Rare Spares Rockynats 03 Post Event Wrap-Up

Words: Rach Durbz

That’s a wrap for Rare Spares Rockynats for another year and what an epic show it was - the biggest one yet. Rockhampton is quickly becoming a top car festival destination with the third ever show a massive hit for everyone that come along for the Easter long weekend.

The entire city of Rockhampton turned in to a hive of fun and entertainment on both sides of the river - people were spread throughout the CBD and it’s always amazing to see so many families out enjoying every part the show.

Kicking off with two days of scrutineering and pre-judging there were some cool cars of all makes and models rolling through with everyone especially excited to cruise in the Friday Canna Street Parade.

Straight from the Canna Street Parade on Friday were seven ready and waiting unveils for the Rev’s Paint Supplies Unveil with six car builds and one insane bike - read more about that here. It was like a boxing day sale when the doors opened, giving people time to take in the amazing displays before the covers dropped on the unveils - and believe us they did not disappoint the massive crowd.

After the unveils the Autobarn Showgrounds kept providing the goods through till dark with live band Piston Fist, a great bar area and food vendors loaded with lots of yummy things to eat. Finishing the night off was an awesome fireworks display.

The Finch’s Mitre 10 Show ’n’ Shine kicked off on Saturday morning. There were cars lined up all the way down the iconic Quay Street and East Street - it has the most stunning back drop of river views and old heritage buildings, the best you’ll ever see for a car display.

Surrounding the amazing show and shine at one end is the Drift World Exhibition and the other the Garrett Motion Street Drags, not to mention the SWL 4x4 Zone which also featured many awesome off road machines. Just over the river the boat ramp was taken over yet again by Buddy’s Fire Burnout Precinct, sending smoke signals to everyone on the other side of the river.

The night still young everyone headed back to the Autobarn Showgrounds to see the Zac Cross Band with some more Piston Fist followed by main act Dragon for the ‘April Sun In Rocky Show’. The crowd showed up in fine form with singing and dancing and nothing but smiles from ear to ear.

When you thought how can this show get any better for an Easter Sunday, the day kicked off with our Road To Rocky Champion competition. Leaving from the showgrounds was a tough formation of our elite show cars all competing against each other in a three-part challenge. Driving through the CBD to the street drags for two passes then two rounds of a motorkhana at the burnout pad across the river before heading back to the showgrounds to throw these beautiful street machines around in the Burson’s Grass Driving event.

All this happening whilst there was still the Finch’s Mitre 10 Show ’n’ Shine, Chaos FMX Show, Hot Wheel Stunt Show with Matt Mingay, Rev’s Paint Supplies Elite Show, pro wrestling, carnival rides, mullet and tattoo comps and so much more.

Finishing the show on a great high with all the well deserving winners from drags, burnouts and show n shine receiving their trophies at the Full Throttle Awards ceremony, with the highest achievement going To Billy Shelton’s ‘SICKEST’ Holden VL Commodore for a second year in a row, taking out Rockynats 03 Champion.

If this is just the third show can you imagine how good it'll be in the years to come!

Rockhampton, you really do rock!