2005 4 and Rotary Nationals (6x100k photos)

[Moppie]

Iv had a busy last few months, Iv shot nearly a thousand photos, but have shared none of them, so Ill start here.

There are two big custom car shows in Auckland that both cater to the modern car scene that here in NZ is dominated by Japanese cars.
The biggest is the 4 and Rotary Nationals, altough there are plenty of 6 cyclinder cars, and this year a large number of American V8s present, the name is a reflection of the majority of modern modified performance cars here in NZ.

The last few years have had some interesting cars present, showing a variety of local ingenuity and some imaginitive custom work. This year unforunatly the scence has clearly changed, to much work is being done by proffesionals, not the car owners, and there was far to much of a reliance on bolt on aftermarket parts rather than custom built stuff.
Most of the cars looked like the owner had walked into a shop, picked a pile of parts from a catalogue and left a blank cheque behind with instructions to have it all fitted in time for the show.

There was also a massive over use of Airbags on everything.
Given the wealth of engineering talent in NZ it was sad to its absence.


However, all is not lost, and I didn't waste my entry fee.
Managed to get some good shots, altough I failed to find anything that made me or my camera go WOW and I think the photos reflect that.



very nice EVO, lots of work to the interior, but there was nothing about it that said "this car is diffrent, and its fast!"



I can't even remember what this is, but the display was well done. Unforunatly for the 2nd year in a row, and the 3rd show in a row. The orginal drum brakes at the back are also an indication of this cars lack of real performance build.



Its a Valiant, its got a Hemi, and its got way to much class to be here.



Everyone should know what this is
I was surprised to see it actualy, the other time I have gotten close to one is at the National museum. This one forunatly is still run at demonstration events





And of course some Airbags.



And finaly something we don't see a lot of yet (forunatly) hydolics.

[c0ntr0lz]

pretty cool shots there man.

[blackviolet]

@ the cans of 'V', and the appropriately coloured car... he probably drinks as many as i do...


great shots - especially with what you had to work with! it's tough with small population and expensive (overpriced to ship) resources...

also, i'm sure i've seen that 'dam lo' in howick

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by blackviolet

also, i'm sure i've seen that 'dam lo' in howick

Given your location that bigma must be pretty damn powerful!

There were a few cars there that Iv seen out this way, and given the population make up, and money out here Im not at all surprised.


The show was actualy better set up this year regards photographying it, it had stronger lights, clear plastic barrier tape, set at a better height and the cars were a little better spaced out.
Prehaps next year they will have some more subjects worthy of actualy shooting

[3oh6]

hahaha...

Originally Posted by Moppie

Its a Valiant, its got a Hemi, and its got way to much class to be here.

i am sure if i was there and saw the rest of the rides i couldn't have put it better myself. sounds to me like your an old school guy and this whole new car craze where shops build cars doesn't sit too well with you.

i myslef long for the days when building a car meant endless hours in the garage with the work lights burning whoever was foolish enough to get near them, the smell of grease and burning metal coming from said garage, and ultimately an end product that truly was unique and creatively engineered...not a different version of someome elses mod list put together in a 'shop' like a custom ordered big mac.

thanx for the images none the less and you more than welcome to share more photos of rides that truly are unique, they are few and far in-between.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by 3oh6

hahaha... i am sure if i was there and saw the rest of the rides i couldn't have put it better myself. sounds to me like your an old school guy and this whole new car craze where shops build cars doesn't sit too well with you.

I suppose I wasn't that subtle was I

The BigMac show/performance car diffintly dosn't sit well with me, especialy when NZ is know as a nation full of talanted backyard engineers. John Britten and Bruce McLaren both started in thier own garages.
But don't think I don't like modern cars, we are very lucky here in NZ to have access to some very exotic and very fast cars at very cheap prices. Just because they are well surported by a growing aftermarket industry is no reason to be un-orginal in how they are modified.

Originally Posted by 3oh6

thanx for the images none the less and you more than welcome to share more photos of rides that truly are unique, they are few and far in-between.

You've just given me another idea, I have hundred of photos from several shows, heres a perfect opertunity to go through them and see what I can find.

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by Moppie

Iv had a busy last few months, Iv shot nearly a thousand photos, but have shared none of them, so Ill start here.

Those are some great, sharp shots for indoor!

My car shots never came out that great. All the shows I've been to, Big Boys Toys, and the Annual National Motor Show in Hamilton, have been really bad lighting, and haven't been able to get anything decent.

http://wazz*****scity.com/show.htm - these were from the National Car Show, April 2004.

As for a thousand photos in a few months?
I'm ashamed to say my new camera has halved in value, after just 9 days use.
The last shot I just did tonight, after another 300 odd, is IMG_3412.jpg


Edit: Are you going to the Classic Car Show this Sunday, 10am-4pm, at Ellerslie Race Course. I wonder what advertised Lamborghini's they have. Maybe a Countach? I've never photographed one before, although I've seen a couple out on the roads. Last one I saw was in November at Botany Downs.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by Wazza

Those are some great, sharp shots for indoor!

Tripod + 2sec timer + wideopen = sharp in the dark


Iv actualy never made it to the concours, always something else comes up.
This year Im supposed to be going camping, but I won't know untill Friday if we're going or not. Some people want to go, some don't, some don't know yet etc etc etc.



If I don't go camping Ill do my best to get to the concours, Ill keep my eyes out for a young guy with a new 20D surgicaly implanted to his face

[Wazza]

HAHA.

My girlfriend doesn't like me taking the tripod around. Finds it embarrassing. I was taking some shots last night, at a crowded Mission Bay, and it's amazing how many people still manage to walk and stop directly in front of my shot! Then the shutter closes, they look around, and "ohhh".

So all my shots are handheld, and never had a decent dark camera, so have always had to use the flash.