90TH BIRTHDAY PARTY L il Deuce Coupe’s

Octane Fix Online Issue 21

What an EPIC weekend this was rolling around the Napier area with a bunch of awesome lil Deuce Coupes.

Lloyd Wilson who is more likely known as “Magoo” from Magoo’s Street Rods has been putting this event on for around six years now.

Originally kicking off in Masterton, the home town of Magoo’s Street Rods, this years event was run in Napier with 116 Deuces entered to roll into town to get amongst the 90th anniversary party of this awesome lil Coupe.

These iconic Hot Rods were nicknamed Deuces due to being built in 1932 and ironically, only for the one year due to the great depression kicking-in in the USA.

They were the first of the little Coupes to run the flat head V8 engine and with the extra strengthening to the bodies and chassis, they were destined to become drag racing mobiles on the street and the salt.

The popularity of this way cool shape and the ability to make them look however you want by unbolting fenders and bonnets, chopping or removing the roof has meant that this iconic Coupe now has more reproduction bodies on the road now than it did way back in 1932 when they were actually built.

The awesome movie “American Graffiti” with John Milner’s tough yellow 32 Coupe definitely added to reason for the popularity showing just how tough and cool these lil coupes could be with a little or a LOT of attitude.

Friday evening was the kick off for the weekend events with everyone rolling in to register, grab their goodie bags and head off for a catch-up meet and greet with dinner at the local stadium.

Having a car park full of lil Deuces was like a little kids dream, and BIG kids too! You can bet I went crazy with the camera climbing over and under them all! With the variety of builds capable with these coupes, everything from the three and five window Coupes to Tudors and Roadsters rolled in making for an awesome unofficial show to wander around.

An unofficial cruise happened after dinner with a group rolling into Napier to get amongst the Art Deco and town cruising on the Friday night just like the movies of old.

Saturday morning was the official kick off of the run with everyone gathering at the local Vintage Car Club to line up in four separate groups. This was a great idea to keep the run rolling smoothly throughout the day.

With four venues organised as entertainment and stop-off points around the area, the four groups headed off in different directions with the plan to cross over after each before everyone caught up again. Stopping for lunch after the first two, then back into cruising again for the remaining two attractions.

Watching 116 of these way-cool machines heading off for a cruise is an impressive sight to say the least!

Lloyd had organised a couple of awesome private collections to check out plus a good bit of chill time between cruising as well.

First stop for our group was an amazing collection and cave assembled by a true Buick fan, Neville Smith. I know I’ve said this before, but Buicks are such a classy car! The luxury and detailing is far above the rest in the auto world. So getting into Neville’s cave was an absolute treat!

With various collectable Buicks on display surrounded by an incredible collection of memorabilia from the mid century including a working old school mechanical printing press to petrol bowsers.

Wandering past all this into an amazing old school projector room complete with a massive collection of radios from around the 1930’s era. Most were in working order as well and in immaculate condition. Various 1930’s radios were also upgraded with bluetooth if anyone wished to purchase one of their own to actually use.

Just to top off the visit. A refurbished 1932 radio refitted to bluetooth was donated by Neville as an item up for auction at the Saturday night dinner with the proceeds going to the charity collection.

Next up was a visit to Lloyds own private collection of goodies that he has got together with a few mates to create a cave worth visiting for sure.

Named “Automania”, the collection ranges from old school drag racing rails to lots of memorabilia around the walls and in between the awesome collection of Hot Rods and even Classic Cars on display.

Glass cabinets with collectable models are on display and of course an old Ford flat head engine taking pride of place by the entry.

The cave has taken on the role of being a memory bank for NZ Hot Rodding with Lloyd happy-as to display pretty much anything relating to the history of Hot Rodding in NZ. Hence the collection has grown from just his to all sorts of nostalgic items donated from mates and Rodders alike.

By this time, it was time to regather and head for lunch joining up with the other groups for an amazing feed at the Bare Knuckle Barbeque, Low and Slow American BBQ styles.

This was such an awesome spot for a catch up, catering for the masses for an awesome feed, quench the thirst and chillout amongst this awesome collection rods and surroundings.

This was also an awesome chance for everyone to grab their voting papers and go for a wander, choosing which rod deserved “Rodders Choice” for the various options.

I have to admit I rarely vote as I love them all and want them all in my shed! Hahahaha.

But there is always a stand out build that grabs you to say “YEAH BABY”

From here it was back into cruising mode with a stop at Abby Cellars for a chillout at this awesome winery, grab some supplies for the evening before heading off for more treats at the Silky Oak Café and Museum complete with a chocolate factory!

Not everything goes to plan on these runs, especially when cruising with a bunch of ninety year old coupes no matter how many alterations or improvements have been done.

Steve Daniels had one of the weirdest mishaps I’ve seen with an alternator pulley splitting itself off its mounting hub leaving him on the side of the road with no belt driving the water pump.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to drive it with make-shift bungy belts, Lucy Stewart came to the rescue just like the old days with her trusty stockings making a belt good enough to get Steve back to town.

I can now see stockings becoming an essential item in the tool box from now on, although I so know the cheek from that is going to be hilarious!

Saturday evening was set for a party at another awesome venue with a live band and another fantastic feed at the Filter Room Ale and Cider House in Meeanee.

With Napier’s Art Deco Bus picking us up for the ride out to the country pub, she was all go!

After dinner brought on the auction for all the goodies and memorabilia donated by sponsors plus the prizegiving for the Rodders Choices of the Deuces.

The Supreme Award for the Deuces went to Mike Neilson’s gorgeous three window fender-less Coupe built by Rods by Reid. The design, detailing and finish standard of this gorgeous lil Coupe certainly got my attention. I can see why it was chosen by the Rodders as well.

The hall of goodies up for auction was certainly impressive. From old parking meters and Coupe models to an original Deuce Days banner plus even a replica Banner fetching good dollars for charity thanks to John Della-Mura awesomely unbelievable auctioning skills.

The live band “Nothing Trivial” rocked the pub after the formalities were taken care of. The night partied on to the wee small hours with our own “Cow Girls” Lucy Stewart and Lorraine Hopkins rocking the stage to finish the night off.

Sunday rolled around much too early with every one rolling into Napier’s Breakfast park up at Perfume Point for a

Show ‘n Shine with the locals turning out for a massive display of cool old school rides of all varieties.

Lloyd and the teams mission this year was to raise funds for the Cranford Hospice Charity.

With the funds achieved via the Saturday auctions and bucket collections at the show on Sunday. The team managed to collect nine thousand dollars to present to Andrea Jopling, CEO of Hospice for the amazing service they provide.

That’s an awesome achievement from a relatively small run. All thanks to the awesome sponsors that get behind these events like Classic Insurance, Supercheap Auto, Dunedin Print, NZ Hot Rod Mag, Panhead Brewery and of course Lloyds own business Magoo’s Street Rods in Masterton for making this weekend achievable and being able to pay back to the community as well.

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