Winning Australia’s biggest burnout title is the ultimate high. And last year’s champion, Chris Orchard, has been chasing that high ever since.
After steering BALLISTIC, his methanol-fed blown VL Calais, to victory in the Pro Burnout Series presented by Castlemaine Rod Shop at Summernats 38, the West Australian had finally climbed the mountain. Years of chasing tougher competition, building tougher engine combinations, and refusing to settle for second had finally paid off.
Last year alone, Chris and his partner Jess travelled more than 20,000 kilometres chasing events around Australia, with Jess running the merchandise operation that helps keep the whole show on the road.
At the end of the day, what started as a hobby has become a business.
“You know it’s serious when you have to apply for an ABN!”
The pair have built a travelling operation that allows them to keep doing what they love.
“Jess sells that much merch that we can get the fuel for the next show,” Chris says. “She’s the best at it. She’s the reason we can keep travelling.”
So, it was weird for the whole family when everything went quiet after their major win in January.
“I’ve only done a couple of local comps since then,” Chris admits, “But the high of winning Summernats… I wanted to find that high again.”
That hunger to keep chasing the next win isn’t something that appeared overnight. It’s been part of Chris since long before BALLISTIC became one of Australia’s most feared burnout cars.
More than 15 years ago he was living in Geraldton, where the local dirt drag scene was thriving, but burnout drivers didn’t have anywhere to play.
He built them a pad.
“I got my first burnout car after we built the pad… and obviously loved it.”
“I was more into cars than drags,” he says.
One Gazzanats later he’d won the naturally aspirated class, scored himself a 6/71 blower as part of the prize money and bolted it onto the car before the dust had even settled.
“That was my only NA comp before I went blown,” he laughs.
Ask Chris why he competes and he’ll tell you.
“I made a conscious decision,” he says, “Am I going to these shows to have fun, or am I going there to try and win? And I thought, you know what? It’s way more fun winning.”
That mentality has helped turn Chris into one of Australia’s most recognisable burnout competitors, and Pro Burnouts was always the destination.
“For me, Pro Burnouts is the best of the best anywhere in the world. That’s what I wanted to be a part of,” he says, “Trying to get all the corners, get the chutes and put on the best show you can for the crowd.”
The thing he’d been missing wasn’t another engine upgrade.
It was another reason to hit the road.
“The ultimate high for us is getting on the road and competing against the best.”
As Australia’s biggest burnout names began locking in their entries for Red CentreNATS, that motivation came flooding back.
“I’ve finally got that feeling back of wanting to get back in the car and put on a show again,” he says. “Speaking to the team and hearing about who’s coming… I’ve got that drive back.”
BALLISTIC has since been dragged back into the workshop for its pre-event freshen-up, with Simon and the crew at Hi Velocity Race Engines freshening the iconic BNR engine combo originally built by Brett Niddrie ahead of the trip to Alice Springs.
“We’re definitely going for more revs,” Chris laughs. “I’m the RPM King.”
Alongside BALLISTIC, Chris is also bringing GAME OVER, his VH Commodore fitted with a fresh NASCAR engine that’ll spend the weekend cruising the streets of Alice Springs once the smoke clears.
Most interstate competitors tow a couple of beasts. Chris is bringing a convoy.
“We’re coming from WA with force this time,” he laughs. “It sort of all went hand in hand. We’ve got the pro cars, we’ve got the dirt draggers… so we thought, let’s put a road train together.”
For Chris, that’s part of what makes Red CentreNATS different.
Few events let competitors cruise through town, throw down against Australia’s toughest burnout field, then wander over and watch blown bikes and high-horsepower machinery charge down the dirt in the expanded dirt drags.
“We’re bringing the best dirt drag bikes in Australia over,” Chris says. “They’ll be doing well over 100 mile an hour on dirt. If you haven’t seen it before, you’re in for an absolute treat.”
But for all the cruising, road trips and catching up with mates, Chris hasn’t forgotten why he’s making the trip.
“It’s always about competing against the best in Australia,” he says. “The list of cars that’s coming for Red CentreNATS is shaping up to be the best in Australia. That’s who we want to compete against.”
And he’s not shy about his intentions.
“Anyone asks me, ‘Are you here to win today?’ the first thing I’ll say is, ‘Yes. Yes, I am,'” he says. “I’m not here to come second.”
Chris reckons that attitude isn’t just for himself. It’s for everyone who helps get BALLISTIC to the start line.
“I’ve got a whole team of people that help all the time,” he says. “You don’t go there and just half-ass something. You want to go into a comp ready to roll and hopefully some results will come your way.”
Despite the competitive streak, Chris is also quick to remind newcomers they don’t need a Pro Burnout car, or a blown V8, to get involved.
“Do it within your means,” he says. “If you can only afford a six-cylinder or whatever, just go and have fun.”
Because while he’ll always chase another trophy, Chris reckons the biggest reward isn’t sitting on the shelf.
“The rewards are unreal,” he says. “The people you meet… they end up becoming family.”
Whether you’re hauling a Pro Burnout car across the Nullarbor, entering the dirt drags for the first time, cruising the streets of Alice Springs or simply bringing along the project you’ve been piecing together in the shed, it’s another chance to be part of Australia’s ultimate Festival of Wheels.
Entries are now open for the 12th annual Red CentreNATS, presented by LMCT+, taking place in Alice Springs from 3 to 6 September 2026.
Visit redcentrenats.com.au for more information on how to enter the Ultimate Festival of Wheels.
Check out Chris’ epic merch at karkulture.com
Comments