XTREME POWERFEST

THE BURNOUT FAITHFUL HEAD TO SHEPPARTON TO TORCH A SET (OR NINE) ON THE LARGEST PAD IN THE COUNTRY AT XTREME POWERFEST #6

Welcome to Peter Grmusa’s burnout barbeque, where fried tyres are on the menu

SINCE burnout competitions began their rise to dominance in the modified car scene, there has been a notable shift away from promoter-run events to those put on by the competitors themselves. These grassroots-style shows have given enthusiasts opportunities to be creative on the pad like never before, and are all about celebrating the soul and passion of burnout culture rather than trying to make big dollars.

Peter Grmusa’s Xtreme Powerfest is the latest shining light in this regard. Now in its fourth year, Xtreme Powerfest has quietly grown from humble beginnings into a must-do event for burnout drivers. The venue – the Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA) in Shepparton – boasts the largest pad in the country, and with an all-day cruise track as well, there is no shortage of tyre-smoking amusement to be had.

While the three-day affair is family-friendly, Xtreme Powerfest caters primarily for the drivers. Peter set out to create an event he would like to enter himself, with the aim of providing the next generation of burnout devotees a sanctuary away from the streets where they could smash multiple sets off the rims. If you don’t have a skid car, being a passenger is the next best thing, as competitors can carry as many mates as their car has seatbelts.

Entry numbers at the sixth Xtreme Powerfest were over the 300 mark, a sign that the event is growing in the right direction. High summer temperatures didn’t deter the spectators either, with a huge crowd turning out for Saturday’s burnout qualifying.

With a skid pad over 250m long, drivers were afforded a chance to really unload. The more powerful cars negotiated the extra space with ease, maintaining thick plumes of smoke with a healthy mix of speed, while the milder ones tended to sacrifice smoke to maintain momentum. There were