Rockynats 02 By Numbers
Published on 18 April 2022
After a hugely successful inaugural event in 2021, the Rare Spares Rockynats 02 festival had big shoes to fill in 2022. Yet with a record 1468 cars and bikes having taken to the streets of Rockhampton during the three-day festival, event organisers, entrants and spectators alike can attest that event indeed returned bigger, better and arguably even more successful than ever.
Attracting a record total of 52,060 patrons through the precinct gates over the course of the weekend, a 15% increase on last year’s figures, the festival proved to once again be a hit for families and die-hard motorsport enthusiasts alike. Many of whom, like Toowoomba resident and drag entrant, Heath Lebsanft, have returned for the second year running, and now consider themselves Rockynats loyalists.
“I think the whole event is a great concept and that it’ll only continue to get bigger,” he said. “I’ve already noticed that there’s a lot more entrants in each event and spectators in the stands compared to last year, which is awesome to see.”
“Everywhere you went people were willing to help you out, which just made the atmosphere awesome,” he continued. “You could see the community really appreciates the event being here and all the business it brings into town.”
Advance Rockhampton Executive Manager, Greg Bowden, said patron and entrant numbers weren’t the only records that Rockynats 02 broke in 2022, with ticket sales and street parade participants also reaching record highs.
“We sold a total of 19,000 tickets this year, which shows that support for the event is continuing to gain momentum and attracting more and more traction among motorsport enthusiasts each year,” Greg said.
“We also had 1152 cars and bikes participate in the CANNA Street Parade on Good Friday, making it the largest street parade of its kind to ever be held in Australia,” he explained. “It’s stats like this that will help cement Rockynats and the city of Rockhampton as the place to be over the Easter long weekend for years to come.”
With lots of high-octane action on offer across the weekend from the hotly contested Burnout Master championship to drifting exhibitions and drag racing, there were plenty of records broken on the track. Sunday saw Rockynats’ first six-second pass in the drags with now two-time Rockynats Pro champion, Shane Page, laying down a 6.95 second run in the heats. With 328 cars testing their speed over the 1/8th mile riverfront strip, amounting to approximately 1200 drag passes, the event also now proudly holds the title of the biggest drag racing event in the country.
A total of 93 cars took to the Northside Burnout Precinct in this year’s burnout competition, laying down over 200 burnouts collectively. The prestigious Show ‘n’ Shine competition also attracted in excess of 1300 entries from car and bike enthusiasts across Australia.
The off-the-track action was yet another aspect of the event to reached new highs in 2022, with the line-up expanded to include the largest Rockabilly Pin-Up Pageant, the Redback Ink Tattoo competition and the inaugural Rockynats Mulletfest, which saw over 25 adults and kids vie for mullet glory. The competition also raised thousands for the Mark Hughes Foundation in support of brain cancer.
Summernats co-owner and key event organiser, Andy Lopez, said he was blown away by the incredible response the Easter long weekend event received.
“The quality of the vehicles we’ve seen this year has been incredible and the feedback we’ve received from everyone has been fantastic,” Andy said. “We’ve got so many people who are keen to come back again year and the year after which is a testament to how, in just two events, the Rare Spares Rockynats has established itself an automotive event in its own right.”
“It’s right up there with Summernats and the Red CentreNATS as one of the not-to-be missed motorsport events in the country!”
Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor, Tony Williams, said he couldn’t be prouder to see the city once again take the stage for such a significant community event.
“It’s been fantastic to see how the community and all our local businesses have stepped up to support it for the second year in a row. Hosting this high-octane event right on our doorstep is not only fantastic for local motorsports fans but brings in visitors from across the country to visit our beautiful region,” Mayor Williams said.
"We’re looking forward to announcing dates for next year’s event in the near future.”
Rare Spares Rockynats 02 Official Results
DYNO
Highest Horsepower 4 Cyl
Peter Smith - Datsun 120Y Coupe
Highest Horsepower 6 Cyl
Jason Hack – 1978 Ford F100 Ute
Highest Horsepower 8 Cyl
Jamie Mier - 1971 Holden Monaro Coupe
Rev Monster
Jamie Freeman - Holden HQ Kingswood Sedan
Highest PSI Boost
Liam Edwards - Holden VL Calais
Naturally Aspirated with Nitrous (Spray & Pray)
Andy Vencen - 1976 Holden LX Torana
Torque Titan
Mark Johnston - Ford Capri Coupe
Dyno Champion
Jamie Mier - 1971 Holden Monaro Coupe
DRAGS
Street Bike
Garry Gibons – 2002 Boss Hoss 502
Pro Bike
Andrew Hof – 2020 Harley Davidson Breakout
Street Cars
Runner Up - Jamie Freeman – 1972 Holden HQ Kingswood Sedan
Winner - Health Lebsanft – 1971 Holden Monaro Coupe
Pro Cars
Runner Up - Luke Rosadi – 2012 Holden HSV Maloo Ute
Winner - Shane Page – 1988 Holden Calais Sedan
BURN OUTS
Skid Freak
Damian Stockham – 1973 Holden VB Commodore
Fastest Tip In
Nathan Lewis – 1973 Holden HQ
Crowd Favourite
Hayden Winnett – 1981 Toyota Corona
Burnout Competiton
3rd - Kyle O'Neil - 1981 Holden One Tonner WB
2nd - Jeffrey McDonald - 2003 Holden SS Ute
Winner - Nathan Lewis - 1973 Holden HQ
Burnout Masters
3rd - Kyle Douglas - 2004 Toyota Hilux
2nd - Warren Gersekowki – 1971 Holden HQ
Winner - Jake Myers – 1966 Ford Mustang
STREET AWARDS
Top Exhibition
Graham Dilley – 2017 Cobra
Top Engine Bay
Regan Burgees – 1976 Holden Kingwood One Tonner
Runner Up Top Interior
Michael Sullivan - 1934 Chev Coupe
Winner Top Interior
Phil Kirby - 1968 Ford XT Fairmont
Runner Up Top Body Work
Jason Mansweto - 1969 Ford XW Falcon
Winner Top Body Work
Davo Tennyson - 1954 Holden FJ Sedan
Runner Up Top Paint
Brendan Sainsbury - 1978 Holden HX Sandman
Top Paint Winner
Jason Mansweto - 1969 Ford XW Falcon
Top Engineered
Jason Mansweto - 1969 Ford XW Falcon
Top Hot Rod
John Zammit - 1934 Chev Tudor
Top Original Restored/Unrestored
Andrew Jamieson - 1956 Holden FE Ute
Top Muscle Car
Jason Mansweto - 1969 Ford XW Falcon
Top Sedan
Davo Tennyson - 1954 Holden FJ Sedan
Top Coupe
Aaron Hill - 1976 Holden Torana Hatchback
Top Convertible
Ross Mylrea - 1957 Mercury Montclair Convertible
Top Station Wagon/Van
Graham Miller - 1946 Holden EH Panel Van
Top Ute/Pickup
Anthony Brooks - 1974 Holden HQ Ute
Top Comp
Craig Barrass - 2004 HSV GTSR Concept Coupe
Top Custom Winner
Andrew Long - 1978 Holden HK Wagon
Top Japanese
Martin Sedgman - 1974 Mazda RX4
Top USA
Stephen Marino - 1961 Chev Apache
Top European
Jessi Agius - 1963 Morris Major Elite Sedan
Top Ratter
Murray Hanifin - 1954 Chev Pickup
Best Presented 4WD
Dale Reimers - 1981 Toyota Landcruiser
Best Presented 4WD Off Road
Cameron Small - 2001 Nissan Patrol
Rare Spares High Achiever Award
David Roberts – 1980 Holden Commodore
Jason Steamson – 1985 Holden VK Sedan
Liam Edwards – 1987 Holden VL Calais
Neil Edwards – 1984 Holden V8 SLE Commodore
Shane Page – 1988 Holden Calais Sedan
Top 20 Street Awards (listed in Alphabetical Order)
Arron Hill - 1978 Holden Torana
Andrew Long - 1978 Holden HK Wagon
Anthony Brooks - 1974 Holden HQ
Brendan Sainsbury – 1978 Holden HX Sandman
Craig Barrass - 2004 HSV GTSR Concept Coupe
Davo Tennyson - 1954 Holden FJ Sedan
Graham Miller - 1964 Holden EH Panel Van
Graham Dilley - 2017 Cobra 427 SSR
Ian Wicks - 1928 Ford Tudor
Jason Mansweto – 1969 XW Ford Falcon
John Zammit - 1934 Chev Tudor
Kevin Cooke - 1972 Ford XY Falcon
Les Llewellyn - 1971 Holden HQ Coupe
Mark Levigne - 1967 Valiant VC Sedan
Paul Connolly - 1947 KB2 International
Paul Surmon - 1975 Ford XB
Phil Kirby - 1968 Ford XT Fairmont
Stephen Marino - 1961 Chevrolet Apache
Shaun Holman - 1971 Ford XY Falcon Ute
Warren Burggraaff - 1935 Chev Truck
ELITE AWARDS
Top undercarriage/driveline
Warren Burggraaff - 1933 Crosley Roadster
Runner Up Top Engine Bay
Dean Rickard - 1969 Holden HT GTS Coupe
Winner Top Engine Bay
Judith Menso - 1977 Holden Torana LX Hatchback
Runner Up Top Interior
Cory Phie - 1969 Holden LC GTR Torana
Winner Top Interior
Dean Rickard - 1969 Holden HT GTS Coupe
Runner Up Top Bodywork
Charles Harley - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Winner Top Bodywork
Warren Burggraaff - 1933 Crosley Roadster
Runner Up Top Paint
Billy Shelton - 1987 VL Commodore
Winner Top Paint
Dean Rickard - 1969 Holden HT GTS Coupe
Top Engineered
Billy Shelton - 1987 VL Commodore
Top Custom/Classic
Charles Harley - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Top Hot Rod
Warren Burggraaff - 1933 Crosley Roadster
Top Restored/Unrestored
Andrew Borg - 1970 Plymouth Cuda Coupe
Runner Up Top Resto Mod
Robert Mcvicker - 2021 FJ Holden Concept Coupe
Winner Top Resto Mod
Darryl O'Sullivan - 1968 Holden HK Ute
Runner Up Top Elite Bike
‘Baldy’ - 2011 Harley Davidson Deluxe
‘Veeks’- 2008 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
Top 10 Elite Cars (listed in alphabetic order)
Billy Shelton - 1987 VL Commodore
Charles Harley - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Corey Phie - 1969 Holden LC GTR Torana
Darryl O'Sullivan - 1968 Holden HK Ute
Dean Rickard - 1969 Holden HT GTS Ute
Judith Menso - 1977 Holden Torana LX Hatchback
Matt Olver - 1934 Ford 3 Window Coupe
Michael Hearne - 1936 Chevrolet Tudor
Shannon Chrisyoffel - 1977 Holden Torana Sedan
Warren Burggraaff - 1933 Crosley Roadster
High Achiever Awards
Judges choice – Mick & Kylee Mathews - 1968 Ford Fairmont
Judges choice - Sam Gravana - Holden HK Monaro
Judges - Shane Reid - 1975 Holden LH Torana
Meguiar's Super Star (Qualifiers for MotorEx 2022)
Cory Phie - 1969 Holden Torana LC GTR
Warren Burggraaff - 1933 Crosley Roadster
Officials Official
Sam Kele
People’s Choice
Darryl O'Sullivan - 1968 Holden HK Ute
Grand Champion
Billy Shelton - 1987 VL Commodore