Wet and wild weather 'adds punch' to Auckland car show

Saturday, 22 July 2017

Craig Lord explains why crowds love the CRC Speedshow.

Benny Leveridge's face said it all on Saturday.

It was thumbs up from the gleeful three-year-old cheerfully lapping-up the thrills and a few spills at CRC Speedshow's rain-soaked Auckland event.

Proud mum and dad Adam and Becky Leveridge had brought their young Pokeno family to the ASB Showgrounds - the drawcard was drifting champ 'Mad Mike' Whiddett.

'Benny's a big fan of Mad Mike because he goes to daycare with Mike's kid,' dad Adam Liversedge said.

'Benny's a big fan of Mad Mike because he goes to daycare with Mike's kid,' Adam said.

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'A good amount of brainwashing from me helped though,' the motorsport fan laughed.

The CRC Speedshow crowd were treated to several demonstration displays in off-road racers and drift trikes.

Close by, huddling under umbrellas, the Perkam family were hanging-out for Mad Mike's drifts too.

Vehicle transporter driver dad Jackie, had brought his three sons Bailey, 9, Tristyn, 11, and Josiah, 13.

ASB Showground's pavilions were packed with lovingly restored cars.

'I'm just trying to get my kids interested in something,' Jackie said.

'Mike's so cool, cos' I haven't seen anyone drift like him before,' Bailey said.

CRC Speedshow MC Craig Lord said the rain just 'adds to [event's] punch'.

'The drivers out in the live arena don't seem to mind the rain and people are quite happy to come inside and look at all these fine machines.'

Lord's expecting 'tens of thousands' at the weekend event, now in its 11th year.

'We're definitely the biggest in New Zealand for this kind of show'.

Strung across the showground's pavilions are dozens of exhibits and hundreds of cars and motorbikes ranging from go-karts to muscle-cars.

'People who like hot rods, people who like drag cars, or performance cars and race machinery, the show has such a varied range,' Lord said.

'The highlight for me personally its Project Crazy Horse, the 2000 horsepower electric street drag car, it's a unique attraction'.