Start a love affair with these beauties!

David Burke-Kennedy –

If your life has been a journey of affairs with one car after another and you have racked up a high mileage, the forthcoming Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2016) would provide you a chance to recapture the memories.

It will be held at the Ellerslie Race Course in Auckland from 10 am to 4 pm. Entry to the show is by tickets at $15 per person. However, the first 15 persons who call our office on (09) 5336377 on Friday, February 5, 2016 (not earlier or later) will receive complimentary tickets from Indian Newslink, courtesy of the show organisers.

Relevant Theme

This year’s Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d’Elegance & Classic Car Show display theme is “A Classic Love Story…” reflecting the affair many of us have with classic cars – or just cars – one way or another.

The theme is not only relevant to what is regarded as the most romantic day of the year; it has special significance for car lovers.

Around a third of car owners have a love affair with their car. According to various American surveys, men are significantly more likely to have ‘romantic feelings’ for their wheels than women.

Romantic Men

Many car enthusiasts are faithful to one brand…and one-eyed about it. Others may have a few marques on the side.

Certainly many people see their cars as extensions of themselves – although baby boomers are less likely than say Millennials to have a pet name for their cars.

Some car owners even look like their loves – a fact borne out by Austrian researchers Stefan Stiegar and Martin Voracek of the University of Vienna. They discovered that many owners actually look like their cars or at least their car grilles. Similarly, they found that dogs can also look like their owner’s cars – though whether the cars are also dogs is unknown.

Stunning display

The Ellerslie event displays 700 or so classics and eighteen car clubs will interpret the theme to compete for the Classic Cover Insurance ‘Best Club Display’ Award.

MG Car Club, for example, will reflect the Marque’s “love of speed.”

For those not affiliated to or part of a club display, the “Paddock” offers an opportunity to show unusual or particularly interesting classics. You just turn up on the day – and display your own. Arrive early as space opportunities are limited.

Many of the classics displayed are million-dollar exhibits – sometimes worth much more.

You will also see the latest prestige and performance models from leading dealerships. There would be more heart-stopping heavy metal here than at any other event in this part of the world!

Among the highlights for avid enthusiasts would be our equivalent of USA’s renowned ‘Pebble Beach Competition’ – the NZ Classic Car Magazine Intermarque Concours Trophy for the best restoration and club teams of restored vehicles.

The Concours

‘Concours’ means ‘competitive examination’ (from French), which is a primary purpose of the show. The country’s best restored classics undergo professional examination by judges to determine the best – in the ‘Masters Class’ and ‘Teams Event’ – being the best two restorations entered by a club.

Many of the cars are restored to better than new – that’s how good they are. Last year’s best was worth around $6 million when it subsequently sold overseas.

The Ellerslie show reflects some of the work of NZ’s restoration industry which is world renowned and attracts classic car owners from around the globe.

Individual entries include MG, Jaguar, Mustang, Morris, Daimler SP250, and Mini.

The Porsche Car Club, winner of the 2015 event, is hosting the show this year.

The show would include RadioLIVE’s ‘Survivor Award’ for the best unrestored ‘Everyday Classic.’ Entries this year include a pristine 1936 MG PB, Holden Premier, Mustang and a VW Microbus.

New Babies

New prestige and performance cars also attract crowds. Expect to see the latest from Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jaguar, Jeep, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren, MINI, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Volkswagen and Volvo. RV Super Centre is also exhibiting motor homes with the latest futuristic recreational vehicles.

Other exhibitors will offer books, motorsport accessories, wheel refurbishing, rally tours, car detailing, dashboard cameras, car bumpers, garage/showroom flooring and paint protection technology and classic Insurance cover.

Radiator Group Adrad is participating for the first time, while Event Co-Sponsor, car care leaders Meguiar’s and Smits Group would have special offers.

Forty-three years on, since the first event was held at Auckland’s Cornwall Park, the Ellerslie show continues to share the love at what has become one of Southern Hemisphere’s biggest annual motoring events.

David Burke-Kennedy (aka Alfa Romeo) is a member of the Organising Committee of the Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d’Elegance and Classic Car Show 2016. He can be contacted on 021-2732372.