Heavy Hitter: 2000km to victory at Red CentreNATS

Add Street Machine as a preferred source on Google

A regular Rockynats entrant, William Melvin has been part of the Nats scene for years, bringing his BGPLMS, a 2008 Holden HSV Clubsport, along for the ride – and, more importantly, bringing the mates, family and good times that make these events what they are.

The Clubby is quite the beast, packing a 408ci mill based on a LY6 iron block, with a whopping great g45 turbo strapped to the side and running on E85. Behind the LS is a built, manualised and transbraked TH400, with a 4000rpm stall. Out back is a Trutrak with 3.45:1 gears and 15in rear rims for drag work.

So when the idea of making the trip to Alice Springs came up, it didn’t take much convincing.

“As a yearly Rockynats entrant, we gathered the group and decided a trip out to the Red Centre was in order,” William says. “A plan was hatched, a few tweaks were made, and we landed on Red CentreNATS 12.”

MORE Red CentreNATS 12 doubles down with massive $130,000+ prize pool

There was just one small problem

The week before they were due to leave Queensland, William had a championship round at Benaraby Dragway – and things didn’t exactly go to plan. The team headed straight to tuner Chop at Tuned by Chop, who got BGPLMS sorted enough to make the trip, with the real fix to wait until they got home and the parts arrived.

With that sorted, the convoy hit the road at 4am, William, partner Kirsty, the kids and the rest of the crew heading west from Blackwater.

“4am starts are rough for a work day, let alone waking the kids and hitting the road,” William says.

The trip out was its own adventure – 672km to Winton on day one via a counter lunch in Longreach and the Stockmans Hall of Fame, then 918km to Barkly Homestead on day two, complete with a roadside fix on brother-in-law Tim’s camper fridge and a tyre change for mate Mick’s tow rig after a hot tyre started letting go. Somewhere in between, the kids absorbed exactly one fact from two days of history and geography.

“After overloading the kids’ minds with information, the most they could retain was, ‘Dad, did you know that emu eggs have seven different shades of blue?'”

Crossing into the Territory meant a first for the kids – their first time out of Queensland – so the obligatory border-sign photo was non-negotiable, BGPLMS Racing sticker added to the pile. By day three, the convoy was closing in on Alice Springs, with Kirsty taking the wheel of the 17-metre Silverado-and-hauler combo while William worked the two-way and stirred the Holden and Ford owners in the group.

“She had the honours of having to wheel it through, our first time ever in Alice Springs, to our camp out at Discovery Parks,” William says.

Once BGPLMS was unloaded and camp was set up, the group finally had a moment to breathe – not that the excitement already building around Alice Springs made that easy.

MORE Red CentreNATS hat-trick: Mick Jury’s HQ Monaro

Scrutineering delivered the usual Nats sensory overload: cars, bikes, burnout rigs and enough machinery rolling through Lasseters to make the trip feel worthwhile before a single race had even happened. At the Aces & Eights cruise, the group’s resident Ford man, mate Gav, picked up the People’s Choice award in his XY.

“As a Holden man, his Ford is the only one I let in my shed,” William laughs.

At Bojangles, the group watched the famous bike ride attempt a pub record – “one of the coolest things to watch on this adventure,” William says. Friday brought Skid Row, with Gav behind the wheel and William riding shotgun, keeping BGPLMS fresh for its own crack at the Heavy Hitters Drags. Back at camp, the kids hit the waterpark while the adults swapped BGPLMS from skid tyres to drag tyres.

Then came race day

Mate vs Mate Grudge racing, Roll Racing and Heavy Hitters qualifying filled the morning, William making three clean passes in the 10-second bracket after tweaking the car to bring it back into line with ANDRA rules. Then came the Chicago Shoot-out.

William’s first round ended in defeat, but BGPLMS was still feeling good – a win over Josie in round two put him back in the hunt, followed by another over Chris in round three.

“Coming back through the exit lanes after each round, I could see the family and friends cheering at the fence,” William says. “After that round three pass, they seemed really energised.”

He nearly read it wrong

“I wheeled up to collect the time slip thinking I had a break-out, with how the tower staff were pointing to ground staff and talking on the radio, only to be told, ‘Mate, go round as quick as possible, you’re into the finals.'”

It was William’s first Nats final – up against Luke, who’d also gone three-for-three through the Shoot-out.

“Burnouts done, we’re in staging and the lights are going green. Luke’s taken the launch and I’m chasing in typical style,” William says. “I catch him, and we’re crossing the line on a 10.462 against a 10.464. I picked up the win.”

William took home the Heavy Hitters 10–10.99-second bracket trophy – a fitting reward after more than 2000km of driving to get there. Gav’s weekend rounded out nicely too, the XY backing up its People’s Choice win with Top Sedan and a Top 10 award.

There was still Fathers Day, the Champion contenders, Dirt Drags, Pro Burnouts, plenty of smoke and the Podium Party to get through – and the kids had already settled on the next challenge.

“It was decided among the kids that colour smoke was much cooler than normal smoke,” William says. “So now the pressure is on for Rockynats 07 Skidrow for me to deliver them a colour smoke run.”

Eventually, though, Red CentreNATS 12 came to an end – cars loaded, camp packed down, BGPLMS pointed home and due to be turned around for another weekend of racing already.

“We’ve had a blast checking out all the different events and venues on offer at Red CentreNATS 12,” William says. It’s the racing, the mates, the family, the roadside repairs and the stories you bring home – and judging by the plans already taking shape for the next Rockynats, this crew isn’t slowing down any time soon.