The biggest automotive event in New Zealand is set to wow the crowds like never before this year – with the 11th edition of CRC Speedshow brimming with ‘firsts’ over the two days of the event on Saturday July 22 and Sunday July 23.
Whether it’s cars or stars, the show is packed with firsts, from budding world record breakers to iconic race and road car collections and hot rod reveals.
Perhaps the biggest star at this year’s show will be ‘Crazehorse’, a one-off Kiwi designed and built Mustang road car with a world record in its sights. Powered by a single electric motor developing 2000 horsepower Crazehorse will make its public debut at CRC Speedshow in unfinished and project form before final fettling and a serious tilt at the record for the fastest road going electric powered cars at the Meremere drag strip.
Crazehorse might be the mechanical star, but the human star will no doubt be iconic drifting legend ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett. Mike will be a major attraction at the show for the first time, taking part not only in the spectacular live Action Arena, but also being on hand to meet the fans and sign autographs on both days. A handful of lucky CRC Speedshow visitors will also have the chance to sit alongside Mad Mike in one of his cars and sit alongside him whilst he gives them the ride of their lives around the purpose built track – another first!
Whatever your taste in cars, there’s going to be something for every visitor to drool over and admire. For hot rod fans, there will be no fewer than 20 first time reveals at the show and some first North Island appearances such as the Semi Rat and the Diesel Rat.
If race cars are your thing then in amongst the hundreds that will be on show will be another first – with the championship winning ‘number one’ cars from the last New Zealand circuit racing season all gathered together in one place at one time – again a first.
Road car fans can also rejoice, with a new feature – the Classic Cover Insurance Retromainia Display – which will being iconic machines and their modern namesakes together for a unique display. Think of Ford GTs, Mustangs, Camaros and Jeeps, right through to Fiat 500s, Minis and Beetles! If you have ever wondered how alike, or how unalike the modern version looks alongside the original, then this will be the display that answers those questions. The show will also see the New Zealand public debut of one of the all-time hot hatch classics, and now the fastest ever front wheel driver car around the Nurburgring circuit – the Honda Civic Type R.
Live Action gets a rev up at this year’s CRC Speedshow, and as well as Mad Mike wowing the fans and taking on Fanga Dan in a rare encounter, it will also feature the Ultimate Speed Machine Challenge, drone racing, a drag car start up and burn out courtesy of Karl Boniface, UTV racing and a spectacular jet car flame show that is guaranteed to leave any fan or casual visitor literally speechless.
Radio controlled racing fans can once again look forward to one of the biggest events of the calendar with the NZ Indoor Off Road Championship set to be fought out at CRC Speedshow 2017 and right at the other end of the spectrum, there will also be live dyno runs featuring for the first time at a Speedshow event. The Meguiars Charity Cruise also expands for 2017, with its traditional car run on the Sunday and, in another first, a truck cruise scheduled for the Saturday of the show!
“We really have gone all out to make this a show of firsts and one of the very best automotive shows ever in New Zealand and we will definitely have more than enough to leave every type of car fan, enthusiast and those simply looking for a good day out utterly gobsmacked,” explained show organiser Ross Prevette.
“We were determined to make this year’s event an absolute epic and with two months to go, we are putting the final pieces of the jigsaw into place to make it exactly that.”
