Street Machine

PARTY GAMES

THE SUMMERNATS 33 FESTIVITIE­S KICK OFF WITH OUR ANNUAL INVITATION-ONLY VALVOLINE STREET MACHINE OF THE YEAR PARTY

- STORY IAIN KELLY PHOTOS SM STAFF

HELD each year at the George Harcourt Inn on the Thursday night of Summernats, our Valvoline Street Machine Of The Year party is an invitation­only VIP shindig featuring a who’s who of the street machining industry. Car builders, noted racers and business owners from all over Australia spend a few hours catching up with each other while blowing the froth off the top of more than a few jars of fine ale. While everyone loves a party, there was a serious side to the night this year, as Louis Younis kicked off a fundraiser to help the fire-fighting going on over the New Year’s period around Australia. Louis, the boss of ITF Hire, threw a grand in the whippy, and attendees further donated generously to the cause, with the total raised just shy of $2000.

To start the formal part of the evening, Rob and Julia Starling presented the Laurie Starling Scholarshi­p for Innovation and Excellence in Automotive Fabricatio­n. Laurie was one of the brightest lights in the Australian aftermarke­t industry, taken from us far too soon, and 2020 marked the sixth time his family and friends could give another young, talented fabricator a hand in achieving their dream career.

Jasmine Green is a quietly spoken mini-trucker from Melbourne, but she lets her amazing Ls1-swapped ’91 Hilux do all the talking. Jaz got into fab work in high school, learning how to shave her Toyota’s door handles before moving on to fitting

airbag suspension and a four-link rear end, body-dropping the shell over the chassis, doing a full custom sheet-metal engine bay, wiring, and painting the truck herself – all in her home shed.

The second part of the night’s formalitie­s was to present Matthew Morgillo with his prize money after the South Aussie’s pro street HQ Statesman took out our Street Machine Of The Year award. It was only fitting that Tony Mcdermott, Marketing Manager for Valvoline Australia, was on hand to give Matthew his oversize novelty cheque, as Valvoline graciously stumped up the $20,000 and also helped throw the Thursday-night soirée.

“Thanks to all our friends and family,” said Matthew upon accepting the prize money. “I can’t explain the feeling. We really didn’t expect to win SMOTY and we could see [Streetmach­ine’s] Dave Carey running up and down the driveway, so we were wondering if this bloke was about to mug us!

“I have to thank all our friends and family, as it was a difficult build that we eventually overcame. This was a real father-son build, as we do one car at a time for each of us. We have one in the build now, which we’ll unveil in 2021, and you’ll want to see it!”

Once Telfo and the winners had left the stage, the house band was back on to play some sweet cover tunes as the party kicked up a gear and the night turned into an early morning for some.

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?? ?? RIGHT: After roasting in sweltering heat last year, guests were treated to much cooler temps in 2020, and the George Harcourt Inn’s beer garden was heaving with punters enjoying a frosty frothy or 10, as well as a free dinner!
RIGHT: After roasting in sweltering heat last year, guests were treated to much cooler temps in 2020, and the George Harcourt Inn’s beer garden was heaving with punters enjoying a frosty frothy or 10, as well as a free dinner!
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?? ?? ABOVE: The Laurie Starling Scholarshi­p winner, Jasmine Green, already knows where she wants to focus her skills. “I want to put this scholarshi­p into trim work,” said the barista/mini-truck enthusiast after accepting her award. “This will complement the fabricatio­n skills I’ve learned. I’ve tried to make everything I need, as it works with my small budget and gives me real satisfacti­on”
ABOVE: The Laurie Starling Scholarshi­p winner, Jasmine Green, already knows where she wants to focus her skills. “I want to put this scholarshi­p into trim work,” said the barista/mini-truck enthusiast after accepting her award. “This will complement the fabricatio­n skills I’ve learned. I’ve tried to make everything I need, as it works with my small budget and gives me real satisfacti­on”
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?? ?? LEFT: A who’s who of street machining turn out to our SMOTY party each year, including legends like Peter Fitzpatric­k (second from right) and Howard Astill (third from left), who between them have probably won more SMOTY and Summernats Grand Champion gongs than anyone else
LEFT: A who’s who of street machining turn out to our SMOTY party each year, including legends like Peter Fitzpatric­k (second from right) and Howard Astill (third from left), who between them have probably won more SMOTY and Summernats Grand Champion gongs than anyone else
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?? ?? RIGHT: Lightning Mcbarra had the big job of greeting invitees to the party. Formerly known as MX5.7, the poor, unsuspecti­ng Carnage MX-5 was given a Barra swap after the LS retired hurt. It now packs the petrol-spec motor from the dearly departed Toxic Avenger Territory, and the little Mazda was a huge hit on debut at ’Nats 33
RIGHT: Lightning Mcbarra had the big job of greeting invitees to the party. Formerly known as MX5.7, the poor, unsuspecti­ng Carnage MX-5 was given a Barra swap after the LS retired hurt. It now packs the petrol-spec motor from the dearly departed Toxic Avenger Territory, and the little Mazda was a huge hit on debut at ’Nats 33

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