Burning rubber, petrol fumes, smoke, cheers and revving engines, gleaming bodywork and plenty of chrome saw petrolheads and car enthusiasts turn out in force for the second Kaipara Car Show. Vintage cars lined up alongside classics, drag, stock and drifting models - cars of all shapes and sizes, some sleek andsophisticated, others grunty and solid. The brainchild of organiser Shane Vuletich, the event offered more than $10,000 in prize money. It included a burnout competition, wet T-shirt and beer belly competitions, a kick-boxing demonstration and one of the best line-ups of cars you'd see anywhere. Mr Vuletich thought of the idea when, as a bodyguard, he toured Australia with the Crusty Demons motocross riders. Mr Vuletich's mother, Sue Ker, died from breast cancer, so one of Sunday's events - the Sue Ker Memorial Car Cruise - raises money for the Breast Cancer Foundation. Sixty cars of various makes and types from all over the North Island paraded in Woolworth's Carpark before departing for the Kai Iwi Lakes. Participants paid a gold coin donation and Mr Vuletich matched that dollar for dollar. "This gives anyone the opportunity who couldn't afford to go to the show the opportunity to see the cars," said Mr Vuletich. The burnout competition took place on a purpose-built, 30x30m burnout pad at Hoanga Rd. Drivers have a maximum of two minutes to complete their burnout and are only allowed three stalls. "The crowd really love it - all ages, we had from a three-month-old to an 84-year-old attend," he said. A Thai boxing demonstration between Mr Vuletich and Jason Howtin entertained the crowd, and four bands played until sun rise. Simon Huntington from Whangarei won the $5000 prize for the main burnout competition in an eight-cylinder Chev-powered Anglia. Local boy Garry Whiter, who at present holds the national equal drifting champion, in a Nissan Sylvia was second and Bush Boy from Whangarei in a six cylinder Commodore station wagon was third. Judging was by public response.
