First published in the January 2006 issue of Street Machine

Adelaide is one car crazy town. Maybe it’s because Holden and Mitsubishi (formerly Chrysler) have plants here. Maybe it’s because relative isolation means there ain’t much else to do. It could even be the funny water they have down there but there’s something a little touched about Adelaide’s car fans, whatever their allegiance.

So when Gary and Deby Myers decided to put on their own show, holding it at Adelaide International Raceway was a pretty canny choice. Dubbed the Sprint Auto Parts Gazzanats and run in conjunction with Danny and Judy Smith, local V8-loving fans were always going to respond in kind, with plenty of tough cars coming out of the woodwork to do battle.

The format was simple — burnout, go-to-whoa and powerskid competitions, a show ’n’ shine and some drift demonstrations. The icing on the cake was a bunch of killer demo burnouts from an elite team of burnout masters, all of them assembled under one roof in the pits. It was a pretty impressive sight: the Myers Mustang, Danny Smith’s Chevy pick-up, Matt Abood’s ’57, Milan Dokic’s Camaro, Shannon and Toni Petersen’s VK, Mark Dall’acqua’s Escort, Clint Ogilvie’s Torana, Chris Christou’s GTHO, Tony De Oliveira’s Corolla and George Separovich’s Monaro.

Clint Ogilvie was particularly chuffed: “I’m a relative newcomer compared to guys like Mark Dall’acqua, so it was great to be invited along with blokes like that,” he said. “At most shows we are generally spread out in our own camps, but here we could catch up and hang out.”

As impressive as the Master’s tent was, the local boys weren’t idle. They had a tent of their own on the infield, filled with some seriously tough new machinery, much of it blown. A number of the locals responded to the news of Gazzanats coming to town by either building dedicated burnout cars or transforming their streeters into blown animals. Their aim was to put on a good show here, maybe win the burnout competition, then head to Summernats for a serious party. Sitting in judgement was a team led by the man who started it all, John Peterson, along with Gary’s brother Kevin.

There were 120 entrants in the BFG burnout comp, with some very tough competitors among them, but Melbourne’s Aaron Mackley came out on top to claim the overall win. A relative newcomer to the sport, Aaron had blown his engine at a local burnout competition in Melbourne earlier in the year.

“I’ve only been doing this for 18 months but I’ve been around the sport for ages, so I’ve got some helpful mates,” he said. “I made Top 10 at the Summernats last year but to win here was pretty good.”

The burnout action was broken up by a bit of go-to-whoa and some insane displays by the drift boys. AIR is almost tailor-made for drift, with its sweeping banked corner providing the perfect place for the boys to hang their tails wide at speed, the pilots looking straight through the side windows, smoke pouring from the rear guards.

When the masters hit the burnout pad, it was clear they were there to put on a show. It was hard to tell if they were performing for the crowd or trying to impress each other, that mattered not a jot. Officially, these guys weren’t competing but it was pretty clear that this wasn’t gonna be a church picnic-style burnout session.

A few impressions were burned into my mind: Mark Dall’acqua making instant smoke with his blown Clevo-powered Escort, ripping off a massive powerskid before moving into a series of super-clean helis. Milan Dokic’s insane Camaro lumbering onto the pad then being flung straight into a massive powerslide in exactly the way that old Camaros shouldn’t. Each time I thought I’d seen the wildest performance possible — only to be blown away by the next guy. Separovich ripped off a 50-metre powerskid, then flicked the tiller, sending the car into a Blues Brothers-style U-turn heading back in the opposite direction, tyres frying all the way. Wild acrobatics became the theme of the day, with Tony De Oliveira performing a series of 360s down the length of the strip; the guys were clearly pushing each other and themselves to the limit. Even Matt Abood, master of instant smoke and controlled performances, ripped off a couple of Corolla-esque helis before popping both tyres. Gary Myers was so revved up that he tapped the wall after performing a series of fast, controlled donuts and wild 180s.

“These were supposed to be demo burnouts,” laughed Gary, “but I think the ego kicked in for most of the boys, to prove that we still had it. It was great!”

So great in fact, that the Gazzanats team will be holding two events in 2006; a smaller EasterFest show in April and a bigger and better Gazzanats later in the year.

RESULTS

Driving Events

• BFG Burnout Champ — Aaron Mackley, HG van
• 6cyl Burnout — Debra Slater, Torana
• 4cyl Burnout — Robert Pilgrim, Galant
• Straightline Powerskid — Mick Black, Pontiac
• Go-To-Whoa — Vaughn Pope, LC Torana

Show ’n’ Shine

• Champion — Tom & Karen Keves, Monaro
• Top Ford — Frank Bria, Cortina
• Top Holden — Tom & Karen Keves, Monaro
• Top Ute — Paul Higgens, VG Chrysler
• Iron Maiden — Carly Dale, VL Calais

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. The drift demonstration opened a few eyes and provided a nice counterpoint to a day packed solid with burnout action. This gorgeous S15 Nissan 200SX belongs to George Spartalis, the modified SR20DET punching out some 300kW at the treads. The car has extensive suspension modifications with components from Cusco, Uras and Kazama, Brembo brakes, as well as a much strengthened driveline running an R32 GT-R rear end, OS Giken centre, RB25DET gearbox and twin-plate clutch.

2. South Oz horsepower guru Bob Sherry putting the final touches to Greg Cowie’s ballistic Firebird. The car is powered by a monster blown and injected Pontiac motor and took out 2nd place in the Powerskid comp.

3. Aaron Mackley has only been in the burnout business for 18 months, but he faced down all comers to take out the very first Gazzanats BFG Burnout comp, scooping $2000 cash, $1000-worth of tyres and a cool jacket for his trouble. “Apart from the odd cruise on the street, it’s pretty much a dedicated burnout car,” says Aaron of his HG van. The van runs a 350 Chev with 6/71 blower, TH350 and nine-inch combo, with a “secret cooling system” to keep body and soul together. “You won’t recognise the car at Summernats,” said Aaron. “It’s getting lowered, new rims and a new paint scheme. I can’t wait!”

4. Danno’s FREE51 is an XA GS ute that owes him less than $4000. “Most of the engine parts come from a motor I found at U-Pull It,” said Danno. “It’s pretty basic; 4MAD crank, ported 2V heads, ARP rod bolts and a Federal Mogul hydraulic cam. It hasn’t even got roller rockers!” Topped by Danno’s own twin-carb LPG set-up, the ute managed to blow both tyres simultaneously in qualifying and the finals, revving to 6500rpm. “I’m pretty happy with it. I drove here, qualified for the finals and drove home,” says Danno.

5. Tom and Karen Keves’ HT GTS Monaro is one super-sanitary unit and had no trouble taking out the Gazzanats Show ’n’ Shine Champion award, as well as trophies for best interior, 2nd engine bay and Top Holden.

6. Winner of the Powerskid was this tough Pontiac owned by Mick Black. Mick’s driving style in the burnouts — one hand on the wheel, the other grasping the quarter window — has to be seen to be believed!

7. Gary Hubbard’s FJ custom has had a ton of work done to it — two-door conversion, custom tail-lights, twin fuel fillers, VN dash and V6 conversion, with excellent paint and panel work by the owner. Gary took out 2nd Engineered in the Show ’n’ Shine.

8. Rocco Perri and his newly-blown HQ Stato. “It used to be the tow car,” he said, “but I got carried away and threw on the blower.” Rocco won a spot in the burnout Top 10 and Promoter’s Choice Top 10.

9. Glenn Mchale is a serious burnout fan. Not only does he have his own website dedicated to the art he has also built up one hell-tough Torana for Gazzanats and Summernats duties. “It’s just a mild 308 with a Blowershop 6/71,” said Glenn. “I had another Torana but with the anti-hoon laws in Adelaide now, I thought I’d build a dedicated, blown burnout car. My missus has been right behind it. She’s paid all the house bills while I’ve poured my wages into the car!”