ENTRANT ADVICE SHEET

Red CentreNATS 02

1 September to 4 September 2016

Alice Springs, Northern Territory

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  1. About the Entrant Advice Sheet

The information in these pages will help you to achieve the most from your Red CentreNATS experience and clarify the important details. Occasional updates will be made to this advice sheet and more information provided on the website as we progress with planning for the second Red CentreNATS.

It is very important that you read the Entry Form and the Entrant Advice Sheet thoroughly, and if you don’t understand or have any questions please get in touch by phone or email, details at the end of this advice or visit

It is important to understand that by submitting the Entry Form, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions.

More information will be provided in the Entrants Event Guide which will be available closer to the event.

  1. Who can enter Red CentreNATS?

Red CentreNATS is all inclusive and we welcome all types and marques of cars. However, vehicles must be clean and tidy with no body damage, rust or patchy paint (rat rods excepted). We are looking for cars that will turn heads and be noticed. Whether that is achieved through a high level of modification, distinctive sound, exceptional paint and bodywork, or faithful restoration of a classic, we don’t mind as long as your car has people talking about and looking at it.

Put as much detail as you can on your Entry Form, to assist in the processing of the entry and to avoid any delays with scrutineering at the event.

  1. Learner Drivers

Learner drivers are not permitted to be Entrants. The Red CentreNATS can be a high-stress driving environment, and in fairness to other Entrants and the public, it simply isn’t the place for a learner.

  1. Parking

Entrant Parking

There is plenty of parking available for Entrants and support vehicles at Blatherskite Park and Alice Springs Inland Dragway (ASID). You may leave your vehicle parked at either venue overnight during the event, however this will be at your own risk. Overnight security is provided.

Your vehicle must have the necessary accreditation stickers to be allowed access to either venue. These stickers will be provided at scrutineering.

Support Vehicle Parking

A support vehicle is the car or truck towing your entered vehicle, or a vehicle carrying spares. Space will be available for parking support vehicles and trailers at both Blatherskite Park and at the ASID. If you want to park your support vehicle and/or trailer for the duration of the event, space will be available at Blatherskite Park, or you can discuss parking with your accommodation provider. Parking for support vehicles is free, however any overnight parking is undertaken at your own risk.

Parking before or after the event may also be available at Blatherskite Park by contacting the event organisers on

Support vehicles will need a Vehicle Pass to be permitted into either venue. Each Entrant is entitled to one Support Vehicle Pass. Any requests for additional passes will be decided at the organiser’sdiscretion. Support Vehicle Passes will be provided at scrutineering and must be adhered to the windscreen of the vehicle immediately.

Support vehicles must park in the designated areas only. The driver of any support vehicles found parked elsewhere inside the venue will be asked to move the vehicle. If not moved upon request the vehicle may be towed and we accept no responsibility for any damage.

Trailer Parking

Trailers are not to be left in any of the competition areas, show pavilions (inside or outside) or in any of the trader/exhibitor areas. Trailers can be parked in the designated trailer parking area of Blatherskite Park or ASID, or at your place of accommodation (upon agreement with your accommodation provider). Trailers parked inappropriately in any of the car parks, or chained up in an inappropriate area will be removed. We accept no responsibility for any damage. Parking for trailers is free in the designated parking area.

Trucks and Transporters

Entrants whose vehicles are arriving on a truck or transporter MUST adhere to the following conditions:

  • Trucks and transporters are not permitted to park in areas of Blatherskite Park or ASID that are not specifically designated for truck or transporter parking.
  • If you are transporting your entered vehicle/s with anything larger than a trailer and have made no provision for it during the event, you MUST park in the designated truck or transporter parking areas, or at your place of accommodation upon agreement with your accommodation provider.
  • Parking for these vehicles is free within the designated areas.

  1. Entrant Passes

Entrant Passes will be provided to you at scrutineering and registration along with your buddy passes.

  1. Scrutineering

Scrutineering/Registration Procedure

When you arrive with your car at Red CentreNATS, your first ‘port of call’ is Registration and Scrutineering. It’s a must stop for all entrants. This is where we check your car for safety and compliance with conditions of entry. You also receive your goody bag containing entrant T-shirt, number plate, stickers and event access passes. Scrutineering will be held at Blatherskite Park. Follow the signs and there will be security personnel and/or Red CentreNATS staff to guide you. Your buddies with pre-paid tickets must also be present to receive their passes at this time.

Registration and Scrutineering is located inside Blatherskite Park. Access will be via Len Kittle Drive, which runs off either Illparpa Road or Commonage Road from the Stuart Highway. There will be signs to direct you.

Scrutineering will take place on the following days (*please note these times are preliminary and may change):

Local Scrutineering – Wed 31Aug – 4pm – 10pm*

Scrutineering – Thurs 1 Sep – 8am – 6pm*

Scrutineering – Fri 2 Sep – 8am – 6pm*

Arrival at Scrutineering

On the Entry form, you are required to select your preferred arrival day and time for Scrutineering. You will then receive your confirmed scrutineering timeslot, upon confirmation of your entry. You are not permitted to arrive at scrutineering before your allocated time. You may however, arrive later than your allocated time, within scrutineering opening hours.

What you will need

Apart from your vehicle, there are a number of things you will need to bring with you to Registration and Scrutineering. You will need your Driver Licence, proof of car registration and third party insurance. If the registration isn’t in your name you’ll need a permission letter from the registered owner. Highly modified cars need engineer’s certificates, which must be carried at all times – this also applies for registration, insurance and your Temporary Licence if you are issued one. Rego plates, labels and papers must all match. If you can’t prove registration, you will need to apply for a Temporary Licence to cruise.

If you’re applying for a Temporary Licence, you will need your current driver Licence and the completed Temporary Licence form (which will be available for download from our website closer to the event).

  1. Important Vehicle Notes

Tailshafts

Cars entering the Burnout Competition, Drag Racing and Asphalt Motorkhana must have a 360 degree tailshaft loop fitted to prevent the tailshaft from hitting the ground in the event of a front universal joint failure.

Tailshaft loops are highly recommended for all performance vehicles where a cross member is not located close behind the front universal joint. All rear-wheel drive vehicles using superchargers, turbos or nitrous, vehicles with modified or non-original engines and all competition cars entering bitumen driving events must have a tailshaft loop with 360 degrees of enclosure, securely mounted and located within 150mm (6-inches) of the front universal joint. It is recommended that the loop be round to minimise loading.

Some vehicles have a tailshaft loop embedded with the chassis and these are permitted. If your car has a factory-fitted crossmember, a loop may not be required, but make sure you check because we will! No loop means no bitumen driving events, no exceptions.

Bonnets

Bonnets must remain fitted when cruising on the cruise route. You may remove your bonnet for the burnout competition only.

Blowers

When a blower protrudes from the bonnet, a guard must be fitted over the blower belt. This guard must be fitted for participation in competitions and if driving on the cruise routes under the terms and conditions of the Temporary Licence.

Paint and Body

Cars must have one consistent paint or paint pattern throughout – incomplete paint work (eg: primer only showing) is not permitted. Flat black primer is acceptable. The body must have NO accident damage or major corrosion issues (rat rods excepted).

Tyres

Racing slicks are not permitted at Red CentreNATS, apart from those appropriately fitted for use at the Drag Strip and approved for racing. Tyres must be of a DOT-approved type for legal use on the road and correctly fitted to legal rims. Burnout tyres are only permitted to be fitted to the vehicle whilst at ASID, Strictly No Cruising. The Chief Scrutineer may permit other rims and tyres on certain cars if reasons put forward by Entrants are deemed acceptable.

  1. Temporary Licence

A Temporary Licence can be obtained by Red CentreNATS entrants to drive their unregistered vehicles on certain roads in Alice Springs during cruising at Red CentreNATS and the Street Parade.

Terms and conditions apply. Check online at

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • One driver and vehicle combination per licence (if you want more than one driver per car each person will need to apply for the temporary licence).
  • There will be a zero tolerance to hooning. Those caught not abiding by their temporary licence’s terms and conditions will have the licence and event accreditation revoked.
  • Remember your actions could mean future Red CentreNATS participants are not given the opportunity to cruise in Alice Springs.

  1. Competitions

Red CentreNATS Champion

This is the ULTIMATE Red CentreNATS prize. Just like the Summernats Grand Champion, the Red CentreNATS Champion is the car that can impress in looks, engineering, style as well as drive-ability.

The Red CentreNATS Champion is the Entrant who gathers the most overall points from competing in Judging, all Grass Driving Events and Drag Racing. They must also participate in the Street Parade. The winner can come from either Elite or Street Class.

This award will not be presented unless at least four entrants notify the Elite Judging Chief Judge by 3pm Friday of their intention to compete.

Burnouts

There will be not one, but two burnout competitions at the Red CentreNATS.
The Red CentreNATS Burnout Competition class will be open to all Entrants.
The Burnout Masters class will feature twenty invited cars and drivers who will battle it out with the three to win entries into the Liqui-Moly Burnout Masters at Summernats 30.

Drag Racing

All Entrants are encouraged to enter in the Drag Racing Competition. All vehicles will be catered for, so come and race your mates, or lay down a challenge to see who’ll become the Red CentreNATS Drag Racing Champion.

Drivers Champion

The Drivers Champion is the best performer across the three Grass Driving Events PLUS Drag Racing.

Dyno Cell Champion

They Dyno Cell Champion is simply the entrant whose car pushes out the most horsepower at the wheels. Entrants are able to compete for the Dyno Cell Champion or just test out their car on the Dyno Clinic to see how it performs.

  1. Judging

Judging Technique for Street & Elite

Because of the ongoing debate on Street vs “big dollar” Show cars, the following is a guide as to how the Judges will identify street cars as separate from the others.

The sign of a regular Street or Elite car is wear and tear and that’s what will be the Judges’ first consideration eg: stone chips and car park knocks, slightly worn driver’s side seat, road damage on the suspension.

So if the car appears as though it’s on the street regularly, the Judges will set about judging everything from the sills up. The only extra consideration under the car is whether it’s been cleaned for the Show ‘n Shine. A good Judge knows when a car once had a straight body, good paint and a well stitched interior and also a well laid out engine bay. Just remember: cleanliness is essential.

If you are unsure of your class an official will be there to advise and assist. The Chief Judge has the final decision on all judging classifications.

Cars presented for Judging should arrive in their absolute best condition. No matter how much time, effort or money went into the rebuild, the winner will always be ‘the best on the day’. Pre-judging starts at Scrutineering and the overall judging will finish on the Sunday of the event. More details about the timing of Judging will be provided closer to the event.

The judging of the cars is primarily to identify quality of workmanship and the assessment is purely ‘what looks best on the day’.

Categories have been created so that ‘apples aren’t judged with oranges’. In other words, cars with minimal modifications are not judged with highly modified and customised cars. Points are allocated for work done, fine finish, imagination, all of which finally balance out to find the best.

What Class is your Car in?

A simple way to help you decide whether your vehicle is in Street or Eliteclass is by considering the condition of your car’s undercarriage. If it’s perfect, chromed, painted and shows no sign of wear, then it’s most likely Elite. If you’ve gone for a tidy, flat black painted undercarriage and you put your car on the road occasionally, then you should probably enter the Street judging categories. However if your street driven vehicle has a spotless, almost perfect undercarriage, then you may be considered as an Elite contender. Of course, you’re always welcome to call us and discuss.

Cars in Street are then divided into groups according to their body style eg. sedan, coupe, ute, etc. It is considered that cars with extensive modifications and/or custom work should not compete with typical body styles. Further to that, consideration is given to Limited Edition Factory Muscle cars and Authentic cars.

Note: Authentic cars can be either restored or unrestored, and Muscle Cars should be as close as possible to original. In a case where it is marginal (where such a car has minimal changes from its authentic style), thought is given to whether it should stay in that class or go into its body style class. The judges may consult with the owner to decide.

All body style classes are of equal status but are separated into individual classes. All classes however, compete equally for paint, interior, bodywork etc.

  1. Podium Party

Held on Sunday night of Red CentreNATS the Podium Party is a chance to celebrate a great weekend and find out who are the newest Red CentreNATS Champions! It’s sure to be a night of great entertainment and great fun. Keep your eye out for when tickets go on sale closer to the event!

All awards are announced and presented at the Podium Party.

  1. Conditions of Entry

Buddies Driving the Entered Vehicle

Only the entrant is permitted to drive the entered vehicle while participating in Red CentreNATS activities. Buddies can only drive the entrant’s car to or from venues and are not allowed to cruise in their entrant's vehicle at all. If you want to have a second driver on your car, they must complete their own entry form and pay the relevant entry fees.

A Message from the NT Police

During Red CentreNATS, the police will be tough on drink driving, vehicle overloading, standing up in any vehicle, and limbs hanging outside the body of the vehicle. This means everyone must be sitting in, not on, the entrant’s vehicle. This includes hanging out of utes.

The roads that will form the Cruise Route in Alice Springs are public roads so all laws apply. The NT Police have the power to confiscate your vehicle if you are seen doing burnouts on a road related area. Capturing your vehicle on film could mean a notice arriving in the mail asking you to "please explain". Just take it easy.

Police in the NT conduct random vehicle inspections, and Red CentreNATS entrant vehicles and spectator vehicles travelling to and around the Red CentreNATS may be subject to these inspections. Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and you carry all the required compliance papers, including your Temporary Licence if you are issued one for the event. Drive safely and carefully at all times.