Crowds line streets for vintage convoy

They turned out in their thousands for the open day on Sunday and they did it again last night when the vintage and classic cars in the 2012 International Vintage Car Club Rally drove through city streets in a show of thanks.

Rally organisers decided the drive-by, involving as many of the 700 rally cars as they could muster, was a fitting tribute to the community which had embraced the rally from the beginning.

Rally director Bruce Hutton said from the time the first cars started arriving in Wanganui almost two weeks ago, the community was totally welcoming.

Mr Hutton said Wanganui had been so hospitable to the biggest rally of its type in the world "we decided to have a 'thank you' for the city".

Cars left Springvale Park from 6pm, heading off on three different routes around the city. The routes were planned to take in as many of the residential streets as possible within a reasonable time frame.

The departure was handled with military precision with marshalls directing the cars to points at Springvale Park before sending them through Wanganui East, Aramoho and Gonville-Castlecliff.

The 2012 VCC Rally ends today with the last of the rallies from the city. Tonight's dinner at the Jubilee Stadium is being done in two sittings, starting at 6pm, with awards and presentations made about 7.45pm. The music and dancing kicks in from 10pm.