Historic Racing Championship Announced
Winton Long track to encourage participation in Historic Motorsport
Australia’s largest and most influential historic motorsport club, the Victorian Historic Racing Register has announced a three event championship as part of a scheme to encourage participation in historic racing.
The club currently runs the two pre-eminent historic events in Australia, the ‘Return of the Thunder’ event at Sandown and the Phillip Island Classic – the ‘Festival of Motorsport.
Both events are growing in popularity – with record driver and spectator participation. They have also been profitable ventures for the VHRR.
The ‘Festival of Speed’ has seen the management of the Winton Motor Raceway and the VHRR combine in the planning, promotion and running of the event, although it will be run under the auspices of the VHRR. It will also be an AASA event.
The President of the VHRR, Ian Tate said the club was looking at historic racing as a growth area for Australian motorsport and the club had undertaken some research to find out what potential entrants and spectators liked and wanted.
“Last year, as part of a business strategy we canvassed competitors, car club members and spectators at both Phillip Island and Sandown about the events. The research included demographics, age, family details and specifics such as days attended, reasons for coming, likes, dislikes and event interest.
“A third survey canvassed competitors, racing enthusiasts and car club members on re-inventing a historic race meeting at Winton Raceway’s long circuit,” said Tate.
The club survey showed there was a very strong and encouraging response. Basically the answer was – ‘yes, we will support such an event and we like it to be part of a three-race championship’.
Supported by Shannons, Penrite and CoolDrive, the ‘Festival of Speed’ will be a full race meeting with added features aimed at increasing both spectator and competitor numbers.
It is also designed at reaching a younger and more diverse audience as well as attracting classic car enthusiasts who may not want to race, but who would like the opportunity to run timed laps.
For the first time the popular ‘Regularity’ events will be backed up by timed ‘Sprints’ with 15 minute runs. The eligibility for the sprint events will be American and Australian muscle cars, plus Porsches. All built up to 1985. Drivers will need a basic CAMS or AASA licence and must wear a helmet.
The event will run on the weekend of 13th, 14th & 15th of August 2010.
For further information:
Ian Tate: 03 9877 3317
Ian Ross: 03 8256 1644
Colin Fulton: 03 9877 4617
