The 38th edition of Summernats was a record-breaking event, with more entrants, a larger crowd, and fierce competition across various categories. The festival, known for its showcase of powerful vehicles and thrilling burnout displays, continued to evolve, introducing new features to enhance the experience for attendees. One notable addition was the introduction of pedestrian bridges over the cruise route to improve safety and ease congestion. Additionally, the Skid Row area expanded, offering more shaded seating and an enhanced experience for spectators.
The event was filled with excitement from the start, with the Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno competition making early noise. Darren Portelli's 540-cube, twin-turbo HQ set a new dyno record, eclipsing the previous mark by over 1000hp. The Meguiar's Great Uncover event showcased stunning new builds, attracting a diverse crowd of car enthusiasts.
Summernats continues to expand, finding new areas in Canberra to host various activities. The Braddon Fringe Festival and the Street Machine of the Year VIP Party added to the festivities, providing public and invite-only experiences, respectively. The event also featured a diverse range of vehicles, from hot rods to high-performance muscle cars, and even three-wheeled cars like Adam Povey's Peel P50.
The competition was fierce, with new champions crowned in burnout, dyno, and show judging. The Pro Burnout Series finale saw Chris Orchard's BALLISTIC VL Calais take home the top prize, while the Open-class burnout finals were won by Brett Battersby in BLWNLUX. The Street Champion award went to Dave Darcy's HJ Premier, and the John Taverna Master Craftsman Award was presented to Michael and Matt Ellard.
Summernats 38 also introduced the Summernats Mulletfest, celebrating the much-loved follicular tradition with Migelly Shaw crowned the Grand Mullet Champion. The event's diverse offerings, from high-performance vehicles to unique cultural celebrations, made it a memorable experience for all attendees.
