Hundreds of people packed onto footpaths, perched on truck decks and settled into deck chairs to watch the Moutere Hop’s Friday night cruise.
Among the supporters were dozens of residents from Jack Inglis Retirement Village, who lined High Street to cheer for the 350 passing vehicles. The crowd possibly recognised a few cars from their own vintage, waving cheeky signs like “Drive it like you stole it” and “I’m not old, I’m a classic”.
Shane Kemp, who organises the event with Graham Walker and Miles Drewary, says the weekend drew more than 3200 people to the Moutere Hills Community Centre. This is the eighth time the annual event has been held and Shane reckons he was blown away by the community support, saying it gets bigger and bigger each year.
There were more than 300 cars on display at the Hop, with people travelling from the North Island and as far south as Winton to share in the petrol-head passion.
“It was an awesome day,” Shane says. “Can’t fault it.”
