Summernats reveals plans to turn iconic Red CentreNATS into 10-day festival for Alice Springs

The ‘ultimate festival of wheels’ just celebrated a highly successful seventh run, and now there are plans to expand the Red Centre event into a 10-day festival, it has been revealed

There may soon be a lot more burning rubber at the much-loved Red CentreNATS festival. Picture: Supplied.

AFTER a record-breaking number of entries to this year’s Red CentreNATS, there are plans in the pipeline to expand “the ultimate festival of wheels” into a 10-day event, it can be revealed.

The iconic motorhead event, which is co-organised with event partner Summernats, may soon take place over two weekends in a bid to create a “long-reaching economic impact” in Alice Springs.

Speaking to the NT News, Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez revealed plans were in the works to floor the accelerator on the petrol-powered event, which just celebrated its seventh year.

“We want to grow this into a festival that goes for longer than three days,” he said.

“It might last for two weekends – so a ten-day festival – and have a long-reaching economic impact and get people to come to Alice Springs, see it and enjoy it.”

Mr Lopez said the event was important to Alice Springs because the locals love it, but also because of the economic benefits it attracts.

“It brings thousands of people to town … and they are all here just for Red CentreNATS,” he said. “They’re not passing through, they’re not accidental tourists – they’re here on purpose.”

“And what they do is they come and spend millions of dollars in the town.

“It’s always important – no matter what the circumstances – but given the last two years, it’s incredibly important for the town.”

Red CentreNATS benefits Alice Springs in several way, Andy Lopez says. Picture: Supplied.

Mayor Damien Ryan said events like Red CentreNATS are “important lifeblood to our community”.

“Every event has a very important part to play in our community,” he said.

“Events have struggled over the last two years with the pandemic, and because of that, we’ve really felt it, so it was terrific for the community to have the Red CentreNATS at the weekend.”

Mr Ryan said the attendees were not deterred from the street parade by chilly temperatures.

“It was a cool evening, but people just love the parade,” he said. “Their hearts were warmed by the throb of that machinery.”

About half of the competitors were from within the Territory, and more than 13,400 attendees passed through the gate, according to event organisers.

NT Chamber of Commerce chief operating officer Nicole Walsh said the economic benefits flow to a range of industries.

“It’s probably a little bit of a unique situation where people are bringing their cars so they might be spending money along the way,” she said.

“Then there’s accommodation, food, entertainments while they’re here.

“It’s also a really good opportunity to highlight the Territory and hopefully people go on from Alice Springs and do other holidays.”