Americarna could be driven out because of hub construction
One of Taranaki’s biggest economic events could be driven out of the region because of the construction of the Tūparikino Active Community Hub.
That was the blunt message delivered to the New Plymouth District Council’s strategic projects committee on Wednesday by Americarna event director John Rae.
The brains behind the annual event, which brings at least $4 million into the region each year, Rae demanded the council find a solution if parking was not available at the New Plymouth Raceway for the hundreds of imported cars which congregate daily during Americarna.
The construction timeline for the hub would see existing car parks unavailable, leaving Rae without a replacement site.
“We’ve got no issue with 2025 but we have a major issue in 2026 and beyond,” he said.
“Right now, 2026 and beyond for Americarna is going to require some serious support and additional funding from the council or the event will likely not happen.”
While plans for the hub included 300 new car parks to the west of the new six court stadium, they would not accommodate the size of the cars at Americarna, while the overflow area used each year would not be available.
“I’m now going to be down about 350 to 400 car parks,” he added. “Please tell me, where am I going to park them?”
While the in-field of the raceway was one option, Rae said it would leave organisers susceptible to bad weather and face the issue of participants having to walk across the sand track and course proper.
“If it’s raining, how am I going to get the cars in and out of the grass course?
“I’m really concerned about the issues we are going to face. You have created a major issue for a major event that brings a lot of money into the region. Work with us to find a solution.”
Rae was also concerned about the impact it could have on a new major sponsorship deal he had signed with Australian company SuperCheap Auto, the first he had successfully negotiated in the 17 years the event had been run.
“The bottom line is we finally get a corporate sponsor and what I don’t want to do is have them come back in 2026 and say: ‘John, what the hell has gone wrong, and why is this not woking?’”
A succession of councillors then questioned Rae about what could be done, before council chief executive Gareth Green gave an assurance meetings would be held to find a solution.
New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom also asked Rae if he had any solutions in mind so they could work together to solve the problem.
“100%. But I don’t want to be doing it two weeks before,” he replied.
“We need to have a clear pathway forward and work together to resolve it.”
Americarna’s popularity rolls on as Taranaki reaps financial benefits
The popularity of the annual Americarna festival shows no signs of slowing down as event organisers plan how to make next year’s event even better.
The four-day festival, which pumps an estimated $4 million into the Taranaki economy, wound up on Saturday with a display and activities around New Plymouth’s central business district.
Although the weather was wet earlier in the morning, thousands of people still flocked into the city to look at the hundreds of vehicles on show.
Event director John Rae described the 15th festival as “sensational”, despite some issues with the weather late in the week which impacted on the Friday night cruise around New Plymouth.
Americarna the main attraction in North Taranaki towns
It took almost 90 minutes for the full Americarna fleet to snake its way around Waitara before all the cars came to a stop, filling the north Taranaki town’s main street, adjourning park and side avenues on Thursday.
The record number of festival entries filled the joint as hundreds of fascinated onlookers worked their way in and around the wide and polished bumpers.
Having arrived with the sound of an orchestra of horn blowers, the air was quickly filled with hot exhaust fumes as marshals did their best to muster the motors into gaps.
Day two of the four-day car festival was greeted with the same enthusiasm as the day prior, American flags outnumbering those of our own country by a rough ratio of 3000 to one.
Outside the NZ Post office, Tauranga’s Colin Denize was fascinating the bemused passing crowds as he moved the teardrop caravan from side to side through a click of a button on his keyring.
Americarna the main attraction in North Taranaki towns
It took almost 90 minutes for the full Americarna fleet to snake its way around Waitara before all the cars came to a stop, filling the north Taranaki town’s main street, adjourning park and side avenues on Thursday.
The record number of festival entries filled the joint as hundreds of fascinated onlookers worked their way in and around the wide and polished bumpers.
Having arrived with the sound of an orchestra of horn blowers, the air was quickly filled with hot exhaust fumes as marshals did their best to muster the motors into gaps.
Day two of the four-day car festival was greeted with the same enthusiasm as the day prior, American flags outnumbering those of our own country by a rough ratio of 3000 to one.
Outside the NZ Post office, Tauranga’s Colin Denize was fascinating the bemused passing crowds as he moved the teardrop caravan from side to side through a click of a button on his keyring.
Americarna fleets coasts down Taranaki’s surf highway
Absence has fuelled the enthusiasm to welcome Americarna if Wednesday’s festival opening day is any guide.
Hundreds of people gathered in the settlements, villages and towns that dot Taranaki’s Surf Highway 45 to cheer on the hundreds of drivers as they cruised from New Plymouth down to Ōpunake where they soaked up the sun and adulation of onlookers.
After last year’s festival was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, the 2023 version had attracted a record number of entries for the four-day festival.
While overhead conditions hinted at a wet start when the fleet left its New Plymouth base, there were no such concerns by the time the cars had been parked up at Ōpunake Beach.
In fact, the only concern on anyone’s face was that of event director John Rae whose brow was furrowed as he looked at the approaching high tide lapping near and nearer the campsite road.
He needn’t have worried, as high tide passed and the relaxing nature of the festival took over.
Record number of entries for Americarna despite late withdrawals
Americarna organisers are still expecting a record number of entries to roll into the region this week despite a number of late withdrawals.
Event director John Rae, who has overseen 14 festivals since the first in 2007, said there were still 900 entries registered for the four-day event, which starts officially on Wednesday with a mass cruise along Surf Highway 45 to Ōpunake.
However, most of the entries will arrive in New Plymouth on Tuesday with registrations opening from 1pm at the TSB Stadium.
The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Auckland floods and cancelled Cook Strait ferry crossings have seen a number of late withdrawals.
“We’ve clearly lost a few from Auckland, and we’ve lost 60 in total, which is not that bad,” Rae said.
“The latest kick in the guts was Straigt Shipping cancelling a number of their sailings, so we’ve got a bunch of guys who can’t get here from the South Island.”
Despite the late setbacks, Rae said they were in for a “great week coming up” for a festival that pumps an estimated $4 million into the Taranaki economy.
The record number of entries comes after last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.
Americarna in Taranaki: February event expected to be the biggest yet
“2023 is going to be by far the largest event we’ve ever had.”
Event director John Rae says that with more than 900 cars registered for the event, this year’s Americana celebrations are set to be the biggest ever.
“It’s a little bit pressing. The entry fees haven’t changed since July 2021. The costs have been through the roof but luckily with the number of extra people registering we’ve been able to fund it.”
The cars will be cruising Taranaki roads from February 22-25, making a number of stops in towns during that time. They will stop in Opunake on Wednesday, February 22, Waitara and Inglewood on Thursday, and then Stratford and Hāwera on the Friday.
“The road crews are working with us. We will have to take a detour when we leave Hāwera which means no gravel or roadworks, which is great. We’re very thankful to the road crews for working with us and also recognising the significance of this event.”
John says the cars will be parked in Stratford longer this year, arriving at 9.50am in the morning and departing for Hāwera at 12.45pm.
“It’s beneficial for Stratford and also our entrants as they get more time in the town. In the past as the first car is leaving, the last arrives in Stratford so it will be great for everyone to be regrouped to leave for Hāwera.”
Cancellation fuels thirst for Taranaki’s American car festival
After a year’s hiatus Taranaki’s Americarna event is promising next year’s festival will be the biggest yet and could pump $4 million into the regional economy.
A record number of entries have been received by Americarna organisers for the four-day festival in February that celebrates American muscle cars.
The surge in entries comes after this year’s event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.
Organiser John Rae, who has overseen 14 festivals since the first in 2007, revealed the Taranaki Vehicle Events Trust had already accepted close to 900 entries. As many as 950 drivers were expected, some with multiple cars.
He said this could equate to a financial windfall of up to $4 million for the region as the hospitality sector and local businesses brace for more than 700 out of town visitors.
“If you go out to some of the businesses like the auto painters, the upholsterers, the auto trimmers, they are all busy and a lot of it is Americarna based work,” he said.
“And the good thing is the majority of money stays here; from the work that is done before, to all the accommodation providers, the hospitality sector, and that’s not even including all the fuel.”
Rae admitted the trust had taken a significant financial hit from this year’s cancellation after entry fees were held while costs increased.
“Everything has gone up, the cost of road closures, permits, hire fees of things we need, everything has gone up and that’s why we’ve allowed more entries to come in,” he said.