The 38th annual Summernats car festival concluded in Canberra, attracting an estimated 130,000 attendees and a record 3,000 vehicle entrants to Exhibition Park. The four-day event, held from Thursday to Sunday, featured a range of car demonstrations and competitions, alongside an increased law enforcement presence that resulted in multiple vehicle seizures, arrests, and traffic infringements. Organizers announced plans for international expansion while also addressing measures taken for high temperatures and maintaining public safety.
Event Overview and Economic Impact
Summernats 38 took place at Exhibition Park in Canberra, drawing attendees from interstate and international locations, with approximately 80% traveling from outside the Australian Capital Territory. The festival reached its full capacity of 130,000 spectators and featured the largest number of vehicle entrants in its history, totaling 3,000.
The event is recognized as a significant economic contributor to the ACT, generating tens of millions of dollars annually for sectors including hospitality, hotels, and retail. Organizers stated the festival is designed to be a family-friendly event.
Festival Activities
The festival commenced with its traditional City Cruise along Northbourne Avenue before transitioning to Exhibition Park. The program included a diverse array of activities and competitions:
- Burnout competitions, including the Pro Burnout Series
- Cruising events and elite show car displays
- Drifting and Skid Row
- Live music performances by acts such as Killing Heidi, The Living End, Screaming Jets, and Peking Duk
- The Mulletfest competition
- A Grand Champion announcement
- Air show and motor cross events
Adam Bickerstaff was awarded Summernats Grand Champion for his 1956 Ford F-100, and Chris Orchard won the Pro Burnout Series with a $50,000 prize. Migelly Shaw was named the Adult Grand Champion in the MulletFest competition, which was moved indoors due to weather conditions.
Weather Conditions and Safety Measures
The event occurred amidst a heatwave in Canberra, with temperatures forecast and reaching into the high 30s. Windy conditions were also reported, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled fireworks display due to a total fire ban.
To address the weather, organizers implemented several safety measures, including:
- Increased availability of free water
- Distribution of sunscreen by staff
- Provision of 50,000 Zooper Doopers or frozen treats
- Installation of additional shade structures
- On-site medical and first aid teams
Three new pedestrian overpasses were installed within the festival grounds to facilitate attendee movement.
Law Enforcement Operations and Incidents
The festival involved a joint policing effort from ACT Policing, the Australian Federal Police, and NSW Police, marking it as ACT Policing's largest event in terms of operational footprint and personnel. Authorities announced an increased police presence on ACT and NSW roads, as well as around Exhibition Park, Braddon, and other areas of the Territory, both leading up to and throughout the event. ACT Government vehicle inspectors were also present at the Exhibition Park entrance.
Prior to and during the initial days of the festival, law enforcement seized four vehicles allegedly involved in illegal driving activities. This compares to five vehicle seizures during the entirety of the previous year's event.
One specific incident involved the seizure of a yellow 1991 Holden Commodore sedan. On Tuesday, January 6, at approximately 7:40 pm, officers stopped the vehicle on the Barton Highway. Investigations, utilizing social media and CCTV footage, linked the vehicle to reported burnout activity on the Barton Highway in Nicholls at approximately 11:10 pm on Monday, January 5. Police observed the vehicle's left-rear tire tread to be completely worn, with melted rubber visible. Checks also revealed the vehicle bore Victorian club registration plates that had expired in December and that the vehicle had been unregistered and uninsured since 2022. The vehicle was seized, and investigations are ongoing to identify the driver, with anticipated charges for driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, and operating an unsafely maintained vehicle.
By the conclusion of the four-day festival, police actions included:
- Vehicle Seizures: A total of 19 vehicles were seized, representing a 280 percent increase from the five vehicles seized during the previous year's event. Penalties for burnout offenses include vehicle impoundment for up to 90 days, fines, storage fees exceeding $2,000, and potential vehicle forfeiture for repeat offenders.
- Evictions: 25 spectators were evicted, primarily for intoxicated behavior.
- Arrests: Multiple arrests were made for illegal driving and, in one instance, possession of an offensive weapon.
- Traffic Enforcement: Over 200 traffic infringement notices and 100 defect notices for unsafe vehicles were issued.
- Testing: More than 2,000 random breath and drug tests were conducted.
- Charges: 14 charges for drug driving and eight charges for driving over the legal alcohol limit were laid.
- Specific Incidents: An altercation occurred in the Burnout Stand on Saturday, resulting in several ejections and an ongoing investigation by ACT Policing.
Detective Inspector Mark Steel, Officer-In-Charge of Road Policing for ACT Policing, stated the police maintained a focus on dangerous driving and would continue proactive targeting using social media and CCTV. He expressed disappointment regarding the number of drivers performing burnouts outside the festival grounds. ACT Policing adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding hoon driving and antisocial behavior. Inspector Will Collins of NSW Police Traffic and Highway confirmed the deployment of additional NSW Police on arterial roads leading to Canberra and stated that police would act if community safety was compromised by road behavior, focusing on a minority engaging in high-risk driving behaviors such as street racing, burnouts, or impaired driving. NSW Police officers holding special constable status were able to conduct operations across the ACT-NSW border.
A local resident, Andrew Gould, reported witnessing burnouts outside his home, describing the experience as being "covered in smoke," and characterized dangerous driving in residential areas as antisocial. The public was encouraged to submit dangerous driving reports online, particularly if dash-cam footage was available and they were willing to provide witness testimony.
Future Plans
Summernats managing director Andy Lopez announced plans for the festival's international expansion. This includes a debut event in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 2027, and an event scheduled for the USA in March.