PREVIEW - 2023 RARE SPARES ROCKYNATS - JUST CARS

PREVIEW - 2023 Rare Spares Rockynats

Photos: Courtesy of Rockhampton Regional Council

With 45,000 visitors, the first ever Rockynats in 2021 was a big hit, but the second one was even bigger, attracting a crowd of more than 52,000 to experience the burnouts, street drags, drifting, cruising, show cars and all the other attractions. The runaway success of the first two shows has ensured a third Rockynats will go ahead this coming Easter…

Supported by Rockhampton Regional Council and Summernats, Rare Spares Rockynats 03 will once again be held in the CBD of Rockhampton (7 hours north of Brisbane, 8 hours south of Townsville).

The north Queensland city’s riverfront precinct sees the burnout competition held on one side of the Fitzroy River, with drifting on the other. Street drags are also on the riverfront, with the dyno, show ‘n’ shine, motorbike display and cruise route all within a block or two of each other, making it easy to see everything and take in all the atmosphere.

The nearby Rockhampton Showgrounds hosts the elite show cars, as well as trade stands, live music and kids’ activities.

Outside of the event, Rockhampton has plenty to offer, so consider extending your stay and check out: www.explorerockhampton.com.au for other things to see and do in the region.

What’s On

All the things that made the first two Rockynats such a hit will return in 2023. It kicks off on Good Friday (7 April) and runs to Easter Sunday (9 April), with plenty for the family to enjoy over the three days.

Here’s a rundown on the attractions at Rockynats 03.

Street Parade

Rare Spares Rockynats 03 officially gets underway with the Good Friday Street Parade, where more than 1,000 cars and bikes will form up at the Rockhampton Showgrounds for a slow-speed (30km/h max) cruise through the CBD and along Quay Street before returning to the showgrounds.

The Street Parade is open to all registered Rockynats entrants and is a free public spectator event.

Street Drags

Unique to the Rockynats, the 1/8th mile strip on Quay Street features Street Outlaws-style, no-prep drag racing. Open to street driven cars and bikes only (no sub-6.37 second cars under ANDRA rules), starters can enter Super Street and/or Grudge Racing classes. Qualifying is on Easter Saturday (8 April) and racing on Easter Sunday (9 April), with $30,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs.

Burnouts

The skidpan on the north side of the Fitzroy River will see tyres fried each day, with some big names locked in to compete in two categories.

Finals for both will be on Easter Sunday (9 April), with huge prize money on offer for the winners.

Drifting

Drifting at Rare Spares Rockynats 03 is an invitation-only event, where some of the big names in Aussie drifting will go head-to-head. For those that want to experience a sideways slide, the crew from Drift Cadet will be providing passenger rides across Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday (8-9 April).

Cruising

A dedicated Cruising loop along East St, Derby St, Bolsover St and Denham St (one block down from the Street Drags and Show ‘n’ Shine) will run from 9AM to 5PM on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday (8-9 April).

Open to all Rockynats 03 vehicle entrants, the cool thing with this closed course is that it’s open to unregistered vehicles, too. Registered vehicles can travel outside the loop, with ample parking throughout the adjoining event precincts.

Show ‘n’ Shine

Open from 9AM to 4PM on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, this static display caters to over 400 vehicles, covering Quay Street from Fitzroy St (Fitzroy Bridge) to William St, as well as sections of Denham St and East St, meaning you can pull out and cut a few Cruising laps, too.

Elite Section

Rockhampton Showgrounds will present high-end show cars and bikes, with new builds making their debut in this space, all vying for awards in multiple categories. There’s plenty to play for, with the Judge’s Choice winner at Rare Spares Rockynats 03 gaining entry to Summernats 36 in 2024.

Bikes

After making a big impression in 2022, motorcycles will be a big part of Rockynats 03, with more display space and more demonstrations planned. On Easter Sunday, the Thunder Run, a bikes-only event, will see registered entrants ride a special cruise route out of Rockhampton and back.

Rockabilly-Nats Pinup Competition

Open to entrants of all shapes, sizes and ages, the Rockabilly-Nats Pinup Competition will be hosted by CQ Pinups, with cash and prizes on offer. Pre-registration for the Pinup Competition is essential and terms and conditions do apply (see the website for details).

Mulletfest

Rockynats 03 will be a stopover for Mulletfest; an annual competition that celebrates the hairstyle that’s business at the front and party at the back. Contestants of all ages are encouraged to enter, competing for the best ’do in categories including ‘grubby,’ ‘ranga,’ ‘vintage’ and ‘extreme.’