On Friday,Canberra’s EPIC showground – which typically smells of farmer’s market sourdough or best-in-show dogs – is filled with the metallic tang of rubber and diesel as crowds gather for the first day of the burnout masters elimination championships.

Tires scream on the tarmac in front of a capacity crowd,who cheer through a haze of billowing smoke so thick you can barely see the person next to you.

Many dress in the unofficial Summernats uniform – shorts and shirts decorated like pyjamas with food (tacos,vegemite,watermelon) and accessorised with wraparound polarised sunglasses.

A steady flow of gleaming show cars loop the grounds,as drivers rev their engines or indulge in the occasional spin of their wheels,ignoring the “no burnouts” sign above.

Rows of model cars park inside sheds,so onlookers can marvel at the creativity of fellow petrol heads.

Organiser and co-owner of Summernats Andy Lopez says the festival draws in some of the keenest motoring enthusiasts in Australia.

“Seeing 2500 cars show up and 100,000 awesome people who come here to party with it,it’s a festival like nothing else in the world and it’s just an amazing four days,” he said.

The event has been running every year since 1987 and Lopez said planning for it was a year-long commitment which made the festival all the more rewarding.

“There’s a lot of great processes in place but it is a big beast to pull together. We work really hard,work with government,police,health,roads and the community have pulled it all together,” he said.

“We get people from all around Australia and also from around the world coming to Summernats. It’s a bucket list event for anyone who loves cars,whether you’re here in Australia or internationally.”

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