A record number of earlybird entries have been received for the 34th Street Machine Summernats due to be held in the ACT on 7-10 January 2021.

More than 1,550 entrants have now been processed and approved, a 15% increase over the next fastest selling event in the festival’s history, Summernats 30, when more than 2,500 passionate car enthusiasts entered Summernats to celebrate three decades of Australia’s biggest horsepower party.

Summernats managing director Andy Lopez said the event represents a massive economic benefit to the tourism and hospitality sector.

To illustrate, despite both record poor air quality and extreme heat, Summernats 33 delivered a direct economic impact to the ACT of $29.7 million.

Additionally, of the 2,262 cars entered into Summernats 33, the average annual spend per car to prepare it for Summernats was $8,901, which equates to almost $2 million spent by ACT car enthusiasts alone and a total spending impact of over $20 million nationwide.

“Almost 85% of entrants come from outside of the ACT, delivering a tourism windfall to the Capital Territory of nearly $30 million for the four-day event,” Mr Lopez said.

“Our car entrant numbers are actually significantly up right now compared to last year. With many car enthusiasts spending lockdown in their sheds finishing off project cars, it is clear that everyone is very eager to get revving again soon.”

Organisers are hopeful the event will proceed next year and, as more activities come back online each week, are considering what social distancing measures might be implemented at the January 2021 event.

This might include more event spaces, more events to stretch the crowd and longer hours to accommodate the demand for popular program events.

“We naturally want to run a safe event for both our customers and the larger community, and we will continue to take advice from experts as we plan our 34th event,” Mr Lopez said.

While the first round of earlybird entries to the 34th Street Machine Summernats have closed, entries are still open online with the next price rise occurring on 31 July.

Tickets and more information at www.summernats.com.au

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