Anyone ever been to a Summernats? Is it worth visiting? I'm picking a route back to Adelaide and notice Canberra isn't much of a detour.... I've always thought the Summernats was a 4 day wet T-shirt competition, but perhaps it isn't as good as that? Edit: Fixed my previous error.
I have never been, but I will one day just to check it out. If you are in the area, perhaps you should make the trek. If you havent been before, why not eh? Thats my plan anyways.
I was in Canberra on Monday and they were setting up for it then with heaps of marquees.. always a popular event and on my "to do" list as what genuine enthusiast doesn't want to sample every mechanical variation at least *once* to know what its all about.. wet t-shirts a bonus of course lol
Sounds like there must be too much car action there. The wet T-shirt competition has been pushed into a late Saturday night timeslot...... 11.00pm 1.00am Adult Entertainment: - Wet T-shirt Competition and Exotic Dance Revue on Grandstand stage Schedule of events. http://summernats.com/programevents.htm The AMG would have to be a contender for a good score in the burnout comps though!
Lol! Would it be able to spin the wheels? I thought Merc would have EVERY safety 'feature' known to mankind implemented into that car to stop wheel spin!
Sunday - 9.00am – 3.00pm Classic, veteran and vintage cars on show on Main Arena. Get a tat and airbrush your bonnet to make your friends and neighbors jealous when you get home!
I've been most years, some nice cars there, highlights are the dyno comp, burnout comp and the car show. Atmosphere is generally OK, after dark it changes, wouldn't recommend bringing teenage daughters. Organisers have worked hard to make it more family friendly, and have generally eliminated drunks during the day. Entry is not cheap (for what you get), yet they still get lots of people in every day. Well worth doing once, it may move from Canberra to elsewhere next year. M
Yep, talk of it moving to Sydney, the organisors have been trying to get a better deal on rental for the site from the ACT Government, without much luck. M
I would stay away !!!! I went from 2000 to 2005 then had afew years off and went again last year. It just gets worst and worst every year! Last year by far the worst year of Summernats wont be going back anytime soon. It's more for the locals. That's like the big event for them a carnival for the summer. $100~ for 4days is a waste. Nothing happens on Thursday/Friday and by mid afternoon everyone has left to cruise around in the city, only the campers hang around and alot of cars get damaged if you keen to drive at the back of the showgrounds at night. Saturday has the most events. If you want to go, only do Sat. You have the Miss Summernats comp You get to see the Top100 getting judged, the Dynocomp is ok for 10mins, till it takes them 5-10mins to hook up a car in the cage and you just get bored also besides the 3 odd cars that pull 1000+bhp the rest are ****boxes. Later at night in the arena they cruise around with the Top100 cars, usually some stunts show, fireworks etc. The wet t-shirt comp is a non-event you would see more action just asking some random ho cruising about to "show us your tits" Usually by 8ish(cept sat) everyone leaves for cruising in the city and there is a main street in Brandon(i think) where locals stand around to look at cars cruising till the cops come around midnite to shut it down haha. That's usually the place to be every night haha. Sunday is a joke unless you want to hang around for 3hrs looking at burnouts. (after seeing 1 you seen them all). We usually leave Sunday morning to skip the traffic. Your daughter will also enjoy being hassled by drunken bogans haha. The early 00's were the last of the good years. You can't even buy fireworks anymore at least you can still check out the adult stores... Finally enjoy Miss Summernats pics of 2008 http://www.coresworld.net/MissSummernats08/ So in summary, only go if you like OHOS with glow in the dark paint
I wouldn't hold my breath. Chic is always walking around at the event and is very approachable and we usually talk to him about the subject. He has been wanting it get the rental down or move to Sydney for afew years now.
Sounds a bit like the easter nats at Sandown. Need to mortgage the house to buy a ticket. The burnouts are great but after a few get boring as you say. I also don't think burning rubber is good for the lungs. I gave up smoking years ago (other than the odd ciger) so I'm not too keen on enhaling more junk.
Thanks for the comments. Kids are flying home with Mum but it doesn't really sound like my kind of event.
Interesting, thanks Mike. Dont worry mate, after I read Speedy's comments..........I lost interest too!
It used to be good. My friend that I usually go with went during the 90's as well. He too didn't go this year, its like the 1st one he has missed in 15years. The bogans acting like idiots and being drunk, you expect that, its funny at times but overall they just loud happy drunks that want some burnout/tits action. They banned people from bringing in alcohol but you can still buy it there(mmm JD slushies ) so sorta defeats the point. A lot of the competitors camp there so you can't expect a no-alcohol rule. The main age group that go is the late teens/early 20's "tool/hero" types and it doesn't take too long till someone causes trouble. There is a security guard stationed every 20m to try to keep things in line. In the old days going at night was cool to hang around, check out the cars cruising around but since mid 00's it gets too dangerous at night time. Its better just cruising around Canberra. I think it was last year there was a mob of 200 odd idiots causing trouble/fights. The police were outside but they didn't call them in. I just saw them coming in our general direction so we just legged it haha. It didn't make the news funny enough, I guess they tried to hush/cover it up since the festival doesn't have the same name it once did. Like any show ground event its expensive to enter then any thing you buy/drink is also crazy expensive. If you want to cruise around the show grounds in your car(which is another $70/day) be expected to perform a burnout every 20m and if its anything but a Holden/Ford V8 be prepared for abusive comments haha. Even tho you can drive around the showgrounds in a circular circuit at night most avoid the back/camping area cause alot of the drunken dicks hang around there and not much security so there has been plenty of cars damaged in the past if you don't give them action. The security will also kick you out if you give the crowd a smoke show for too long. One year this one dude crashed into a security guard because he gave him a warning(I was standing nearby) then he did a runner. The more bogan you are the more you will enjoy it. I usually don't care for old cars/streetmachines but I usually go with afew mates so there is always drunk fun to be had
Thanks again mate for your 1st hand experience. I will go one day, just to check it out. But it doesnt really sound like something I would REALLY enjoy. But thanks again.
Hey Speedy...I am a Canberra local and certainly don't view is as "for us locals"...people have been coming into our patch from all over for over 20 years (and thats why Chic may just let it go...he has probably had a gutful of fighting city hall). I have been to have a look a couple of times (once on a free VIP ticket)...just to have a look...not my cup of tea...and it does attract a certain element. However, I admired some of the workmanship in the big hall, the dyno challenge was kinda interesting...and good to see a bunch of folks enjoying things automotive. [Postscript: its always interesting to read about the inevitable court appearances which follow the event...usually Fred Bloggs from Sydney or somewhere other than local, not to say we don't have our fair share of losers!]
