Charities benefit from CRC Speedshow fans

Auckland Starship Children’s Hospital and an 11-year-old suffering from muscular dystrophy will benefit from funds raised during a charity drive and a charity ride to this year’s CRC Speedshow.

The Meguiar’s Car Crazy charity cruise and the Thunder Ride are the initiatives of the team at Smits Group, distributors of the Meguiar’s car care range in New Zealand, and Anthony Wright of Drury Tires respectively.

The Meguiar’s charity cruise features hot rods and customised classics and street cars, with participants gathering at the company’s East Tamaki headquarters and literally cruising in convoy to the CRC Speedshow at ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane.

“The spectacle of the Meguiar’s charity cruise cars arriving at Speedshow last year was really something,” says the show’s developer and organiser Keith Sharp. “The Meguiar’s group heads to the show on Saturday 23 July where they’ll do a couple of laps of honour around our Ezybuy Car Auctions live action arena. Then the cars are parked up for everyone to enjoy while cruise participants head into enjoy Speedshow.”

Meguiar’s cruise participants pay the cost of a family pass to CRC Speedshow with half the proceeds going to Starship Children’s Health.

On Sunday 24 July it’s the turn of participants in the motorcycles-only Thunder Ride. Drury Tires managing director Anthony Wright is a key member of the Redeemed Motorcycle Ministry which often raises funds for people in need.

“Our ride to CRC Speedshow raises funds for Lisa-Marie Jeptha and her family,” says Wright. He is keen to enable the Jepthas to get a mobility van so the family can get out and take Lisa-Marie, who is in a motorised wheelchair, with them. Lisa-Marie’s father, Fabian, recently started work at Drury Tires after moving the family from Christchurch to Papakura.

“The aim is to raise $10,000 – people can join in the ride or simply donate to the cause. We’ve got nine-time New Zealand superbike champion Andrew Stroud leading the ride which starts at Drury Tires in Drury, travels to Patumahoe and Kingseat before heading up the motorway to Greenlane where participants will finish off the day at the CRC Speedshow at the ASB Showgrounds. The ride entry fee of $30 includes entry to Speedshow and keen riders can simply meet us at Drury Tires at 257 Great South Road at 10:30am on Sunday 24 July to join in,” says Wright.

Wright has organised several prizes for ride participants including a set of GT Radial car tyres and a set of Pirelli bike tyres.

Sharp adds: “It’s wonderful to see that CRC Speedshow provides the opportunity for some innovative fund-raising. Anthony tells me they often get several hundred riders in their charity rides, so we’re really looking forward to welcoming them all at the show in just a few weeks.”

The Meguiar’s/Smits Group team also coordinate a fantastic display of cars at CRC Speedshow in their Megiuar’s Car Crazy display zone. At this year’s show, they will also demonstrate the latest Meguiar’s car care products, highlight the House of Kolor custom paint range and Rislone engine treatments, and show a new line of lubricants and antifreeze from Peak, the official oil of the Indy Racing Series. A live demonstration of airbrushing allows show attendees to try their hand at this special art.

This year’s CRC Speedshow runs from 23 to 24 July, opening at 9am each day and closing at 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. Tickets to the show are only available at the gate. An adult ticket costs $18.50, children aged 10 to 15 years are $10 each, and children under 10 years of age are free. A family pass offers great value at $48 for two adults and up to three children.

News, competitions and show information is updated on the show’s Facebook page, Twitter feeds and website, www.speedshow.co.nz, on a regular basis. To join the Meguiar’s charity cruise, participants’ cars must be of a ‘show and shine’ standard. For more information, contact RachelleA@smitsgroup.co.nz or call toll-free on 0800 227 422. Details on the Thunder Ride can be found on the Drury Tires website, http://tires.co.nz/.
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Background information about Lisa-Marie Jeptha and the Thunder Ride can be found via http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/papakura-courier/5085420/Riding-for-Lisa-Marie