Video: Summernats 2025 scrutineering & cruising!

Street Machine Summernats may not officially begin until later today, but yesterday was a massive day in its own right. The scrutineering team at GIO Stadium had their systems running like clockwork, processing 1400+ cars without a fuss.

Queensland street machiner Michael Brennan organised a low key cruise night in the evening, packing out the Braddon precinct for a sweet taste of what is to come with the Fringe Festival over the next three nights.

Scotty drove Grimace up from Melbourne. After a rugged time on the road for Drag Challenge, we weren’t sure how well the ute would go in the New Year’s Day heat, but thanks to a bit of creative thinking, the old girl overcame its heating issues and made it to Canberra without a worry.

Here’s three of our favourite cars from scrutineering. More to come!

Luke Bond, 1957 Chevy

Luke Bond’s twin turbo, L98-powered ‘57 Chevy is one hell of a machine, built at home by himself and his dad in just eight months! It’s tubbed to receive massive 16.5in-wide rubber under the rear, Luke has been campaigning the ‘57 at no-prep drags on the east coast for around four years. “We ran a 9.9@140mph at Sydney Dragway with a bad launch, but it’s not caged so we didn’t get much further than that!” he laughs. The hand controllers are set up to give him throttle, brake, gear shift and transbrake controls at the track. This is his second ‘Nats with the ‘57, aiming to cruise around EPIC and Braddon having a fat time.

Simon Fultaik, R31 Skyline

Simon Fultaik’s 1987 R31 Skyline has done away with its original RB30, now running a blown 383 stroker LS1! He purchased the car already boasting a turbo LS combo, but after his first ‘Nats with it, he decided to change it up. “Man, everyone has blowers, so I wanted one as well!” he laughs. The combo is a fresh one for this event, running Fueltech management and E85. The Skyline had its maiden drive with the blower after scrutineering on Wednesday. “We did an alternator already, so I’ve put the callout around for one, hopefully we can get it sorted and blow off some tyres!” he says. Behind the LS is a reinforced 4L60E, and the standard BorgWarner diff is still clinging on for dear life.

Brett King VH Commodore

Brett King’s blown VH Commodore is back down from Goulburn for another ‘Nats, an event he has been attending since he was 18. After running a CA18-powered Datto 1200 ute, he got the VH in 2018 for something a bit livelier to cruise in. The tunnel- rammed LS1 it had at first made way for a blown LQ9, and now it’s running a Warspeed Industries-built Dart 388 cuber under the 8/71 blower. “It made around 1000hp, but the drive from scrutineering to the hotel was its first with this new motor,” he says. With such a fresh car he’ll be taking it easy this weekend, enjoying it with his partner and son.

Today the event kicks off hard, with the City Cruise, Last Chance Wildcard burnouts, the Megiuar’s Great Uncover and stacks more!