This Easter’s massive machinery show is expected to draw 30,000 people to Wānaka from around the country.
It all comes down to Allan Dippie’s love of tractors and his home town.
The Easter weekend show is at Three Parks, where more than 3500 vehicles including steam engines, earthmovers, tractors, cars and motorbikes will be on display.
"It’s grown fast. It’s just full on ... This one is going to be the best one by far," Three Parks developer Mr Dippie said.
Mr Dippie grew up in Dunedin but spent time at the family’s Wānaka holiday home.
"You can’t not like the place," he said.
"It’s one of the very few places in the world where you’ve got a summer resort and a winter resort — you can ski in the summer, on a rope behind a boat, and you can ski in the winter, down the mountain."
His love of the town has only grown with the years.
"It’s become a more and more interesting place to live. It’s attracting more and more interesting people, and it will keep doing that," he said.
"We’re very lucky to live in this part of the world. And if you’re going live in this part of the world, you might as well live in Wānaka."
His attraction to tractors began at an early age, growing from farm visits as a child.
"Every farm seemed to have a wee Fergie [Massey Ferguson tractor], so people learned to drive those. I was the same."
In 1992, Mr Dippie turned the sod on his first Wānaka development.
His favourite tractor, a V8 racing tractor, will be on display this weekend.
"It’s a little Ford 8N with a 302 Mustang engine in it ... it’s like the hot rod of tractors."
More than 300 volunteers will help stage Wheels at Wānaka, Mr Dippie said.
He is pleased about the benefits the three-day event brings to the town and its people.
"It’s a huge economic driver."
By Milo Long
