Summernats 38: Records Tumble Amidst Record Crowds
Summernats 38 concluded with record attendance figures, drawing 130,000 people and hosting an increased number of entrants. The iconic event, held in Canberra, experienced a heatwave during its initial three days, yet still saw enthusiastic participation.
To manage attendee flow and congestion, significant improvements were implemented. Three pedestrian bridges were installed over the cruise route, and Skid Row was expanded with an additional lane and shaded seating. Event organizer Andy Lopez reported positive feedback on these enhancements.
Competition Results
Haltech Horsepower Heroes
The Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno competition was a highlight, with new records established throughout the event.
The Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno competition saw new records established, with Darren Portelli securing victory and Daniel Szabolics setting a new overall record before withdrawing.
Darren Portelli's HQ Holden initially broke the previous record with 3513hp during qualifying and later secured victory in the finals with a staggering 3697hp run. Daniel Szabolics's HQ Monaro also made history, recording an impressive 3786hp on Saturday, setting a new record, but was unfortunately withdrawn from the finals due to mechanical issues.
Anthony Meskos's FPV FG ute placed second overall with 2330hp, notably setting a new Barra engine record. Lee and Anna Povey's VL Calais achieved third place with 2117hp. Class winners included Michael Saad's Ford Capri, taking the Eight-Cylinder Aspirated class with 1097hp, and Steve Pembrey's Toyota Corolla KE70, which won the Six-Cylinder Aspirated class with 285hp. Ellis 'Spike' Dickson received the Rev Monster award for his Suzuki Mighty Boy reaching an incredible 11,000rpm.
Meguiar’s Great Uncover and Elite Top 60
The Meguiar’s Great Uncover showcased 23 new custom vehicle builds, highlighting the evolving craftsmanship and design diversity within the scene, including varied colors and finishes. The Elite Top 60 exhibition further emphasized custom cars, noting a trend toward vehicles engineered for practical use beyond static display.
Summernats 38 celebrated evolving craftsmanship, showcasing 23 new custom builds and a growing trend towards practical, street-driven elite vehicles.
Frank Zammit's XW Falcon ute received multiple top awards, including Top Judged Elite, for the second consecutive year, a testament to its exceptional quality.
Grand Champion
The prestigious Grand Champion award, which considers both vehicle presentation and driving performance, went to Adam Bickerstaff's 1956 F100.
The prestigious Grand Champion award, recognizing both presentation and driving performance, went to Adam Bickerstaff's impressive 1956 F100.
Bickerstaff demonstrated strong performance in the driving events, securing third in the slalom and second in the go-to-whoa. The other distinguished finalists for the top honor included Ben Fink's 1968 Camaro and Dean Rickard's HT Monaro. The Grand Champion announcement was a highlight of Saturday's Supercruise.
Pro Burnout Series
The 2026 Castlemaine Rod Shop Pro Burnout Series saw intense competition. Chris Orchard, driving the BALLISTIC VL Calais, emerged victorious, claiming the coveted title and a substantial $50,000 prize. Justin McKinnis in the MRCHOW VS Commodore ute finished second, while Chris Smallmon in BLWNVY secured third place.
The high-stakes Pro Burnout Series title and a $50,000 prize were claimed by Chris Orchard in his BALLISTIC VL Calais.
Noteworthy incidents during the exhilarating finals included Tim Brown's CEMBLO VK Commodore making contact with a wall and experiencing a small fire, and Rob Cottrell's 4DH8RS XD Falcon briefly reversing before restarting its run.
Open-Class Burnout Finals
In the Open-Class Burnout Finals, Brett Battersby in BLWNLUX was named the Open champion, earning a prized Pro Burnout Series ticket for the following year. Britt Kilby in the HAMMERTIME Daihatsu Feroza secured second place, and Brad Kilby in the HAMMERD Nissan Patrol finished third.
Brett Battersby took home the Open champion title, securing his spot in the next Pro Burnout Series.
During the competition, Kyle Douglas's LUXIFER experienced a blower pulley and shaft failure, and Thomas McManaway's DATO KNG halted mid-run. Luke Rhodes's Barra-powered XF ute received the Best Six-Cylinder Burnout award. The Pro Burnout Series Ultimate Redemption Round granted Wildcard entries to Codie Free's FROTHIN HSV ClubSport and Jono Kelly's 3FIVE5 Commodore for the next event.
Additional Awards
Beyond the main competitions, several other accolades were presented. Dave Darcy's HJ Premier was recognized with the Street Champion award. Migelly Shaw was crowned Grand Mullet Champion for 2026, and notably used his participation to raise funds for brain cancer research. Michael Ellard of Image Vehicle Manufacturing received the prestigious John Taverna Master Craftsman Award.