & Dean Klouwens, All About Whitianga.

Best 1970 and Under

Winning 1970 and under description: 1956 Buick Century

Owner: Noel Smith

Award presented by: Jason, CFM.

Best Over 1970

Winning best over 1970 description: 1973 VW Crew Cab

Owner: Peter Corbishley

Award presented by: Cathy & Dean Klouwens, All About Whitianga.

People's Choice Award

Winning people's choice description: 1977 VW Kombi (aka Colin the Camper)

Owner: Eleanor Whitehead

Award presented by: Blair Brookbank, Farmer Auto Village.

WHITIANGA AMERICAN STREET AND CUSTOM CAR CLUB

The Whitianga American Street and Custom Car Club welcomes anyone with an appreciation for classic or unusual vehicles to join their club. Although their name suggests a focus on American muscle cars, they encourage all types of retro vehicles to join.

To contact the club and for more information go to the All About Whitianga Community pages or click on the clubs link below.