What's happened to the car scene down south?

[DXROLLA]

Seeing the 4 n rotangs has been cancelled due to small turnout for the second year in a row, where have all the car "enthusiast" gone? Why cant we get decent sized events like up in the north island? The quality of cars down here seem to lack as well, all i see now days is bogan old shitters.

[d1 mule]

people realised building show cars is crap so sold up and became little johnny in dime a dozen S13s, R32s etc.

[DXROLLA]

people realised building show cars is crap so sold up and became little johnny in dime a dozen S13s, R32s etc.

Even so, no one seems to put any effort into there cars compared to what you see from the north island, not just show cars either, there always seems to be plenty of nice drag cars, time attack cars, drift cars.
Is there more money in the north island?

[Bling]

More than 75% of people live in the North Island, so they should in theory have three times as many riced up cars as we do. As well as three times everything else most likely.

People do put effort into their cars. Perhaps they just don't want them put on show anymore. With car theft as it is, why would you want to show people what awesome shit you have built.

[diss7]

It was going to be on the same weekend as drift south round in timaru. No wonder they got naff all entrants.

[MAC_HATER]

there is still a good car scene going on, one thing that seems to be big down here is the "ohhh hes got a better car then me id better scrap him out" ie a small percentage of $&#$% scaring off the rest to the point they dont want to take their pride and joy to big events, and thats not counting the dodgy ones going to the events purely to look for cars they want to steal, to some its just not worth the hassle

[dnalunchie]

there is still a good car scene going on, one thing that seems to be big down here is the "ohhh hes got a better car then me id better scrap him out" ie a small percentage of $&#$% scaring off the rest to the point they dont want to take their pride and joy to big events, and thats not counting the dodgy ones going to the events purely to look for cars they want to steal, to some its just not worth the hassle

this, totally this. I used to dread leaving my Type R anywhere and that wasn't even that amazing in terms of $ value. Ditto several of my friends down here (dunedin) who own nice cars. They wont take them anywhere where they might have their eyes off them.

[MR2SIK]

That and the non existstant security in the car park. The amount of cars that get nicked there seems to increase every year.

[Al]

Maybe the novelty of paying a private company to show off your car so they can then in return make more money showing your car wore off?

[RomanV]

I didnt see a single AE86 at this years 4&R up north.

Times are changing!

[Mr Ree]

Maybe the novelty of paying a private company to show off your car so they can then in return make more money showing your car wore off?

Truth ^

[RomanV]

Spend $100k building show car

Have to pay to enter it at your own expense

Win $10 plastic trophy

[RS13]

Not worth it, very rarely do you see cars around down here that are modified past wheels and lowering. I used to hear all sorts of loud exhausts heading up and down Blenheim road on weekend nights as I live a street over, but now.. nearly nothing. Maybe the occasional turbo'd 6 or rotary, but its' more trucks engine braking or trains.

If I was to guess, I'd say the smarter ones tend to stay out of town.

[fj40cruzapete]

or have the cops hounded the crap out of people so no one bothers?

[RomanV]

I also wonder if there are just less affordable/awesome cars to modify or tinker with in the first place?

The car selection available in the early 2000s (80s/90s stuff) was staggering. I very much doubt theres anywhere near the same selection today... combined with a recession and I guess you can see why it's tapered off a bit.

[rx7guy]

Earthquake/Cops/Theft probably sums it up.

[mytmk3]

Drags are still on same date been taken over by pegasus bay CHEAP day out only $30 if you pre enter If people cant be bothered for that then I don't know.

Put you car on a track do some skids see how fast it is line up ya mate don't loose your licence spend $30 WIN

[Mr Ree]

WOW ^

$30 is rediculously cheap for a day at the drags and nobody has any excuses not to take advantage of it at that price.

Up here, it always costs $100, less some coins in change. And even then, for most people in street cars, you will only get 3 runs, 4 if your are very lucky.

P.S Love you(R) sig edit

[Al]

The drags here are at the most $35 to run your street car every month on the strip at Ruapuna. I get a dozen or more runs easily if I want.

Paying $100 to get 3-4 sounds like bullshit.

[Mr Ree]

I completely agree, but unfortunately we have no other option in the lower North Island They charge $20 to get in the gate, whether you are entering or not, then you have to pay the entry fee to run, and then pay for a day license so all up I think it works out to $95.

The last meet I went to in 2012, and the next two meets in February and March are fundraisers to try and raise more finds for the seemingly never quite there, new strip.

I really hope it can help them get it done as the old airport that we run on isnt too flash, and when I say not to flash, I mean...^...^^.....^...^^.. lol