The oppressive heatwave that had gripped Canberra for days finally relented on Saturday afternoon, allowing a welcome cool breeze to drift through Exhibition Park just in time for the peak of the high-octane Summernats festival.
The Witching Hour and Weekend Drama
Saturday afternoon at Summernats has historically been the event's most volatile period, where days of sun, heat, and alcohol have sometimes boiled over into unrest. While the break in the weather brought relief, Summernats 38 was not without incident. Authorities responded to an alleged brawl in the grandstands, resulting in several individuals being ejected from the event and having their accreditations revoked. ACT Policing confirmed investigations were ongoing.
Despite this, the festival's heart continued to beat loudly. Crowds of predominantly male spectators, dressed for the conditions in straw hats, shorts, and thongs, lined the barricades of Tuff Street and the cruise route. They cheered and jeered drivers piloting an incredible array of custom vehicles, from roaring Australian V8s to modified Japanese imports, all under the distinctive sweet-and-acrid scent of burnt rubber and exhaust.
Crowning a Champion and Planning a Trans-Tasman Future
As evening fell, the focus shifted to the main arena where the festival's top honour was awarded a day ahead of schedule. The 2026 Summernats Grand Champion title was claimed by Adam Bickerstaff and his stunning 1956 Ford F100, a classic American pick-up transformed with modern high-performance engineering by Viking Hotrods in Bomaderry.
In a major announcement for the festival's future, organisers revealed that the iconic Canberra-born event will be recreated in New Zealand in 2027, marking a significant expansion for the brand.
The Soul of Summernats on Display
The earlier Super Cruise perfectly encapsulated the festival's magnetic appeal. A procession of muscle cars, custom trucks, and even a thunderous Mazda 121 paraded past adoring fans. For many, these machines are far more than transport; they are deeply personal expressions of creativity, passion, and a defiant 'why not?' attitude.
This spirit was embodied by the tyre-blackened survivors of the burnout competition, wandering as folk heroes, and by the kids straining at fences for a high-five from a passing driver. By nightfall, while one crowd gathered in Braddon's Lonsdale Street, the hardcore enthusiasts remained where they wanted to be most: immersed in the noise, the madness, and the pure, unadulterated celebration of automotive culture that only Summernats provides.
