CHAMPION EFFORT

CHRIS SMALLMON IN BLWNVY TOOK HOME THE CHOCOLATES AT THE END OF A MEMORABLE SUMMERNATS 36 BURNOUT CHAMPIONSHIP

THE fourth and final day of Street Machine Summernats 36 climaxed with 40 Burnout Championship contenders taking turns to violate the skid pad in a lastchance effort to win the Championship crown. It had already been an eventful competition up to that point, with things really heating up on Saturday afternoon during the second round of eliminations, which saw plenty of tyre and engine bay fires as temperatures soared on the blacktop.

Daniel Vella in the FRYLC Torana had flames licking the wall during his skid on Saturday, while New Zealand contenders Ryan Shirtcliffe and Garrett Matthews had bad luck, both hitting the wall in the VIOLENT Mitsubishi Lancer and DSPRNG HQ Tonner respectively.

Shane D’amato blew the tyres off his blown VS ute, GHETTO, while Thomas Mcmanaway drove his blown Datsun straight from the unveil hall to the pad, where he smoked out the grandstands and laid down one of the best skids of the day.

Shannon Heraud had a killer run in his blown Ford Escort, while Kyle Priestly threw his blown VH wagon, FILTHV, into all corners of the pad, making tons of smoke in the process. Keelan Heit also put on a top smoke show as the crowd cheered him on in his SKRTLIFTA Tonner.

The best performers from Saturday were back for the big dance on Sunday, with all competitors going for broke. However, after a hectic afternoon of stellar skids, it was Chris Smallmon in his blown Commodore, BLWNVY, who emerged victorious as the Burnout Champion for ’Nats 36.

Runner-up went to Steve Edsall in SKDUTE, while Paul Cook’s GRUMP Corolla took third place. All three secured spots in the Burnout Masters at Summernats 37, where they’ll join the line-up of Australia’s toughest skid cars.

PHOTOS ASHLEIGH WILSON & TIM MCCORMACK Rather than performing the typical tip-in, Daniel Battersby threw LSDAT in a full circle before he’d even exited the entry chute! As he turned the Datsun around at the other end of the pad, a trail of flames spat from the tyres and trailed behind him, much to the crowd’s delight 01 Jesse Johnson threw his KILLA K VK Calais hard and fast across the pad, making plenty of smoke and noise as the crowd cheered him on 02 Matthew Watts steered his BLO UP Corolla swiftly and surely until the red flag went up and fire crews ended his fun 03 Billowing clouds of blue smoke trailed behind Craig Meston as he pitched PINKY across the pad to a cheering crowd, whose limiter fingers were wagging in approval 04