SUMMERNATS
by Dave Roberts
Bunches of loud people driving
loud works of art, and pushing them hard. Once a
year Canberra hosts an event that more than one
person imagines is the only valid reason for keeping
it open, but it's a long way from Western Australia.
| There are car enthusiasts who
really want the same dynamics for the West,
and they've found the perfect venue in the south
west.
Motoring South West have become hosts for
the West Coast Nationals, an opportunity for
the street car set to really show their stuff,
and share it with those of us who are not
as
|
|
 |
| committed to the sport, but still
love to see what the real enthusiasts turn out. |
The event will have pretty much everything
going on that you'd expect from a show in any of
the capital city. There's a Show and Shine, a Dyno
Shootout, Burnouts, and a parade through nearby
Collie. Not every car show gets sheep shearing thrown
in, but there are demo's of that too.
All sorts of non car things happen
as well. The clubs and trades will have displays,
there is a concert, fashion parade, and coal shovelling.
Unlike the same shows that happen
in bigger cities, there is camping available on
site, and the chance to soak up the atmosphere for
the weekend while staying right amongst it. This
is a family show, and the plan is to have just a
tiny spot set aside for the one or two of you who
want to get rowdy, allowing for the rest of the
quiet people to enjoy the cars and get a moment's
shut eye.
The Collie Motorplex is continuing
it's progress toward being the state's premier multipurpose
regional motorsport venue. What's been achieved
on what was a coal mine a few short years ago is
quite remarkable, and it's getting to the point
where a quick walk around demonstrates the direction
that the complex is travelling in. It's not hard
to imagine some very big names and some very quick
vehicles going round out there.
Already the complex boasts a CAMS
licensed 1.65 km sprint circuit, an ANDRA licensed
eighth mile dragstrip, Australia's biggest ANDRA
licensed burnout pad, off road skills course, and
driver training centre. There have been a couple
of major product days put together by car companies,
component manufacturers are doing advanced testing,
and regular high level driver training is undertaken.
No one at South West Life has ever
tried to shake the cops anyway, but if you know
someone who gave it a try and couldn't, chances
are that the guy in the uniform has done some training
at Collie.
Easter 2003, (that's April 19, 20,
&21) will be a chance to see the whole place
and be at the start of the West Coast Nationals.
It's going to be the start of something special,
and you know that you can't go back and do the first
time again. Have you thought about putting your
car into something? Do you long to shred a set of
tyres? Have you got a serious stereo? There's got
to be some time to pose off a bit, and this could
be it.
Further information about the West
Coast Nationals can be found at www.motoringsouthwest.org.au.
March 2003
