Summernats 2023

While car enthusiasts in the Northern Hemisphere tuck their rides away to keep them safe from snow and ice, Australia celebrates the New Year with the biggest Horsepower Party to date.

Between burnouts, cruising, car shows, live bands and trader displays there really was no shortage of things to do and see at this year’s Summernats.

Naturally Team Haltech was out in force with a full size merchandise stand, product display in the Rare Spares Pavilion and assisting the MPW Performance dyno crew in the Haltech Horsepower Heroes Hall.

The Best of the Best

The Mequiars Elite Hall featured some of the best machinery in the country and the competition for the top spot was stiff. The judges deliberated long and hard eventually awarding the Top Judged award to Matt McIntosh for his HQ Statesman.

The Statesman is an absolute gem. Powered by a twin-turbo SBC and finished in Carpathian Grey with a set of very distinctive rose gold Simmons. The whole car is controlled by Haltech’s Nexus R5 VCU. A well deserved award for what is a magnificent build. Congratulations to all involved.

Another car getting plenty of attention in the Elite Hall was Nathan Shepherd‘s 1979 VB Commodore wagon. A true shed find, this Commodore has been meticulously rebuilt in a HDT theme with a crazy attention to detail. Powered by a 355 V8, mated to a TH400 three speed and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU.

Luke Mitchell‘s EVIL LJ 1973 Torana was one of our Elite Hall favourites. Powered by a 430ci Dart LS with a BDS 8/71 Blower and using a Joe Blo EFI system – all controlled by a Haltech Elite 2500. The whole package is good for 1400hp. Covered in a gorgeous PPG custom blue pearl.

While it might not have won any awards, we still loved Heath’s 1978 Torana hatch. The finish, the detail and the overal look of the car is on point. The blue beast is powered by a Holden 383ci V8 with ITBs and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU.

Haltech Superstars

Haltech’s display in the Rare Spares Pavilion featured two cars. The first was a stunning Group A Walkinshaw VL. Built by Total Workz and MPW Performance and controlled by a full Haltech system from end to end.

The other was a rare 1961 Plymouth Valiant 2-door. Painstakingly rebuilt over 180 years by a father-and-son duo of Ken and Nathan Clark. Powered by a 369ci Hemi, and mated to a Mercedes 5-speed auto with a Ford 9″ diff. The whole car is controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 VCU.

Hidden Gems

Top notch builds weren’t confined to indoors either. We spotted this super clean SLR-408 Torana parked in front of the Mequiars Hall. Powered by a 408ci iron block with Callie’s crank and rods, JE Pistons and Higgins race heads. S480 Borg Warner turbo provides the boost. The power gets down to the ground via a Turbo400 and a 9″ diff. The whole package is good for 955hp at the wheels on 17psi of boost and a little help from a Haltech ECU. A very tidy package and a credit to its owner and builder.

We bumped into Millsi’s infamouse Barra-swapped Bedford van. Controlled by a Nexus R5 with an iC-7 display dash and a CAN keypad this thing is legend-ary!

This blown VE Commodore really needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. Controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 with an iC-7 display dash.

All the boosts – and then some! Ben Bolton‘s Barra-powered Cortina has it all: two turbos AND a supercharger. Controlled by Haltech’s Elite 2500 ECU hooked up to an iC-7 display dash.

Curtis Ryan‘s award-winning AGREV8 Torana looks absolutely stunning no matter where it’s displayed. Powered by 383ci LS and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU this build is a perfect example of style and grace coupled with perfect execution.

Haltech Horsepower Heroes

The competition was even stiffer in the MPW Dyno Cell with Barra challenging LS for the top spot. When the dust settled it was Cody Hunt and his 2009 VE Clubsport sitting at the top of the table. Laying down 1643hp at the hubs during the finals on Sunday, Cody’s, 427ci, twin-turbo Dart LS wagon took out both the outright win as well as the Eight Cylinder Forced Induction award. The Clubsport is controlled by a Nexus R5 system and tuned by Aaron from ASG Motorsports.

Andrew Copley took the Six Cylinder Forced Induction class with his turbo Barra powered 2010 FVP F6. Andrew’s ute laid down 1438hp securing not only a class win but also the Outright Runner-Up trophy. The ute is controlled by a Haltech Elite Pro Plugin ECU and tuned by Canberra’s Extreme Street Performance.

The first four cylinder ever to crack a 1000hp on the Summernats dyno was Michael Silk’s Datsun 1200. The orange wagon laid down 1077hp in the finals, good enough to earn him Rev Monster and Boost Demon awards. The little ute runs Nissan’s SR20VE turbo controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU.

Andrew Hawkins‘ R32 GT-R, produced 1095hp claiming the runner-up spot in the Six Cylinder Forced Induction class.

Haltech Horsepower Heroes – All Results

Overall Winner: Cody Hunt, 2009 HSV VE Clubsport wagon – 1643hp

Eight Cylinder Forced Induction:
1st Cody Hunt, 2009 HSV VE Clubsport wagon – 1643hp
2nd Ryan Shloes, HSV VY Senator – 816hp

Six Cylinder Forced Induction:
1st Andrew Copley, 2010 FPV F6 FG – 1438hp
2nd Andrew Hawkins, Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R – 1095hp

Eight Cylinder Aspirated:
1st Mark Biffin, 1969 HK Premier – 627hp
2nd Richard, Holden Commodore VF SS – 464hp

Six Cylinder Aspirated:
1st Tony Spasonoski, 1976 Chrysler Centura – 442hp
2nd Zane Heath, 1995 Ford Fairmont EF – 370hp

Rev Monster:
Michael Silk, Datsun 1200 wagon – 10,500rpm

Boost Demon:
Michael Silk, Datsun 1200 wagon – 50psi

Thank You

A big thank you to Adam and the whole MPW Crew, Street Machine Magazine, the Summernats team for putting on a consistently awesome event, and last but not least everyone that came by our stand be it to grab some merchandise or to chat about their projects. See you all next year!

Summernats 2023 Photo Gallery