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Sundays just got better with NAC Car Culture!

27 August, 2015

Looking to extend your motoring fix beyond the glossy pages of New Zealand’s leading motoring magazines, and the on-the-run convenience of The Motorhood? Well from this October, you can, with the debut of our new motoring-magazine television show NAC Car Culture on TV3! Set to premiere on Sunday, October 18 at 2pm, the show pools the minds, the knowledge, and the passion of the people who make up Parkside Media’s three big motoring magazine titles: New Zealand Classic Car, NZV8, and NZ Performance Car.

Despite being such a small, isolated nation, New Zealand has always had an incredible affinity with the automobile. We produce some of the best replicas and restorations, some of the wildest and most inventive car builds, and a large chunk of the best race drivers on the planet. NAC Car Culture promises to travel up and down this fair country of ours to investigate why, and expose the machines, the men, and women who make it all happen. We’ll tour private garages and expose the marvels that they conceal, we’ll take a look at grass-roots motorsport and motoring events, and we’ll shine a light on some of the nation’s greatest builds — big and small. Can you tell that we’re a little excited?

Extending our excitement is the knowledge that the equally passionate Cal Thorley will be directing the show. You might recognize the name from his previous work while at the helm of NZV8’s 2014–’15 Beach Hop coverage, as well as his fellow car publications; The Red Shift and Hot Rod Revue. For the low-down on Cal, check out our in-depth interview with the man behind the camera.

We were also delighted to recruit NAC Insurance as our partners in this journey. They’ve been a loyal supporter of the New Zealand motoring community for more than 18 years, and were thrilled to come on board to help bring the project to life. The series is a good fit for NAC’s involvement in supporting initiatives that grow and develop the scene — as well as providing something great to watch on a Sunday afternoon!

Keep an eye on The Motorhood, where we’ll be posting more details closer to the broadcast date. You will not want to miss it!

Motorman: When the top trio took to the road

9 May, 2025

What sort of cars did Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme drive when they weren’t on the race track? Motorman knows
Most top racing drivers do care about safety levels of road-going cars for everyday motorists and their all-round abilities behind the wheel. Jackie Stewart for one denied finding everyday driving boring. He took pride in giving his passengers the smoothest possible ride, and encouraged all drivers to actively engage in the task. They also make interesting choices for their transport away from competitive motoring.
Thirty years ago I spent a day with Chris Amon driving on lower North Island roads and I can remember those informative few hours as vividly as if they were yesterday. In 1983 Chris accepted a challenge from Toyota New Zealand to improve its locally assembled cars in a relationship that extended well beyond the end of New Zealand-built Toyota vehicles in 1997.

The Ayrburn Classic announces dates for 2026

7 May, 2025

Save the date: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February 2026
That’s right. The Ayrburn Classic returns next February for what promises to be another world-class celebration, scheduled slightly earlier on the calendar to bask in Central Otago’s long golden evenings and late-summer glow. This festival will once again transform Ayrburn into a playground for car enthusiasts, food lovers, and seekers of high-end hospitality alike.
The 2025 edition set an incredibly high benchmark, and is fast becoming one of the leading reasons to visit Queenstown – amongst New Zealanders and international travellers alike. With over 250 classic and contemporary luxury vehicles on display – collectively worth more than $250 million – the festival was a visual and visceral feast for attendees.
Standouts included an $8 million LaFerrari, the latest Aston Martin Vanquish, and a fleet of dream machines from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and more. The event’s unique blend of elegance and accessibility attracted both seasoned collectors and casual admirers aplenty.