Beach Hop helps fuel region’s spirits
Repco Beach Hop is back for a 2023 edition that promises to provide all the usual petrol-head fun, 50s and 60s nostalgia, plus a much-needed cash injection for the beleaguered Coromandel.
The Repco Beach Hop is New Zealand’s No 1 nostalgia festival as it celebrates the zeitgeist of the 50s and 60s through car parades, live music and fashion shows.
Covid disruptions meant last year’s Beach Hop was pushed out to November, but this well-received event is back to its original March date.
It got under way on Wednesday and is running through until tomorrow.
A full schedule of events started with the Go Waihi warm-up party held at the Repco Garage.
The Repco Power Cruise around the Coromandel Loop (Whangamata-waihipaeroa-thames-coromandel-whitiangatairua-whangamata)
took place on Thursday, with a $5000 cash prize on offer. The weekend action features the traditional grand parade at 9.30am today followed by an action-packed day including Cool Classic Car & Boat Show, the
Meguiars Main St Car Show, Whanga Books Tot Rod Show, Repco Pre 1949 Hot Rod Show, Harley-davidson Motorcycle Show and the Retro Caravan Show.
A $50,000 cash giveaway is also on the cards for attendees who buy the festival programme, which are on sale from many businesses around Whangamata.
Organiser Graeme “Noddy” Watts said the Beach Hop is “all on track,” but with the Coromandel’s highways in a precarious state, he is asking “drivers to be patient and careful on our roads”.
“They are safe but there may be the odd speed restriction or one-way area,” Watts said.
“A shout out to the roading agencies for getting things sorted so quickly.”
■ For more information, visit the 2023 Repco Beach Hop website beachhop.co.nz