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Annual Twin Rivers Car Parade

16 June, 2014

 


Last month the Twin Rivers Car Parade and display was held at the Canterbury A&P Showgrounds.

Even though the weather was very overcast and less than ideal, the crowds weren’t deterred with huge amounts of people turning up and a great array of vehicles were on display.

British, American, European, and Japanese vehicles were all represented, with some really beautiful cars showing up.

The display was set for a 10.30am start with vehicles leaving to take part in the parade at around 1.30pm and returning an hour later. Prize giving took place at 3pm.

The Twin Rivers Car Parade has been running for the past 10 years by the Rotary Club of Avonhead. Entry only cost $15, and spectators only $10, so it’s always great value for money for a very relaxing day out. Proceeds this year went to The Child Cancer Foundation.

1975 Suzuki RE5

1 November, 2024

Suzuki had high hopes for its RE5 Wankel-engined bike launched in 1975. It had started looking at the Wankel engine in the mid-60s and bought the licence to the concept in 1970.
Apparently all of the big four Japanese makers experimented with the design, Yamaha even showing a rotary-engined bike at a motor show in 1972. But Suzuki was the only one of the big four to go into production. Like many others at the time, Suzuki believed that the light, compact, free-revving Wankel design would consign piston engines — with their complex, multiple, whirring valves and pistons, which (can you believe it?) had to reverse direction all the time — to history.

Westside story

25 October, 2024

For the young Dave Blyth, the Sandman was always the coolest car and he finally got one when he was 50. “I have always had a rule. When you turn 50, you buy or can afford to buy the car you lusted after when you were 20. I was 20 in 1979 and the HZ Sandman came out in 1978. It was the coolest of the cool — I just wanted one,” he says. “Back then a Sandman cost $4500 new and a house was worth about $20,000. I made about $30 a week so it was an impossible dream then.”
Dave was heavily influenced by the panel van culture of the time. “I started with an Escort panel van and upgraded to a Holden HD panel van with a 186ci six cylinder. I started a van club, Avon City Vans.