Hell on wheels? Summernats22 collides with New Years09

And it is hard to totally avoid it when it spills over into the local supermarket and servos.

luke79 said :

i spose i saw girls being ‘hassled’ but for the most part the girls were playing along with it and the ones who didnt want any part in it shouldnt have been there. it’s no secret what sorta stuff goes on there, if you dont like it dont go.

Yep. Yobs and sluts only, the rest of you just stay away.

Which does beg the question, why are the taxes of most people who are not yobs and sluts being used to prop up this event?

With apologies to the police working that night, I hope it all backfires on sleazy Chic Henry and goes pear shaped in a big way. Perhaps we will get the stupidity of Summernats banned forever. Sure, Woolies Dickson, the Carotel, Sinsations and most of Fyshwick will suffer but I doubt most other businesses will feel a thing.

The social cost of Summernats is huge compared to the financial gain (not to mention the cost to ACT taxpayers).

If it really is a legitimate celebration of the car then how about getting rid of the strippers, the bars and the porn. It might then be safe for women and the rest of the general public to go. But then I doubt any of the usual crowd would bother. I like shiny cool cars but wont go because it has turned into an anti-social hoon-fest.

I also don’t see how anyone who truly values their car would burn the bejesus out of their tyres.

In my fogeyish, cranky way, I hope it rains buckets and that a big dose of gastro goes around. That should finish it ….

Bungle said :

… these women must have feared for their lives.

Ditto.

I remember one new years a crowd from summernats came down to the city and crowded Northbourne down to one lane as the hotted up cars drove through. A couple of middle aged women in their Mazda 121 mustn’t have realised what was going on and drove through the crowd as well. These 2 were scared sh*tless as 100’s of drunken males started shaking their car back and forth as they tried drove through. The one in the passenger seat wound down her window to give a few guys a blast but copped a slap in the face for her troubles. I must admit it was pretty funny at the time but these women must have feared for their lives.

I think it was the year after that when they had a riot up near Watson where the Fed hwy was pretty much closed off and a couple of traffic lights were torn down and cars set on fire. Pretty sure that was the last new years summernats there was. Until now…

After being terrorised by the Chinese goons at the torch relay, by comparison I’m kind of looking forward to the Summernat bogans.

Every year I make it a point to do enough shopping before as to avoid Civic/Dickson- being NYE its something most people will do anyway. I love hearing the rev of cars and the immediate sound of sirens afterwards- and the ensuing fine of course. They terrorise the streets of the inner north and I hate that. Hence, why I am more than happy to use my U-lock on any idiot drivers during Summernats that decide their ‘compensation for something’ is worth more than a human life. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.

NYE isn’t so bad though. Most of the idiots will be caught DUI by 4pm, leaving the other better Summernats attendees to enjoy their event, Moose Heads and the area of London Cct outside Moose Heads.

Ah memories. I grew up in Lower Downer (though my mother insisted on calling it Upper Downer) and we used to go out the back and get a front row view of the Supercruise each year. Mum and Dad used to take their fold-up chairs out there.

Dread to think of the insurance premium for that sort of a caper in this day and age. You could almost hear the sound of the brokers’ sphincters contracting as they hyperventilate and fan themselves with actuarial tables.

The downside was in the early days before they fenced off the sides of Northbourne Avenue and a lot of people’s backyard fences went to fuel campfires.

I hope it’s a great event, though as I’m back in the inner north, I’ll be happy to be far away at the coast when all the hoo-haa is erupting on NYE.

i used to go to the nats for years, both as a spectator and entrant. i havnt been for a few years now and doubt ill go again anytime soon, more so as im bored with it and dont actually live in canberra anymore. i never once had any problems there and for the most part had a great time. i used to take my car home before sunset and after dark i sorta just kept an eye on things around me, but yeah never had any problems and very rarely saw anything. i can only recall a handfull of fights, no more than youd see in civic on a saturday night. i spose i saw girls being ‘hassled’ but for the most part the girls were playing along with it and the ones who didnt want any part in it shouldnt have been there. it’s no secret what sorta stuff goes on there, if you dont like it dont go.
i wouldnt say im a fan of the bogans or the fully sik wogs there but they have never caused me any problems.
when it comes to the nats it’s kinda the in thing to either love it or hate it. most people i know who passionatly hate it have never been or have any idea what it’s really like, and well the guys who hate it.. sitt down to pee.

I somewhat miss the Northbourne Ave supercruise. The event was always ruled by yobbos, and having the cruise really got it out in the open, and it was kind-of entertaining. Some friends in Downer used to host a party for NYE so as to guard their back fence from being bonfired, so we’d hang over the fence and harrass the hoons.

The cruise also meant ordinary people could perve on the cars, without having to enter “their territory”; no way I’d go to the showgrounds to see it now.

the way it is now, they might as well hold it in a remote paddock, rip every one off blind for beer and food and crackers and pr.n, and keep the behaviour contained.

Great news brings it back closer to the good old early summernats years the best of the lot. Only thing we don’t have now is the Northbourne cruise be good if they brought that back to. Should be able to make it this year will be the first time in a while I’ll be in aussie at the same time.

Most of my experiences there have been okay. Although I can remember cruising around once in a mates car and having some guys reach in the back window and try and pull my girlfriend at the time out of the window, that was pretty full on. Another time someone groped her in the crowd and I ended up smashing the wrong bloke, which I felt really bad about.

But I mean that’s two bad things after going about ten years running. It seems like this sort of violence and behaviour is much more concentrated now, another one of the reasons I guess I don’t head down there anymore.

better wire the tazer into an epirb though, they’re going to need rescue very shortly after they run out of battery.

I think that all females entering the summernats should be given their choice of stun gun or baseball bat, and carte blanche to use them on people who diserve it.

Then the ones who want to show a bit of boob can, and the ones who don’t can taze anyone who harrasses them.

Timberwolf65 said :

Yes….yes… dickheads have once again ruined this great event. I remember going to the summernats way back when you didn’t even need to enter natex to enjoy it.
People would simply pull up a chair and enjoy the cars cruzing up and down Northbourne and then you get groups of people who cannot handle alcohol, wrecking the joint and thus bringing good times to a halt.

I would not go to the summernats at night now, due to how females are not safe, it doesn’t matter if you wear ten jumpers, tracksuit pants and a hat, those bastards would hone in on you.

the nats were the place to see restored 50’s chevy sedans and coupes when i was younger. Holden, Ford, a few chryslers, the year the worst car on the world was a volvo, etc, etc. been in a car in the super cruze a couple of times before it was banned.

Next time I was there, the yobbos turned up. fighting over who had the best car – literally, screaming at women to showuzyat!ts – the ones that did, did so at their own peril, god knows where they ended up as the night wore on, bundy or beer seemed to be the rocket propellant of choice…. and me and my mates gave up, stopped going at night. it is a bit like oktoberfest – started off ok, but as the night wears on, the fighting starts. beer and schnapps. great combo.

the next time I went to the nats, my mate was hit in the back of the head with a beer bottle, just for wearing a shirt proclaiming he supported Holden. Little that i can remember of it, i can sort of recall being bundled into a paddy wagon with the guys who threw the bottle, and having to call my old man at some ungodly hour of the morning to be picked up.

Whilst it will stretch the resources of the Police in ways that not many contributors on RA could even begin to imagine I have to say that The Nat’s are a lot of fun both from a professional perspective and a personal one. From a professional perspective the ACT suddnely becomes a target rich environment. All these stupid people sending out subliminal messages saying “Pick Me out for some special (concentrated) harrassment” – Like that WMC? ;p

From a personal perpective I actually like the redneck crowd that attends this event.

It’s a good thing, too, because at Summernats time they’re everywhere. In all my dealings with them, I have to say they have a culture and code of honor all their own. They are proud, rowdy, simple, and downright confusing.

It never ceases to amaze me how the smallest things in life can ‘do it’ for these people. Take your simple 440ml Woodstock Bourbon and Cola; that’s the best bargain since BP’s 3/1.00 hotdogs. There’s nothing better to a redneck than a lazy afternoon with Bourbon, hotdogs, half naked women and hotted up cars.

Just why are rednecks such rev head enthusiasts anyway? It’s not just the men who are enthralled with it, either. I know two redneck sisters who won’t leave the house on Sunday until RPM is over. One roots for Ford, the other for Holden. The sad part is they’ve brainwashed their nieces and nephews, and now they’re little redneck rev head fans, too. Will the madness never cease?

Small things we wouldn’t pay attention to really make a redneck’s day. Give them a bowl of beans with a slice of tomato on the side for supper and a cold beer for dessert – and they’re happy. The dogs brawling over a ham bone in the front yard really gets their blood pumping. The redneck women are happy with a bottle of Charley perfume, blue frosted eye shadow, flashing their tits and Friday nights at the karaoke bar. Redneck kids will do anything for a KFC burger, Pepsi, and a trip to the carnival at the Big Lots parking lot.

Even though I don’t understand rednecks, they sure come in handy as neighbors. They’ll fix your broken truck, send you a meal if you’re sick, and they’ll even buy you something at the flea market on your birthday. More importantly, having a redneck neighbor can make you feel safe. If the sight of Billy Bob sitting on his porch cleaning his Smith & Wesson doesn’t scare off an intruder, then all his dogs will.

So that’s it for the Red necks, they’re not all that bad.

The other worrying aspect about Summernats is the red necks rival group – Young Middle Eastern males. This group also share the Rednecks passion for fast cars (usually rotaries or hot 4’s as compared to the Rednecks V8’s)

This group is particular are troublesome and totally lacking in any positive aspects what so ever. They can be sure that the thin stretched police resources will have a special reserve of ideas to harrass them during the Nat’s.

Looking at the bright side; if the Summernats finale coincides with NYE, then in practical terms, that is one less horror night for the cops, Ambos, emergency rooms, parents, taxi drivers, etc… to deal with.

You missed the Poll option,

I don’t care I am leaving and going far far far away, well at least to batemans bay

I tend to agree with AngryHenry.

However, history has shown that NYE and the Nats don’t mix well.

As they say, lock up your daughters. 😛

Yes….yes… dickheads have once again ruined this great event. I remember going to the summernats way back when you didn’t even need to enter natex to enjoy it.
People would simply pull up a chair and enjoy the cars cruzing up and down Northbourne and then you get groups of people who cannot handle alcohol, wrecking the joint and thus bringing good times to a halt.

I would not go to the summernats at night now, due to how females are not safe, it doesn’t matter if you wear ten jumpers, tracksuit pants and a hat, those bastards would hone in on you.

Full hectic

Mr_Shab said :

If the ‘nats were the “event” that they are supposed to be; that being a love-in for admirers of big, loud, obnoxious cars it wouldn’t be an issue. As it happens (especially on NYE), they periodically turn into an occasion to pack hordes of dopey young men into a small space, feed them truckloads of booze, encourage their oafishness to baboon-herd levels and then unleash them on our city. That’s a whole lot less harmless. Demonstrably so.

I’ve got no problem with the ‘nats. In fact, I think we’d be poorer for its loss; which is why I think abandoning any pretense of it being “family friendly”, thereby encouraging the dopey and destructive behaviour of participants is a spectacularly dim move.

Hey interesting point about the ‘family’ tag. I never really thought of it like that, although I’ve been to other ‘family friendly’ events that have still had their dopey and destructive element (Skyfire for example), although not as concentrated as Summernats.

Perhaps if there were a few more options in Canberra for entertainment on New Years Eve then people would be spread out and situations would be easier to control. Who knows??? Maybe the opposite would happen and we’d get these baboon-herds roaming around all night from event to event causing more trouble.

I think the solution is pretty simple but unfortunately impossible to enforce, behave like a human being when you are out and treat each other with respect. Sadly I don’t see it happening.

oh, this is perfect for the “10 things i love about living on the southside….”

I am far enough from the nats to not hear, see or worry about it…

sucks to be on the northside – the burnouts & doughies don’t seem to come out my way…

If the ‘nats were the “event” that they are supposed to be; that being a love-in for admirers of big, loud, obnoxious cars it wouldn’t be an issue. As it happens (especially on NYE), they periodically turn into an occasion to pack hordes of dopey young men into a small space, feed them truckloads of booze, encourage their oafishness to baboon-herd levels and then unleash them on our city. That’s a whole lot less harmless. Demonstrably so.

I’ve got no problem with the ‘nats. In fact, I think we’d be poorer for its loss; which is why I think abandoning any pretense of it being “family friendly”, thereby encouraging the dopey and destructive behaviour of participants is a spectacularly dim move.

I think I’ll definatley go fishing down the coast this new years eve…

didnt it used to be over new years many moons ago?

Not really. It got moved from NY’s because it was progressively getting more and more out of control.

Having it start a couple of days later meant a lot of troublemakers stayed home nursing their hangovers Those that made it with a penchant for getting totally wasted were also a little more subdued.

Throwing that away at an event which already skirts the limit of public decency after dark is, well, interesting.

I think that’s what I like most about Summernats, it’s so anti PC. Summernats is one of the last bastions of noise and general poor taste alive in this town.

It is sad to see these whinging minorities hell bent on bubble wrapping our society (you reckon we will be allowed backyard fireworks next year?).

Love it or hate it Summernats is part of the Canberra identity and it should be protected for that very reason.

NYE is a great time…. I will be far away from Canberra and the hoons that manage to spill over from the event and do burnouts all over the place. Excellent !

I live a stone’s throw away from the venue, and for those three days I must say it’s a pretty noisy state of affairs but it is only for a few days out of the year, and usually I either try to be on holidays or out of town.

I used to go to it in the past but it just got to be the same tired old scene for me. I love the cars and the amount of work that goes into them but there was only so many times I could swallow buckets of dust and watch blokes behave like a pack of animals.

To each his own though.

I’m glad they’re finally casting off the whole ‘family’ event tag, it is what it is and it ain’t a family event.

The only thing that really annoys me about it is the pack mentality of some (I said SOME) of the blokes that go there. My girlfriend doesn’t need to be harrassed while we’re doing our weekend shopping at Woolies by a bunch of blokes who’ve been all charged up by some sluts who’ve been flashing their sloppy boobs on the back of some shitbox car driving around EPIC.

It’s a free country though, and as long as we’re not hurting people and respect others we should all be allowed to enjoy ourselves.

Yep – gotta foster these ‘events’ where scary hoons take over the EPIC intersection screaming at all female drivers that they are going to rip their clothes off, and throwing bottles at cars. And that was in the daytime….

Also I’d note that a reasonably safe situation to just be a quiet observer can get nasty quickly when you’re obviously recording and people are doing things they’ll be ashamed of in the morning.

Bad hygiene? Complacency? Low expectations?

Real reasons are probably myriad, Jb. 😛

Duke said :

Oh hell Henny Penny, the sky’s falling in! With that kind of hyperbole and distain for local events you could be writing for the CT, JB – unless you were being sarcastic in which case I applaud your parody.

*Applauds*

Duke said :

Oh hell Henny Penny, the sky’s falling in! With that kind of hyperbole and distain for local events you could be writing for the CT, JB – unless you were being sarcastic in which case I applaud your parody.

Not really. It got moved from NY’s because it was progressively getting more and more out of control.

Having it start a couple of days later meant a lot of troublemakers stayed home nursing their hangovers Those that made it with a penchant for getting totally wasted were also a little more subdued.

Throwing that away at an event which already skirts the limit of public decency after dark is, well, interesting.

Why do you think my hair is looking so long and shaggy at the moment?

Oh hell Henny Penny, the sky’s falling in! With that kind of hyperbole and distain for local events you could be writing for the CT, JB – unless you were being sarcastic in which case I applaud your parody.

Perhaps it would be best not to sport your trilby to this event, JB.

I’d advise wife-beater and black jeans. If you start now, you could even achieve a passable mullet.

Oh lordy ! An EVENT ! in CANBERRA ! Damn them heathens… Ban it..Ban it now !!!

BRING IT ON you Latte bathing crosstitchers !

Don’t worry croquet strategists….every year is it’s *last* year MUHAHAHAHAHA