A group of hot rod enthusiasts have a long drive ahead of them as they set off from Bluff today.
In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the New Zealand Hot Rod Association is holding a two-week diamond cruise from Bluff to Cape Reinga.
While many drivers will do only parts of the cruise, Graeme and Robyn Young, of the Cobra Rod & Custom Club, intend to do the whole journey.
They rumble through Gore today.
Mr Young said he and his wife would travel together in his 1958 Ford Custom 300.
‘‘As you go you meet a lot of people on these trips and get to places you don’t normally go.
‘‘We’ll be stopping at clubrooms on the way up there and visiting a lot of people’s garages.’’
He hoped to see vehicles he did not normally get the chance to see.
Mrs Young said it was an opportunity they did not want to miss.
‘‘This is an historical event. . .a one-off chance to be part of history.’’
She was looking forward to hitting the road.
‘‘It’s a family of people that you get to know and you’ve got a common interest.’’
