Nathan’s rapid turnaround

Four years on from a Picton man’s first attempt in a stock Ute at the Kaikōura Hop, he will be bringing his burnouts to the world’s biggest stage in Australia.

Nathan Bull and the Burnout Bully modified 1974 Holden HQ Ghost earned a golden ticket entry for the Summernats Pro Burnout Grand Final; the world championship of burnouts.

The winner will take home AUD $50,000 at the Canberra four-day modified car festival from January 8 – 11 2026.

Nathan qualified for Summernats after placing first in the Naturally Aspirated V8 section and third overall at AutoFest in Tauranga on October 4, with the ticket being awarded to a driver and vehicle who impressed throughout the weekend.

Ghost was also chosen to be recreated in the Burnout Masters video game from a wildcard draw at AutoFest.

“Oh man, I’m still absolutely buzzing now, I’m not sure I can still believe it yet – the support I’ve had from friends has been so humbling so having all this happen is just a dream.

“I took a road-legal wellside modified Ute down to the Kaikoura Hop a few years ago, and I was partial to a good burnout now and again”, Nathan laughs. But I saw they had an open competition down there, thought I would have a go, ripped in with this pristine Ute and fell in love with the whole competitive idea instantly.

“Hearing the crowd roar over the engine and tyres, surrounded on a pad where it feels like an arena, there’s nothing like it. Taking Ghost to Summernats a couple years later is honestly a dream”.

After qualifying in the first weekend of October, Nathan now has seven weeks to get Ghost to Canberra, as well as the additional requirements to withdraw from New Zealand events he was planning to attend. This includes a full stripping down, cleaning and repair of Ghost, done over the past weekend, before the car is sent to Auckland to pass Australian customs and being shipped ahead of the competition.

Nathan says he is eager to ‘rip in’ and make the most of the opportunity to perform on the world stage and compete against many of the world’s best.

“To be able to compete legally in Australia we need to cover the hood exhaust and put a full new exhaust coming out the back of Ghost. We need working indicators and brake lights if we want to cruise ‘Tough Street’ - since we’re going to Summernats, we have to do that. Off my own back we could maybe get to two of the New Zealand events, but we had a list of nine this year including two before Christmas we’ve had to pull the pin on.

The support and investment from my sponsors, from tires down to refreshment sponsors, it’s unbelievable and it’s going to be a sprint to the burnout pads of Canberra in January, but we’ll throw everything at it and do everyone proud”.

Follow Nathan’s journey on at https://www.facebook.com/p/Burnout-Bully-61550518017955/ or contact [email protected]