CLUB CORNER
Once a year, more than 70 of the country’s car clubs get together to check out one another’s cars, celebrate their common bond, and create a great day out for the car-minded public at the country’s biggest and best, the Ellerslie Classic Car Show. The event gives everyone a chance to take a close look at some of the most beautiful and soulful machines ever invented and chat to the people dedicated to keeping them ‘alive’.
It’s also a chance for owners to raise the stakes and take on the competition in the Intermarque Concours d’elegance competition, in which impartial judges decide which clubs or individuals have pushed their cars — with polish, cotton buds, toothbrushes, and probably their wallets — closest to perfection. It’s a world-class contest, and winners have gone on to win grander concours prizes overseas.
The show is a highly successful and professional event, albeit run by amateurs — a bunch of volunteers from participating car clubs. Although accurate, that ‘amateur’ description doesn’t do justice to the skills and experience around the table.
The event is run by the Ellerslie Intermarque Concours and Classic Car Show Incorporated, which represents car clubs. Garry Boyce has chaired the organizing committee for eight years, and, for much of that time, he has led the same core team of committee members. Altogether, they have racked up more than 130 years’ experience of running the show. Right after each car show, the team gets together to debrief and start planning the following year’s event. However, their places at the table in Garry’s garage, surrounded by a small but potent collection of classic cars, are not guaranteed. They are voted on each year at the annual general meeting, held as soon as possible after the show to give the incoming team a fair crack. Car clubs nominate members to the organizing committee. Some years, there are more than the eight nominees required, but secretary Mike Bitossi says that most clubs are happy for the same people to shoulder the work each year.
Four members are elected from car clubs. Two are nominated from the ‘ host’ club — the club that won the Teams Event in the previous year’s concours. One is a representative from the previous year’s host club, and one is a representative from the Thoroughbred and Classic Car Owners Club (TACCOC), which is responsible for the independent judges. The chair, secretary, and treasurer are nominated from the committee. Garry says that others can be co-opted onto the committee (without voting rights) for their expertise.
The 2019 show will take place at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday, 10 February. The organizing committee is: Mike Bitossi*, Porsche Club; Garry Boyce, Mercedes-benz Club; David Burke-kennedy*, marketing and commercial; John Campbell*, MG Car Club; Stan Edwards, TACCOC; Steve Hawkins, Early Holden Club of Auckland; Dawn Judge, MG Car Club; Alisdair Keucke, TR Register; Wayne Lack*, Auckland Mustang Owners Club; Ian Langley, Auckland Mustang Owners Club; Barbara Lokes, Mercedes-benz Club; Robin O’connor, Jaguar Drivers’ Club; Malcolm Thompson, Porsche Club. *Co-opted member