Under the Hood: Adam Kruger on what it takes to win the ultimate title

Published on 19 April 2026

For most spectators at Rare Spares and Repco Rockynats 06 this weekend, the Grand Champion title is something they only hear mentioned at the end of the weekend rather than something they follow in real time. But for those actively vying for the event’s crowning glory, it’s a demanding multi-stage a test that extends far beyond polish, paintwork or horsepower alone.

Few people understand that better than Adam Kruger, winner of the Grand Champion title at Rockynats 04. Long before he took out the trophy, Adam was just another kid watching cars flash past and wondering how something could look, and sound, like that.

“Like many, it all started when I was a young kid,” he recalls of how his long-time fascination with cars began. “You see a nice car go past really fast and you go, wow, what the hell was that? I couldn’t wait to get my license and then obviously, once you dip your toe in, it becomes an addiction pretty quickly.”

That early fascination quickly became a lifelong pursuit, not just of fast cars, but well-built ones. Adam grew up studying the icons of Australian car culture, flipping through Street Machine magazines and watching legends like Rob Beecham shape the early Summernats era.

“I’ve always been into well-built cars,” he says. “It was the appreciation for detail that really got me interested and that idea that you can keep progressing with your hobby. If you’re good at it, you can win a few things — and enjoy it more.”

That balance between enjoyment, craftsmanship, and competition would eventually define his approach. Unlike show-only builds that never leave the exhibition hall, Adam has always been drawn to cars that can both look exceptional and perform under pressure.

“It’s been a priority of mine to always make them go,” he says. “They’ve always looked fast, and I’ve always tried to make them go fast too. I like my cars to be able to do both.”

That philosophy is exactly what the Grand Champion category is built around. Here, entrants aren’t just judged once, they’re tested across multiple disciplines over the course of the weekend. It begins with elite-level judging in the Elite Hall but quickly extends into real-world street challenges designed to prove a car isn’t just for display.

“It’s about your ability to be consistent across the board,” Adam explains. “You do a couple of passes in the street drags before heading over to the burnout pad for the slalom and go-woah. You’re accumulating points along the way, and it all counts towards the rankings at the end.”

And unlike traditional racing formats, competitors aren’t given live updates on where they sit in the standings.

“You have no idea and you’re not really focusing on where you stand in the moment,” he says. “You’re honestly just trying not to hurt the car. It’s that balance of pushing hard and having fun, but not doing anything stupid.”

That unpredictability is part of what makes the category so intense and so respected among entrants and spectators alike. For Adam, his winning build, a 1967 Pro Touring Ford Mustang that had already earned accolades at Summernats and MotorEx, arrived at Rockynats with a reputation, but no guaranteed outcome.

“I rocked up to scruntineering not even 100% sure if it’d make the Elite Hall let alone take out Grand Champion at the end of it all. I didn’t have any anticipation of winning,” he recalls. “I knew the car was in great shape and could perform well, but I didn’t think twice about Grand Champion until I realised people were just absolutely blown away by it.”

Despite the eventual win, his is quick to point out that the car’s story is not entirely his own.

“It’s actually my ex-wife’s car,” he says. “I bought it for her and built it for her. All the vision — the colours, the interior — that was her idea. I was just the guy who did all the labour.”

After a decade of ownership, the Mustang remains a deeply personal project, one that is still capable of making waves when it’s not sitting in the garage. But this year at Rockynats, Adam has taken a slightly more relaxed approach. Stepping back from competition in the Mustang and instead enjoying the event with his two sons, he brought his 1970 VG Valiant Safari wagon, which he entered in the Street Parade, the Street Drags and Skid Row.

“I love being able to do this with my sons and bring them along for the weekend,” he says. “That’s the best thing about Rockynats because it’s really family orientated and there’s plenty of action to fill your whole weekend.”

As the final Grand Champion points are being tallied, Adam knows exactly what it takes to come out on top.

“You have to do well in the driving events,” he says simply. “That’s where you can make a big difference. And don’t be too scared — I drove the Mustang like I stole it.”

As the final day of action unfolds at Rockynats 06, the final chapters of the Grand Champion battle are being written in real time. Entrants took to the streets early this morning for the Tuned by Chop Street Drags, pushing both car and driver in one last high-speed points chase.

Shortly, attention will turn to the Buddy’s Fire Burnout Pad for the Slalom Go-Woah, running from 10:30–11:30am this morning — the final opportunity for competitors to accumulate points before tonight’s big reveal. The Grand Champion will be officially crowned at the Full Throttle Awards Ceremony, from 6:00pm at the FMX Kaos Showgrounds precinct stage.