Summernats car festival coming to Alice Springs as Red CentreNATS
Petrol-heads are on notice. Alice Springs wants you.
The Northern Territory government has promised to make Alice Springs a paradise for car lovers after announcing Canberra's popular Summernats hot rod festival will be heading to the Red Centre.
Eight months after announcing the NT was chasing the event, Chief Minister Adam Giles said the organisers of Summernats had agreed to bring the event to Alice Springs.
"Red CentreNATS will be a rev head’s paradise – an annual auto festival showcasing the very best in street machines, elite show cars, hot rods, classics, exotics and supercars," a statement from Mr Giles' office said.
"I am thrilled to announce the organisers of Canberra’s famous Summernats have agreed to bring their hugely popular brand of high-octane fun to Central Australia from next year."
The annual Canberra Summernats festival sees up to 1,500 street machines descend on the city.
Although critics have said it is too noisy, anti-social and sexist, more than 85,000 people attend Summernats in Canberra, with millions of dollars pumped into the local economy.
Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez said he wanted the Red CentreNATS to be a "must attend" event for car lovers.
"The Red CentreNATS will be a fantastic event for motoring enthusiasts and the Alice Springs community alike, and over the years it will become one of Australia's favourite horsepower parties," Mr Lopez said in a statement.
Red CentreNATS is due to be held from September 3 - 6 next year.
Tickets to Summernats in Canberra cost between $35 and $75 for an adult depending on the day, and between $10 and $25 for a child.
Mr Giles said children aged 13 and under will be given free entry to the Alice Springs event.
Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan said it was "fantastic news" for the town.
