The Ayrburn Classic, which was held for the first time in March, has been shortlisted for breakthrough event of the year at the International Historic Motoring Awards.
It is one of five events on the shortlist, with the winner to be announced in London next month.
Mr Meehan said it was "fantastic recognition" of what his team achieved in the show’s first year, but they are not resting on their laurels.
Next year’s show will be held February 20-22, the weekend before the NZ Open golf tournament at the neighbouring Millbrook Resort.
Entries from vehicle owners and exhibitors were already double this year’s event, he said.
It would be bigger and better, with a "big step up" in the calibre of vehicles on show and a host of new features, including a "kids’ zone" and a "fashion in the field" competition.
"We’re really determined to make this one of the top three in the world.
"That’ll take a minimum of five years, it could take 10, but we want it to be held in the same esteem as the Pebble Beach and Goodwood shows."
The tiered area by the ponds in the hospitality precinct’s eastern paddocks were built with the car show in mind, he said.
"We’ve literally designed part of the venue around having the Ayrburn Classic.
"We think it can become a really international event where a lot of people ship or even fly their cars here, take them around the South Island touring, put them in the show and then enjoy some time in Queenstown."
One of the stars of the show was likely to be a Ferrari Monza 750 that competed in the "big three" of European endurance racing — Mille Miglia, Le Mans and the Targa Florio — before being shipped to New Zealand in 1957.
After it was involved in an accident at Ardmore the same year, in which British driver Ken Wharton was killed, it was rebuilt and returned to competition.
It would be presented in a new display class that would bring together the largest collection of Ferraris ever assembled in the South Island.
