Dust was flying in Wānaka yesterday on the first day of the Wheels at Wānaka vintage fair.
The all-day event was dedicated to earthmoving vehicles, as drivers practised their maneouvres in advance of the main show today and tomorrow.
The day’s relatively calmer schedule was of no concern to Ron Nash, of Northern Rivers, New South Wales, whose background in mining meant that he was "very interested in earthmoving equipment".
Ron and his wife Gaynor, were visiting New Zealand specifically for Wheels at Wānaka.
"We have been to world events like this in the States and this is easily comparable," he said.
For those interested in seeing a wider variety of vehicles, the main show begins at 9am today, featuring an array of vehicles including steam engines, tractors, cars, motorbikes, trucks and heavy machinery.
Held every other year, Wheels at Wānaka features more than 3500 vehicles and over 20ha of food stalls, entertainment, demonstrations and competitions.
This year’s event is expected to draw up to 30,000 people to Wānaka, benefiting from people travelling during Easter.
