European elegance is set to be on full display this weekend for the seventh edition of the Timaru Continental Car Rally.
Any cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles of all ages and of mainland European origin are invited to meet at the South Canterbury Vintage Car Club clubrooms in Redruth on Sunday at 9.30am to take part.
Co-organiser Kevin Manchester said it was great to now have an annual continental rally.
‘‘It hasn’t been going that long. It only really started when I joined the Vintage Car Club and I thought we better get a European, a continental section going.
‘‘There’s the All American, the Australian, all the British days, and we just miss out a bit.
‘‘I’m really into my Renaults — not many people have them, they’re a bit different, so that’s why I got into continental cars, really.’’
He said he was hoping to build on last year’s turnout.
‘‘Last time we didn’t have too many. It’s open to anyone with a continental car. It can be old as anything, but we would like to see some brand new ones here too.
‘‘The more the merrier, really.’’
He said he expected a good variety of different vehicles to attend.
‘‘We’re known to have the odd Ferrari, there will be Peugeots, Volkswagens, all sorts of continental cars.
‘‘We’ll hopefully have stuff from the 1920s right up to modern cars.’’
He said the rally would go through Geraldine and Fairlie, and would be absolutely free to join.
‘‘Only thing it will cost you is buying yourself a lunch.’’
The day will begin at the clubrooms at 9.30am with a display and cup of tea, and the rally itself will begin a little after 10am.