To the joy of some, and the disappointment of others, the ABC informs us that Summernats is going nowhere.
The new owners of the Summernats Car Festival say the event will be staged in Canberra for at least the next three years.
A company led by Andy Lopez who produces the Australia Day Concert has bought the event from Chic Henry.
Mr Lopez says the consortium has signed a three year lease with Exhibition Park with the hope to extend the event beyond 2012.
Chic Henry is staying on as a consultant, which is to be expected when buying such a complicated beast.
UPDATE: Liberal Senator Gary Humphries is concerned that three more years will not be enough!
Senator Gary Humphries has urged that the event stay in the ACT saying that “It is absolutely essential that a family-friendly Summernats stays here in the ACT.
“This event brings lots of people to the Nation’s Capital every year and is a big stimulant for our local economy, with local hotels, restaurants and retail being flooded for the weekend every year.
“It has been well supported by the local motor enthusiasts, and our local community as a whole and it is vital that such a centrepiece of the annual calendar doesn’t move elsewhere.
I think that to say it is supported by “our local community as a whole” might be gilding the lily somewhat.
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*sigh*
Frack!!!
I understand the successful consortium was also responsible for staging World Youth Day and the Australia Day Live! event. I think it’s safe to say there’ll be no more “show us your whatevers” or tie-ins with the adult shops in Fyshwick.
Bring back the SuperCruise!!!!
And the real cars….
Damn! I was hoping they would take it to some far away hole… like Adelaide or something.
I’m a little afraid that the only way summerGnats could be made worse, former Australian Idol “Stars”, might happen now.
Bring back the dragway near the airport!!
Sweet!
Is this so bad? The Summernats unquestionably bring money into the ACT and they have been pretty much under control recently after the wild early years. As Trunking Symbols says, the new owners sound like a reasonably responsible lot.
“Is this so bad?”
YES!
Under control? pfft.
Summernats is fairly lame as far as car shows go. The main reason I like it coming to Canberra is all the wowsers here who think it’s the end of the world and that the only things that should be allowed to happen in Canberra should have their personal approval. It’s really great.
You think that’s a safe bet, trunking symbols? Like to make a wager then? The show us your whatevers and adult industry activity comes from the attendees, not the organisers. It could be cut down significantly if you didn’t serve any alcohol there or allow drunks to come in. I think that would go down like a lead balloon.
Get over it. It’s been in Canberra for over 20years, I bet thats a lot longer then some of the people winging about it.
If you don’t like it don’t go.
If a little smoke comes over your(you’re) house, don’t worry it won’t kill you. If the sound of a V8 is a little loud were ear plugs. It’s 4 days or the year FFS.
And no I don’t attend or support summernats, but that doesn’t mean others can’t.
Mike, the issues a lot of posters (including myself) are a lot more than car smoke or noise. They have to do with voilent crime, objectification of women, sexual assault, ethical business, self esteem, property damage…the list goes on and I couldn’t be bothered going into it. do a little search and you will see them detailed in the many threads previously on Riotact about summernats.
Its not about just ‘whinging’ (and definitly not ‘winging’) or needing to ‘get over it’.
The summernats will not on (in Canberra) at least for much longer. Its just a matter of time.
Are you confident of your statement FC?
For the last 6 years(at least), the minority that dont “like” the Summernats have tried to get it moved on. It has not worked. Having just signed on for another 3 years, what makes you think it’s moving on this time?
Mike-I could not agree with you more.
FC said :
Explain how thats different to going to the City on a Saturday night? All of what you have quoted happens every day.
I’ve seen alot worse from 1 day events such as Australia Day, the boxing, Big day out.
Are you sure your not just anti car, and Summernats is the only big car event has so lets take it out on them.
HAHA!
I’ll have whatever you’re smoking Mike!
It could be cut down significantly if you didn’t serve any alcohol there or allow drunks to come in.
They already restrict the selection to mostly crap beers, and any spirit you want, so long as it is bourbon and coke.
So what happens to the money that people were owed by the company that previously ran Summernats..sounds like a Phoenix scheme to me!
johnboy said :
You have mistaken me. I’m not a pot smoking green hippy, who hangs out in a basement. I’m just an ordinary bloke who looks at the whole picture. No drugs needed here to see whats going on in the ‘real’ world.
If you think that Saturday night in Civic in any way equates to the disruption of summernats you’re either medicated or you should be.
Mike Bessenger said :
+1, not just in the City either, basically everywhere, but strangely enough, you don’t see the muppets that act like clowns on a Sat night, turn up with their cars to Summernats. They are usually the ones that turn up and screw it for everyone.
Read my comments again. I said that the things FC claims happens at Summernats also happens here in Canberra.
In saying that your saying that ‘voilent crime, objectification of women, sexual assault, ethical business, self esteem, property damage’ etc etc doesn’t occur every saturday night in civic?
C’mon mate open your eyes.
FC said :
Also maybe check your spelling before you point out others mistakes.
Mike Bessenger said :
Was actually agreeing with you, but maybe you missed that point…
I love when men argue in writing
What I’d LOVE to see is vehicle entry for summernats restricted to vehicles 30 years old and older. That way you’d filter out:
a) young wankers in crap mid 80′s and 90′s japanese hatchbacks with fluoro paint and doof doof stereos
b) late model commodores with big wheels and aftermarket exhausts
c) the generally crappy 20 or so year old cars that apparently pass for ‘street machines’ these days.
Get back to the classic street machines and cruisers. I reckon you’d get less entries but they’d be much higher quality, and you wouldn’t get nearly as much of the dickhead factor. I went to summernats a couple of years ago and the ‘average’ standard of vehicle was MUCH lower than it had been in previous years.
Wraith said :
No didn’t miss the point, and I also agree with you. I think that it would be a fair call insaying that alot of the people that do spoil it for others have zero interest in the car show as a car show, and more of an excuse to act up for the week and blend into a crowd where the chances of getting caught are slim.
I have always said that most of the people that do spoil the Summernats are also not the ones that have entered cars.
Mike Bessenger comparing summernats to a Big Day Out?!?!? Have you ever been to a Big Day Out Mike? I’ve been to quite a few and probably an equal number of Summernats. I may even go back for more Big Day Outs but I will not bother going to another Summernats. Same sh*t different year and more d*ckheads than previous is probably the best way I can describe it.
Sure a lot of these bad things happen in society but not in the same high-concentration you would see at Summernats.
I’m glad I don’t live in your so-called ‘real world’ because you are dead wrong.
Re: Senator Humphries,
As a community member I support (the notion) of Summernats as a hole.
Oh yeah, show us yer tits.
AngryHenry said :
Where did I compare Big day out to Summernats?
What I did compare was seeing events that FC claimed to be the reason he/she was against the Summernats at other large events such as The Big day out. Yes I have been to many many Big day outs and at all of them I have seen the following ‘voilent crime, objectification of women, sexual assault, ethical business, self esteem, property damage’ in sum for or another.
Maybe read the whole discussion before you comment.
I’m dead wrong? So the above does not happen in your world? Let me in!