The Easter Sunday hunt was on but when it came to bringing home the chocolates it was bragging rights and trophies that drivers set their sights on at Rare Spares Rockynats 2023.

The pressure was on from early morning as the elite cars convoyed to the street drags, with the first of the Road to Grand Champion driving events taking place at 9am. The unprepped surfaced proved no issue for most of the 11 contenders who put power down to the ground along the riverside straight.

Billy Shelton skilfully pedalled his VL into victory, making the fastest pass of the group while leaving a trail of smoke behind him. Jye Core spun the tyres on this 1215hp Dodge Charger FEAR ME. “You don’t get to use that power on the street,” he laughed. “It’s the first event the car has been running and we’ve actually been able to squeeze it.”

Next stop for the elite-level show cars was the go-to-whoa, followed by the grass-driving obstacle course.

The brutality began at the burnout pad at 11am as three days of tyre frying carnage came to a head during the Open and Pro Class finals. Burnout Hall of Fame inductee Peter Grmusa took home a well-deserved first-place win in his blown XR Falcon ATRISK. Wal Gersekowski won second place for the second year in 1TUFHG with third going to Tristan Lee-MadGwick in MISCHIEF.

The Open Class winner was Ben Lee-Madgwick in his FUK NO Commodore.

The street drags concluded with Paul Butler taking the win in his 950hp SR20-powered Gemini NANA after lining up against Peter Faulkner in his VH SLICK for the Pro Class finals. Paul set a new Rockynats record after smashing out a six-second pass earlier in the day. Brad Smith won the Street Class in his Centrua.

With driving events run and done it was Billy Shelton who scored himself another Grand Champion title in his stunning VL SICKEST, dedicating the win to his mate Paul Butler, the man behind the build. He also took home trophies for Top Engine Bay and Elite Top 10.

The People’s Choice award went to Bruce Knight in his newly-unveiled LX Torana hatchback.

Judges’s Choice was awarded to Shannon Christoffel and his wild 8/71-blown blown LX sedan.

And Meguiar’s Superstars qualifing winners for Rockynats were Steve Wilkes’s Walkinshaw tribute, Elton Walker’s 1957 Chev wagon and Lincoln Stevens’s wild BMW.

Tickets are already on sale for Rockynats #4, get ’em here.