National Burnout Master is back

After a valiant victory at Summernats 24, returning champion Gary is ready for the challenge.

"The National Burnout Masters really has become a very competitive event," explained Gary. "The overall quality and stature of the vehicles is at a really high standard, so the two most important things in the competition are consistency and reliability, and everything's got to go your way on the day."

Hailing from Narrandera in southern NSW, Gary Myers is an established identity at Summernats, having won more burnout comps in his 1966 Ford Mustang at Summernats than any other competitor; a total of seven titles.

"I'm confident that if I quality in the top five, I'll have a pretty good chance at the title again," said Gary. "We'll give it our best!"

Fellow competitor Steve Sines towed his 1978 Holden HZ Kingswood almost 4000km from his home in WA to place third at the Summernats 24 National Burnout Masters, and is looking forward to doing it all over again in 2012.

"I can't wait for next year," exclaimed Steve. "It's gonna be the big one, so it will be good just to get across. I'm getting the trailer and everything ready now for the trip.

"In terms of placing highly in the comp again, it's really just luck of the draw. It would be great if I did, but I'm not really bothered; just to get in the Masters is a great achievement on its own.

"This will be my third time making the trip across from WA. I've been competing in burnout comps in WA for over 10 years, but the National Burnout Masters really is the cream of the crop. It's great to be involved in a competition where the highest performing burnout cars from across the country are all in one competition.

"In the month or so leading up the event, I'll just be going over the car and making sure that everything looks right, that there are no oil leaks, and making sure all the wiring's clear, to reduce the risk of fires. Of course if you get a fire at Summernats, it's game over. Just trying to make the car reliable is the key.

"The mateship between the competitors is really what makes the National Burnout Masters so great. Overall there's a really friendly atmosphere. I'm just gonna go there and have fun; that's all you can do."

Leroy and James Rees, the father and son team behind the crowd pleaser BIGV8, who placed 6th in last year's Burnout Masters, were looking forward to making the eleven hour trip from Gippsland, Victoria to compete at Summernats 25.

"It'll be great!" exclaimed Leroy. "Summernats is just four days of action! The competition's getting bigger and better, and it will be a hard thing for anyone to win, but it'll just be great to compete amongst those guys.

"The whole event has just become a really professionally run festival. The atmosphere at Summernats is simply unsurpassed to anywhere else. It's just a beautiful place to be.

"I've competed in burnout competitions all over Australia, but the National Burnout Masters at Summernats is still the Mecca; it's still THE one to win and THE one to be at. It's the crème de la crème of burnout events as far as I'm concerned. It's where it all started, and where it should stay.

"We'll be working on the car for two months leading up to the event to get everything ready. Every day or two there'll be something done to it. The Burnout Masters is just one of those events that you can't go up to half dressed; you've got to be fully ready to go.

"It's just great to think that because of the Burnout Masters, one day we will be able to have a true Australian Burnout Champion that has competed in enough events and shows around the country, and beat the competition at the Masters, to earn the title.

"The thing I love about the sport, is that number one, I compete to have fun. We all want to win it, and we work hard to win it, but to have fun is the ultimate thing for me. The best part about Summernats is being able to see cars from all over Australia. It's really the Mecca of car events, and I think that it will remain that way for a long, long time."

As is tradition at the Summernats, the National Burnout Masters will be judged on instant smoke, constant smoke, the quality of the smoke, driver control, and bursting tyres.

This year's official Liqui-moly National Burnout Masters Partner Events are the Ultimate Burnout Challenge in VIC, Burnout King in WA, the Xtreme Motorsport Showdown in QLD, the Gazza Nationals in SA, and Supernats in NSW.

"The Liqui-moly National Burnout Masters has proven to surpass our initial expectations, becoming the only truly national burnout competition not only in Australia, but the world," said Summernats co-owner Dominick McCormack.

Summernats 25 will be held at Exhibition Park in Canberra from the 5th - 8th January 2012.