Thousands of car enthusiasts dismissed the scorching heat and chose flames and burnouts over air conditioning during the annual Summernats car festival.
The searing 38C temperatures in Canberra did nothing to deter rev-heads from across Australia from flocking to the nation’s capital to indulge in the yearly horsepower party.
Despite sweltering through an unusually hot weekend, crowds of car fans delighted in watching the supercharged machines blow hot exhaust and emit flames around the track at the Exhibition Park in Canberra.
The searing 38C temperatures in Canberra did nothing to deter rev-heads from across Australia from flocking to the nation’s capital to indulge in the yearly horsepower party
Despite sweltering through an unusually hot weekend, crowds of car fans delighted in watching the supercharged machines blow hot exhaust and emit flames around the track at the Exhibition Park in Canberra
The festival, which runs from January 4-7, saw 50,000 people pass through the gates for the wildly popular car appreciation event.
It was so hot that Summernats organiser Andy Lopez urged car enthusiasts to go easy on the alcohol.
‘Take it easy, don’t drink too much,’ he told reporters on Saturday, and reminded patrons there was free water available on site.
While the mercury reached searing heights, Sunday is set to be even hotter with a max of 39C predicted.
The festival, which runs from January 4-7, saw 50,000 people pass through the gates for the wildly popular car appreciation event
It was so hot that Summernats organiser Andy Lopez urged car enthusiasts to go easy on the alcohol (Burnout pictured)
‘Take it easy, don’t drink too much,’ he told reporters on Saturday, and reminded patrons there was free water available on site
While the mercury reached searing heights, Sunday is set to be even hotter with a max of 39C predicted
Straw hats, impressive mullets and tattoo sleeves appeared to be the sartorial theme of the four-day event in a true Australian fashion.
Sunburnt festival-goers found ways to cool down with ice-cold drinks and sprays from a hose as the sun beat down on them.
Day one kicked off on Friday with a last chance shootout to enter the burnouts competition, sending fans wild as turbocharged cars covered them in smoke and soot.
Sunburnt festival-goers found ways to cool down with ice-cold drinks and sprays from a hose as the sun beat down on them
Thousands of car enthusiasts have flocked to Australia’s capital city to celebrate the annual Summernats festival on the weekend
Race girls pose with a Rare Spare car, sponsors of Summernats, as thousands descend on the capital city for the festival
The festival, which runs from January 4 – 7, brings car enthusiasts and their polished supercharged machines to Canberra’s Exhibition Park
Australian hip-hop group Thundamentals wowed crowds on Friday night as well, getting festival goers ready for a weekend of burnouts, music and tattoos.
Plenty were happy to add some new ink at the car show, with the event launching the first Summernats Body Art Nationals Awards.
Australia’s top ‘street machine’ will be awarded to one lucky winner at the end of the festival, as well as champion of the burnout battle.
Despite the heat, many were still keen to watch tyres burn as drivers gave their best shot at the burnout competition
Dressed down in singlets and bras, many women made the most of the sunny day to capture a selfie or two
The sweltering heat appeared to be too much for one fan, who took to parading around with a T-shirt, bum bag and not much else
Australia’s top ‘street machine’ will be awarded to one lucky winner at the end of the festival, as well as champion of the burnout battle
Private tents were set up for patrons to get their tattoos at this year’s festival, as one woman prepares to see her Elvis inking
Described by some as the ‘Bathurst of burnouts’, Summernats is a streetmachine festival started by renowned local rev-head Chic Henry in 1988.
More than 1,800 cars take part in the annual festival supported by hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts.
Despite the heat, many were still keen to watch tyres burn as drivers gave their best shot at the burnout competition.