Get revved up and ready to go – because The REPCO Tauranga Auto Extravaganza roars back in town on Sunday, March 8, at Mercury Baypark from 10am-2pm.

Organiser Neville McKay said this year the Hato Hone St John fundraiser will offer a cracker of a show filled with all kinds of wheels and family fun to make the crowd hum with delight.

“Now that we have a larger venue at Mercury Baypark, the show will be bigger and better than ever before,” said McKay, who spends 12 months organising the show with his good mates Keith Sawyer and Barry Gordon.

Cars, trucks galore!

In fact, the men will have show cars, race cars, vintage cars, classic cars, hot rods, bikes, logging and road trucks, cranes and digger parked left, right and centre.

REPCO Tauranga Auto Extravaganza organisers Keith Sawyer, Neville McKay, Barry Gordon and REPCO NZ regional manager Craig Sherriff get ready for the show at Mercury Baypark on March 8. Photo / David Hall

“It will be a wheel-lovers’ paradise for kids right through to the grandparents. It is now a community event – so it is for the kids as much as the adults. That means I’ve got $1000 worth toys to give away this year,” said McKay.

“A really special attraction this year is a privately-owned McLaren M10A race car coming to the show from Napier, said McKay. “These open-wheel, V8-powered machines were dominant in Formula 5000 racing, with the M10A winning the 1969 championship!”

Another big drawcard will be a hovercraft parked up by Tauranga-based British Hovercraft NZ company. “Anyone who goes to have a look at this stunning beauty of a machine at the show can go into a draw to win a free hovercraft ride on Tauranga Harbour,” said McKay.

The auto swap meet

The extravaganza would also host its usual big drawcard – the auto swap meet, with the public invited to bring along their cars – all makes and models are welcome – to display.

Exhibitors can arrive from 8am and have their vehicles set up for display by 9.30am, McKay said. “We’ll have a large variety of vehicles to look at. Kids right through to the elderly will be fizzing!”

Plus, McKay said, all vehicle that are put on display will enter draw to win a big mystery prize. “This will be drawn at 1.30pm – but you’ve got to be present to claim it!”

McKay said event sponsor Tyre Change would host wheel-changing competitions for men and women teams from 11am.

Trophies, comps, free goodies

There will be trophies for best classes of vehicles given out at 1.30pm and competitions for Best Dressed Women and Best Dressed Man. Plus, plenty of car-related goodies would be given away in raffles and auctions and a variety of food stands would ensure no-one went hungry.

Gates open 10am, with an official opening beforehand. Two pipers would open the event, with Tauranga City Councillor Steve Morris and former mayor Kelvin Clout in attendance.

“At the opening a kaumatua will hold a karakia (prayer) followed by two minutes’ silence for the people lost their lives at Mount Maunganui and Welcome Bay on January 22, which was appropriate given the community is still deeply hurting,” McKay.

Loads of carparking

McKay said the main thing people should know is the event is at Mercury Baypark. “It’s going to be so much better because it has a lot more room – the beauty of it is there’s oodles of carparking for show-goers.”

And every cent raised goes to St John Tauranga, said McKay. “We want to people to know that all money raised stays local and is given St John because they really need the support!”

Entry is $5 per adult and under-14s with school ID will gain free entry. Find out at ‘REPCO Tauranga Auto Extravaganza’ on Facebook or see their advert on this page.