We decided to try our luck with this year's Extreme Auto Show, annually held as the Northgate Dome, and see if this year... hopefully... there would be something to really draw the crowds.
Now we weren't too impressed with the last couple of years' shows as the exhibitions got less and less and the level of cars also declined at a similar rate.
We pitched up at the dome, grabbed some breakfast at the nearby McDonalds and sauntered off to the entrance. There we had to fork out R80 per person... maybe not that much compared to other events these days, but surely a bit of a premium for what you get at the end of the day.
First we decided to scan the top gallery. We saw the general display of sound installations, car club displays (with special note to the Opel Owners Club, Twincam Club, Zooped Up Club and Audi Club) and some classics. Special note is the NAZKAR tuned cars at the Opel Owners Club stall where you could see the fasted front wheel drive car in SA, as well as the fastest Opel Astra OPC (VXR as some call it in the UK) in the world (owned by Flip van Zyl). The young ladies at the Zooped Up exhibition also made us feel very welcome and also didn't mind posing alongside one of the cars on display. The classic Volvo display also had some real eye catchers, especially for those into classic car restorations.
Downstairs we first visited the Big Boss Auto booth where we got to see some nicely styled VW products, all thanks to Rieger off course. Close by there where another boat load of old classics, roadsters and hot rods with strong Chevrolet blood running there. Some more car club exhibits could be found here at the outer edges of the main floor, including the Mini Owners Club and VW Club of SA. Just in front of them we were treated to some more modern customs and tuner cars. Kit cars where also on show with some nice examples from the Puma badges. There were a lot of cars on display from an auction house that almost took up 20% of the floor space.
In another corner we found the historical roots of Audi... DKW on display with a small assortment of cars and bikes. Some nice Borgward classic cars were also close by, winking at the older generation that attended to come have a look.
Further on we got the usual assortment of Jap and other stuff, rice that would water the eyes, and sound setups that would rattle teeth fillings out of position. We did notice a nice Nissan 300ZX on display, although the colour choice is still debatable.
Further on we went, and came upon the Rock Raceway team's display with its host of Nissan Skylines and other Jap and Euro cars. Just next to it was something that drew our attention immediately, a mint Strato Chief in the most beautiful of blue and white colour schemes, a gem. Its entourage of supporting acts where a little blown away by its presence at the Team RF Rides display.
A lot of older muscle cars dotted the displays that centred the floor, with some seriously beautiful specimens. Some Italian blood was also present in the form of a few Ferrari's and Lamborghini's. The Giovanna wheels display did attract attention though with the level of cars, notably the GT-R and M3, as well as the nice looking show babes that were also not shy of strutting their stuff next to one of the display cars.
The Castrol display had only 2 cars, one well known BMW, and one Renault Megane... claimed to be worth over R500000. For us they would have to pay us double that to even consider it worthy of owning, let alone drive it. The Speed and Sound crew's display had the usual big car feel with some lovely ladies also. Although none of the team was there to let us grab a group pic of them. O well, maybe next time.
The black and carbon vinyl clad cars was a nice reprieve from all the gloss, bling and bang that crowded the rest of the main floor, but we somehow felt the Audi's treatment was a little far from what the end effect was suppose to have. At least the Superbike magazine stand girls made us forget it very soon afterwards. The NxGen and Nissan GT-R display seriously had some really beautiful modern monsters on display. We said hello to the VAG Technik boys and struggled to pry our eyes away from the beautifully styled Scirocco with Caractere body kit and a set of tail pipes to drool for.
All in all, not a bad year, still a little less than last year. Hopefully one year the trend will pick up again and we will see some seriously hot metal. Till then, enjoy the pictures we took.
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