BEAUT UTES
Darwin utes come out in force
Story and photos Fiona Gowers
Royal Darwin Show's
third Beaut Ute competition on July 26 reinforced the importance of an event
that clearly transcends coming first, second or third. Ute shows mean more
to Territorians than showing off their latest swivel lights and stone guards,
more than pocketing cash and certificates. It is a meeting of like-minded
souls starved of the social opportunities weekend sport can create. Darwin
mechanical mine site fitter, Kim Fox captured the mood, "I come here
to socialise. We don't have footie up here or anything like that so where
else do you catch up?"
Entries in 2003 were steady, with 20 men and women vying for five classes: Showy Ute (won by Michael Smith), Work Ute (Shaun Blowers), Pre-1970s Ute (Brett Francis), Outback Ute (Alan Stephenson) and Sheila's Ute (Kezia Purick).
The Horniest Ute (for the ute with the loudest or most unusual horn) was tailor-made for Mic Heinrich's 1999 VS SS. Toot this Commodore's horn and a metallic Mack bulldog on the bonnet spouts water. Mic, an army gun sergeant, also placed second in the Showy Ute class.
According to chief
steward Noel Padgham, the winds of change will sweep through the Royal Darwin
Show's Beaut Ute competition next year. While satisfied with the numbers it
is attracting, she is keen to revamp the current classes to better reflect
the utes unique to the Northern Territory. 
Full story: Issue 31, Oct-Nov 03
