The Rotary Paeroa Annual Car and Motorcycle Show and Swapmeet is heading to Paeroa Domain on February 22, and is set to be a bonanza of all things petrol.
This year, for the first time Rotary is combining their two regular events, the Vintage and Classic Car Show and the V8 Show, into one big extravaganza.
Vintage, classic and V8 cars will be on display along with trucks, pickups, hotrods, bikes, caravans and other vehicles of interest.
The annual swapmeet will take place at the same time, with stallholders bringing their vehicle-related wares. There will be market and food stalls, activities, demonstrations, kid’s entertainment, raffles, and the much-sought-after prizes for each car category.
To keep the crowd entertained, Rotary have called on some 50s-themed entertainment – rock’n’roll dancers, a pin-up fashion show, and Paeroa’s own Elvis, Trevor Needham.
“I’m going to bring several eras of Elvis through the decades, from about 1960 up until when he passed in 1977. We’re going to be doing some country music as well,” Trevor said.
“I’m really hoping that we can make it something to remember.”
Trevor will be wearing three different costumes during the show, each weighing 15kg and worth around $5000. He said he was excited to bring his show back to his hometown.
“I lived in Paeroa for a long time and to bring this [show] home again, it touches me,” Trevor said.
“It’s important for people to know how much I love being a part of that community and now to come back with this show after all these years, it’s a big part of me.”
Rotary president Katie McLaren said the car show was shaping up to be a fantastic day, and said combining the two events made sense.
“The capacity of the club is changing – a lot of people were getting sick and retiring and going away, so we just thought we’d combine it into just having one event per year, one big car event, one big fundraiser,” she said.
The show will be Rotary’s major fundraiser for the year, allowing the club to continue supporting the community in Paeroa, Waihī and the Plains.
“A lot of our funding goes towards supporting youth, so we have put a fair amount of money into the local schools and college,” Katie said.
“Before Christmas we agreed to give some money to Paeroa Central School towards their new playground surfaces; the Ohinemuri Kahui Ako towards a youth support programme, [and] we’ve provided some funding towards the Paeroa College Academic Scholarships as well as some funding to the Santa Parade for the Business Association.
“We’re always looking for worthwhile community projects.”
DETAILS: Rotary Paeroa Annual Car and Motorcycle Show and Swapmeet, February 22, 10am at Paeroa Domain. Entry $5pp, vehicles $10 each (including driver), under 15s free.
