Thousands turn out for Red CentreNATS
ONE thing is abundantly clear from the thousands who attended Red CentreNATS at the weekend: cars are at the centre of their lives.
From travelling car enthusiasts to local Territorians, thousands turned out at Alice Springs Dragway to enjoy the smell of burnt rubber as it flew around the track.
South Australian couple Anabel and Max Harkin are serious car enthusiasts.
They follow the Bathurst V8s around Australia and have also travelled to Monaco for the Formula One.
Mr Harkin said his wife of 52 years was a “motor head”.
To their utter glee, the couple stumbled across Red CentreNATS on a trip back from Darwin and decided to stay in Alice Springs.
“It was when Formula 1 first came to Adelaide, my five-year-old son and I climbed up a pole and sat up on a hotel balcony and watched the cars come around the very first time they raced in Adelaide, and I was hooked,” Mrs Harkin, 72, said.
“We’ve been following the cars for almost 40 years.”
On Red CentreNATS the couple said they’d “never seen anything like it”.
For Fred Searston and Candy Porter, from Townsville, the allure of all the cars on display for show and shine meant it was the perfect opportunity to visit the NT for the first time.
“There’s some awesome cars here,” Mr Searston said.
“We own five FC Holdens, ranging from factory originals to highly modified with V6 commodore engines.”
Ms Porter said the best thing for her was the “amazing” cars with a wide range on display.
Red CentreNATS is an annual highlight for the Alice Springs Bufton family, who have come every year since moving to town 15 years ago.
“There’s a good vibe in the air and around town,” Michelle Bufton said, with husband Wayne and sons
George and Wiggy.
Australia’s ultimate festival of wheels will return to Alice Springs over the Father’s Day weekend from 3-5 September 2021, and entries are open now.