This year’s Repco Beach Hop, the first of two within four months, was definitely worth the wait for the thousands of people (and classic cars) who flocked to Waihī, Thames, Onemana and Whangamatā for an event-filled weekend of 1950s and 1960s nostalgia.
Expectations were high from attendees who had enjoyed previous years’ events before Covid interruptions, and this year did not disappoint as the Beach Hop convoy rolled into town.
The Go Waihī Warm-Up Party in Waihī kicked things off on Wednesday November 23 with a street parade, as an enthusiastic crowd got their motors running while viewing the armada of classic muscle cars, pick-ups, and era project cars.T
Beach Hop 2022 kicked off in Waihi. Photo / Jim Birchall
Saturday and Sunday’s highlights included a retro caravan show at Whangamatā Area School, the grand parade down Port Road, which was preceded by a Rock ‘n’ Roll Club march down Port Road, and the Burger Fuel vintage competition.
Thousands of people lined Whangamatā’s Port Road to ogle at the parade, have a beer at a bar and eat food from local cafés, pop-ups, and sausage sizzles - cooked by Fire and Emergency and Search and Rescue staff.
This prison bus was an arresting sight in Whangamatā at Beach Hop 2022. Photo / Jim Birchall
Sunday brought the 2022 edition of the Beach Hop to an end, but not before a nostalgia surf fest, a top 10 shoot-out, a final prizegiving, and a rock ‘n’ roll church service at the Whangamatā Baptist Church.
The vintage competition was won by two entrants - both versions of the famous Sandra Dee from Grease.
