Summernats in 2025 will kick off with the City Cruise at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) and along Northbourne Avenue, with 400 cars on display on Thursday 2 January.

One of the biggest events of Summernats 37 is the grand final of the Pro Burnouts Series, which has been dubbed the “toughest burnout series on the planet”.

The winner will take home $50,000 prize money and will be crowned the best burnout driver in the nation. The second and third place brings the prize pool to $70,000.

The event rounds up with a range of car races and displays, live music, mullet, fashion and tattoo competitions, drifting, a trade show, and a huge fireworks display.

Summernats’ tips and tricks from seasoned punters:

• The spectator gates are at gates 2 and 7
• Have your ticket ready to scan on your phone. Printed tickets are also accepted
• Don’t bring a bag if you don’t need one
• There will be four types of gates upon entry: pre-purchased, platinum fastlane, buy on the day and already wristbanded

The organisers of Summernats have also requested spectators look and admire but not touch the cars.

“Entrants spend loads of time and effort to bring their cars to Summernats to put on display for other car enthusiasts – like yourself,” a statement on the Summernats website said.

“It’s simple stuff – don’t touch someone else’s car without the owner’s permission. Whether that be on the cruise route, in the show ‘n’ shine area or in the Meguiar’s Top 60 hall.”

Information on public and private transport and parking can be found at summernats.com.au/spectators

Parking inspectors will be issuing infringement notices for anyone who parks where they shouldn’t.

More news on Summernats can be found at streetmachine.com.au

Day zero, Wednesday 1 January:

This day is all about getting the entrants ready.Entrants need to get scrutineered and stickered before the big events of the weekend go ahead.

Schedule:

• 8am-6pm: Scrutineering at GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce
• 9am-9pm: Entrant camping at EPIC

Day one, Thursday 2 January:

The day is headlined by the Pro Burnout Series last chance wildcard shootout, with more than 30 cars fighting it out for one final shot to grab a spot in the finals on Saturday.

The sheets will be pulled off at EPIC to unveil 30 never-before-seen custom cars.

This day also marks the first of three nights of the off-site Braddon Fringe Festival where entrants and their cars will exclusively pack the streets against a backdrop of live music, restaurants, bars and food trucks.

Car events running at EPIC include the Haltech Horsepower Heroes, the popular City Cruise parade, and skid row.

All Day:

• Entrant Cruising – aeroflow cruise route
• Heatwave drifting
• Drift rides with drift cadet
• Traders and exhibitors

Schedule:

• 8am-6pm: Scrutineering at GIO Stadium
• 11am: Gates open to the public
• Noon: Summernats City Cruise and the Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno qualifying
• 2pm: Tuff Streeters skid row
• 2:30pm: Lawnmower racing
• 3pm: Dyno exhibition
• 4pm: Pro Burnout Series last chance wildcard shootout
• 5pm: Braddon Fringe Festival
• 6:30pm: Top 60 finalists show
• 7:30pm: Meguiar’s great uncover
• 10pm: Gates close to the public
• Midnight: Venue closed

Day two, Friday 3 January:

A new event will be introduced, Methanol Madness. The Street Machine website describes it as “methanol-huffing machines will be thumping around the cruise route at the same time, like a parade of dinosaurs in an eye-watering display of awesome”.

The Pro Burnout Series qualifiers will take place from 4pm.

In the evening, there will be a concert that kicks off at 6pm, featuring Thirsty Merc, Jet and more.

All Day:

• Entrant cruising – aeroflow cruise route
• Heatwave drifting
• Drift rides with drift cadet
• Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno comp
• Lawnmower racing
• Top 60 finalists show
• Show ’n’ shine
• Traders and exhibitors

Schedule:

• 8am-noon: Scrutineering at GIO Stadium
• 9am: Gates open to the public
• 10am: Tuff Street showcase
• 11am: Methanol Madness, burnouts open qualifying and Tuff Streeters skid row
• 11:30am: Airtime FMX
• Noon: Dyno Exhibition
• 3pm: Airtime FMX
• 4pm: Pro Burnout Series qualifying and grass driving
• 5pm: Braddon Fringe Festival
• 6:pm: Concert featuring Night Train, Thirsty Merc, Eskimo Joe and Jet
• 10pm: Gates close to the public
• Midnight: Venue closed

Day three, Saturday 4 January:

The Saturday is traditionally the most jam-packed day of the Summernats weekend.

Along with all the usual events that run at EPIC, there will be the Tuff Street showcase, and the final judging for PPG Supreme, Street Elite and Tuff Street.

The open class burnout qualifiers will continue before the Pro Burnout Series face off in the top 10 final, vying for a shot at the first-ever Pro Burnout Series title.

Before that, the oval and main stage will host a range of events including the celebrity lawnmower race, the mullet, tattoo and Fashions on the Field competitions.

The evening will be rounded out by an epic fireworks display followed by a DJ set.

All day:

• Entrant cruising – aeroflow cruise route
• Heatwave drifting
• Drift rides with drift cadet
• Grass driving
• Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno comp
• Lawnmower racing
• Top 60 finalists show
• Show ’n’ shine
• Traders and exhibitors

Schedule:

• 9am: Gates open to the public
• 10am: Tuff Streeters skid row and Tuff Street showcase and final judging
• 11am: Burnouts open qualifying
• 11:30am: Airtime FMX
• Noon: Dyno Exhibition, celebrity lawn mower racing and Mulletfest
• 1pm: Tattoo Competition
• 1:30pm: Fashions on the Field
• 2pm: Burnouts open qualifying
• 2:30pm: Mulletfest final and award presentations for Tuff Street, PPG Supreme, Rare Spares Street and elite
• 3pm: Airtime FMX
• 5pm: Pro Burnout Series Top 10 final and Braddon Fringe Festival
• 5:30pm: Methanol Madness
• 6:30pm: Summernats supercruise
• 7:45pm: Pro Burnout Series supercruise
• 8pm: Pro Burnout Series awards
• 8:45pm: Fireworks spectacular
• 9pm: Hot Dub Time Machine
• 10:00pm: Gates close to the public
• 1am: Venue closed

Day four, Sunday 5 January:

Highlights of the final day of Summernats include the crowning of the Street Machine Summernats 37 grand champion, burnouts and more!

All day:

• Entrant Cruising – Aeroflow cruise route
• Heatwave drifting
• Drift rides with drift cadet
• Grass driving
• Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno comp
• Lawn mower racing
• Top 60 finalists show
• Show ’n’ shine
• Traders and exhibitors

Schedule:

• 9am: Gates open to the public. Heads-Up Go-to-Whoa competition and PPG Supreme entrant display
• 9:30am: Street Machine grand champion parade
• 10am: Lawnmower racing final, freestyle fun grass driving and Tuff Streeters skid row
• 11am: Grand champion motorkhana and Go-to-Whoa
• 12:30pm: Street Machine grand champion award
• 1pm: Burnout open final
• 3pm: Pro Burnout Series ultimate redemption round
• 4:15pm: Burnout open awards
• 5pm: Summernats 37 wraps up