The event is put on by Russell Harris, famous for his blown and injected VL Commodore burnout beast, LOO5E. He also organises the annual LOO5ENATS, which takes place at the same venue over the Melbourne Cup weekend. LOO5EFEST was a last-minute addition to the calendar this year as a warm-up for the main event in November, and for the burnout faithful of the region, it’s a much-appreciated inclusion. Except maybe for Russell’s missus, who first threatened divorce, then became a lynchpin in organising the event.<\/p>\n

While burnouts are front and centre, LOO5EFEST somehow has the atmosphere of a country fair, complete with jumping castle, kebab truck and a caravan serving up coffee and doughnuts.<\/p>\n

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Friday night is open pad night, with a simple ‘kill as many sets as you want’ directive. All comers are celebrated and everyone’s a winner. Camping overnight is allowed, and fireside yarns punctuate the night once the action’s over.<\/p>\n

Saturday is comp day, and the tribes mingle as spectators fill the hillside in anticipation of the day’s action. The skies are pristine blue, the lines at the merch stand are long, and business at the bar is steady. Spectators greet each other like old friends with handshakes and hugs. Current Summernats Burnout Master Tim Brown and LSONE pilot Rick Fuller are among them, keeping hydrated from the back of a ute with a bunch of good mates. The vibe is more akin to a party than a sporting event.<\/p>\n

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LOO5EFEST features two competition classes, Street and Elite, with extra trophies for Young Gun and Carnage, and the field of competitors is overrun with LS-powered Commodores. Their drivers and passengers extend index fingers out the windows, tapping to the heavens in rhythm with the bouncing limiters of these frothing sidewall-shredders. The crowd shows its appreciation in kind.<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, Russell Harris<\/a> loads his blown, pinker-than-pink VL with another mind-blown grommet from the crowd for a joyride. “Sign here and put on this helmet,” is all that is said beforehand.<\/p>\n