Drive-in movie draws 120 car loads

Drive-in movies got off to a fantastic start in Tauranga last night with 120 carloads of people enjoying the classic Elvis movie Viva Las Vegas under a starry sky at Baypark.

"We weren't sure what to expect, so I was pleasantly surprised," Baypark manager Ervin McSweeney said.

The weather was perfect and he was pleased with how the movie projected on to the side of the new Baypark Arena.

Mr McSweeney said that for a first, everything worked well and they were looking forward to the rest of the season, which would run until Sunday.

Tonight's movie is Tron Legacy and the gates close to cars at 7.15.

Mr McSweeney said he parked at the back of the carpark last night and there were no problems with viewing the movie or tuning into the soundtrack on his car radio.

"It was clear and easy to see. It was an unbelievable and unusual experience. It lived up to my expectations - it was such a good spectacle."

He also said he had found it quite zany to have food delivered to his car by waitresses on roller skates.