Wagin burnouts to capture crowds

Wagin could fill the void of high-calibre burnout competitions left by the folding of Gazzanats WA, which was announced by organisers last month.

If organiser Kirsty McCormick has her way, this weekend’s Kaos in the Country Wagin burnout competition could capture the big crowds and top-quality drivers attracted to Collie each year for Gazzanats WA.

Gazzanats WA organiser Deby Myers said the event, which drew about 10,000 visitors to the town, would not go ahead in 2020 after Motoring South West indicated they would only hire out the burnout pad and not the Motorplex track next year.

Ms McCormick, who is organising the annual Wagin event for the first time, is hoping to get at least 1000 people through the gates this weekend.

“I’m really hoping to make it one of the biggest events in regional WA,” she said

Ms McCormick has proposed holding Wagin burnouts three times a year, pending the results of this weekend.

The signs have been promising despite limited marketing ahead of the first Kaos in the Country spectacle, with 75 drivers scheduled to hit the pad for $4000 in prize money.

“A lot of our contestants are coming from Perth, which are guys that compete at (Canberra’s) Summernats and events like that,” Ms McCormick said.

“They’re extremely well known in the burnout scene nationwide.

“We’d like to get to the point where we can run our own little WA version of Summernats.

“Hopefully we can bring in a big crowd and bring a little business to the community over the weekend. From what I’ve heard there’s been quite a few motel rooms booked in town.”