The inaugural Rockynats kicked off with some 800 cars and bikes parading the packed streets of Rockhampton. With businesses closed and workers off, the first day of the Easter long weekend saw the good people of this historic Central Queensland town out in force to check out the seemingly endless line of street machines, hot rods, old school muscle, retro efforts and bizarre. With the parade route covering over 14 kilometres from the showgrounds to downtown’s attractive riverfront and out through the ‘burbs, it ensured all-important social distancing was possible too.

Photos: Ashleigh Wilson

Robert Downing’s wild custom Fiat Topolino which has been chopped, widened and lengthened. The Roth-esque show rod is finished in House of Kolor Frost White with Anti-Freeze green stripes.

Local lad Mark Harris built his 1940 Chev pickup in Rockhampton, finding just over 1000hp from its blown 502cu Chev big block. Sitting on a custom chassis and there’s 5-inches chopped out of the roof, the windscreen laid back 2-inches, and floor’s channelled 6-inches.

Pro Action Motorsport’s Big Mick cruising his PRO E85 tubbed ’75 LX Torana down the historical area of Rockhampton.

Jay Chun-Tie’s gets plenty of publicity for his Townsville towing company with his extreme, chassis-lengthened 1978 Suzuki Carry. Its mid-mount LS1 has a 750 DP carby and runs on E85. Brinks Performance has done the manualised T400 gearbox, custom tail shaft and HiLux diff. A memorable burnout machine as well as a much-loved prince in the parade. 

It was great to see reigning Red CentreNATS Grand Champ Graeme Miller and his EH sedan EHMAD cruising through town! We’ll bring you all the deets on his brand-new EH van tomorrow. See ya then!