One of Far North Queensland’s coolest car parties, the Cairns Show Auto Spectacular, returned to the Cairns Showgrounds over the weekend of 18-19 October. Hosted by the Cairns Show Association, the two-day fest featured show cars, dyno pulls, charity auctions, and more.

Local organiser Patrick Garlando has nurtured a laidback and welcoming atmosphere, which has made the Cairns weekend an increasingly attractive proposition for seasoned show car owners and grassroots builders. And it certainly showed this year. There was an uptick in elite builds and serious horsepower engines, and yet the great camaraderie and spirit of community from past years remained. Community-sponsored prizes were auctioned off, with proceeds going to the This Strong Mum Foundation, a charity supporting sick children and their families.

This year showcased some of the cleanest builds from throughout Queensland. Summernat’s judges Owen Webb and Rachael Durbz were back again to run their trained eyes over the local and imported talent. “Every year the quality of cars in Far North Queensland gets better, and the people get friendlier,” said Owen. “This is one of our favourite shows in the country.”

A handful of fresh builds made their public debuts, but the one that had everybody talking was Mike Crooks’s ’57 Chev, built by Pat O’Shea at Pat’s Pro Restos. Mike became a familiar face at the trophy table, picking up awards for Grand Champion, Car of Show, Top Elite Paint, Top Elite Interior, and Top Elite Under Carriage. While Pat, who is a veteran of SM Drag Challenge, took the wheel of the big burgundy Bel Air for the Go-to-Whoa, finishing as one of the fastest seven cars.

Also on display in the Elite Hall was the 2025 Red CentreNATS Champion-winning ‘ENVIE’ HQ Monaro. Owner Jim McLaren from Airlie Beach placed as one of the seven fastest in the Go-to-Whoa, and the car was awarded further trophies for Top 10 in Show and Top Elite Engineered Runner-Up, against stiff competition in all departments.

Another well-known car to grace the Cairns Showgrounds was ‘HQFORU’. Driven by owner Rodney Menso, the Street Machine-built ’71 Monaro took the Street Grand Champion trophy home to Ayr. Rodney’s better half, Judith, also contributed to the Menso trophy cabinet, with her purple ‘HER LX’ Torana taking home silverware for Top 10 in Show, Top Elite Under Carriage Runner-Up, and Spectacular 7 as one of the seven fastest cars in the Go-to-Whoa.

The giant sword for People’s Choice went to Seith Ramke for his blue ‘A9XM8’ Torana. Hailing from Benaraby, Seith and his wife Amanda also packed into the hatchback trophies for Top 10 in Show, Top Elite Paint Runner-Up, and Spectacular 7.

Another blue beast that caused a stir was Peter Lewis’s ‘BOSS XC’. After being unveiled in Cairns in 2023, the big Falcon sedan returned in 2025 sporting some innovative new tech. The Boss 429 engine has been modified to be powered with hydrogen thanks to Hydro Auto Tech. Peter showed that BOSS XC is more than just a pretty face by driving it in the Go-to-Whoa, and placing in the seven fastest. He also took home trophies for Top Elite Engineered and Top Elite Engine Bay Runner-Up.

One showstopper both inside the Elite Hall and outside on the Go-to-Whoa track was the Oz Wheels custom-built ‘Smokebomba’ HQ. Luke Mitchell made a lot of local folks happy as he bombed the Cairns Showgrounds with smoke. As coloured plumes filled the air, he was cheered on by the burnout-loving public, including members of the NQ Burnouts crew, who were promoting their annual fundraiser, Skids for Santa. A definite crowd favourite, Smokebomba picked up a trophy for Top Competition.

Local couple Dan and Kaylene Di Bella put their stamp on things, Kaylene in her pink VK Commodore, which garnered her the Top Lady Entrant award, and Dan in his XB sedan, which scooped up awards for both looks and power. The Falcon claimed gongs for Top Tuff Street – which was sponsored by the Nissen Family as tribute to Derryn Nissen’s dad, Jim – and also Top Modified Muscle Car Runner-Up. While in the Hunter Automotive dyno cell, it revved to a win in Horsepower Heroes, pushing out 1332hp.

Just 30 ponies behind on the dyno was Michael Andrejevich with his white seven-second VL Calais. At 1306hp, Michael took home a trophy for Top 6-Cylinder, and placed Top 5 in Tuff Street. The VL will get back to race car duties soon, with Michael and the team planning regular trips to Willowbank.

The Cairns Show Auto Spectacular has matured into more than just a regional car event: it’s a full-blown cultural gathering. Whether you come for the shiny paint jobs, the horsepower numbers, or just a good day out with family and friends, it delivers in spades.