A muscular show of raw US power

The streets of New Plymouth were not short of muscle at the weekend.

However, it wasn’t the thousands of singlet-wearing, sunworshippers showing off their guns type of muscle, but rather the hundreds of American motors lining the streets in all of their colour and sparkling chromed glory.

In its 11th year, Americarna wrapped up another successful four-days on Saturday with event participants parking up their pride and joy for all to see.

Back for their 10th dose of the left-hand drive motoring event, Kaponga’s Clyde and L’Raine Eason had their 2001 Cadillac STS on display.

But the couple are never found travelling alone.

Teddy, an oversized stuffed toy Clyde gifted to L’Raine, is never left behind and can usually be found buckled up in the back seat.

‘‘It’s in case we have an accident,’’ L’Raine, who claimed the Cadillac as her own, said.

‘‘It’s a good drawcard for kids.’’ The couple, who raved about the event and promised they’d be back for their 11th year in 2019.

Further up the road Kerry Hodge was found proudly showing off his 2013 Dodge Challenger.

The Palmerston North man, whose poison was usually Corvettes, has owned the ‘‘fun car’’ for about four years and said it was his wife that sealed the sale.

‘‘When your wife tells you ‘you can buy an $80,000 car’ what do you say...you take it, it doesn’t happen often,’’ he said.

‘‘She’s a car nut too.’’ Hodge has been involved with Americarna for a number of years and said his favourite part of the event was the rest home run.

‘‘We just love seeing there faces light up,’’ he said.

Event organiser John Rae said despite setbacks due to ex-cyclone Gita the event had been a success.

The car festival stopped in Opunake as scheduled on Wednesday but was forced to cancel the Waitara stop off after a broken pipe severely compromised the water supply in much of eastern New Plymouth.

‘‘It was disappointing,’’ Rae said. ‘‘But I’ve been very pleased with how the event has run.’’

About 850 cars participated in this year’s tour making it the biggest to date. Rae put the increasing numbers down to car enthusiasts knowing the event was well run, the roads were good and the community always got in behind it.

‘‘2019 is definitely on,’’ he said.