This year saw Summernats turn 30, and boy did they celebrate. The event was hosted in Canberra's Exhibition park from 5 – 8 January and saw 119,184 motor enthusiasts pass through the gates over the four days.
A record number of entrants were treated to unreal burnouts, crazy cars, extreme engines and perfect paint jobs, just to name a few.
The opening day was blessed with great weather and 300 cars rumbling down Northbourne Avenue, into the heart of the city as part of the opening City Cruise event.
On Friday the real party began, with cars revving their engines up and down Tuff Street for thousands of screaming enthusiasts, all there to see what these mad machines had to offer.
Speaking to a crowd gathered behind the barriers, one Nats' fan said, “this is the best, ain't nothing better than being here on a day like today watching cars tearing it up Tuff Street.”
Another said the crowd, cars and overall atmosphere were amazing and that there was something here for any auto appreciator.
Over at the PPG tent, world renowned automotive painter Charley Hutton addressed an audience on all things auto. Discussing the work carried out by the industry in Australia, Hutton commented specifically on the great education and schooling apprentices receive.
“I think what really separates Australia from other countries, is your trade schools. You have great programs and that shows in the work you produce. This event is a great example of that work and dedication.”
PPG MVP Manager Tony Naughton said the day was all about exposure and making sure that those who came through the gates got to see all that PPG had to offer, whether an individual enthusiast or bodyshop owner.
“Today is all about what's in here today, the cars are old but the colours are not. So it's about celebrating it all.”
The trade exhibitioners hall featured brands and products from a wide array of motoring industries. Melotive, a provider of automotive restoration and surface finishing products, was present at the event, as was its director Peter Lamb.
Lamb said that while he had been coming down for many years prior as a spectator, this was the first year he had set up a stall.
“We thought to ourselves that Summernats 30 would be the perfect time to set up as a vendor. So far the response from people has been great and has provided us with an opportunity to speak to customers Australia wide, face-to face.”
Mark Farrell of BriLiant Polish also commented on the important role Summernats played for his business, which he had recently purchased from a UK company and relocated manufacturing to Bendigo.
“It's important for us as a start-up. Here we can connect with our customers and also promote ourselves to those who may have further business interests with us. This is great for us, particularity because we selling to both custom car enthusiasts but also, more recently, bodyshops.”
Both the Meguiars judging and Burnout competitions continued across both the Friday and Saturday with Steve Nogas in the ‘Killa B’ Camaro becoming the National Burnout Master and Anthony Page in a 1978 Holden HZ Ute taking out the National Burnout Championship award.
Mark Williams from Western Australia won the coveted Street Machine Summernats Grand Champion award with his Holden HQ One Tonner.
Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez said that he was impressed by the overall crowd turnout for the event, as well as their behaviour over the four days.
“With 2,534 entrants and 119,184 through the gates, plus a livestream audience of 5 million from around the world, it was a great result for the event and a showcase of the fantastic people and cars in the Aussie street machine community.”
Lopez also commented on the unfortunate passing of Luke Newsome, who died from injuries sustained after falling from the back of a ute on the Thursday.
“It’s also important to acknowledge that it’s certainly a very sad time for the family of the young man who passed away as a result of injuries sustained in Exhibition Park, and our thoughts are very much with them and everyone involved at this time.”
For our photo gallery and video footage of the event, head here. We've got burnouts, classic cars and more.
