Spring nats 2015 (low res)

SNFEATURE

SHEPPARTON NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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NOVEMBER 2015

Mean machines and burnouts aplenty

Competitors will burn plenty of rubber at the 23rd Annual SpringNats burnout competition this weekend. Pictures: Holly Curtis Below: Cars of all shapes and sizes will be on show tomorrow during The Aussie Supercruise and display on Fryers and Maude Sts.

There are plenty of new additions to be excited about at this year’s 23rd Annual SpringNats.

A $1.5 million upgrade to the Shepparton Showgrounds earlier this year has improved the location in time for the weekend-long event.

Event operations manager Les Adams said the event originally moved to the showgrounds in 2009 anticipating the upgrades to happen sooner, but he didn’t mind the delay.

“It has been worth the wait,” Mr Adams said.

“The showgrounds look more professional for the event.”

Mr Adams said competitor numbers were

up this year so he anticipated the fun would last longer into the night.

Two 30 m light poles included in the recent upgrades should help spectators enjoy the burnout competition once the sun has set.

In addition to the upgrade Mr Adams said a mystery car would be unveiled during the event.

Information surrounding the car is being kept quiet but Mr Adams said spectators should be excited.

The Aussie Hotel will be stepping up to support the largest car performance

festival in Australia for the first time this year with the traditional car parade renamed the Aussie Supercruise and display.

Cars will depart from the showgrounds and track the traditional route along Fryers and Maude Sts on Saturday, November 28 from 5 pm to 6.30 pm.

There will also be a static display.

Later that evening the SpringNats after party will kick off from 10 pm at the Aussie Hotel.

The Aussie is offering a 10 per cent discount on food and drinks for SpringNats entrants and ticketholders all weekend.

This is the first time The Aussie is supporting the festival since its new owners took over in 2013.

“Any local supporter is a good supporter,” Mr Adams said.

“We welcome the Aussie Hotel’s long-term support.”

Event competitions — Go to Whoa, Autokana, Show ’N’ Shine, Dyno Challenge and the Burnout title -return this year and are open to cars of all categories.

The 23rd Annual SpringNats will offically open at 1.20 pm on Saturday, November 28 at Shepparton Showgrounds.

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SHEPPARTON NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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NOVEMBER 2015

SPRINGNATS FACTS Where — Shepparton Showgrounds When — Friday, November 27 from 6 pm to 10 pm, Saturday, November 28 from 9 am to 10 pm, Sunday, November 28 from 9 am to 6.30 pm.

Admission prices: Friday, November 27 Adult $20, Family $40, Child $10

Sunday, November 29 Adult $35, Family $70, Child $15

Saturday, November 28 Adult $35, Family $70, Child $15

Weekend pass Adult $60, Family $120, Child $20

Note: Child = 10 to 14 years inclusive.

Family = Two adults and three children younger than 15.

Children 10 to 14 require ID. Children under 10 free with paying adult

PROGRAM

Shannons Insurance Scrutineering at the Shepparton Showgrounds Friday, November 27, at 2 pm to 6 pm Saturday, November 28, at 8 am to 2 pm Friday, November 27 Roman Autotek Night of Thunder — 6 pm to 10 pm Jack Daniels Spear a Spud — 6 pm to 7.30 pm Jack Bar open — 6.30 pm to 10 pm SpringNats Burnout Expression Session — 7.35 pm to 10 pm Saturday, November 28 Shannons Insurance Show ‘n’ Shine — 9 am to 5 pm MPW Performance Dyno Shootout — 9 am to 5 pm Autotek Autokana — 9.30 am to 11 am DB Drag Racing — 10 am to 4 pm Jack Daniels Spear a Spud — 11.10 am to 12.30 pm Kings Auto Upholstery/ Mother Car Products unveiling — 12.30 pm to 1.15 pm Official opening of 23rd Shepparton SpringNats — 1.20 pm KFC Go to Whoa — 1.40 pm to 3.40 pm

Aussie Hotel Supercruise and display — 5 pm to 6.30 pm Jack Bar open — 6.30 pm to 10 pm SpringNats Burnout eliminations — 7.15 pm to 10 pm 23rd SpringNats after party at the Aussie Hotel — 10 pm to late Note: Top 50 cars from Saturday’s Go to Whoa will be posted at main office at 9.30 am Sunday. All entrants in Go to Whoa should check these results.

Sunday, November 29 Shannons Insurance Show ‘n’ Shine — 9 am to 5 pm MPW Performance Dyno Shootout — 10 am to 5 pm Shepparton Autobarn Corkscrew — 9.30 am to 10.10 am Jack Daniels Spear a Spud — 10.15 am to 11.15 am Autotek Autokana — 11.20 am to 12.30 pm KFC Go to Whoa Top 50 Shootout — 12.30 pm to 2 pm SpringNats burnout finals — 2.30 pm to 5 pm 23rd Shepparton SpringNats trophy presentations — 5.45 pm 23rd Shepparton SpringNats 2015 close — 6.30 pm

Times may change without notice. Go to autofest.com.au/spring-nats for more information.

Keeping spectators refuelled and happy Angelo and Franca Grasso have been supporting Shepparton SpringNats for a long time.

The pair, along with about 20 other volunteers, gathers on the last weekend in November to cater for the event.

For the past 18 years the group has cooked countless hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken schnitzels for ticketholders.

Mr Grasso said they could never predict how much food they would need to cover the weekend.

“Every year is different, the size of the

crowd changes,” he said.

Where the spectators gather, a large marquee is set up ready to fill thousands of stomachs with locally sourced goods.

“We use Conti’s dairy, local produce and PFD food services,” Mr Grasso said.

Other volunteer groups that will help

during the SpringNats weekend include Shepparton Youth Club United Cricket Club which will man the bar and control traffic, and First Kialla Scout group which will assist in the clean-up.

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SHEPPARTON NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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NOVEMBER 2015

From competitor to judge

Luke Robinson competing at Skids 4 Kids in 2013 where he placed eighth.

Nathalia’s Luke Robinson has enjoyed the transition from burnout competitor to judge at the Shepparton SpringNats.

The Cobram-based electrician grew up around cars because his dad and grandfather were mechanics.

enjoyed it so I asked to help this year again,” he said.

“I’ve been going to the SpringNats since I was 10 or a bit older,” Mr Robinson, 27, said.

Mr Robinson said there were certain criteria judges looked for during the burnout competition, but the most important part to him was driver control.

Picture: RenSmart Photography

“I love watching and being a part of it.”

Mr Robinson first entered his vehicle into the SpringNats festival in different events seven years ago.

He originally entered to show-off his vehicle after spending so much money on it.

“It made it all worthwhile, it took years to build,” he said.

Mr Robinson stepped out of the car last year to become a judge after event operations manager Les Adams approached him.

“Les asked me to help out, I really

He decided not to compete this year after perfecting the exterior of his 1995 VS SS Commodore for photos.

“My car was just in a magazine shoot so I don’t want to ruin the paint,” he said.

“I’m in the process of building another burnout car at the moment so I thought I better look after the one I have.”

While he’s focused on watching the burnout competition Mr Robinson’s car will be on display in the Shannons Show ‘n’ Shine.

Luke Robinson with the car he has entered into the Shannons Show ‘n’ Shine.

»

Girl power in burnout comp Five years ago Shepparton’s Tess Mcleod would not have imagined herself as an entrant in the SpringNats burnout competition.

She thought it would cost too much time, money and effort.

However, this year the 24-year-old is getting behind the wheel of her 1993 V6 VP Commodore at her first SpringNats event.

Miss Mcleod said her car was purchased to use in similar smaller events and was broken in during a few stints at the Heathcote burnout pad.

She has attended the SpringNats autofest for the past five years, even taking annual leave to ensure she can attend the entire three-day festival.

Miss Mcleod said she only realised her desire to compete in burnout

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competitions after leaving last year’s SpringNats, and so this year’s event will be her first major competition.

While many would consider the event to be a male-dominated competition, Miss Mcleod said she was looking forward to it and encouraged other women to pursue the hobby.

“Any woman considering it should do it.”

Despite her car lacking the hotted-up flair of most entrants, Miss Mcleod said she was competing for enjoyment.

She said she had always been a car lover and was “just taking it to the next step”, and planned to continue entering competitions.

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44 SNFEATURE

SHEPPARTON NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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NOVEMBER 2015

Ready for a comeback Andrew McNair is taking a shot at redemption in this year’s SpringNats burnout competition.

The 23-year-old blew his gear box at last year’s competition, which caused the car he was driving to stop running.

“Everyone saw it,” he said.

But it didn’t stop him from re-entering this year.

Mr McNair has visited the Heathcote

Shepparton’s Andrew McNair will compete in the burnout competition in his 1983 Holden Gemini.

learning to play with cars from his dad.

This will be his third year competing in the SpringNats burnout competition, and the second time in this car.

Mr McNair has been interested in cars since he was young and made the decision to enter the burnout competition for the first time in 2012.

“I just entered to have fun,” Mr McNair said.

burnout pad in preparation for this weekend’s event and is hoping to place.

He will drive a 1983 Holden Gemini with a 5.7 LS1 engine and a two-speed powerguide gear box.

The car was bought second-hand and Mr McNair spent two years working on it after

Despite the hefty costs attributed to the hobby, Mr McNair said he just wanted to burn some rubber.

While he doesn’t have confirmed plans to compete in any other AutoFest events, Mr McNair said he was considering going to Mt Gambier’s performance car festival in January.

Rare Chevrolet Vegas on show Reg Phillips’ two rare American 1976 Chevrolet Vegas will be on display this weekend.

The small engine mechanic spent two years working on the first vehicle, completely customising it for drag racing.

The 52-year-old’s second vehicle is one of 3508 limited version releases of the Chevrolet Cosworth Vega manufactured in 1975 and ’76.

Mr Phillips bought it for $20 000 and said the car was generally hard to find.

“I’m in the American Cosworth Club and they can’t believe there’s one here in Australia,” he said.

“I was in the right place at the right time.”

Displaying his cars gives Mr Phillips a sense of pride and he enjoys others taking an interest in them.

“People look at them and they say ‘wow’,” he said.

“I get a lot of people saying they’ve never seen anything like them before.”

While Mr Phillips said that spending time doing the cars up was “good fun”, his real passion was drag racing.

“I get a thrill out of it, I can’t get enough,” he said.

“I usually take my car to the Heathcote Park Raceway.”

Despite its lack of drag racing events, which Mr Phillips said he would enter if one ran, he enjoys attending the SpringNats and said he would tryAto A make it to all three days.

Mr Phillips’ cars will be entered in the Aussie Supercruise and display along Fryers and Maude Sts and in the Shannons Show ‘n’ Shine at the showgrounds.

No Parking Road Closed – No Parking

No Parking Road Closed – No Parking

Reg Phillips has entered both his 1976 Chevrolet Vegas into the Shannons Show ‘n’ Shine event.

Spring Nats Information A

St

ing Pa rk

Rowe St Dudley St

St Georges Rd

Benalla

Safeway

Corio St

Vaughan St

South side of Fryers St extension closed Archer St

Skene St

Ra ilw ay Pd e

North St

Corio St

Maude St

Shepparton Showgrounds

High St

Rowe St

Ashenden St

A

No Parking Road Closed – No Parking

Karibok Park

Road

Benalla

A

Parking

Ashenden St

Chris Teitzel, Acting CEO

NO STOPPING ANY TIME TOW AWAY ZONE Friday 28 November 9 pm – 6 am Saturday 29 November 9 pm – 6 am Sunday 30 November 9 pm – 6 am No U turn Traffic Barriers Road Closed Street Cruise – Temporary road closure

Vaughan St Pu rce ll S t

A

High St

Th om pso n

Wyndham St

Midland Hwy

This area will be closed to trafficAbetween 4.30 pm – approx. 7 pm. Vehicles will return to the Showgrounds again under rolling road closure until 7 pm approx.

A

Fryers St

Stewart St

Maude St

Thompson Street – Williams Road to High Street Both lanes of Thompson St will be closed to traffic from 9 am Friday, 27 November to 8 pm Sunday, 29 November.

Vehicles will hold a static display in this location and roads affected are as follows: • Fryers Street between Maude Street and GV Water • Maude Street between Edward and Fryers Street

Map Key Fryers St

Wyndham St

Archer Street The left-hand turning lane into Williams Rd will be closed from 9 am Friday 27 November to 8 pm Sunday 29 November.

A

Hwy

Williams Road – Thompson Street to Archer Street The Southern side of the Williams Rd will be closed to traffic from 9 am Friday 27, November until 8 pm Sunday, 29 November.

There will be no parking on either side of Williams Rd.

Welsford St

WILLIAMS ROAD

STREET CRUISE PARADE

Street Cruise Parade on Saturday, 28 November departing from the Showgrounds at 4 .30pm. Full a opn rolling road closure along StStreet until parade oro Fryers ers Mo Fry reaches the corner of Maude Street (approx. 30 min).

Welsford St

Shepparton

Numurkah

Greater Shepparton Greater Future A

A

Variable Message Board

Greater Shepparton City Council