Cars We’re Keen To See At Red CentreNATS 09

Red CentreNATS 09 is fast approaching and a stack of hot metal is making the trek out to the heart of the country for another go at the Ultimate Festival of Wheels. 

The program is set and ready for three days of action, with burnouts, heavy hitter drag racing, power-skid sessions, a massive street parade and plenty more. We thought we’d have a quick look at some of the machinery coming out to the event that we can’t wait to see rip it up in the Red Centre. 

Mick Hinchy - CL1KB8

Hinchy is making his Red CentreNATS debut in his blown and injected 1000hp Holden Commodore wagon, ready to take on the burnout pad at ASID. Mick’s making the journey down to the event after a weekend at Gazzanats in Darwin, so we’re sure he’ll be out smashing tyres and having a blast at Alice Springs Inland Dragway. 

Brent Murray - 1968 Dodge Dart

Red CentreNATS 05 Champion Brent Murray is making a return to the event with the gorgeous 1968 Dodge Dart that he snagged the top gong award and a Summernats Top 20 finish in. With a 440 big-block Chrysler motor built by CNC Motorsports in South Dakota with an 8/71 Dyer’s blower on top, this ’68 looks as good as it goes. We’re sure we’ll see it cutting laps around town, out on the track at ASID and maybe even in the running for the Red CentreNATS champ once again. 

Ray Baney - 1964 Ford Fairlane

NT local Ray Baney’s Fairlane was built as a retro-racer resembling the Ford 'Thunderbolt' Fairlanes raced in the USA during 1964-1965. It’s powered by a Ford 'FE' 427 'side oiler' big block motor bored and stroked to 489ci. Ray and a few mates built everything on the car at home, and it’s ready and raring to go at RCN09. We saw it last year racing at ASID, and turned a best time of 10.26ET at 132 MPH. 

Paul Tinning - 1965 Ford XP Falcon

Paul Tinning set the scene alight after debuting his twin-turbo V10 Ford XP Falcon at Meguiar’s MotorEx in 2022, and now it’s making its way back out to the Red Centre. Paul missed out on claiming the Red CentreNATS Champ award last year, but we spoke with Owen Webb who said Paul has got the thing running right and he’ll be a hot contender this time round. 

Mark Levinge - 1967 Valiant VC

Mark is hauling is gorgeous ’67 Val out to Red CentreNATS 09 from Queensland’s Fraser Coast, and we reckon it’s a pretty stout streeter. It’s won a bunch of accolades, including a Top 20 Street at Rockynats and it’s not hard to see why. It’s built to a better-than-factory finish, including a mega custom interior, killer engine bay and some gorgeous 15 inch wide Weld Dragline wheels up the back. We’re pumped to see it out at RCN09 in just over a week.

Leyton Nauta - 1983 Holden VH

Leyton’s VH has made its way on the entry list, and while he hasn’t done us any favours with the details in his application to the event, his entry photo paints a pretty clear picture. When asked for the special features of the car in the application, all we are left with is ‘427 cube twin turbo’ - which is plenty for us to get excited. We reckon this is going to be one tasty Holden and we’re definitely going to find Leyton for a chat.