Holden collector Steve Hartig gives a sneak peak of his upcoming 2024 Red CentreNATS display
As the Red Centre’s “Ultimate festival of wheels” gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary, one local punter is hoping to make it extra special: by showcasing his collection of Australian made utes. Find out more.
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A punter with a deep love for Aussie utes is gearing up for a big day in the Red Centre, as he will display a segment of more than 70 cars to the public.
With Red CentreNATS kicking off August 30, Holden collector Steve Hartig is busy getting his ute collection ready for the display at Blatherskite Park on Saturday, August 31.
Mr Hartig said he’s going to be putting 30 of his Holden Commodore utes in this year’s display – the most he’s ever put in.
Tucked away in the Red Centre, Mr Hartig said he has more than 70 Holden utes – ranging from old Sandman’s to newer SS utes – and will showcase models from 1998 and upwards.
But it’s a mammoth effort to get them ready: all of them need to be cleaned, and mechanical checks need to be completed to make sure they’re running smoothly, he said.
“It’s expensive, actually, because you’ve got batteries, you’ve got fuel, some of the cars wouldn’t fire up, which means that the fuel killed the fuel pumps in them, especially electronic ones, so you spend half the night trying to get that sorted out,” he said.
“God, washing the bloody things takes so long.”
Shauna Hartig said her husband started to collect more and more Holden utes and after the company closed its doors in Australia.
“He’s always been a Holden man, even when I first met him, he had lot of cars,” she said.
But with his collection growing so big, Mrs Hartig now wonders if her husband hold the largest collection of Holden utes in Australia.
However, for Mr Hartig, it’s not about holding records – it’s about preserving Australian automotive history.
“The younger generation that’s coming along now, they won’t know anything about this,” he said.
“I get a lot of fathers bringing their kids out here, and you see them walking around gobsmacked.”
Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez said this weekend will be Red CentreNATS history, and encouraged punters to get involved.
“Join us to soak up the screeching, tyre-shredding fun as drivers send it in the burnouts and drags or watch on as they test their skills in the grass driving and Great Northern 4WD course,” he said.
“Make sure you’re a part of Red CentreNATS history and help us celebrate a decade of automotive action featuring top street machines, elite show cars, hot rods, classics, and exotics cruising the streets of Alice Springs.”
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Originally published as Holden collector Steve Hartig gives a sneak peak of his upcoming 2024 Red CentreNATS display
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