HORSES FOR COURSES HORSEPOWER 2022
‘Horsepower’ roared on to the Trentham racecourse concourse on Sunday, 22 May. The event was the first car show for 2022 in the Hutt Valley, after Covid 19 visited cancellation on most of the annual summer displays. Before-show predictions of a large gathering proved correct, many owners apparently itching to show off their prized wheels again.
A sunny late autumn morning brought out an eclectic mix of vehicles, including numerous American, Australian, and British classics. A few 1960s Ford convertibles drew looks of surprise and appreciation, appearing with soft tops down on the eve of winter.
I’d only been walking around the cars for a couple of minutes when I felt as if I’d not left home. My neighbour Steve’s 1962 Land Rover, in military finish, really stood out among the twinkling chrome and vibrant paint jobs. Then, parked near Steve’s Landy, I spotted the 1999 Ford Crown Victoria Highway Patrol car that I see regularly on walks to the dairy.
A few more steps and happy memories returned of the late Melby Scott waving to me from his 1954 blue and white Vauxhall Velox in my suburb’s main street. Seeing his former car looking immaculate was one of the day’s highlights for me. A 1952 Triumph Mayflower on the same tarmac must have been one of the rarest saloons present. Quite a few mid-1950s American classics appeared to be on their local debut, with a red and black 1954 Lincoln Capri and a 1955 woody Ford Country Squire station wagon catching my eye. A salmon pink and black 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air offered a strong contender in the descriptive number plate stakes, sporting the plate ‘NMRPLT’. A glowing orange 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray attracted onlookers like a magnet at the course’s southern end — including me. Families came to the show for their weekly outing, and began leaving around midday as the cars started heading for home. The 12th ‘Horsepower’ Display & Swap Meet was hosted by Capital Rodders & General Metal Recyclers. Staff at the gate said this year’s show attracted the most vehicles in its history, promising well for a repeat performance next year.