So who are all these interested Summernats bidders?

Duke said :

H1NG0 said :

I am a huge car nut, but you won’t see me at Boganats. The Terribly British Day last weekend showed what car shows are all about. Great crowd of all ages, no booze or boobs and some magnificently maintained cars. People don’t go to Boganats to look at cars, they go because its a meeting place for knuckle-draggers.

No booze, no boobs……..and you forgot no noise. Summernats is one of those rare shows where you actually get to hear and witness the performance of big engines. This is a major appeal – the burnout comp, dyno testing, go-to-wo. This is what car shows are (or should be) about.

Those stationary car shows offer none of the thrills that a lumpy big-block motor on low idle can.

We at least agree on that aspect. That’s the summernats that I would like to go to, don’t care if there is heavily restricted/no alcohol and nary a boobie in sight.

“Unlikely. I do think it’s more likely they fear being called a mysoginist so are choosing to say nothing.”

Sorry, we know you can’t shut them up.

“Beer and titties men need love too” They can pay for it in Mitchell.

I do like the sound of a big V8 at full roar

Head to Parramatta City Raceway for a Sprintcar meeting, or WSID for a Top Fuel meeting. Nothing beats that sound.

ps – Chick has done himself no favours this week. And Summernats is 1/10th as wild as it used to be. The beatup last year in the CT showing a ‘mob riot’ when it was one dude with his shirt off was a joke.

Doctor Evil said :

And if you say that those going there to get wasted or watch boobies are in the minority, .

A bit of a waste, they should either get wasted or watch boobies, not both. It defeats the object of the exercise.

Duke said :

@Evil – i’m not terribly interested in getting wasted and watching wet tshirt competitions, and I think those who do are in the minority. But the flaw in your argument is that by getting rid of those elements Summernats might in fact attract more people than there are already.

That might work fine for Canberra, but WSID wouldn’t be able to handle more than what Canberra currently attracts. I don’t believe the venue is big enough.

There are always going to be problems with alcohol, it’s unavoidable. You can’t lock people in at Summernats at night without providing entertainment and activity – and it’s difficult to tell legal-aged people they’re not allowed to drink.

Western Sydney, arguably Australia’s bogan capital and with a reputation for car cruising, will experience worse problems than Canberra. People will inevitably get bored, go on the cruising circuit picking up something to drink along the way.

Where did I say the numbers would go up? If you read my post I actually said they would probably go down, i.e. to a number that lots of venues could handle. Do you really think EPIC is the only place in the entire country it could possibly be held?

And if you say that those going there to get wasted or watch boobies are in the minority, that implies that you yourself agree that removing those elements would have little impact on numbers.

Pommy bastard said :

It would appear that the beer and titties men amongst us are becoming an oppressed minority.

Unlikely. I do think it’s more likely they fear being called a mysoginist so are choosing to say nothing.

Pommy bastard said :

“Beer and titties men need love too”

quote]

We do, PB, we certainly do. I also believe it’s possible to be respectful towards women while finding them attractive;)

It would appear that the beer and titties men amongst us are becoming an oppressed minority.

I wonder when the lefty’s will start complaining for their rights?

“Beer and titties men need love too”

Perhaps Bono will record an Xmas single for them?

Each to their own. I do like the sound of a big V8 at full roar so I can understand that.

H1NG0 said :

I am a huge car nut, but you won’t see me at Boganats. The Terribly British Day last weekend showed what car shows are all about. Great crowd of all ages, no booze or boobs and some magnificently maintained cars. People don’t go to Boganats to look at cars, they go because its a meeting place for knuckle-draggers.

No booze, no boobs……..and you forgot no noise. Summernats is one of those rare shows where you actually get to hear and witness the performance of big engines. This is a major appeal – the burnout comp, dyno testing, go-to-wo. This is what car shows are (or should be) about.

Those stationary car shows offer none of the thrills that a lumpy big-block motor on low idle can.

Hingo, SummerGnats is the preferred colloquialism

I’m sorry, did I call it boganats? Since Riotact is all about creating an environment accessible to everyone, I shall call it “Summernats, the event for the genuine car enthusiast”.

I go there for the spectacle itself, in the same way that people slow down to look at car crashes…

H1NG0 said :

People don’t go to Boganats to look at cars, they go because its a meeting place for knuckle-draggers.

I disagree. I’d say that 95% go to the nats to look at cars (Hey all the guys I know that go, are there for the cars). Like always the 5% that go there for other reasons and cause problems.

Duke said :

I would say the instances of cars at the Nats being damaged by vandalism is rare. Most car owners never leave their vehicles out of sight and while bogans may not respect women, the law or social decency, they generally respect a well presented car, whatever the make and model.

That’s exactly my point, car owners shouldn’t need to be that worried. Also the whole Ford v Holden thing can get in the way. I have a mate who had Ford Sux written all over his car by a “car enthusiast” bogan simply because of the Ford v Holden thing.

Don’t worry, you are by no way the only one who would park a km away, I know of quite a few blokes who do the same.

I am a huge car nut, but you won’t see me at Boganats. The Terribly British Day last weekend showed what car shows are all about. Great crowd of all ages, no booze or boobs and some magnificently maintained cars. People don’t go to Boganats to look at cars, they go because its a meeting place for knuckle-draggers.

In the early days of the ‘nats, I quite enjoyed the supercruise on northbourne. Got caught up in it, as did many other normal drivers (I had an XC ute but it was a farm ute, it weren’t no street machine). It was good to set up on the side of the road to watch, too.

then we’d spend new year’s eve at soem friends in Downer, they held a party there every year so as to guard their back fence from being burnt. We could hang over it and watch the ‘cruise.

The rampant yobbism has stopped normal Canberrans from enjoying the car-stuff of the ‘nats. You could almost argue that it’s a yobbonats, with the cars just being a pretext.

@harvyk1 – I thought I was the only precious car owner who picked the spots furthest away from everybody else!

I repeat my point, you can’t lock people in at Summernats at night without providing entertainment and activity. They could have day bans on alcohol, I’d agree with that, but when the sun goes down what do people do? An alcohol ban could be worse because all the bogans would jump in taxis and go straight to Civic.

I would say the instances of cars at the Nats being damaged by vandalism is rare. Most car owners never leave their vehicles out of sight and while bogans may not respect women, the law or social decency, they generally respect a well presented car, whatever the make and model.

Duke said :

There are always going to be problems with alcohol, it’s unavoidable. You can’t lock people in at Summernats at night without providing entertainment and activity – and it’s difficult to tell legal-aged people they’re not allowed to drink.

No it’s not, tell them that it’s not a licensed venue and thus alcohol is not tolerated.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my beer, bourbon and rum, and in large amounts. But I don’t need to be plastered when looking at nice cars.

As someone who owns a nice car, I don’t like it when there are people near it who have had one to many. I have a lot of love for my car, the last thing I want is some drunk d*ck keying it, throwing up on it, throwing something onto it (eg eggs, beer bottles or other stuff), or having it leave the venue in any way less than the perfect condition I brought it in. Yes I’m one of those people who will park the car a 1km away if it means that it’ll have no one park next to it.

Jim Jones said :

H1NG0 said :

Jim Jones said :

BarryF said :

Ah yes Megan Doherty – Stanhope lover. Didn’t read in her article how the Chief Minister accidentally left behind confidential files about Summernats.

Nice distraction Megan, how about some unbiased Journalism.

I don’t like Summernats either, but at least Chic Henry is trying to attrack money to Canberra unlike the Stanhopless Govt – remember they just about closed Tourism ACT.

Megan go do a sensible story without your political bias.

If you’ve got evidence I’m sure everyone would like to see it.

Evidence as in Stanhopeless’ “apology” on TV the other night you mean?

I didn’t see that. What’s the story?

http://the-riotact.com/?p=10031

I’d really like to see the supercruise happen again too, but it won’t. Not in Canberra at least, and i’m sure I don’t have to remind you why we don’t have it any more.

As for yobbos not damaging cars, there are quite a few owners of vehicles that weren’t made in Oz or the US who would have good reason to disagree with that statement. That’s why you don’t see many of them at the nats, and why events like Autosalon have been successful.

@Evil – i’m not terribly interested in getting wasted and watching wet tshirt competitions, and I think those who do are in the minority. But the flaw in your argument is that by getting rid of those elements Summernats might in fact attract more people than there are already.

That might work fine for Canberra, but WSID wouldn’t be able to handle more than what Canberra currently attracts. I don’t believe the venue is big enough.

There are always going to be problems with alcohol, it’s unavoidable. You can’t lock people in at Summernats at night without providing entertainment and activity – and it’s difficult to tell legal-aged people they’re not allowed to drink.

Western Sydney, arguably Australia’s bogan capital and with a reputation for car cruising, will experience worse problems than Canberra. People will inevitably get bored, go on the cruising circuit picking up something to drink along the way.

Summernats has become cleaner over the years. it has. It was far worse many years ago, and then chic started clamping down on the worst of the behaviour. These days, yobbos don’t key your immaculate car, spit on it, or see how far the radio antenna can bend. Yobbos are far too busy with the “showusyer….” catchcry. many girls I know travel to the nats on their own, where before they would have to go in groups.

If you are a car enthusiast, or like watching someone blow their dough on tyres, it is the perfect venue. At Bathurst in Tent City, there are areas that have an almost Mad Max quality about them – and if they ask you whether you are a ford or a holden fan, look for any signs claiming one or the other…

I have been to the nats over the years. i have been to Bathurst as many times as well. Bathurst is still far worse.

The only thing i wish they could bring back is the SuperCruise. I really miss sitting on a fold-out chair on the side of northbourne, checking out the cars.

JB, have you approached Chic to get his view? I for one would love to hear his opion on the comments on this and other topics related to Summernats…..

Duke said :

@Henry – I can’t say i’ve noticed any serious contempt for Canberra attitude from Summernats fans, which is not to say there isn’t any.

As for finding a more qualified promoter, I don’t think you’re going to find a better promoter than Chic Henry. Not only is he a car nut (involved in hot rod shows long before Summernats) but he’s been running the event for 20+ years.

It’s not the same as promoting a music concert. It’s a unique event. The promoter has to know about car scrutineering and dealing with hundreds of sponsors.

The pack of dogs thing is a fair point and one that is going to be difficult to control. Locking them up in EPIC at night has proved the best and only solution.

But as somebody who has camped for several years on Mount Panorama during the Bathurst 1000 can I just say that Summernats has nothing, NOTHING on Bathurst when it comes to pack-of-dogs behaviour. Think of Bathurst as Summernats X 10. There are places on the mountain the cops are too scared to go to – yet that town embraces the event.

The likely reason other cities are not signing up for Summernats is because they simply can’t handle that volume of people and cars. We get 100 thousand to Canberra – imagine how many they would get if it were held in Sydney. Maybe double or triple that. There would be mayhem.

The only viable alternative to Canberra is a well-placed country town prepared to donate some serious acreage to the event.

Actually Duke, I think the attendance numbers would go down rather than up if it went to Sydney. WSID have said they wouldn’t have the alchohol, wet t-shirt comps etc which would put off a large proportion of the wanker population.

Sure, a few of the knuckledraggers would turn up the first year expecting the event to still be like that, but would soon disappear once they realised it was just about cars.

It would actually be a big car show again, and that’s what lots of people (including me) would like to go to, even if it meant a drive to Sydney.

H1NG0 said :

Jim Jones said :

BarryF said :

Ah yes Megan Doherty – Stanhope lover. Didn’t read in her article how the Chief Minister accidentally left behind confidential files about Summernats.

Nice distraction Megan, how about some unbiased Journalism.

I don’t like Summernats either, but at least Chic Henry is trying to attrack money to Canberra unlike the Stanhopless Govt – remember they just about closed Tourism ACT.

Megan go do a sensible story without your political bias.

If you’ve got evidence I’m sure everyone would like to see it.

Evidence as in Stanhopeless’ “apology” on TV the other night you mean?

I didn’t see that. What’s the story?

@Henry – I can’t say i’ve noticed any serious contempt for Canberra attitude from Summernats fans, which is not to say there isn’t any.

As for finding a more qualified promoter, I don’t think you’re going to find a better promoter than Chic Henry. Not only is he a car nut (involved in hot rod shows long before Summernats) but he’s been running the event for 20+ years.

It’s not the same as promoting a music concert. It’s a unique event. The promoter has to know about car scrutineering and dealing with hundreds of sponsors.

The pack of dogs thing is a fair point and one that is going to be difficult to control. Locking them up in EPIC at night has proved the best and only solution.

But as somebody who has camped for several years on Mount Panorama during the Bathurst 1000 can I just say that Summernats has nothing, NOTHING on Bathurst when it comes to pack-of-dogs behaviour. Think of Bathurst as Summernats X 10. There are places on the mountain the cops are too scared to go to – yet that town embraces the event.

The likely reason other cities are not signing up for Summernats is because they simply can’t handle that volume of people and cars. We get 100 thousand to Canberra – imagine how many they would get if it were held in Sydney. Maybe double or triple that. There would be mayhem.

The only viable alternative to Canberra is a well-placed country town prepared to donate some serious acreage to the event.

@ant – don’t be a victim of fear and paranoia, go visit Summernats this year.

Duke said :

So before criticising, how about actually visiting the event, perhaps on a Sunday when it’s quieter

-Duke

And bring your wife and daughters! You’ll be an instant convert.

Jim Jones said :

BarryF said :

Ah yes Megan Doherty – Stanhope lover. Didn’t read in her article how the Chief Minister accidentally left behind confidential files about Summernats.

Nice distraction Megan, how about some unbiased Journalism.

I don’t like Summernats either, but at least Chic Henry is trying to attrack money to Canberra unlike the Stanhopless Govt – remember they just about closed Tourism ACT.

Megan go do a sensible story without your political bias.

If you’ve got evidence I’m sure everyone would like to see it.

Evidence as in Stanhopeless’ “apology” on TV the other night you mean?

Duke said :

That CT article of today put a big smile on my face 🙂 Chic is unlikely to give up the booze and breasts and general rev-head culture, as are us Summernats patrons, which is bad news for other potential venues but great news for Canberra.

Just because some critics don’t like a particular event is not a reason for that event to be cancelled. Canberra is home to excellent galleries, the War Memorial, the museum, Floriade, the Folk Festival, so why seek to deny car enthusiasts the opportunity to visit Australia’s biggest and best car show?

Anti-social behaviour is a problem at Summernats but it is also a problem in Civic, Manuka and Kingston in the 51 weeks a year Summernats isn’t in town.

I think Summernats should stay for many of the reasons people say it should go – because it is anti-PC, because it rattles the squares and prudes and elitists. It also brings tens of thousands of people to Canberra who stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, ride in our taxis and support local small business.

So before criticising, how about actually visiting the event, perhaps on a Sunday when it’s quieter and all the local car clubs have been invited to put their cars on display -for it’s only a car show and it’s only a few days a year. The sky isn’t going to fall on your heads tomorrow and you that bubble-wrap you dress in must be getting awful hot this time of year.

Peace and Love everybody

-Duke

Some fair points Duke, some I agree with, some I don’t. After going to Summernats it is, as THEY say, ‘more than a car show’. I think that’s the reason why it would seem none of the other motorsport oriented venues want to put in a bid for it.

It’s definitely part of the Canberra landscape and I agree that anti-social behaviour in Civic and Manuka occurs all year round, but visiting Summernats on a Sunday afternoon for those who want to avoid the violent and loutish behaviour that comes with the event on the other three or so days is not a solution.

I have a theory that some of the interstate visitors actually harbour contempt for Canberra and Canberran’s and that contributes to their behaviour during those few days. I don’t know if I can prove it but listening to the way some people react when you say you’re from Canberra it wouldn’t suprise me.

The most obvious solution, in my opinion, is for Chic Henry to hand the event over to a more capable event management company, reassess the security, the service of alcohol, the camping conditions, the event programme and the promotion of Summernats and try and give the people something that is actually more about cars, the pride of their owners and the countless hours of work that goes into them. But most of all make it less about behaving like a pack of dogs.

BarryF said :

Ah yes Megan Doherty – Stanhope lover. Didn’t read in her article how the Chief Minister accidentally left behind confidential files about Summernats.

Nice distraction Megan, how about some unbiased Journalism.

I don’t like Summernats either, but at least Chic Henry is trying to attrack money to Canberra unlike the Stanhopless Govt – remember they just about closed Tourism ACT.

Megan go do a sensible story without your political bias.

If you’ve got evidence I’m sure everyone would like to see it.

Ah yes Megan Doherty – Stanhope lover. Didn’t read in her article how the Chief Minister accidentally left behind confidential files about Summernats.

Nice distraction Megan, how about some unbiased Journalism.

I don’t like Summernats either, but at least Chic Henry is trying to attrack money to Canberra unlike the Stanhopless Govt – remember they just about closed Tourism ACT.

Megan go do a sensible story without your political bias.

That CT article of today put a big smile on my face 🙂 Chic is unlikely to give up the booze and breasts and general rev-head culture, as are us Summernats patrons, which is bad news for other potential venues but great news for Canberra.

Just because some critics don’t like a particular event is not a reason for that event to be cancelled. Canberra is home to excellent galleries, the War Memorial, the museum, Floriade, the Folk Festival, so why seek to deny car enthusiasts the opportunity to visit Australia’s biggest and best car show?

Anti-social behaviour is a problem at Summernats but it is also a problem in Civic, Manuka and Kingston in the 51 weeks a year Summernats isn’t in town.

I think Summernats should stay for many of the reasons people say it should go – because it is anti-PC, because it rattles the squares and prudes and elitists. It also brings tens of thousands of people to Canberra who stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, ride in our taxis and support local small business.

So before criticising, how about actually visiting the event, perhaps on a Sunday when it’s quieter and all the local car clubs have been invited to put their cars on display -for it’s only a car show and it’s only a few days a year. The sky isn’t going to fall on your heads tomorrow and you that bubble-wrap you dress in must be getting awful hot this time of year.

Peace and Love everybody

-Duke

dexi said :

If he moved it, he runs the risk of the same problems Canberra had when it started up. Trying to remove the booze’n’tits will only lead to street riots and bad behavior from the locals outside the event.

I think he also would run a huge financial rick to the profitability of the event.

We only tolerate the event because we have spent years limiting the worst of the behavior to epic park. The present format comes from a lot of trail and error. Western Sydney would have a whole different dynamic.

agreed, the only place it seems to get rowdy outside epic is in braddon when they cruze around at night after the events.

If he moved it, he runs the risk of the same problems Canberra had when it started up. Trying to remove the booze’n’tits will only lead to street riots and bad behavior from the locals outside the event.

I think he also would run a huge financial rick to the profitability of the event.

We only tolerate the event because we have spent years limiting the worst of the behavior to epic park. The present format comes from a lot of trail and error. Western Sydney would have a whole different dynamic.

Amazing where a little bit of good old fashioned investigative journalism can take you.
Kudos to CT.

Lies, lies, lies – there must be thousands of places that would love to have Summernats???

Please don’t tell me we can’t get rid of the bloody thing!

I’ve noticed Megan Doherty doing a bit of useful journalism when I’ve eyed a borrowed copy of the CT. Good on her. So much for Chic’s claims of all these venues lining up to beg him to re-locate… an egg-on-face situation. But she did find a venue that had been approached by chic! Looks like he’s the one doing the lining up and begging.

Looks like Canberra is the odd one out, still accepting the booze’n’tits nature of summerants when even a Syndey dragway won’t tolerate it.

I most certainly would believe that there are quite a few places that would love to have summernats. But they would want it as a car festival, not as a booze and skin fest.

But I doubt Chic wants to get rid of the booze and skin, because that’s how he makes his money.