Tararua Rodders Inc. 2013 Hot Rod Show

By PETER FRANKLIN___Horowhenua Chronicle Friday 27th September 2013____________________

Tararua Rodders Club members get their heads together biennially and organise a festival of automotive magic they call the
Chrome and Custom Auto festival — and a festival it is. They painstakingly talk to owners throughout the country and convince
them to bring their pride and joys to Levin for one day — and they willingly turn up.

Club president Nathan Davidson said he could confirm 130 plus entries in this year's show, including American muscle cars,
traditional hotrods, speedway cars and motorcycles. The off- road brigade will be represented by owners of four-wheel drives
and racing boats.

He said up to five dragster owners have agreed
to fire up their cars, some of which produce more
than 700 horsepower. Visitors can wander among
the huge array of vehicles inside the pavilion and view
the Robertson Holden International Speedway big
screen, showing some of the big hits from last
season's speedway action. More exhibits will be
outside, along with music from classic local rock
band Rubber Band.
Mr Davidson said since the first show, entries have
more than doubled and people throughout the country
make the effort tocome to Levin specifically for the event.
"From a club's point of view this is fantastic," he said.
He said it is going to be a fantastic day and the club
has focussed on keeping the show affordable for
families at $5 for an adult and $2 for children.

The gates open at the Horowhenua Events Centre at 10am, with lots happening until 4pm

Rodders Paying Tribute to former Member The Chronicle Setember 25 2013

By PETER FRANKLIN

With the paperwork nearly finished, it's a matter of waiting for set up day for members of the Tararua Rodders who are
predicting the 2013 Chrome and Custom Auto festival will be the best yet. Club president Nathan Davidson said a lot of
work had gone in to get the best show cars committed to the show. "We know there will be a really fantastic line-up for
people to look at on show day," he said. On the day, the club will take the opportunity to pay tribute to one of its former
members Paul Ireland, who died suddenly earlier this year.

Mr. Davidson said the show line - ups is goig to be
fantastic with something to please everyone.
Mr Ireland's immaculate bright orange Mustang would
take pride of place in the exhibition area.
Mr Ireland was a great supporter of the club and the
community, helping out wherever and whenever he could.
While the emphasis would be on customised cars and
pick-ups, the motor racing world would be well represented
by a large number of drag racers and speedway cars.
In addition to the four-wheeled works of art and speed,
the show will have a large number of motorcycles on display.
Mr. Davidson said the show line - ups is goig to be fantastic
with something to please everyone.

Enthusiasts Flock to popular auto festival By Peter Franklin The Chronicle Wednesday 2 October 2013

While it may have been a dull day outside, inside the two Pavillions at the Horowheua Events Centre were packed with
enthusiasts looking and dreaming of owning one or more of the well- presented vehicles on display.
The Tararua Rodders organised its biennnial auto festival and each year the support from the public and bussinesses
increases.
An organiser and club president Nathan Davidson said the weather did not deter a constant flow through the gates.
Mr. Davidson said the big bonus for the club was the interest by a national company keen to join the next show in September
2015.
" A lot of local bussinesses supported the club but I would like to mention Quinns Buildings, Bryant and Simpson and Life
Style Dairy Pumps, They were great."

Variety: It wasn't all about cars at the Tararua Auto Festival, Remodelled: Nothing like it when it was newin 1940, this
there was plenty of interest among the many motorcyclists Mercury custom has undergone a massive transformation
who inspected the two wheeled displays. into a stunning show car.

Experienced Eyes: With so many fantastic looking What a Combo?; The classic T-Bird towing a classic caravan.
is cars, judging for Andy Smith ( right) was always going owned by Levin's Andrew King.
to be a hard job, but one he loves.

Below is an editorial printed in the Horowhenua Mail dated October 3rd 2013

Roaring rods drag in crowds

Hundreds of souped-up cars attracted hundreds of people to Levin on Sunday. Hot rods, classics, drag and stock cars were
among the gleam­ing metal on display inside and outside the Horowhenua Events Centre. Despite a damp start, the bien­nial
Tararua Rodders Hot Rod Show was a roaring success, presi­dent Nathan Davidson said. Numbers had not been tallied but he
estimated up to 4500 people attended over the day, a similar turnout to previous events."It was a fantastic show inside ...
the class of cars there was just awesome, " he said.
Cars arrived from all over the lower and central North Island, along with motorbikes, off-roaders, boats, drag and stock cars. A dirt
course was set up in the paddock behind the events centre, where drivers from the two Horowhenua-Kapiti four-wheel-drive clubs showed
their skills.
Supercharged V8 drag cars were also fired up outside throughout the day. About 480 vehicles were on show outside, Mr Davidson said.
But the real show was inside, with rows of polished metal and big engines the major features of the about 100 exhibits.
Levin's Webby brothers, Wayne and Wade, scooped two prizes, for their chromed hot rod T-Bucket that they started building in 1965 and first
registered to be road legal in 1970.
Mr Davidson said it was "the most amazing piece of nostalgia car I think most people will ever see"."It was the first hot rod to be built in
New Zealand with an overhead valve motor, rather than using the old flatheads.
"It's a grouse piece of nostalgia ... and it's still alive today, 43 years later."
Mr Davidson said he had "beg­ged" the owners for eight years to get the car at the show.
The chrome-covered beauty won Best Vintage and the Club Choice award, voted by club members.

Tribute ; Paul Ireland's highway pursuit car, with a photo of the Brandy wine; A 1940 Mercury convertible, owned by John and Anna
Tararua Rodders member who died about two months ago. Scarlett, of Levin which was runner-up in the best Ford.

Chrome Classic ; Wade and Wade Webby's Classic T Bucket, Screamers; Drag cars on show out front.

Halloween; Levin's Synaia Tubb, Moana Brown and Shayden Tubb Two Wheels; " Quince ", of Levin, on his Harley Dyna Glide.
in front of a Halloween-Themed 1932 Roadster.

Starting Young; Louis Redshaw, 9. of Palmerston North, tries Holiday Fun; Horowhenua College exghange students Kristina Gedde,
out the V8 race car simulator. left of Norway, Johnny Chan, of China, Aki Koinuma, of Japan and Jessie
Chong , of China, with the Corvette owned by Jessie's host family,
Bob and Jet Larsen of levin.

Other Award Winners

Best Ford; Lincoln Zephyr, Dave kindberg, Normanby; Best GM; 1935 sedan, John and Karen Nightingale, Wellington,
Best Mopar; Super charged dodge Challenger , Mike Williams, Lower Hutt; Best Stock car; Miget Race car,
Dean Hambling, Fielding; Best Dirt Bike; TM 125 Susuki, Ian Pike; Best Custom Bike; Custom Fatboy Harley Davidson,
Graham Hislop; Best Classic Bike; Ariel Square Four, Shaun Brill; Long Distance; Markos Hamilton, who travelled 205km from
hastings to come to the show.

At the end of the show This report was printed in The Horowhenua Chronicle, Friday October 4

Auto Festival Success

Last weekend's Auto Festival was a big success for host club, Tararua Rodder. President Nathan Davidson said apart those who put
their cars on show it was the of local business that helped it the great day it was. Tararua Rodders thank the following businesses
for their support: More FM; The Horowhenua Chronicle; BNT; Horowhenua Motors; HK Distributors; Quinn Buildings; Life Style Dairy
Pumps; Kerry's Upolstery; Motor Sport Apparel; Plumbing Solutions; Tom Lancadter Autos; Paul Ireland Digger Hire; Repco;
Carters Tyres; Ohau Autos; Bryant and Simpson; Tatana Contracting; Pescini Market Gardens; BS Young Ltd.

A show stopper, the locally owned 1947 Ford pick up truck was one of many stunning show vehicles on display at the
Auto Festival last weekend

By PETER FRANKLIN Horowhenua Chronicle September, 13th 2013.

Four years in the making and the rewards are coming thick and fast for Tararua Rodders member Warren Montgomery. His bright yellow 1947 Jailbar pickup
truck won the best commercial division at the recent Speed Show in Auckland and is set to continue winning acclaim wherever it goes.

The project got underway in 2008. After gathering a mass of classified ads, relating to Jailbar pickups, donor chassis and a multitude of other parts needed
to put his dream ride together, Montgomery set to work.

The bulk of the body work was done by Warren in his shed, although getting the timing right
for show dates started to become an issue and the project moved camps to Bruce Jack Panel
beaters in Foxton.The guys got stuck in and completed the body work and applied the custom
mixed yellow paint.

Help on the project truck came from a lot of quarters locally, including Wayne and Stu from
Winiata and Anderson Sheetmetal and Gary Hayes of Foxton Dismantlers in Foxton. Powering
the bright yellow beast is a 351 cubic inch Ford Cleveland V8 engine imported from Marshall
Engines in Nebraska, United States.

Once the Jailbar was in one piece, the all-important certification was done by Andy Smith of
Smith Automotive in Levin. Andy's expertise was also utilized in setting up the Supra five-speed
gearbox to take the Cleveland clutch and pressure plate and he also rebuilt the limited slip
differential.
The finished result is a stunning pickup truck that has pride of place in the Montgomery
household and among their fellow Tararua Rodders club members.
• To see the fantastic looking '47 Jailbar and many more custom creations, head to the
Chrome and Custom Show at the Levin Events Centre on Sunday September 29.

Following are more than seventy photos taken by Henry phillips at the Hot Rod Show

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