Turangi dresses up for car enthusiasts

Organiser of this weekend's annual Lead Central 2014 Kustom Car Show and Swop Meet Sarbie Quinton and Turangi towncentre coordinator Christine Dally.

Turangi is decking itself out American Graffiti-style for the town's fourth annual custom car and swap meet on tomorrow.

Co-ordinator Keith (Sarbie) Quinton said the meet attracted car enthusiasts from around the North Island. He said this year's event was shaping up to be one of the best thanks to support from Go Tongariro and local retailers and businesspeople.

He said the American Graffiti theme worked really well with the age of the cars that were on display.

"People love dressing up and re-living the era," Sarbie said.

A feature of the annual event is a car show and swap meet on Te Kapua Park with modified cars from the 1940s and 1950s.

Go Tongariro co-ordinator Christine Dally has come on board to help promote this year's event. An American Graffiti movie night was organised last month, complete with popcorn and fizzy and retailers have got into the swing of the event with an American Graffiti-style window dressing competition.

A raffle being sold at retail outlets as part of the car show offers the winner one night's accommodation at Turangi's Judge's Pool motel, a meal for two at River Wines and a rafting trip on the Tongariro River with Rafting New Zealand along with a $50 voucher from local cafe Thyme for Food. Proceeds from the raffle will be used to help cover the cost of the band playing at the event.

Rotorua-based Al Dawson and the Wild Katz will be playing at the car show during the day and at the Tongariro Chartered Club in the evening.

Hamilton-based entertainer Betty Rage will also be out and about around Turangi town on Saturday selling raffle tickets.

Details

What: Lead Central 2014 Kustom Car Show and Swap Meet.
Where: Te Kapua Park, Turangi.
When: Tomorrow.
Cost: Free.