Te Kai Whakarongo
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9 July, 2024 | Proudly locally owned and operated Issue 1113 Circulation 9000
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CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA
AMERICANA MUSCLE & CUSTOM CARS CELEBRATE 4 JULY
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Chrissy and Paul Chapman standing in front of their 1939 Ford Coupe.
BY JACK BIDDLE
M
uscle and custom cars are normally tucked up in owner’s garages or undergoing maintenance work over the winter months, avoiding the potentially wet and miserable weather. Owners love to drive and showcase their pride and joys when the chrome work shines brightest. But exceptions are always made when it comes time to celebrate special occasions such as the 4th of July, Americas Independence Day. There may be personal prefer-
ences and strong opinions with owners on specific makes and models within car clubs like the American Muscle Street & Custom Club Whitianga, but the one common denominator is the fact their cars originated from the USA, and in a time when size really did matter. Such was the case last Saturday, 6 July, when around 30 club members presented their vehicles for a local gathering on Buffalo Beach Reserve followed by an orderly convoy down the main street and a park up and display outside Grace O’Malleys. To add some spice to the day,
the most enthusiastic club members even dressed their vehicles and themselves in the traditional red, white and blue colours of the USA, hoping to take out the prize for the best dressed. Celebrations continued at Grace O’Malley’s with a dinner and band playing all the hits from an era that matched the occasion. The band was a one-man effort by the name of Phil Hart. He was excellent with such an encyclopaedia of songs all in his memory and a voice and guitar skillsto match this good-time era. Jim Sharp and Chrissy Chapman were crowned best dressed.
“It was a great opportunity for club members to get together, socialise and display their cars to the general public” said Reg Smith who, along with his wife Julie, is one of the club’s stalwarts and is the co-ordinator of this annual celebration. On Sunday, the Tairua members of the club ran a Cars & Coffee plus poker run starting out from Smittys Sports Bar & Grill and ending at the Pour House in Hahei. The weekend’s events were also a very early lead into the club’s annual Whiti Beach Meet which is to be held on 4 January 2025. “We are always looking for new
F F O % 0 6 O T P U S D E B E D A M Z BLE A L I N A V A S N O I OPT
entries and it would be great to grow the club with new members. If there are locals out there wanting to be part of our club, we welcome them with open arms. It’s free to join as well and we embrace all makes and models including cars, trucks and motorbikes. “Hopefully, our 4th July weekend celebrations attracted some interest” adds Reg. For more information about the American Muscle Street & Custom Club Whitianga in general or the upcoming WhitiBeach Meet in January next year, contact Reg Smith at whiticarclub@gmail.com
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PRICE • suPER RE FURNITU
SPF Furniture Thames 513 Pollen Street, Thames 3500 07 2116954 SPF Bed Shop 543 Pollen Street, Thames 3500 07 2119307 SPF Furniture Whitianga 33 Albert Street, Whitianga 3510 07 2800367 www.superpricefurniture.co.nz
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