People check out Greg and Rochelle Bannon's 1946 Ford Coule at the Annual Beach Hop pilgrimage from Whangamata to Whitianga. Photo / Alison Smith
People check out Greg and Rochelle Bannon's 1946 Ford Coule at the Annual Beach Hop pilgrimage from Whangamata to Whitianga. Photo / Alison Smith
Waipu petrolheads Greg Bannon and his wife Rochelle have just clocked up their seventh Beach Hop at Whangamatā.
They hit the highway last week in a pimped and preened 1946 Ford Coupe that have owned for about a year, to take part in the festival which continues to go fromstrength to strength.
The couple joined more than 100,00 fellow fans and visitors who roared into the small Coromandel township to celebrate Beach Hop, the biggest event of its type in New Zealand.
Held over five days, 2018 figures from Thames Coromandel District Council shows Beach Hop pumped about $7 million into the local community with people travelling from as far afield as America.
The hop finished on Sunday and Greg said he enjoyed the American Graffiti type culture and catching up with like-minded people and his mates.
''It's just a really cool culture and there are some absolutely outstanding cars here which people have put a lot of money into. The quality of the cars blows me away.''
He also liked the friendly vibe at Beach Hop.
''The atmosphere is just outrageous. We get as much enjoyment from our car as watching other people, it's just good fun.''
''It's also another outlet that allows you to get away from everyday life.''
The Bannons were both brought up with cars and say it's in their blood.
''We grew up in households that were into their V8s. Rochelle's dad was into cars and quite mechanically-minded and so was mine. As a kid, the old man had a 308 Holden Premier that was his passion.
''From there we have owned a lot of V8s. As daily drivers, we have got three V8s in the family at the moment.''
One of those includes a 1965 Mustang which they bought about 12 years ago.
