Super Chevy Sunday
The Wellington Chevrolet Club’s sixth Super Chevy Sunday was held at Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt, on Sunday February 14, with 150 vehicles parking up for what is now an established yearly event.
Although primarily a display for showcasing Chevrolet cars and trucks, the show has welcomed the participation of other cars since its inception. This year, the other makes included Ford, Pontiac, Holden, Chrysler, and Rambler.
Glenn Wood (Woodsy) organized the event for the fourth time. He said that the day was one for relaxing and chilling out in a picnic setting, with no pressure on car owners. There are no prizes for them or their cars, an aspect of the day that many of its regular attendees say they like. Increasing numbers of owners now bring their cars to shows, display them while they look around, and then drive off, their actions thus disadvantaging them for any prizes, because their cars were not on show all day.
Rob Ferns and his immaculate 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible were missed by many at the Hutt Valley car shows this summer. Woodsy said that Rob is now living in Sydney, where
Words and photos: Christopher Moor
he is wished every success with his relocation. Rob organized the first two Super Chevy Sundays, with Woodsy ably taking over the role from him for all shows since.
Arguably, the most pristine car on the park was Jason Reder’s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. Everything about this eye-catching car is original except for the seat belts. Jason has owned the car since May 2015, after making a trip to America for the purchase. His Bel Air was parked alongside his dad Richard’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala coupé, which is a regular participant at Hutt Valley car events. The Chevrolet heritage is definitely alive and well in New Zealand with families like the Reders.
Super Chevy Sunday is always a good show and will be even better next year with the increased promotion we’re told that the day will receive. The Wellington Free Ambulance and the Cancer Society NZ will share the profits from this year’s show.
Paraphrasing what emcee Roy Mcguiness rightly said during the 30th anniversary of British Car Day, such an achievement is a real milestone when it comes to car shows. The celebration was held at Trentham Memorial Park on Sunday February 14, with more than 450 cars participating.
February 14 is of course Valentine’s Day, which a few of the car owners acknowledged by specially decorating their cars. One added flowers to the front bumper and boot of a 1967 Rolls-royce Silver Shadow, while three members of the Wellington Vauxhall Bedford Club bedecked their cars with ribbons, hearts, and bouquets. The club’s public valentine on the bonnet of a 1966 Vauxhall SL90 mentioned the 30th anniversary of British Car Day.
Some vehicles that were part of the original British Car Day in 1987 came to Trentham for the 30th-anniversary show. Among them were a 1948 Jaguar MKIV belonging to Don Hawkes and Melby Scott’s 1954 Vauxhall Velox. Melby, a dedicated collector for the Wellington Free Ambulance, has since fitted an ambulance- shaped collection box to the bonnet of his Velox, which led the duty ambulance on a circuit of the display area to raise more funds to help keep Wellington’s ambulance service free. All profits from the day went to the Wellington Free Ambulance, as is the tradition with British Car Day.
Stan Edmonds, president of the British Car Club, presented this year’s prizes. The MG Car Club received the trophy for the best car club display. Every year, the club has a large presence at British Car Day, and the win was considered well deserved for its ongoing contribution to the event’s success. The People’s Choice award went to George Walter’s 1961 MGA. George is the son of Vic Walter, whose vision led to the first British Car Day in 1987. His win was a popular one, 30 years after his dad inaugurated the event. George Walter, Rob Jones, and Andrew Weeks produced the commemorative souvenir magazine, Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of British Car Day, which is reviewed in this issue on page 88.