With over 2700 entries and sold out spectator tickets on both Saturday and Sunday, Street Machine Summernats 35 was a massive event!

Without bushfires, COVID restrictions or even so much of a spot of rain to dampen the action, Nats 35 was a freight train from the moment gates opened on Thursday.

While Thursday has traditionally be something of a soft launch day for the event, moving the Meguiar’s Great Uncover from the traditional Friday to Thursday night meant that it was game-on from the offset.

After three massive days, Sunday was considerably quieter on the spectator front, but there was still plenty of action to be had.

In the MPW Performance Dyno Cell, the Haltech Horsepower Heroes event came to a climax. While the overall winner was never really in doubt, there were some ding-dong battles in some of the classes and some great performances by some really interesting cars.

The battle for the Grand Champion Sword – now named in the honour of event founder Chic Henry – was much tighter. Eventual winner Livi Krevatin in his insanely-cool Porsche 911 was up some strong contenders, including reigning Red CentreNATS champ Nigel Warr and his massively-tough HQ ute.

Nigel ended up coming in second, ahead of Frank Darmanin’s Elite Top 10-placing PROGM8 VH Commodore.

The 911’s win has divided opinions online, but anyone who saw Livi’s effort behind the wheel and has studied the car in detail will have to agree it is a one hell of a package – regardless of what badge it wears.

With that done, that left us with the Burnout Championship and Burnout Masters competitions to decide.

Anthony Page in PAGEY took out the Championship for the second time in his HZ ute and Jake Myers nailed his second Masters gong in the revamped Myers Mustang.

It was a hell of a weekend! A few key takeaways: Daryl Braithwaite has still got it, the mullet phenomenon is only spreading faster and Vodka and Red Bull slushies are a great pick-me-up for weary bones. Keep that in mind for next year.