Classic cars park up for Samuel’s birthday

About 50 classic and performance car owners turned out for a Canterbury boy’s birthday.

Samuel Hastie of Rakaia turned 11 earlier this month. Samuel, who is wheelchair-bound, has the rare progressive disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

His proud parents Vincent and Angela were overwhelmed with gratitude, seeing their cheeky car-crazy son surrounded by some of his favourite vehicles, including two $1m Lamborghinis and a dancing Tesla, at Rakaia Domain.

"It humbled me so much, it humbled my wife too. It’s really good to see there are some good people out there, doing good things for nothing," Vincent said.

They had put out the call for cars to visit on their Facebook blog A little boy with a terminal illness.

"I thought we will get five or six cars or whatever, and then one thing led to another.

"When we got home we had a talk about it, we couldn’t even pick our favourite car, we were at that point," Vincent said.

Vincent said Samuel, who is the third oldest of five children, was similar to himself in that he loved cars, not so much following in his footsteps as his "tyre treads".

Being in a wheelchair and having his serious condition did not stop Samuel from being outgoing and enjoying life.

"I’m making the (shingle) driveway every second week because he does wheelies in his wheelchair."

Among the motorists who brought along their cars were members of the Canterbury Automobilist Group from Christchurch.

Member Bryn Thompson said they included two $1m Lamborghini Aventadors, one grey and one bright yellow, and a Tesla Model X Dance which has its lights flash and wing doors go up and down in time to music on its stereo system. Other cars included Lamborghini Huracáns, Aston Martins, Shelby Cobras and Mustangs.

Thompson said members had been keen to attend the birthday celebration.

"A car should make people smile, the owner as well as others. We are fortunate some of the cars we have within the group are quite special."