You can’t help but be wheely excited for Wairarapa’s largest-ever showcase of wheeled and tracked vehicles.
Organised by Wairarapa’s Vintage Machinery Club and A&P Association, Wheels at Wairarapa is set to kick off this weekend, with everything from classic cars to bulldozers on display at the Clareville Showgrounds.
Each day will focus on a different category, including vintage motorcycles and modern cars, trucks, and agricultural and earthworks vehicles.
Event convener Robin Parker said that after two and a half years of planning and covid roadblocks, it was great to finally have some traction.
“It’s been a long time coming, a lot of planning to bring it all together.
“We are super excited about the event and are anticipating a big show.”
Parker said there would be something for everyone.
“We’ve had calls coming from all over New Zealand. It’s not just cars, it’s anything with wheels, old or new.
“We’ll have food courts, live music, stalls, and rides for kids.
“We will have Clydesdale horse rides, tractor rides, truck rides, steam rides, Thomas the Tank Engine, line dancing, stall holders, and a food court with live entertainment.”
For those wanting their fix of heavy vehicles, Parker said earthmovers would be showcasing their capabilities by shifting dirt and digging holes, while three large steam trains are travelling from Fielding to Clareville, especially for the event.
The three-day wheel extravaganza is also playing host to the first-ever Carterton Truck Show, with 41 classes to enter and prizes to be won, including a special people’s choice award, ‘The Fred Burling Cup’.
Parker said a show highlight will be a Caterpillar D9 truck weighing about 50 tonnes: “She’s a big old girl.”
Parker said the event would also be supporting two worthy causes – Westpac Life Flight Trust, and Eli Honeysett, who was only five years old when he was struck down by a virus that left him paralysed from the neck down and unable to breathe on his own.
Wheels at Wairarapa will run from February 4-6 at the Wairarapa A&P Showgrounds, Clareville Carterton; a full programme can be downloaded from www.wheelsatwairarapa.co.nz
