The Summernats burnout pad is a notoriously emotional environment, as drivers ride the rollercoaster of euphoric highs and crushing lows on one of the country’s most infamous motorsport surfaces.

But as John Fenech hoisted the legendary Summernats Grand Champion sword above his head in front of his friends, family and a packed grandstand, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, such was the journey the Fenech family had taken us all on throughout ’Nats 37.

In the two years since Top Doorslammer pilot and Westend Performance patriarch Sam Fenech lost his life in a drag racing accident, his son John and his uncles – helped by a network of friends and customers – have been toiling away to finish a rebuild of Sam’s ORSM LJ Torana, which was already underway before his passing.

The initial plan was to debut the revitalised machine at last year’s ’Nats, but the family decided to wait until Summernats 37. Their patience was rewarded with a rare triple triumph: a Meguiar’s Great Uncover unveiling on Thursday night; winning the coveted People’s Choice award on Saturday afternoon; and on Sunday, the big one: Summernats Grand Champion.

John, talk us through what a wild weekend Summernats 37 has been for you and the Fenech family.

Mate, it’s been unreal; it’s been an absolute fairytale. We came here to simply show our appreciation, and we’ve come away with winning it all!

What were some of the modifications you made to the car to get it unveiled?

The main thing has been the body. We spent a lot of time getting the body back to where it was well before my Dad had it, and making it look respectable again. We did a new gearbox tunnel, new firewall, and a lot of panelling in the boot. The bonnet is a big one – the new scoop is very different; it looks a lot prettier!

We hear the Torana’s front end needed extensive realignment because of all the wheelies your Dad did in it!

It did! We don’t know exactly how far out it was, but it did do a lot of wheelstands, and the rails were between an inch to an inch-and-a-half too high.

How did you guys feel when the covers came off the car during the Meguiar’s Great Uncover on Thursday?

It was bitter and sweet. Obviously, we’re in love with the car, but we were in love with the person more, and it was emotional. I found it difficult to talk at the unveiling, but we got through it, and it was a beautiful moment for the family.

Hearing that you guys had whitewashed People’s Choice would surely have been a fitting end to the weekend, but it got better again with the Grand Champ win!

It was awesome! We came in with no expectations, and to win People’s Choice was the icing on the cake. The way people got behind the voting was a testament to the man, not the car. I’m lost for words – to have the car crowned Grand Champion was just awesome.

That’s obviously something that’ll stay with the family for a long time as you make new memories with the Torana as a street car.

The car has got a whole new life ahead of it. It used to get used and abused, and now it’s going to get the pampering it deserves!

There were so many people involved in bringing ORSM back to life; who would you like to thank?

My uncle, Daniel Fenech, did amazing work on the body of the car; it wouldn’t be the same car without him. My uncle Frank helped me with the wiring and putting it back together – he basically helped with the whole thing! Thanks also to Phil Kerjean at Fuelworx, Paul at Aqua’s Auto Skinz, Brett at Wicked Industries, PPG for the paint, and Kev at Grange Smash Repairs, who painted the car. A lot of workshops came forward and really helped us out with this build.