GDC Wheels Week Plus 2026

The Wheels Week+ team are pleased to be able to offer this great list of events that require your support to make them successful. Our sponsors, including Greg Donaldson Contracting, play a crucial role in being able to put on this community run event. Please note schedule is subject to change. Find more at www.wheelsweek.co.nz. 

Sunday 26th April

Classic Car Run: Ashburton Plains Rotary Club, a fundraising event for Rural Health Academic Centre, Ashburton Hospital. Registration: 9.00am – 10.15am at the Ashburton Show Grounds. Depart 10.30am. Cost, $20 per vehicle. Venue is 60ks inland, and a community owned asset with plenty of parking. The venue is alcohol and dog free, no exemptions. Please take a picnic lunch. Allan Lill – [email protected], 027 4328328, Philip Young – [email protected], 027 8247050

Carbs & Coffee: (classic vehicle display) breakfast gathering, meet at Joes Garage, 5 Cass Street Ashburton, from 9.00am – 11.00am with your pride and joy. Tracey Stock 027 773 9763.

Ashburton Aviation Museum: Viewing from 1.00pm until 3.00pm Seafield Road Ashburton. Entry $10 adult, children free. Owen Moore on 03-308 3442 or 0274 344 797.

Friday 1st May

Racing Simulator at Virtual & Retro, 208 Havelock St (opposite library): Friday 1st, 8th & 15th May 3pm – 7pm. Saturday 2nd, 9th & 16th May 11am – 7pm. Sunday 3rd, 10th & 17th May 11:30am – 6pm. Have your kids race a large screen indoor simulator running Assetto Corsa, Dirt Rally 2 or Need for Speed. Open Friday afternoons and all day on Saturday / Sunday during GDC Wheels Week. https://www.virtualandretro.co.nz/

Saturday 2nd May

Ashburton Vintage Car Club Swap Meet: 86 Maronan Road, Tinwald. 7.30 am – 2.30 pm. A collection of stalls including all things motoring and a wide range of bric-a-brac. $10.00 per person or $20 per car entry (Children U15 free with paying adult); Sites $25.00 (Includes 1-person entry). Bookings, Cathy Sweetman 021 372 087 [email protected]

American Rod & Custom Club Inc: Display at the America’s club rooms, Maronan Rd, 11am – 4pm. Display of Hot Rods, Custom and Classic Cars. Entry, Gold coin. Annmarie McCloy, 027 460 0884 [email protected]

Originals Motorcycle Show ‘n’ Shine: RSA Cox Street Ashburton, 11.00 am – 4.00 pm. Open to all makes and models to be on site from 9.00am. Entry $10.00 per bike, prizes for top 10 bikes. Gold coin entry. Gerald McKenzie, 021 259 4761 [email protected]

Ashburton Speedway Assn: (2 days of racing) Day 1, (racing classes subject to change). Street Stocks, Adult Ministocks, C Grade, CTRA – NZ Production Title, Quarter Midgets, Wingless Sprints, Ashburton NZ Youth Saloon Title. Seafield Road adjacent to the Airport. From 12.00pm. $15.00 adult, $25.00 for a two-day pass, Gold Card holders $10.00/day, $15.00 two-day pass, under 14 free (must be accompanied by an adult). Michael Arras 027 912 0294.

Sunday 3rd May

Ashburton Motorcycle Club TT: Wheels Week TT, McBain’s property Pendarves. Competitors to pay entry fee, spectators free. More details on Facebook page and My Rides. Anthony O’Reilly 0274 360 879.

Ashburton Car Club SprayMarks Motorkhana: Documentation 9.30am, start 10.00am. $50.00 per person entry fee to compete; enter on the day. Cars must be roadworthy to warrant of fitness standard. Location, SprayMarks yard Dobson Street Ashburton. [email protected]. https://www.sporty.co.nz/ashburtoncar/home

Canterbury Rollars, Wheelchair Basketball, an exciting quick fire demonstration game between two Christchurch based teams with New Zealand representatives taking part, followed by the Ashburton celebrity team challenge. Oxford Street Stadium 11.00am – 3.00pm, Entry, gold coin. Alanna Peck 027 295 1766.

Electric Vehicles in Methven, Electric Vehicles will be on display, with rides and info available. Bring along your EV, park up and enjoy the future of driving. Free admission to everyone, 11:30am to 2:30pm. Meet at Southern Cross Lodge 17 Racecourse Ave (see Mid Canterbury EV Group on facebook). Matt Harris, 021 701 762.

Ashburton Speedway Assn: Day 2 of racing, (Racing classes subject to change) Wingless Sprint, CTRA – NZ Production Title, C Grade, Stockcars, Production Saloons, Youth Ministocks, Ashburton NZ Youth Saloon Title. Seafield Road adjacent to the Ashburton Airport. From 12.00 pm. $15.00 adult, Gold Card holders $10.00, under 14 free (must be accompanied by an adult). Michael Arras 027 912 0294

Ashburton Aviation Museum: This wonderful collection will be open for viewing from 1.00pm until 3.00pm Seafield Road Ashburton. Entry $10 adult, children free. Owen Moore on 03-308 3442 or 0274 344 797

Friday 8th May

Racing Simulator at Virtual & Retro, 208 Havelock St (opposite library): Today from 3pm – 7pm. Saturday 9th May 11am – 7pm & Sunday 10th May 11:30am – 6pm. Have your kids race a large screen indoor simulator running Assetto Corsa, Dirt Rally 2 or Need for Speed. https://www.virtualandretro.co.nz/

Saturday 9th May

Ashburton Street Sprint – Fuelled by KFC: Riverside Industrial Estate 8.30 am. Watch one car at a time as they race against the clock, down to a two-car final shoot-out on Sunday. Public admission $10.00 per adult, under 15 free. Entry from Robinson Street past Roscos Auto Dismantlers. [email protected] https://www.sporty.co.nz/ashburtoncar/home

Sunday 10th May

Ashburton Street Sprint – Fuelled by KFC: Second day of racing against the clock, 8.30am start. Leading into the finals with exciting racing against the clock. Riverside Industrial Estate. Public admission $10.00 per adult, under 15 free. Entry Robinson Street past Roscos Auto Dismantlers. [email protected] https://www.sporty.co.nz/ashburtoncar/home

Retro & Classic Boats on Lake Hood: Retro & classic boats will be on display, both on and off the water from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Geoff Neutze, 0274 461 250.

Classics & Coffee at Lake Hood: In conjunction with the Retro & Classic Boats, bring along your Motorcycles, Classic Cars, New cars, Old Cars, Hot Rods, Trucks. Just arrive, park up and enjoy the variety of vehicles. Free admission to everyone, 11.30am – 2.30pm. Coffee Cart “Café Tango NZ” and food will be on site. Live music from Mackenzie Hallberg.

Electric Vehicles at Lake Hood, Electric Vehicles will be on display, with rides and info available. Come along, park up and enjoy the future of driving. Free admission to everyone, 11:30am to 2:30pm. Matt Harris, 021 701 762

Ashburton Aviation Museum: This wonderful collection of aircraft and memorabilia will be open for viewing from 1.00pm until 3.00pm Seafield Road Ashburton, Entry $10 adult, children free. Owen Moore 03 308 3442 or 0274 344 797.

Wednesday 13th May

Suzie Morrison & Grant Gordon Memorial Night Trial: Meet at the MSA, Havelock Street Ashburton. Entries on the night. Will need licensed driver, navigator, pens, torch or spotlight, clipboards, and road legal vehicle. Documentation starting 6.30pm, start 7.00 pm $50.00 per car. [email protected] https://www.sporty.co.nz/ashburtoncar/home

Friday 15th May

Racing Simulator at Virtual & Retro, 208 Havelock St (opposite library): today from 3pm – 7pm. Saturday 16th May, 11am – 7pm & Sunday 17th May 11:30am – 6pm. Have your kids race a large screen indoor simulator running Assetto Corsa, Dirt Rally 2 or Need for Speed. https://www.virtualandretro.co.nz/

Sunday 17th May

Ashburton Family Go Kart Club: A great day of paddock racing. Location to be confirmed. Weather dependant. Gates open 9.00am, scrutineering 9.30 – 10.00am. Racing starts 10.30am until 3.00pm. BBQ lunch. Entry fee for competitors. More details on Facebook, Ashburton Family Go Kart Club. Kyle Robertson 027 520 9830, [email protected]

Ashburton Motorcycle Club: Motorcycle Road Ride. Meeting at 9.30 am, leaving at 10 am from Robert Harris on West St. Tour approx. 200k’s. $20 for museum. Ride details on Ashburton Motorcycle Facebook page. Anthony O’Reilly 0274 360 879