Posted By

Tags

Speedshow merges with Big Boys Toys

Staff Reporter
Auckland, May 7, 2020

Action gets above the ground (Jess Mayhew/Undertow Media)

CRC Speedshow, New Zealand’s largest automotive event, will form the motorsport arm of the Big Boys Toys expo in November 2020.

The show scheduled for July 2020 has therefore been cancelled.

The two shows will be held under the overarching Big Boys Toys brand after both were purchased by lifelong motorsport enthusiast Shaun Varney.

Varney competed in motorsport for more than ten years, including the NZV8s and a number of GT championships. Last year, he finished third in the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour Race, racing behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore.

Strategic amalgamation

Varney said that the amalgamation is strategic as well as practical, with many exhibitors and attendees forgoing one show for the other in recent years due to their similar offerings.

The new format will accrue better value for 45,000 attendees across both shows, he said.

“Big Boys Toys will now effectively be two shows for the price of one. By bringing Speedshow into the format, we will be able to offer punters, sponsors and exhibitors much better value for money. In all likeliness, we would have had to cancel or postpone a standalone Speedshow in July as a result of Covid-19. Therefore, we are confident that the new, combined mid-November expo will provide the public an opportunity to enjoy an epic event after the various cancellations over winter,” Varney said.

The change of ownership also sees a shift in vision for Big Boys Toys, to make it more diverse and inclusive, with more pockets of interest in 2020 and beyond.

Varney said that Big Boys Toys and CRC Speedshow have amazed crowds of Kiwis for a combined period of 34-years.

Ferrari would be a major attraction (Jess Mayhew/Undertow Media)

Elevated offering

But in a new social climate, the time is right to shake things up with a bigger, better and more elevated offering, he said.

“We are looking to invest in fresh features to deliver a premium event that appeals to everyone, not just the blokes, and is fun for the whole family. Planning is still in the early stages, but we are excited to announce more information on the format and exhibitors later in the year,” Varney said.

Previously owned by SMC Events, Big Boys Toys roared into New Zealand’s cultural consciousness in 1997 with a goal of providing face-to-face interaction between Kiwi males and their favourite brands.

Attracting more than 30,000 people, past shows have seen halls packed with classic and contemporary cars, innovative electronics and gaming, food and entertainment.

About Speedshow

Created by Auckland race driver Keith Sharp, CRC Speedshow first ran in 2007 and was the largest automotive and motorsport event in New Zealand.

Prior to Varney’s acquisition it was owned by businessman Bruce Anderson.

The new look Big Boys Toys is scheduled to take place at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland from November 13 to November 15, 2020 (subject to the public health conditions).

Tickets go on sale June 1, 2020.

For more information, please visit www.bigboystoys.co.nz

 

 

Share this story

Related Stories

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Indian Newslink

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement

Previous slide
Next slide

Advertisement