NZ PETROLHEAD VINTAGE MARKETS

There seems to be a perception that some people have of Beach Hop as an event that’s strictly automotive, when that couldn’t be any further from the truth. The cars are a massive part of what makes it the event we know and love, but, from day dot, it has always been about the culture and era — it’s a rock ’n’ roll festival built on that great Kiwi love of cars. So, while you’ll all know that Repco Beach Hop 18 featured an immense number of vehicles, with a healthy selection of rock ’n’ roll music on offer, did you know that it also featured a very popular vintage market? Don’t think that this was a new addition, either — the NZ Petrolhead Vintage Market has been going for years, and, from its location at the Whangamata Memorial Hall, this year, it featured over 50 stalls selling all manner of retro wares. As soon as you entered the venue, the awesome vintage-styled pop-up Texaco service station provided a decent indication of what to expect within — this thing is no halfarsed cash grab but a properly presented and laid-out marketplace in the nostalgic spirit of Beach Hop. The stalls within included the essential oldschool clothing and accessories but extended to antiques and collectibles, shed ornaments and memorabilia, and a whole lot of awesome art. We’re not talking oil paintings, either, with Stace ‘the Ace’ Roper on hand doing live airbrushing and selling a tonne of radically airbrushed items, and even a tattoo studio shoehorned inside, courtesy of Deane Holland at Waihi Tattoo Studio, for those wanting to commemorate their Beach Hop experience in a more lasting manner. So, with a massive number of stalls — and goods — crammed in, this really was the coolest part of Whangamata in which to burn a bit of spare time or cash.