As we fire up for a huge year, including the triumphant return of Street Machine Summernats, here’s a look at our first 2022 issue!

We’ve got an all-important Survival Guide to the 34th running of the ’Nats. Read up and get the most out of a massive weekend!

Once suitably briefed, let us take you back to where it all began with a look at the first 10 years of Summernats.

The theme continues with this month’s Legend interview: Summernats founder Chic Henry. He’s got some fantastic insight around the show’s genesis, and a few hilarious stories to match.

Taking pride of place on the cover is Jason Mansweto’s astounding XW Falcon. Having owned the Falc since age 14, Jason drew from the concept of a factory drag pack car for the build. Motivated by a stonking 652-cube big-block and featuring a raft of super-clean touches, it must be seen (and read) to be believed.

Dave Cuell’s HZ Premier was good enough for a Top 60 Summernats placing, but he still pulled the car back down for another crack. Looking at the gorgeous, Holden-powered finished product, it was a worthy endeavour.

On the topic of black beauties, check out Louis Younis’s latest! The ’57 Chev was a long-time dream for Louis, and it now packs a force-fed small-block and plenty of other quality fruit.

It’s hard to miss Jamie Skews’s ripper XA coupe. And if you somehow didn’t notice the acres of glorious Lime Glaze duco, you’re bound to hear the angry 393-cube Clevo.

Mario Girbin’s big VJ hardtop is the perfect Mopar counterpart, offering old-school style in spades – jellybean wheels and Bridgestone Eagers included!

We’ve also got a mean blown HK Premier, a timeless LX Torana and a sleeper Drag Challenge-ready VR Commodore, plus a raft of rad projects and readers cars.

On the event side, there’s heaps of coverage from the unofficial Bright Rod Run. The 2021 showing may have been an informal one, but a huge contingent of car nuts still descended upon the alpine Victorian town for a weekend of fun cruising.

Lucky South Aussies got a second helping of Adelaide Auto Expo goodness this year, with a ripper turnout of top-grade metal.

Up north, hundreds of dads and their families hit Lakeside Park for an all-Aussie Father’s Day bash.

Though we couldn’t get to SEMA ourselves, we managed to rustle up Hot Rod bloke Phillip Thomas for some juicy convention coverage. Between some incredible car unveilings and new industry goodies, the Vegas show was a welcome return.

There are few sights more satisfying than a fresh billet engine block, and they’re especially exciting in Barra and Holden V8 form! This month’s tech yarn is a dive into how billet blocks are created, and what makes them so damn good.

So do yourself a favour and get your hands on Street Machine January 2022, out today!