The inaugural GWD Toyota Hokonui Ute Muster was the first event in the Tussock Country Music Festival on Saturday.
The nine-day festival format includes many new events and will culminate with the MLT New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards held annually at Queen’s Birthday in the town.
The muster, which showcased utes of different shapes, sizes, uses and ages, paraded down Gore’s Main St on its way to the Gore A&P Showgrounds.
There the utes were parked and competitors were judged in categories which included best turned out double cab, best dog in a ute, best classic ute, best trade ute and best mullet.
A ute named after its owner’s grandfather was one of the vehicles that was part of the Hokonui Ute Muster in Gore on Saturday.
‘‘Bruce’’, a 1990 Nissan Navara Nav Bus, is owned by Cameron Cunningham, of Waikaka. Mr Cunningham said that after his grandfather Bruce died, he bought the ute from his estate.
‘‘It’s just a good old work hack,’’ Mr Cunningham said. ‘‘It goes every day and never stops. Between a tonne of firewood or a tonne of coal or seven dogs out to the run, it does it every day.’’
His grandfather bought the ute new in 1990. Mr Cunningham said he would never sell it. ‘‘It’s a family heirloom.’’
Doug Christie, of Gore, drove his 1970 Valiant Wayfarer (pictured above) in the parade. Mr Christie said he bought the ute about 10 years ago. There were not many of that model still around.
‘‘Most of them have rusted away.’’ It was a rough-looking vehicle but that is the way he liked it, he said.
‘‘You can park it anywhere. You go to the supermarket and other cars pull away from it. They don’t like parking beside it. You don’t have to worry about scratches.’’
He enjoyed driving the ute. ‘‘It puts a smile on my face every time.’’
A 2001 Ford F-250 Super duty ute was one of the gruntier machines involved in the muster.
The 7.3-litre Ford is owned by Guy Henderson, of Gore (pictured above with Mozzie). Mr Henderson said he had owned the vehicle for about two years.
‘‘It’s big and mean-looking,’’ Mr Henderson said.
The V8 engine was diesel powered and turbo-charged. He used it for work in his engineering business. It had ‘‘plenty of power, plenty of tow’’.
His dog Mozzie enjoyed riding in the ute whenever he could. ‘‘He likes hanging out the window.’’
More than 300 people came to view the 74 utes displayed at the showgrounds.
Festival marketing contractor Annabel Roy said the organisers were ‘‘ecstatic’’ with the turnout for the event.
‘‘We didn’t quite know who would turn up and to have that many utes and that many dogs and that many mullets — wow,’’ Ms Roy said. ‘‘It certainly exceeded our expectations and we’re going to have to find a bigger venue for year two.’’
Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said he was thrilled with the turnout.
‘‘For a new event nobody knew what it was going to turn out like but 74 here today is fantastic,’’ Mr Hicks said.
‘‘I can only see it getting bigger and better from now on. ‘‘It’s a good start to Tussock Country.’’
- Sandy Eggleston
