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Chic Henry, born Anthony Robert Henry (15 December 1946 – 14 April 2022), was a car enthusiast and the founder of the Summernats motor festival in Canberra. He was the Summernats director between 1988 and 2009.

Life and career

On 15 December 1946, Henry was born in Launceston, Tasmania to returned serviceman father Robert Henry and mother Alma Horton. Henry's great, great grandfather had been Tasmania's first Postmaster; his great grandfather had worked on the project to lay underwater phone cable between Tasmania and mainland Australia; and his grandfather and father had both served with the Postmaster-General's Department.

Henry attended Queechy High School in Norwood, Tasmania, repeating his last year. At school he was a strong competitive swimmer and board diver.

Accepting an apprenticeship with the Australian Army, Henry moved to Melbourne in 1964. His army career saw him living in Sydney and Townsville before his resignation in 1973.

In the 1980s, Henry was involved with the Australian Street Machine Federation. In 1987, Henry built a dedicated burnout track at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC, then known as Natex), and he held the first Summernats at the venue in January 1988. Thousands of attendees turned up at the event, which featured cars and entertainment from rock and bush bands, including hundreds for the first Summernats Street parade down Northbourne Avenue on 2 January. Henry told media that promotion costs amounted to around $500,000.

Summernats went on to become one of Canberra's premier tourism events.

In January 2009, Henry was cautioned after he drove 77 kilometres an hour in a special 40 kilometre zone outside the Summernats venue. Henry explained to police that he had not seen the new sign and avoided a fine. After the 2009 event drew fewer attendees than expected, Henry entered negotiations with a possible buyer for the business. He confirmed the sale of the business to an undisclosed buyer in July 2009.

Henry ran for a seat at the 2012 ACT election, contesting in the northern suburbs electorate of Ginninderra for the Australian Motorist Party. Ahead of the election, Henry told voters to give their second preferences to the Canberra Liberals.

At the end of 2013, Henry left the Australian Motorist Party and joined the ACT Liberal Party.

References

1. "Summernats founder Chic Henry dies at 75". The Canberra Times. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
2. ^ Rare Spares Legend Profile: Chic Henry, archived from the original on 11 March 2011
3. ^ Fry, Douglas (25 August 2012). "Like a Chic to water". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
4. Waters, Jeff (3 January 1988). "Hundreds turn out for parade of the monsters". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
5. Turner, Brad (27 November 1987). "'Cruise City 88' set to hit the drag strip". The Canberra Times. p. 12.
6. Gartrell, Adam (2 January 2009). "Police catch Summernats founder speeding". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media.
7. "Summernats organiser caught speeding". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
8. "Summernats' Chic Henry caught speeding, may move to Sydney". News.com.au. News Corp. 3 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
9. "Is Summernats running on empty?". The Daily Telegraph. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2015. Just 80,000 people checked out the hotted-up cars and scantily clad girls during the four days of the Canberra bash.
10. Watson, Rhett (18 May 2009). "Summernats owner Chic Henry confirms event for sale". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
11. "Summernats sold, future in ACT uncertain". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 16 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015.
12. Towell, Noel (15 June 2012). "Summernats face enters politics". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012.
13. "Australian Motorist Party candidate and former Summernats organiser Chic Henry is urging voters to give their second preferences to the Canberra Liberals". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
14. Cox, Lisa (22 January 2014). "Former Summernats promoter Chic Henry joins ACT Liberal Party ahead of 2016 seat bid". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media.

• 1946 births
• 2022 deaths
• People from Launceston, Tasmania
• Australian founders
• Festival founders
• Australian car collectors