Longford Revival Festival recreates a bygone era

Tasmanians will have the opportunity to recapture a golden period in the state’s history when a new major event is staged in the state’s north-east region from April 1 to 3.

The Longford Revival Festival will turn back the clock to the 1950s and 1960s when the town was under the spotlight for 17 consecutive years as the host of major national and international motorsport events.

At that time, Longford was the social focus of the Tasmania, and the festival will recreate that era with a modern twist – introducing fine wine, food and music and a host of local exhibitors.

Just as it was between 1953 and 1968, it will be a time for families to come together, reminisce about the bygone era, see the greatest collection of cars ever gathered in the state, enjoy the best of the modern Tasmanian food and wine industry while relaxing with live bands playing the biggest hits of the sixities.

Event Director, Ms Karina Crawford, said that the festival will boast attractions for the whole family, but the jewel in the crown will be the daily “Flying Mile” demonstrations honouring the legendary motor racing events that were staged on 7.2 kilometres of roads through and around Longford for nearly two decades.

“The Flying Mile will be exciting, and the cars and bikes that will relive that part of Longford’s history will be heaps of fun, but the event will also offer a range of family styled activities that will have big appeal for all ages, all staged in a way that has never been done before in Tasmania,” Ms Crawford added.

“This is an opportunity for people who experienced that era to revisit the fifties and sixties, and for the following generations to see firsthand what Tasmanian life was like when their mum and dad, or even their grandparents, were growing up.”

Longford, which is among the state’s oldest and most famous towns, is 20 minutes’ drive from Launceston or about 185 km north of Hobart.

In its heyday, the entry list at the Longford events, which included the Australian Grand Prix, read like a Who’s Who of local and overseas drivers, including notables such as three-time World Champions Sir Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart, Stirling Moss and Stan Jones, father of Australian World Champion Alan Jones.

The Flying Mile demonstrations will be exhibition runs, not races, featuring a vast number of historic racing cars from interstate and overseas, forming the largest and most prestigious automotive collection ever assembled in Tasmania.
One of the feature cars will be the Allan Moffat’s legendary Trans Am Boss 302 Mustang, one of the cars responsible for fueling the fierce Ford-Holden rivalry that underpins Australian touring car racing today.

The explosion of popular music played a leading role in shaping the 1950s and 1960s and heading the bill of live bands each day of the Longford Revival Festival will be The Melbeats, Australia’s leading Beatles tribute act.

Organisers are hoping that families attending the three day festival will dress in period clothes, with the best costumes being rewarded with great prizes.

Shannons’ Show and Shine event is bound to attract a large number of foreign and local examples of motor racing history, offering spectators the opportunity to get close to scores of priceless dream cars.

Octogan Australia is staging the event in conjunction with Shannons, Discover, Southern Cross Television and Northern Midlands Council.

The concept for the three day event is based on the world famous format from the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England.

Ticket prices for General Admission (including GST and a program, but excluding a $3.50 booking charge) are:

Adult (16 years and older) $29.00
Adult three day pass $55.00
Concession (Pension, Centrelink, student card) $25.00
Concession 3 day pass $48.00
Child (6 to 15 years) $19.00
Child three day pass $35.00
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) $95.00
Family (3 day pass) $180.00
Children 5 years and younger: Free

Tickets are available on-line at www.longfordrevival.com.au

Enjoy this clip from Longford in 1964