It's judgement day at Summernats and outside the main pavilion, entrant are pacing like expectant parents.
For many, this is the culmination of years of work and effort in building an elite class street machine perfect enough to be admitted to the hallowed top 60 cars at the nation's premium modified car show.
Only the best make the cut and only the elite cars from the final selection are able to qualify for the coveted grand champion's Summernats broadsword.
The entrants' cars have been rolling in for two days and have been cleaned, polished and preened to the most extreme levels. Some even take a small finger-like feather brush to clean out any tiny flecks of reluctant dust which may linger behind the dashboard air vents.
Once inside the judging pavilion, each elite car is driven slowly up on ramps and the intense scrutiny begins.
In the centre of the pavilion floor, hidden under dust covers, are the 10 cars for the Friday evening "Great Uncover". These are vehicles not seen in public before and are already the subject of intense speculation.
The rest of the hopefuls can only look across in envy, as these cars have already earned their place in the pavilion.
Owen Webb, who this year relinquished his role as Summernats chief steward after decades in the top judging role, said the standard of entries this year is very high.
"The entry numbers and quality of entries tend to go in cycles," he said.
"From what I've seen, we are near or at the top of that cycle because there are some very high quality cars here."
To qualify as a Summernats judge is a difficult process and an eye for detail is essential. Judges look very closely at tricky places to paint, such as door gutters, jambs and hinges.
