The 34th edition of Summernats (Summernats 34) has been rescheduled to January 2022, but as always the Summernatsteam is moving forward positively, and is announcing an exciting program of events for 2021.
"Summernats has made the difficult decision to re-schedule Summernats 34 to January 2022," Summernats managing director Andy Lopez said.
"ACT Health is using Exhibition Park as a COVID-19 testing facility until the end of November and can"t confirm we'll have our venue back, which is an unmanageable risk to our event. Combined with ACT Health's recently released protocols that exclude outdoor multi-day festival events of more than 5,000 people, a pathway to a January Summernats is impossible.
"We've fought really hard for our event for the last six months, but we just can't find a way to get it over the line. Our team is very disappointed, the street machine community is devastated, and the same goes for our loyal staff, contractors, and the accommodation, hospitality and associated businesses that normally benefit from the $30m the ‘Nats brings to the ACT economy every January.
"But everyone across Australia is suffering, and ACT Health and other agencies are doing their best to keep everyone safe. We respect the great job that's been done to get the ACT to such a good position."
While Summernats attracts over 100,000 auto fans and 2,000 vehicles to Canberra's Exhibition Park each year, organisers will be staging a reduced capacity Summernats-style event ‘Summernats Rev Rock ’n' Roll” in March as part of their national program of COVID safe events.
"The Summernats isn't in the doom and gloom business, we're in the good times business, so we're moving forward and announcing a calendar of exciting, COVID-safe events for 2021," Lopez said.
"This includes the new Summernats Rev Rock ’n’ Roll festival at EPIC in March, and we'll be bringing the full Summernats festival back to Canberra in 2022.
"We've just delivered a sensational Red CentreNATS in Alice Springs on Fathers Day, and staged our first Burnout Masters event at Sydney Dragway the week after. We proved to ourselves and our fans that we can do COVID-safe events and still have a great time."
The Summernats Rev Rock ’n’ Roll festival will be staged at Exhibition Park on March 5 to 7, 2021. A maximum of 5,000 spectators and entrants will enjoy much of what makes Summernats Australia's best automotive festival.
Rev Rock ’n’ Roll includes the Burnout Masters Grand Final, cruising, show and shine, dyno, a retail expo from Australia's best automotive brands, unveils, and an elite show all packed into two and a half days in the top half of Exhibition Park.
"The Summernats Rev Rock ’n’ Roll festival will be the first major event designed to fit the current COVID-19 guidelines in Canberra, and we've already engaged with Venues ACT, Visit Canberra and Events ACT to get the show happening," Lopez said.
"We're an important test case to show that private enterprise, with Government support, can deliver a COVID-safe event outside of major football codes. It's genuine innovation and a proactive partnership that will help get events back in business."
The Summernats Rev Rock ’n’ Roll festival falls on the massive Canberra Day weekend. It's a centrepiece of the Enlighten Festival, which includes the lighting and projection program, Symphony in the Park, the Balloon Spectacular and Skyfire. March 2021 is shaping to be a much needed busy period for Canberra's accommodation, hospitality and attraction industry.
"Summernats is an important event on the Canberra calendar, bringing tens of thousands of visitors each year to town who support local businesses," ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
"It is great to see Summernats working in partnership with the ACT Government to evolve the event and operate in a COVID-Safe way.
"We look forward enjoying the Summernats Rev Rock "˜n' Roll festival in March 2021, and to welcoming back Summernats in 2022."
In more positive news, Summernats fans can still start the New Year in top gear at a brand new event held at Sydney Dragway - the Summernats Slam - on the traditional Summernats weekend, January 8 to 10.
The Summernats Slam is the last qualifying event for the 2021 Burnout Masters Grand Final at the Summernats Rev Rock ’n’ Roll in March. Other highlights include a massive drag racing comp on Sydney's brand new $11m track, a street machine show complete with judged awards, and over $30,000 in prize money.
The event will be run under NSW COVID-safe guidelines, with the crowd capped at 5,000 people per day including strictly limited entrants, social distancing, ticketed tiered seating and other protocols.
Summernats full 2021 national program of COVID-safe events has been confirmed, which is great news for the Australian automotive community and associated industries.
Summernats Slam Sydney Dragway January 8 -10, 2021
Meguiar's MotorEx Melbourne Showground February 6 -7, 2021
Summernats Rev Rock n Roll Canberra March 5 - 7, 2021
Rare Spares Rockynats Rockhampton April 2 -5, 2021
Red CentreNATS Alice Springs September 3 - 5, 2021
"We want to thank our partners, including Street Machine, Rare Spares and all our fantastic sponsors for sticking with us through this process," Lopez said.
"Most importantly, a huge thank you to the Summernats faithful, the guys and girls who bring the cars, and the fans who come to appreciate them every year."
Spectators and entrants tickets already purchased for Summernats 34 will be transferred to the 2022 dates, and all purchasers have been sent ticket transfer and refund info.