Dressed to impress at classic car show
Tauranga’s Cindy Ward was crowned the first Miss Athenree 2021 at the Classic & Vintage Car show where there were lines of glistening cars on display.
Sunday’s event was hosted by Athenree Homestead and Henry’s Rod Shop from Katikati.
There were seven entries in the contest all dressed to impress in classic outfits from the 1920s-1950s.
Cindy and her matching car Minty — a 1960 Ford Prefect — made a stunning duo.
Her mint green frock was from Vintage Day Out in Auckland and her friend bought her a cape to match which they added to for the era.
Cindy said she won the contest for her grandmother, who sadly passed away on Saturday night.
She bought the car in February and has taken it to the Morrinsville Motorama, Frankton Thunder and the first year at Beach Hop and today at Athenree.
Cindy has always liked classic cars but finding one in her price range wasn’t easy.
“I found her on Facebook and paid just under $8000.”
The classic Ford Prefect will stay for good with the family, “although my husband Daniel wishes I’d got something a bit bigger cause he’s quite tall.”
Another contestant and owner of a Ford Prefect was Shona Sharp (Miss Candy Floss). The car’s registration PGYSUE gives a hint of what the owner may be into.
Shona lives for the 50s and 60s and has been to all 21 Beach Hops. She was even married at Beach Hop in 2016. She has had the car for three years.
“It was a plain Jane painted white when I got it. I’ve done all the work on it and given it a bit of colour.”
“It’s a family heirloom and if anything happens to me, the car will go to my granddaughter Amara.”
The couple used to race at the Waihi Beach dirt track. Shona’s husband has a 58 Ford Consul Mk2, a 1988 EA Falcon and recently added to the fleet buying a 2001 Jaguar and a 2002 Fairmont.
Contest judges were Glenna Christensen, Alistair Davidson from Petrolhead NZ and Ebony Hessy from Ebony Boutique at Waihi Beach.
David Jackson’s stunning blue 67 Buick Skylark won People’s Choice. David is from Te Aroha but has a place at Waihi Beach. He has owned the car for six months and said he wanted a car to cruise in.
Mark Thompson from Henry’s Rod Shop thanked everyone for coming, along with sponsors, Val New and the volunteers at the homestead and firefighters who manned the gate.
Athenree Homestead Trust committee member Val New said they were pleased with the turnout.
“We took just under $2500 which was great. “The weather was good but unfortunately all the cars had gone when Helen Clark and her father arrived just after 2pm.”
Apata couple Tony and Lynn Martens had their candy apple red 1930 Ford Model A Coup on display, which was for sale. They had set up a spot to make the most of the view out to the harbour entrance at Bowentown.
The inaugural Miss Athenree Contest and Classic and Vintage Car Show was a spectacle of glistening cars covering many decades, along with women and men in outfits stepping back to the 1920s. The historic Athenree Homestead and the view of the northern entrance to the Tauranga harbour made a stunning backdrop. The Advertiser was there to capture the event which was a fundraiser for the homestead and local fire brigade.