A hologram of a raging bull in the middle of the burnout pad, what a statement that would make about Rockhampton during the Rockynats burnout sessions.
Apparently, I may be a bit pre-emptive in claiming Beef Australia to be the region’s biggest event, as there is a lot of passion for the Rockynats coming in June this year. Accommodation is said to be getting tight, all early bird tickets are sold out and the car entrants ‘sold out’ sign is also up. This by-product of a stalled Supercars race bid certainly shows promise. And the decision to hold most of the events in Rockhampton’s CBD, while I imagine will pose some logistical problems, does provide a good opportunity to sell the city in its best riverside light and involve local businesses and people. One Quay Street hotel in particular must be absolutely stoked with this decision. I believe this is the first of a multi-year arrangement between Rockhampton Regional Council and Summernats for Rockhampton to host such an event.
As well as attracting people (and their money) to Rockhampton for the event, I imagine other outcomes sought from investing in Rockynats are to increase the region’s profile and appeal to both outside businesses and potential residents. Keeping in line with the money also invested developing a Cultural Capital of the North image and SmartCity status, which I assume logically share these desired growth outcomes.
While at first a 3 day burn-out event may appear in direct contrast to a Cultural Capital of the North image to some and the amount of fossil fuels emitted into the Rocky atmosphere not that smart, I imagine Rockynats can and will evolve over the period of the agreement. Things, like when the new art gallery is completed holding a coinciding motor racing art exhibition and car body artwork competition, having separate divisions for electrical and hydrogen cars, involving the local secondary schools HPV (human powered vehicles) races, even this year including a bull (real or otherwise) in the events to highlight our Beef Capital status and sell next year’s Beef Australia at the same time. Like a hologram of a bull in the middle of the burnout pad; that would be putting a Rocky stamp on the event.
Instead of just being labelled a mini Summernats, Rockynats should develop its own identity that runs in conjunction with Rockhampton’s cultural and technology ambitions as well as our Beef Capital of Australia status.
While I believe Beef Australia will still be the region’s biggest event, it will be interesting to see how Rockynats develops over time and the ways it contributes to achieving growth and liveability outcomes for our region.