Hundreds of classic vehicles are cruising up the highway for Day 1 of Repco Beach Hop 20.

The weather gods smiled down on the automotive community today as the delayed 20th birthday celebrations got underway today.

The arrival of the entrants and around 100,000 car enthusiasts is expected to infuse more than $10 million into the local economy.

It's a valuable contribution and will give the region some extra cash during the lull before summer, Repco Beach Hop 2020 spokesperson Noddy Watts says.

The five-day festival was originally scheduled for March 16, but organisers made the risky call early to postpone it until November.

'Usually the event is held in March and a lot of businesses rely on our event to get them through the quiet patch in winter,” Noddy says.

'Moving the event to November actually worked out well, because that's our quieter patch until we get into the summer rush.”

Today the convoy heads to Whitianga for the Repco Beach Party.

Tonight, the Ford NZ Kiwi Rock'n'Roll Legends Concert which is NEARLY Sold Out and the FPS Classic Comedy Night in the Jack Daniels Party HQ will be held at the Ford Reserve (Williamson Park).

For more information visit www.beachhop.co.nz