SUMMERNATS company goes into Liquidation

ratman · 04-06-2009, 11:40 AM

I knew something was up when Chic had is 'Garage sale' a few weeks ago.

Story doing the rounds in Canberra last night :

Liquidation puts Summernats in jeopardy

Wed Jun 3, 2009 5:23pm AEST

The future of Summernats remains up in the air.

The company behind Summernats has gone into voluntary liquidation, placing a question mark over the future of the event.
Summernats promoter Chic Henry put Street Machine Services ACT into voluntary liquidation on Monday.
Exhibition Park says the company owes it $203,000.
The liquidator says he will review the company's assets before announcing how much money can be recovered.
Mr Henry still owns the Summernats name and brand, and he says he is still confident he can find a buyer who will keep the event in Canberra.
ACT Tourism Industry Council spokesman Joseph Griffiths says losing Summernats would be a blow.
"If it were to disappear, we would feel that economically," he said.
Tickets for Summernats 2010 are on sale now.

XD427 · 04-06-2009, 11:54 AM

Thats dissapointing that it might go under, but to be honest I went 2-3years ago loved the city and had a great time but there was way too many cockheads there which ditract from the event and personally wouldnt attend the event again definately wouldnt take my car. Felt Motorvation and Powercruise here in the West was just as good if not better in some areas.

Quasi · 04-06-2009, 11:54 AM

After 20 years as an official I still have inside sources, and was told last week that Chic has sold the event, being now contracted to run it for the new owners. I'm told his deal is for two years, but beyond that is unknown.

Fev · 04-06-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasi

After 20 years as an official I still have inside sources, and was told last week that Chic has sold the event, being now contracted to run it for the new owners. I'm told his deal is for two years, but beyond that is unknown.

Thats good news, lets just hope he can bring the summernats name back out of the mud though

ratman · 04-06-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasi

After 20 years as an official I still have inside sources, and was told last week that Chic has sold the event, being now contracted to run it for the new owners. I'm told his deal is for two years, but beyond that is unknown.

Yeh, I've heard similar also, lets hope it still happens and they can revise all that needs mending. Interesting side note is I spoke to a few stall holders who had already reserved and paid for exhibitor space in there for the next show - none of them have been informed of these events or been reimbursed.

Interesting times ahead.

**Sorted** · 04-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasi

After 20 years as an official I still have inside sources, and was told last week that Chic has sold the event, being now contracted to run it for the new owners. I'm told his deal is for two years, but beyond that is unknown.

Guess its time to go to Summernats again then since Chic wont be getting the money

Interceptor · 04-06-2009, 02:52 PM

how the **** can anyone balls up an event like that?

fos408 · 04-06-2009, 06:01 PM

get rid of the alcohol and a lot more would as well

DECIM8 · 04-06-2009, 08:16 PM

Sad to see...top event for enthusiasts :(

motorcycles4eva · 04-06-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fos408

get rid of the alcohol and a lot more would as well

i agree mate.. when i went it was good but too many drunken fools.. made me think twice about taking my car.. i wouldn't take my miss's there either as she is a rev head too... but if the new owners didn't allow grog i hope it would be a better vibe..

HP-0351 · 05-06-2009, 01:54 PM

i just received this press release...

Latest News from Summernats – IT’S ON!!!
The 23rd Street Machine Summernats, proudly supported by Rare Spares, is definitely ON at Exhibition Park in Canberra from 7 – 10 January 2010.
Entry forms are now available and so are Gold, Silver and Bronze passes, although Gold passes sell out quickly. Entries are now flooding in.
The best source for information is via the website – www.summernats.com.au
Prices, information on camping, changes to rules, program changes and highlights, etc are all available there.
At this stage, the program is essentially the same as before but, there are changes here and there, the biggest being the re-location of Registration and Scrutineering to the buildings originally use to house the Horsepower Heroes competition. It’ll be a much more efficient location, but it does mean a re-location of the Dyno Cell to the building originally used as the VB V8 bar.
For Summernats 23, there is NO Horsepower Heroes competition, but there is a Dyno Clinic where any Entrant can get on the rollers to test their car’s horsepower. Technicians will be on hand to discuss the printout with you and even give some advice. Highlights will be demos by some serious heavy hitters.
At the time of writing, discussions were being had as to some very special highlights, but one thing that can be revealed is that the Summernats 23 there will be some fantastic cars being finished for the Great Meguiars Uncover on Friday night. I know Troy Trepannier went back to the USA keen to build a burnout car for the Summernats – wouldn’t that be cool. And the fireworks on Saturday will be better than ever before.
As thing develop, highlights will be posted on the Summernats website.
Stay Tuned.....Chic

Fev · 05-06-2009, 02:16 PM

No horsepower heroes? Why not? thats a large attraction

TZENU · 05-06-2009, 02:27 PM

Whilst i do agree that something needs to be done about alcohol, eliminating it won't happen especially with major sponsers JD and VB still around... Limiting alcohol to certain times e.g. 9pm onwards may curb the "yobboish" nature...

Having said that i will be entering next year and can't wait!!!

HP-0351 · 05-06-2009, 04:12 PM

no horsepower heroes as there isn't a sponsor...

less alcohol would be good but as TZENU pointed out they are big sponsors...

let's see how it unfolds...

CPOCSM · 05-06-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TZENU

Whilst i do agree that something needs to be done about alcohol, eliminating it won't happen especially with major sponsers JD and VB still around... Limiting alcohol to certain times e.g. 9pm onwards may curb the "yobboish" nature...

Having said that i will be entering next year and can't wait!!!

Concur - the time should be 6pm as this would allow the yobs to have their fun with most of the kiddies gone. I took the stepdaughters to the event (13, 15 and 16)and I was on the defensive as soon as I walked through the gate. The fellow I was with was getting pretty ****ed at the lack of respect and the lout factor. In the end I left with them - 2 of them in tears - and 3 people evicted for trying to touch the girls, one of which got a hefty kick in the balls from the eldest stepdaughter for trying to grab her boobs. That was a major p i s s off for me and the constabulary had nothing to say apart from"It happens...".

Yobs will always ruin the event and the experience hence why I wont be going back until they fix the issues up like dealing with the idiots and people getting their pride and joys scratched/damaged/vandalised.

I went to the first event when it was the Van Nationals - totally different experience and the Summernats seemed to lose its lustre at about the 10 year mark for me...hence I stopped going until this year...pity nothing has changed.

It would be sad to lose the event though and brings a heap of money into the ACT...I hope they do get it on its feet again.

schnoods · 05-06-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HP-0351

no horsepower heroes as there isn't a sponsor...

less alcohol would be good but as TZENU pointed out they are big sponsors...

let's see how it unfolds...

Who was the last one to sponsor it? GenTech? CAPA?

Surely one or a few of the larger performance mobs would like to jump on board, if not a magazine or parts distributor. Dont wanna see it beeing a smoke and show only...

JAZSXY · 05-06-2009, 06:27 PM

When I went for Summernats 21, the vibe I left with was of digust. Mainly on the Saturday night.

1. One poor girl harrassed by a mob of over one hundred drunk blokes demanding she gets her tits on show.
2. People pouring beer on other peoples cars when they refused to do a burn out on the cruise track.
3. Drunken people basically running amok and showing no respect for anyone else's possessions or property.

It wasnt something I was keen to pay over $100 for again.

**DJM83** · 05-06-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

No horsepower heroes? Why not? thats a large attraction

I agree if i would be able to attend again, if there were no horsepower heroes i wouldnt attend.

FPV+fteT3 · 05-06-2009, 08:56 PM

I am a regular at Bathurst it used to be camping on the hill was drunk,drugs at night soak a toilet roll in petrol and start a game of soccer, rockets (crackers) fired into the crowd burning cars etc.... to get to the top of the hill you had to pull a burnout up the tar rise or you couldn't get past, now with alcohol restrictions, car searches and police presence it has become more family friendly yes it is toned down but safer and IMO better maybe nats needs to look at this route not totally dry but controlled and if you step too far over the line you are excluded. Only takes a few knuckle heads to spoil it for the majority not only that but it gives all enthousiasts a hoon tag.

SVR73 · 06-06-2009, 05:00 PM

in 2008 we took our ex V8 supercar transporter loaded with four burnout cars and stayed with the BURNOUT MASTER crew of Danny smith (SOLID) and his mates and were there for an entire week and whilst we had a great time, we were lucky enough to be able to duck into the transporter and watch TV or have a snooze when the yobo's started to run havoc

the way women are treated during summernats is IMHO absolutely disgusting
Okay sure some relish it and reveal all but that aint my cup of tea
yes it was an eye opener and quite a good event but I won't be going again for some time.

society is slowly going the way of the yobo's and it's pretty sad

iCat · 06-06-2009, 05:24 PM

i have never been to the nats, but was considering going next year for a day, just to spectate. cheap airfare from melb to canberra and back, fun day trip.

i have heard a lot of negatives relating to females going to the event - am i best to save my money for something else?

Scott · 06-06-2009, 06:11 PM

We've had enough Nats Bashing in the last few threads for most people to vent their guts, surely with the news that it is deifinitely on we can hear some more positive stories about the nats?

MR.BA.GT.332 · 06-06-2009, 06:55 PM

IMO, with the nats ya gotta take the good with the bad... unfortunatly the BAD seems to get more of a mention.
Yeh the D*@KHEAD factor is an issue and a big one at that, but in summernats defence, the GOOD i see is the quality of cars that attend, especially cars that get into the top 60.

Unfortunatly summernats has had its fair share of stuff ups over the years compared to other events, which seems to be why summernats is picked on more than most and half the time it only has itself to blame... grog being one issue to point a finger at... if i was to go on about the BAD, id quickly run out of fingers and toes, and could count the GOOD on only one hand

just my 2c

4Vman · 06-06-2009, 06:59 PM

Do people think you would get allot more, better quality cars if it was a cleaner more family friendly event?

The fact the "event" went broke (not sure how that works?) speaks volumes in itself....

MR.BA.GT.332 · 06-06-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Do people think you would get allot more, better quality cars if it was a cleaner more family friendly event?

definatly...

schnoods · 06-06-2009, 07:08 PM

Yes.

Maybe not so much in the elite hall side of things, but tougher street/strip and also show cars will be there in numbers, just look at powercruise..

Not everyone wants to have to do a burnout within 2-3 feet of drunk yobbos, especially in their pride and joy within reach of them and the potential to have a massive accident or worse.

Walt Kowalski · 06-06-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Do people think you would get allot more, better quality cars if it was a cleaner more family friendly event?

For sure 4V.

And more spectators? Definitely.

Why would anyone with a brain want to visit a venue over run with morons running amok?

It might seem like fun at the time but it always affects the longer term viability of events.

buickman · 07-06-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HP-0351

i just received this press release...

Latest News from Summernats – IT’S ON!!!
The 23rd Street Machine Summernats, proudly supported by Rare Spares, is definitely ON at Exhibition Park in Canberra from 7 – 10 January 2010.
Entry forms are now available and so are Gold, Silver and Bronze passes, although Gold passes sell out quickly. Entries are now flooding in.
The best source for information is via the website – www.summernats.com.au
Prices, information on camping, changes to rules, program changes and highlights, etc are all available there.
At this stage, the program is essentially the same as before but, there are changes here and there, the biggest being the re-location of Registration and Scrutineering to the buildings originally use to house the Horsepower Heroes competition. It’ll be a much more efficient location, but it does mean a re-location of the Dyno Cell to the building originally used as the VB V8 bar.
For Summernats 23, there is NO Horsepower Heroes competition, but there is a Dyno Clinic where any Entrant can get on the rollers to test their car’s horsepower. Technicians will be on hand to discuss the printout with you and even give some advice. Highlights will be demos by some serious heavy hitters.
At the time of writing, discussions were being had as to some very special highlights, but one thing that can be revealed is that the Summernats 23 there will be some fantastic cars being finished for the Great Meguiars Uncover on Friday night. I know Troy Trepannier went back to the USA keen to build a burnout car for the Summernats – wouldn’t that be cool. And the fireworks on Saturday will be better than ever before.
As thing develop, highlights will be posted on the Summernats website.
Stay Tuned.....Chic

But will Chic still be running the event by this emailed I received.

APOLOGIES FOR ANY CONFUSION, BETWEEN LETTER FROM CHIC HENRY AND YOUR
> TRADE SITE OFFER
> SUMMERNATS 23 DATES
>
> 7TH - 10TH JANUARY 2010
>
> SUNDAY IS BACK ON
> TRADING DAYS WILL BE THE SAME
> AS PREVIOUS EVENTS
>
> Regards
>
> Sheena Lambie
>
> Sheena Lambie
> Exhibitions Manager
> Summernats Car Festival
> Street Machine Services ACT Pty Ltd
> Email: sheena@summernats.com.au
> PH: 02 62418111
> Fax: 02 62418567

landau37 · 07-06-2009, 02:35 PM

Hi guys, Last nats i whent to was on the friday . Took the kids and the wife to enjoy the cars. We couldent get any were near the burnout strip due to the crowds, and we wanted to see victor brays dragster. We were about 50 meters from the track with no hope of getting closer , when then 2 girls stood up on the back of a ute with there tops up. No word of a lie the whole crowd disapeared ( like mosses and the red sea) all over to the ute swamping it. Leaving us to stroll down to the fence and enjoy what we had payed $15.00 for , screaming nats action ! Thats what i go for to see sweet cars as the true nats is known for . Dont get me wrong tits are good but you payed to see cars . You can see tits in magazines, knock shops, home if your in the good books , bondi and yes saturday night . No i do love to take family to these shows , i dont drink, nothing against those who do ( resposibly ,"yahoo ,nice car ")Not passing out, swearing, throwing stuff, grabing tits , stuffing it for car lovers . Now sydney has a huge car show with no grog and no probs. Should we become mormons and go to strip clubs yelling " he babe what do you drive" ," what sort of horse power has that got", " can you stroke it" . Yes had to put that last one in. So even if they make friday a day for the car lovers and sat and sun for the controlled fun lovers . Just a thought........... P.s. still love the true nats spirt!

Quasi · 18-06-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratman

Interesting side note is I spoke to a few stall holders who had already reserved and paid for exhibitor space in there for the next show - none of them have been informed of these events or been reimbursed.

Interesting times ahead.

No need to, as the next event is scheduled and planned as per normal. Tickets are being sold and participating clubs and officials are booked. All indications are business as usual, but with a structural change at the top, which should have very little, if any, impact on the event.

However, I wouldn't plan my holidays around the Summernats in three years time just yet.