Day 14 | PERTH MOTORPLEX– After a long day (post Photo Tour), it was decided we would go to see the burnouts. Daniel (Isaac’s awesome friend & Rhiannon’s Husband) advised me to watch a video so I could see just how different Australian burnouts were from the American ones. Since I had never seen an American burnout really, I brushed the words off without thinking much more of them (at least I’m honest!). Now, we arrived late (mainly due to getting lost), and dressed in my best professional clothes (we had to go straight there), I felt incredibly out of place. Not only was I clearly overdressed, but I stuck out like a sore thumb with my nude polka dot tights and pastel colors. I am usually pretty comfortable being the odd one out (I’m a bit of an odd duck myself), but the crowd was a black, smoking sea of people.

As Rhiannon showed us to a more strategic spot to sit (away from all the rubber smoke so you could see and later not have to squeegee it off every inch of your skin), I observed a large front loader type of vehicle being used to scrape off the black melted rubber from the ring. Because we walked in when they were clearing, Rhiannon got the chance to fill me on the rules a little… There are numerous judges who judge the burnouts (her husband included), and scores are averaged accordingly. The tricky part then becomes the varying opinions among-st them to democratically choose the winners (1st-$10,000, 2nd-$5,000,etc). Lots of points were typically given to how fast, daring, amount of smoke, how much tire was left on the wheels, how big the crowd’s cheers were and how close they came to the boundaries without touching it (I’m sure there is more criteria that I am missing, but this should get us started).

I’m definitely not sure what I expected when it finally started (I think I was speechless between my nervous laughs). I think I had a few around us chuckle when I jumped at the large popping sound the first set of tires made when they were burned through. I took a few videos from that night, but this one was a favorite of mine. I’ll let you experience what I did. All in all, glad I went. I’m not sure I am by any means an enthusiast, but it was an experience none-the-less. Isaac mentioned a two day affair after camping out in the bush for New Years (to which Rhiannon replied something like “yeah 2 full days of burnouts, tons of people, and incredibly hot”). Sorry boys, I’m not sure if this introverted yuppie will be able to follow you there. Honestly, your Australian way of drinking alone might do me in…. 🙂