Kane Stowes' HQ Holden with supercharger. Photo / John Van de Ven
Kane Stowes' HQ Holden with supercharger. Photo / John Van de Ven
Aviation enthusiasts and petrolheads turned out in force for the Wings and Wheels event in Tokoroa last weekend.
The town’s airfield became a living museum, showcasing aircraft, classic cars and motorsport.
There were also food stalls, displays by local community groups, and paid helicopter rides.
Organised by South WaikatoDistrict Council, the free community event attracted a strong turnout from across Tokoroa and the wider district.
One of the standout attractions was local Kane Stowe performing burnouts in his HQ Holden station wagon, with a supercharger poking through the bonnet.
Visiting pilot John Martin flew in from Tauranga in his classic Hatz biplane, drawing plenty of attention from spectators keen to see the vintage-style aircraft up close.
Classic hot rod culture was also part of the mix, Steve Daniels proudly showing off his 1923 T-Altered, a vehicle he built from scratch and runs on methanol fuel.
The event was attended by a lot of families.
Taylah Searl attended with her children, Azaria and Kyis, who were fans of the tethered hot-air balloon rides.
Colin Austen with his model of the L-39 Albatros jet trainer. Photo / John Van de Ven
With strong attendance and positive feedback from the community, the council said it was considering making Wings and Wheels an annual event.
Council spokesperson Corey Rosser said last weekend’s event exceeded expectations.
“We had someone tell us it looked like half the town was here,” Rosser said.
“It’s a great community event and a good opportunity for local businesses like food vendors. It also gives clubs a chance to showcase what they do and hopefully attract new members.”
