Wednesday Jan 2nd 2002. 

Had a bit of a late start. I still hadn't packed my bags, so I never got out of Sydney until 1pm. 
I arrived in canberra at 3:40pm, and booked into the hotel. I rang up "Ford Man" and he popped over to the hotel to put on the Ford Forums sticker on my car. We chatted for over an hour. 
At 5:45pm I made my way over to scruiteneering. I was queued up for over an hour to get through! There where so many AMAZING cars there. I followed a car transporter in, that had 7 cars on the back. 

When I was getting my car checked, the guy asked "Are you a support vehicle", "No, I am an entrant" I replied. He then looked at me sorta puzzled "Entrant in what?". I told him I was going in the grass events. He then commented that my car wasn't too clean.  (I had just driven about 300 km though area's that had bush fires, my car had bugs and ash on it)

I didn't leave the hotel until about 11. I drove over to the mobil to clean my car (it had rained during the night, so my car was extra grubby).
After cleaning my car I headed over to summernats. I wasn't even inside yet - I had just pulled up into the shell, when a guy ran up to the car "Are you xr8chic?" he asked. He was a mate of a guy who owns a ED XR6 from Tas, and had been asked to keep an eye out for me.
I did a few laps, then had a look around the traders stands. Did a few more laps, then at 2pm, headed out to meet up with some friends.
At 6pm I was back again, on my 3rd or 4th lap, I saw a friend of mine (Chris) and he jumped in the car, with a guy called Glen. We cruised around till about 8pm, they where trying to get girls in the car the whole time! We then stopped for 30 mins, watched the action from near the ford stand, and then did a few more laps. 
Near the shell, there where hundreds of guys there egging everyone on to do burnout's. I had 2 people call out my name but couldn't see who they where. One very drunk young guy came up to my window and said "I [slur] lurve you [slur]". Also had a couple of people ask if my boyfriend knew I was driving his car.
Down near the strathfield car radio stand, I heard someone scream out "Ricer babe" (my nick name from ford forums) I later found out it was "FTEFan". I left just after 9:40 to head back to the hotel.

I went down to the nats at about 11am. Did laps for a while, and then went through the traders pavilion. I bought a xr8chic show plate, and then went out to do a few more laps. 
Saw Trent and Shona. Also had some scream out my name asking me to light em up. Wasn't sure who it was though.

Just after lunch I went back to the hotel to grab some food. At 5pm "Laminge" turned up, so I drove him down to the nats to get his pass. We got back to the hotel just after 6, and a few mins later "FordMan", turned up, and then flic and rob turned up. 
"Laminge" gave me the keys to his TE50, and I went for a drive around the corner. Maybe it was cos its auto, but I was really disappointed. I expected a lot more.

Woke up at 9am today. Was ready and waiting in car park by 10am. Laminge, FordMan and I headed out to the ampol to wash my car. I ran into Chris P (2001 Mustang cobra) there. He said it was the first time he has ever seen my car clean!
Headed into the nats. 1/4 way through my first lap, Laminge spotted the Herrod boys, and was hanging out the window talking to them, and at the same time, Flic spotted me from the other side of the road and came up to say hi.

After a couple of laps I parked my car. "XA Hardtop" came up to say hi, and so did "Tickin". 

At 1pm I had to go into the main arena for the Rare Spares Real Street judging. I had been accepted as a finalist, and didn't think I had a chance. I parked the car, wiped her down with a chamois, put on some tyre shine, and sat and waited. 
I was parked next to a Gold VK Commodore owned by a guy called James. 
There where about 25 finalists in the competition. Some of the cars where AWESOME. The judges eventually got around to my car and I was really nervous. The 2nd time they came to my car I noticed them looking at the stone chips on my bonnet. (doh!) Then the third time they came over, they where looking at the small but in the door trim.

After a while, everyone had bailed on me to go and look around, so James (gold vk), his GF and I went over to the stage to watch the awards being given out.
They announced the winners of the encouragement award, and best story award (the only ones I thought I had a chance of winning) and I figured I didn't get anything. But then they announced the winners of the 'Real Street Awards'..
"2nd place goes to entry number 207...." I thought... wait a minute - I am number 207. I went into shock. I don't recall getting to the stage, I vaguely remember accepting the award, and getting a kiss from the presenter, having to sign something, and then someone taking a photo of me. James got 3rd place! We where both so hyped neither of us paid attention to who won 1st place.

Straight after that I went over to do the grass events. had an absolute ball kicking up mud and grass all over the place. Then I got my car washed (AGAIN) and did a few laps before heading back to the hotel to freshen up before the supercruise.

At 7:30 I was back at the nats. When my car was getting searched, I asked the security guard what time the supercruise was on. He said 7:30!! I quickly drove over to the main arena, and parked my car in the centre on the grass. I was in group 3. As I was getting out of the car, one of the marshal's came up to me. She had remembered my name, and even knew I had got 2nd place (very good memory). 

It wasn't long before it was my turn to cruise around the arena. It was AWESOME. So many people, so many cool cars. After I finished cruising, I parked the car and ran up to the grandstand to watch the rest of the show.

Today was the last day. All good things must come to an end.
I got into epic at about 10am, and did a couple of laps before parking behind the ford stand, and going over to watch the go to whoa finals and burnout comp. There where some awesome cars there. The Vic Cop car did one of the best burnout's I have seen. Not only did he blow both rear tyres, he also blew the radiator!

At 2pm, I decided to start heading home. 1 last lap, and then I headed back to sydney.