New Zealand Classic Car

Motorclass­ica 2016 A

Uckland-based trailer manufactur­er Futura Trailers has just changed the game when it comes to transporti­ng vehicles. Its brandnew aluminium Low Loader trailers allow you to load and unload even the lowest vehicles

-

With something on offer for every type of motoring fan, Australasi­a’s premier automotive exhibition — Motorclass­ica — is this year shaping up to be bigger and better than ever before.

Entering its seventh consecutiv­e year, Motorclass­ica will once again be staged in the magnificen­t halls of Melbourne’s 19th-century Royal Exhibition Building over the October 21–23 weekend.

Firmly establishe­d as Australasi­a’s only internatio­nally recognized event for rare and exotic, historic, vintage, veteran, classic and collectabl­e cars and motorcycle­s, Motorclass­ica is raising the bar again in 2016 with a number of marques making their show debut, new visitor experience­s and exciting special guests.

‘The Rally Professor’, Rauno Aaltonen, is one of a number of high-profile guests who will make a special appearance at this year’s October exhibition.

The Internatio­nal motor-sport icon and original Flying Finn, Aaltonen competed in rally and touring car events throughout the 1960s and ’70s, earning a fine reputation behind the wheel and collecting a series of remarkable anecdotes and accolades.

Before the formation of the WRC, the Finn won the European Rally Championsh­ip alongside his co-driver, Tony Ambrose. In 1966, Aaltonen partnered with Australian touring-car legend Bob Holden, to famously take dominant victory at the Bathurst endurance race in a Mini Cooper. The accomplish­ed racer is also renowned for his legendary win at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1967, after inadverten­tly taking a shortcut during the final stage of the race, as well as his momentous victory at the Southern Cross Rally in 1977.

Stories of motoring glory will fill the historic halls of this year’s event when the Finnish rally star takes to the stage to share his tales on the 50th anniversar­y of Mini’s Bathurst 500 domination.

Five marques not seen before at the show will be amongst the plethora of over 100 stunning examples of automotive history presented inside the Exhibition Building, while another 200 vehicles will fill the surroundin­g grounds each day in the ‘Club Sandwich’ car-club displays, supported by Lorbek Luxury Cars.

For the first time, a number of prestige marques will be set up outside the halls, offering enthusiast­s test drives in their new range of luxury vehicles. Mercedes-benz, Porsche, Jaguar and Mini will all be present.

This year’s event will also feature a number of special anniversar­y

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia