Racing red Ferraris and little grey Fergies were some the hundreds of machines attracting thousands of people to Eastern Southland on the weekend.
Crank Up convener Ken Bell said ‘‘beautiful sun and a bit of dust'' greeted more than 8000 people for the two-day Crank Up event in Edendale, which ended yesterday.
‘‘The whole event has been excellent,'' he said in the middle of a hay-baling exhibition yesterday.
About 250 tractors were among the more than 500 machinery exhibits - ranging in size from stationary engines to traction engines.
The events had a focus on Ferguson tractors and Italian cars.
More than 62 of the little grey tractors were on show, plus impressive Italian marques, including Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari.
Special guests were world shearing champion Sir David Fagan and TV personality Te Radar (Andrew Lumsden). Sir David demonstrated shearing outside, while Te Radar entertained in a marquee.
Te Radar reminisced about falling in a freshly gutted wild pig and as he struggled to exit the swine carcass, being labelled ‘‘pakeha stuffing'' by hunting partner and former All Black Glen Osborne.
Mr Bell said Te Radar was amazed how the exhibition space was seamlessly shared by a $250,000 Ferrari, modified racing lawnmowers, marching girls and Steampunk enthusiasts.
Crank Up had evolved from a tractor show to a country fair with more than 500 exhibitors, he said.
‘‘You've got to be pretty naive and narrow-minded if you can't find something here that tickles your fancy.''
The event will celebrate its 30th birthday next year.
Many of the Edendale Vintage Machinery Club members who started the event would not survive to see the 50th celebration, so Crank Up next year would be ‘‘something pretty damn special'', Mr Bell said.
The focus would be on Case and Massey-Harris tractors and Bedford trucks.
