The Easter Bunny went into hiding as 600­plus screaming engines invaded Sandown Raceway.

EASTERNATS 2004

here are reputations, and then there are reputations! And the Easternats has gained a reputation that ensures performance car enthusiast's flock to Sandown with just one thing in mind -- to have a great time with tough cars.
 Sandown Raceway is undoubtedly one of the most impressive venues to hold an event of this type. It's clean, easily accessible and offers expansive views from the comfort of the massive grandstand overlooking the main straight -- which just so happens to be the exact spot where most of the action takes place!
 Jon Davison, the main man behind the Easternats phenomenon, runs a very tight ship. Under his guidance, the driving events are run to a strict schedule which helps maintain the program of events for the spectators and entrants alike. Jon's a hands­on type of promoter and can always be found in amongst the thick of the action. Sitting behind a desk calling the shots is definitely not his style.
 It's no secret that there were some drama's leading up to the event (see last Issues editorial, so it was very satisfying for Jon and his team to see a huge crowd flood through the main gates during the event. We've since been told that all previous attendance levels had been broken! Anyone who had doubts about the Easternats future can rest assured that it will be a part of the calendar for many years to come.
 Primarily, the Easternats is a driver's event. Sure there are some fantastic show cars on display, but the majority of those attending (both as participants and spectators) are there for some high powered vehicles flexing their collective muscle -- and flex it they did! From the second that Jon gave the nod to open the gate to the racing surface, it was on for young and old. So much so that the second car to scream down the entry lane almost swiped the concrete wall. The crowd loved it!
 It's well documented that last year saw a few over zealous drivers come unstuck. This year, I didn't see one accident. If they did happen, it wasn't as obvious as the previous year. The beauty of staging this type of event at a race track is that if you come into a corner with a little too much heat, nine times out of ten you're provided with plenty of run off area. And let me tell you, some drivers needed it!
 The case in point was the drifting exhibition. While most of the entrants had good intentions, some just plain got it wrong! It was always going to be a great spectacle. Watching driver after driver try to replicate the "Jap­car drivers'' skills was more than amusing. It didn't take long for the Pro­Street crew to realise that their front tyres were almost folding in half trying to swing the car around the tight "s­bend'' section of the track. Some people used the drifting session as just another opportunity to smoke the tyres in front of a swelling crowd.
 Others put in a big effort and tried their damnedest to get it right -- nine times out of ten though, they'd end up backwards bouncing over the ripple strip. They crowd loved every minute of it.

 The number of spectators watching the drifting was big, but nowhere near the massive amount of people who struggled for a spectator point as soon as the burnouts were announced. It still amazes me how many people will sit and watchburnout after burnout after burnout -- especially considering that there had been tyre smoking since the start of the event on Easter Saturday!
 The Burnout Pad at the Easternats is about as big as they get. It's longer and wider than any other we've seen, which gives each driver the opportunity to swing their cars in any manner they see fit. As far as the jeering crowd is concerned, the wilder the driving the better! My old mate in his 308ci Gemini once again showed just how crazy he is by taking a good swipe at the guard rail and not even batting and eyelid. Once again, he was very unlucky not to score the top prize!
 As we've come to expect, the burnout action was thick and fast. Popping one tyre was considered a poor attempt and anything less than that was greeting with some single finger waves and a mouthful of abuse. It's a tough gig if you're not up to the task. But if you deliver the goods, the appreciate crowds response was deafening -- even over the screaming engine.
 The eventual winner was, (skip this section if you're a staunch V8 supporter) a Datsun 1200 Ute that not only showed its power in the burnouts, but also put on a great show during the drifting. The owner may not have been theabsolute crowd favourite, but he did deserve the title.

Popping the tyres was a must
in the burnout comp

Letting it all hang out in the Drift session

Retro styling suits the early F100

There was action aplenty!

Tough Windsor powered Corolla having fun

The show'n'shine area, although not overly crowded, did have some awesome cars on display. In amongst the local show cars were three very good interstaters. Craig Hewitt showed up with his detailed to the max Walkinshaw Commodore and went home with plenty of gold, as did Silvio Muscat whose blown and injected big block powered one­tonner cleaned up in the show section by winning several awards including Top Car of Show. He also took to the track and proceededto shave about twenty thousand kilometres of those big rear TA's.
 Dave Cornford trailered his LJ Torana (Extreme No.1 feature car and 3rd Peoples Choice Winner) from Wollongong and followed the same route as Craig and Silvio (a.k.a. Sealo) by wowing the judges before hitting the track for some high speed cruising followed by some drag racing and a couple of burnouts. Dave was having a ball and is sure to return next year.
 Speaking of Drag Racing, Easter Monday saw the main straight at Sandown transformed into a heads­up strip. The concept was simple. Loose and you're out! A couple of hundred cars lined up for the chance to take home Jon's cash prize and many went home with an empty wallet. Not Mick Voase (or Mark Vilarchi as he is now known!). After racing at Calder two days prior to the Easternats racing, Mick turned up to Sandown with cash flowing from every pocket after his big win earlier. He managed the same feat at the Easternats and made a tidy sum for a few days of racing. The long haul back to NSW would have been so much more pleasant!

Quick take the photo...
this things heavy

Putting a show on for the crowd

The 2004 Easternats was a no nonsense weekend with cars. Almost everyone left their attitudes at the gate and just enjoyed being amongst like minded people who had nothing better to do during the Easter break than smoking their tyres into oblivion. The strong response from both entrants and spectators bought a big smile to Jon Davison's face and no doubt renewed his enthusiasm after a start to the year that would have sent a lesser man insane. Perseverance paid off.
 We'll be back next year, and we're planning on bringing Project X done to have a bit of fun with you all out on the track. See you there...
                                           

I can't see in here... is it a good burnout or what?

Courtesy of Paul Beck & magazine