Lizard News MAY 2021
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Te Puna • Whakamārama • Matakana Is • Ōmokoroa • Pahoia • Apata • Aongatete • Katikati • Tahāwai • Bowentown • Athenree • Waihī Beach
Bus puts Ōmokoroa on the map
BUS PHOTOS: adampphotographer.co.nz
By Matthew Farrell he wheels on the bus go round and round - and this year, the bus attracted more interest than ever before. Beach Hop fanatics Brian Kirk of Ōmokoroa Automotive and Steve Abbott of Ōmokoroa Tyre and Alignment say they’ve never witnessed as much enthusiasm for Brian’s ‘48 Ford as they saw at the 21st anniversary event. Back to its traditional position in the calendar of 24th to 28th March after a Covid-delayed November event for 2020, the Repco Beach Hop drew a thousand classic vehicle entries to Whangamatā, with a Waihī warm up and a successful first-ever cruise to Thames giving more people a chance to meet exhibitors. “We had so much interest in this Beach Hop. People from or previously from Ōmokoroa, or coming up to tell us their uncle or some other family member lives here. It was non-stop photos all weekend. We live and
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breathe Ōmokoroa in the workshop,” says Brian. Steve says they bumped into so many people from the peninsula, “not all of whom you might perceive as being ‘car people’. There’s a tie-in to the mechanical and tyre business, but we are passionate about cars in our leisure time too - and proud to be from Ōmokoroa.” Signwritten by a local, David Farmer of GT Signs, the school bus turned prison bus was the focus of a big effort in 2019 with Steve’s daughter Zoe dressing up as a warden for half a dozen adult ‘inmates’. This year Steve and Zoe travelled in a 1966 Chevrolet C10 V8 pickup, while the prison theme earned a place in the Ford Elite Top 20 competitors for Brian. “That meant lots of extra cleaning for additional showings. Organiser Noddy Watts rang me about the Thames stage, where I received a certificate, medal, and prize pack from Paul Radisich. “We were on display at Onemana the next day in the
Ford Castrol area, where Greg Murphy had a long chat with us and photos were taken for the Castrol website. The next day, we were at Ford Park in Whangamatā. Usually we come and go as we please!” says Brian. He says it was neat to have kids approaching with parents, saying they knew the bus and had looked around inside it. “The business is what we do to be able to have our toys. The work makes it worthwhile. It’s about people, and the business gets dragged into it as a by-product,” he says. Steve says they’ve made friends through local classic car ownership and shows, including a breakfast meeting at the Talisman in Katikati on the third Sunday each month and the Waihī Beach RSA on the second Sunday. Steve says their sponsoring of a recent car day on Esdaile Road is an example of how Western Bay locals and local businesses can support one another in the community.
Rachel and Linley Your local Omokoroa property experts
Thinking of selling? Let’s talk. Rachel Millard & Linley Ward R 021 513 189 | L 021 026 04819 rachel.millard@tallpoppy.co.nz | linley.ward@tallpoppy.co.nz
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