Ripping start to Red CentreNATS
The inaugural Red CentreNATS in Alice Springs has burst onto the Australian car scene in a truly spectacular manner.
Yesterday’s parade of 300 plus cars through the streets of Alice out to event HQ at Blatherskite Park attracted thousands of people who lined the route throughout its entirety.
The sight and sound of cars never normally seen on public roads due to the Red CentreNATS unique permit system had proved the point. This is what both the entrants and public want, and the NT Government has accommodated it to make Alice Springs the car culture capital of the nation.
Following on from the parade the reveal of two amazing cars also made yesterday a day of ‘firsts’ with Peter Gray lifting the covers off his 8,000 horsepower burnout car, plus the first public sighting of the amazing and immaculate HQ Holden of Darwin entrant Dave Carter complete with a 1500 horsepower blown 540 Chev.
Then Chocolate Starfish and Dr Elephant brought some serious rock to the Red CentreNATS.
So how has the Red CentreNATS been received?
Co-owner of the iconic Summernats event Andy Lopez put it this way: “The car entrants who have come from interstate been blown away by the reception and the entrants who live here (In the NT) will be feeling a great sense of pride in their town”.
Bring on today and Sunday with Burnouts, Drags, Grass Driving and Show n Shine!
Street Cruising and Scrutineering
Following on from local scrutineering at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, yesterday the focus of the Red CentreNATS was well and truly at event central, Blatherskite Park.
Entrant registration began at 9am and cars were lined up ready for the gates to open, with the rego plates from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland proving the point.
Alice Springs and the Red CentreNATS is now officially Australia’s ‘car culture heaven’.
Tales of the road trips from all corners of the country were the order of the day and there were smiles all round, particularly so from Dale Ryan.
All the way from Kununurra in WA, believe it or not this is his first car show and he is already totally stoked.
His ‘72 HQ one-tonner with a small block 383 and 671 blower is a treat and living remote, he has virtually built the car by himself including the paint job.
Also on the scene were Red CentreNATS ambassadors Marcos Ambrose and Jason Bright.
The two racing stars were blown away by what they saw and will be ‘hanging’ at the Red CentreNATS soaking up the scene for the next couple of days.
We have the feeling that they might get some real advice as to how to do a real burnout!
So now it’s time to get ready for today’s Red CentreNATS Street Parade, followed by the unveiling of the world’s most powerful burnout car and the mighty Sun 969 Rock N Rumble concert featuring Candice McLeod, Dr Elephant, and Chocolate Starfish.
Red CentreNATS Starts Up!
The first ever Red CentreNATS is all systems go, and the host city of Alice Springs has already shone brightly with the local car culture on show at entrant scrutineering held at the Convention Centre last night.
With the entire team from Summernats in place, together with local volunteers and the NT Major Events crew it was ‘all hands to pump’ as entrants presented themselves for vehicle safety checks and filling in the necessary documentation.
Proud and loud was the best way to describe, the eclectic group of cars that locals have brought out of the shed to be part of their very own Red CentreNATS.
A classic matt black Ford Hi Boy Rod, drag cars, Chev Camaro, Mustangs, Falcon GTs, and Corvettes, were joined by the epitome of a British sports car a 1951 MG TD, a superb fully restored vintage 1925 Buick, and a delicious Ford T-Bird.
Interstate entrants whose cars will be scrutineered today at Blatherskite Park were among a large crowd that gathered to have their first glimpse of the Red CentreNATS and to say they were impressed with the local machinery was mild in the extreme.
Families also arrived and cuddled up in the cold to enjoy the Movie Night on the lawns of Lasseters, having a good laugh at Disney Pixar’s Cars on the big blow up screen.
Judging by last night’s glimpse at the event, the Alice Springs Red CentreNATS is already a winner.
Photos Credit: Tim Nicol Photography, Official Event Photographer 2015
Accomodation Red Centre Nats
3 bedroom apartment available from 3rd Sept at the Quest. Please phone 0415445399
Ambrose, Bright and Beretta announced as Ambassadors for RCN/01
Whether it is behind the wheel or in front of the camera – everyone wants to be in Alice Springs 2015.
Marcos Ambrose, Jason Bright & Mark Beretta will be amongst big horsepower cars again this weekend but not at a V8 Supercar Championship meeting.
Marcos Ambrose, the two times V8 Supercar champ and former NASCAR racer has signed on as an ambassador at the inaugural Red CentreNATS to be held in Alice Springs.
Ambrose has welcomed the opportunity to get involved in the Red CentreNATS and will attend key events including the Street Parade, the Rock ‘n Rumble concert and the feature Burnout Masters.
“Since coming home from the USA, I have really enjoyed getting around the country and speaking to car and race fans. The Red CentreNATS looks like one hell of an event! There is such a great car culture here in Australia and to hold this event in the Alice should be a really great thing for the NT.” Marcos Ambrose commented at the announcement.
“I am going to a lot of the events during the weekend and I’m sure will have a great time with the fans. Not sure if they will get me in a burnout car though!” Ambrose joked.
The Territory Government has invested $1 million in the Red CentreNATS and has allocated a multi-million dollar package of sports infrastructure spending across the Territory, including expansions and upgrades for the Alice Springs Inland Dragway and the Central Australia Drag Racing Association.
The Red CentreNATS will sit alongside existing iconic events the V8 Supercars and the Finke Desert Race, collectively bringing thousands of interstate visitors, especially motoring and racing enthusiasts, to the Northern Territory.
The Red CentreNATS Convoy
Only two days to go and the convoy has well and truly started! Many Red CentreNATS entrants from all of Australia are on their way, or have just arrived in Alice Springs! They’re sharing their journeys with us on social media through the hashtag #RCNconvoy. Check it out!
Accomodation
Short term accomodation available in Alice Springs, near Bunnings. 3 bedroom house & 2 bedroom demountable with toilet/shower. In industrial area. Please call 0421030167 for further info and prices
Entrant Bio – David Cufone
DAVID CUFONE – ’71 CHEV CHEVELLE SS
Car fans with a few kilometres on the clock might remember British comedian Benny Hill’s smash hit comedy song “Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West” (Google it if you want a laugh) – but Ernie has nothing on David Cufone.
The 44 year old panel beater by trade runs his own milk round business and he and his ’71 Chev Chevelle SS make for the wildest milko combination ever.
David has been in the burnout scene for about five years, and got into the game because South Australia had no regular drag track.
‘I gave burnouts a go and enjoyed it and have been all over the country with my Chevelle including the last two years at Summernats in Canberra in the Burnout Masters, and I’ll be giving the car a flogging at the Red CentreNATS’, he says.
And it’s quite a car.
He’s had the Chev for about seven years and built it up five years ago with a BNR Engines 510 cube power plant featuring a Callies Magnum crank, Oliver H-beam rods, JE pistons, AFR Magnum heads, dry sumped, and a Littlefield blower with JBR carbon fibre fuel injection hat, good for around 1250 horsepower.
The neddies get transformed into tyre smoke via a Turbo 400 trans, custom alloy tail shaft and 9 inch diff with 35 spline billet axles.
The wheels are 15 x 10 and 15 x 5 Auto Drag Satin Centreline units.
This milko also has quite a collection of mean ‘milk carts’ including a ’71 HG Ute that he’s owned for 20 plus years, a ’69 Camaro (in build), a ’41 Willys Coupe, a ’68 Nova ex race car from the USA (in build) and a ’72 El Camino SS Ute that he is also planning to get to the Red CentreNATS to go cruising in.
As for his automotive ambition it’s a simple one. ‘I want the fastest burnout car in the country’. All we can say is go David go!
Red CentreNATS Convoy
Are you heading out on a good old road trip to Red CentreNATS? Share your journey with us! Tag your photos, posts, tweets and grams with#RCNconvoy and we will share the best ones!
Entrant Event Guide Now Available!
This is a must read for anyone entered in Red CentreNATS 2015! It contains all the must have information, including maps, award and competition details, and all the hints you need. Check it out now on Everything you need to know and click “Download the Event Guide".