Event: Wheels at Wanaka—Southpack Truck Show

By: Dean Middleton

Date: 11.05.2021

One of the highlights of the Truck Show was the lining up of 13 superb Mk1 and Mk2 Mack Superliners

The Wheels at Wanaka Show was definitely of ‘International’ standard

Two Internationals, two Louisvilles, and two Kenworths completed the J Swap line-up all the way from Matamata

The Southern Lakes T909 Kenworth, which normally works as a tractor unit, came to the show in tipper guise

Pace Contracting brought their stunning recently restored Mack Superliner to the show from New Plymouth and drove away with the ‘Best Mack’ Trophy

Part of Central Machinery Hire’s remarkable line-up of classic Mack trucks

Road Metals super impressive fleet of old and new lined up in the morning sun

There was a ‘White’ out in one of the line-ups

Two beautifully restored LW Kenworths flanked by W-Model, which still earns its keep

With an Ultraliner, a CL, and a Superliner, Andie Davie Contracting had it going on

There was everything from vintage to brand new trucks on display; this brand spanking K200 of West Otago Transport’s was so new it was yet to be registered

There are 32 years between this 1988 Superliner and 2020 100-year Anniversary Edition Superliner

Part of the pristine bright yellow fleet of Maungatua Contracting Kenworths

A very cool 1982 W924 Kenworth Aussie Import of BR Satherley Transport, which was first registered in New Zealand in November 2020

House and Heavy Haulages Kenworth T4040 SAR with two impressive steam engines in tow

TL and KM McBride’s ‘Mack’nificently refurbished Ultraliner

Milton Durham’s awesome 1977 Mack R797 posing for the cameras after it won the ‘Best Classic Trophy’

Classic line-ups are at every turn, but you don’t expect to see a recently imported vintage left-hand drive US import Kenworth sitting in among them

Two Central Machine prowl around the arena in the first of the truck parade of the weekend

The trucks in the final parade of the event pause for a salute before the end of proceedings

Benny at the end of the final day gives the 2021 Wheel at Wanaka the big thumbs up!

One of the highlights of the Truck Show was the lining up of 13 superb Mk1 and Mk2 Mack Superliners

The Wheels at Wanaka Show was definitely of ‘International’ standard

Two Internationals, two Louisvilles, and two Kenworths completed the J Swap line-up all the way from Matamata

The Southern Lakes T909 Kenworth, which normally works as a tractor unit, came to the show in tipper guise

Pace Contracting brought their stunning recently restored Mack Superliner to the show from New Plymouth and drove away with the ‘Best Mack’ Trophy

Part of Central Machinery Hire’s remarkable line-up of classic Mack trucks

Road Metals super impressive fleet of old and new lined up in the morning sun

There was a ‘White’ out in one of the line-ups

Two beautifully restored LW Kenworths flanked by W-Model, which still earns its keep

With an Ultraliner, a CL, and a Superliner, Andie Davie Contracting had it going on

There was everything from vintage to brand new trucks on display; this brand spanking K200 of West Otago Transport’s was so new it was yet to be registered

There are 32 years between this 1988 Superliner and 2020 100-year Anniversary Edition Superliner

Part of the pristine bright yellow fleet of Maungatua Contracting Kenworths

A very cool 1982 W924 Kenworth Aussie Import of BR Satherley Transport, which was first registered in New Zealand in November 2020

House and Heavy Haulages Kenworth T4040 SAR with two impressive steam engines in tow

TL and KM McBride’s ‘Mack’nificently refurbished Ultraliner

Milton Durham’s awesome 1977 Mack R797 posing for the cameras after it won the ‘Best Classic Trophy’

Classic line-ups are at every turn, but you don’t expect to see a recently imported vintage left-hand drive US import Kenworth sitting in among them

Two Central Machine prowl around the arena in the first of the truck parade of the weekend

The trucks in the final parade of the event pause for a salute before the end of proceedings

Benny at the end of the final day gives the 2021 Wheel at Wanaka the big thumbs up!

Highlights from the Southpack Truck Show at this year's Wheels at Wanaka

If I were to describe the 2021 Wheels at Wanaka in one word, the word would be "sensational". When people say this event has something for everyone, this seriously had something for everyone.

Trucks, cars, steam engines, tractors, dozers, graders, from vintage to brand new, name it and it was there. The constant parades of every exhibit category cruising around the display arena ensured that there was never a dull moment.

The first Wheels at Wanaka event was held in 2019 and the vision is to hold it on alternate years from the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Air Show event. An estimated 25,000 people visited this show over the three days, which is more than double that of the inaugural event.

What was equally impressive was the number of vehicles on display, which at more than 2500 almost doubled the number exhibited in 2019. While Benny and I spent considerable time canvassing the entire event, our main focus was on the Southpac Truck Show.

Most makes and models were on display, however, there was a definite dominance of the Mack and Kenworth brands, which was even more apparent during the Mack vs Kenworth truck parades around the arena.

The overall standard of trucks on display was excellent and a definite highlight was when 13 outstanding Mack Superliners lined up for the camera armed paparazzi to shoot—a rare sight indeed.

There’s no question the organisation of this show was superb in every aspect, however, another large contributor to the success of the event was the exhibitors themselves, all of whom showed courtesy and common sense when moving their vehicles to and from the parade arena and when involved in the working displays.

Dozens of vehicles moved safely and without incident among thousands of visitors, which gave all comers a sensory experience as well as a visual delight. Warbirds over Wanaka is already an event of international standards and my money is on the Wheels at Wanaka biannual event becoming just as renowned in the coming years.

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