Passionate petrol heads showcase their rides

Steve Bentley, Sean Joyce, Roach Cochrane and Tom prepare for this weekend’s bike and hotrod show. Photo: John Borren.

For Tauranga truck driver Wilky De Haas, an ideal day consists of burnouts, bikes, and 'all things motorised”.

And that's exactly what will be happening next weekend at the Bay of Plenty Coastal Cruises Bike and Hot Rod Show.

The event, which takes place every second year, showcases some of the best bikes, muscle cars and hotrods in the Bay.

Wilky, who is club president, says it's all about sharing their passion with the public.

'We are one of the first clubs that started mixing bikes and hotrods at this kind of event. We try to make this a family day, it's for everyone,” he says.

He describes Bay of Plenty Coastal Cruises as a "social club" of about 70 members where you meet "happy, likeminded people".

'It's the comradery and friendship - we are all brothers and sisters.”

Members meet-up regularly to go for group rides, he says.

'It's just about being free, going for a ride out in the wind.”

Wilky's bike is a 2015 Street Glide and he has another waiting for him over in the USA.

'It's a 2007 Screaming Eagle Fatboy. I'm picking it up when I go to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year.”

The 61-year-old has loved bikes ever since he could crawl and says he doesn't plan to stop riding anytime soon.

'As long as I can stay on two wheels, I will keep riding for as long as I can.”

The show is being held on March 1 at Cherokee Place in Mount Maunganui. Entry is $5 for adults and children are free.

'There will be live music, food stalls, burn-outs and a lolly scramble. About two thousand people have shown up to previous shows,” he says.

You may also like....