Street rodders ready to show

Hamilton will be flooded this weekend with sparkling hot rods and fans eager to feast their eyes on paint, panels and power.

Close to 180 vehicles will be shoe-horned into the Kingsgate Hotel carparks for the Pre49 Street Rod Nationals. It will rate as one of the biggest line ups of street rods ever.

Tomorrow is show day when the grounds are opened up to spectators.

The two-day event will involve entrants in a range of competitions.

This year's event, which moves around the country on a rotational basis, is being organised by the Riverside Rodders.

Long time hot rodder John Allen - responsible for packaging the huge entry into the hotel carpark - will be showing his record breaking 1932 Ford Coupe. The project, which became a 20-year odyssey interrupted by mortgages, business and family, bore fruition when the yellow, street legal coupe became the first rod to be voted the best street rod in the country three years running.

John has carried out all the structural and body work on the car - all except the upholstery and the paint.

The genuine 1932 Ford Coupe, which was extensively raced by Aucklander Eddie Jensen on the dirt track circuit in the 1950s and 1960s, is now powered by a 2000 350hp Chevvy Corvette V8.

Entry: Adults $5, students $3, under 12s free. Family pass $10. All proceeds from the day will go to St Johns.