The unmistakable aroma of burning rubber filled the nostrils and engines roared to an eardrum-threatening level when the speed of 11 muscle cars was tested in the Queenstown Auto Extravaganza's final event on Sunday.
Spectators and petrolheads lined the cordoned area to witness Central Otago drivers race in the Brazier Scaffolding Eighth Mile Sprint on Domain Rd, near Arrowtown.
Steve Excell, behind the wheel of a bright blue Holden Torana, won the competition, covering the 200m distance in 8.36sec, while Steve Butler, in a Valiant Charger, was second, clocking in at 8.47sec.
Valiant VC Regal driver Leigh Collotty, of Cromwell, was the sole woman in the ranking and said it had been an "awesome weekend".
"It's good to see groups work together to run motorsports here. It's always a good crowd of people and it's nice to go faster than some of them."
Auto Extravaganza co-organiser Grant Coburn thanked the 30 volunteers and Cromwell's Alpine Street Machines, which operated the sprint with guidance from the New Zealand Hot Rod Association. He also thanked Wanaka Helicopters, which answered the call that morning and sent a chopper to hover and dry the rain-soaked road so the cars could race safely.
"It was an expensive and major operation to get resource consent and road closure, but it's great to get motorsport back into Queenstown after such a long period," Mr Coburn said.
The sprint was the final event of the Auto Extravaganza, which raised funds and awareness for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Several enthusiasts made donations, among them a Californian who handed organisers a cheque for $1000.
A total of 291 automobiles were exhibited in the Rilean Car Show at the Queenstown Events Centre on Saturday. Vehicles of rare vintage and pristine condition gleamed beneath the lights of the main auditorium for the Vincent Holdings Concours d'Elegance, while cars owned by clubs, enthusiasts and sellers were parked outside.
More than 370 revellers enjoyed dinner, dancing, and live music at a rock 'n' roll dance party at Coronet Peak Ski Area's conference facility on Saturday night. Invercargill couple Tony and Glynes Greiving won the top dancing prize of a $5000 web package by Swordfox Design.
Organisers were expecting about 100 cars to join the Jacks Pt Evening Car Cruise around the Wakatipu on Friday, but 250 joined the social outing.
