This weekend’s inaugural Sydney Retro Speedfest will have something for all the family, with a jam-packed racing schedule, off-track entertainment, new cafes and viewing areas, and free paddock, grandstand and onsite parking access.
A massive 28 events will be contested over the May 3 – 4 weekend, with around 250 classic racing cars taking on the Sydney Motorsport Park Gardner GP Circuit.
High on the list of must-see displays and demonstrations are over a dozen historic Formula One cars, with examples from Brabham, Williams, Arrows, Benetton, March, Lola, Spirit, Surtees, Ferrari and Cooper. Pedigree machines from the 1970s and 1980s will feature in an intriguing contest between Formula One, Formula 5000, Indycar and Formula Atlantic racing cars as they duel with some of the fastest sports cars in the country – including a Le Mans-type Porsche 962.
Legendary heritage touring cars will battle on the GP Circuit, reviving the glory days of Bathurst as Ford Falcons and Sierras take on Holden’s Torana A9X and Commodore, with BMWs and Nissan Skylines thrown in to the mix. The “baby class” of Escorts, Geminis and Corollas will be equally entertaining, their nimble handling prowess making up for their lesser horsepower when compared to the aforementioned big guns of Bathurst.
A record entry of 49 production sports cars will contest the Speedfest, where no less than six Alfa Romeos, seven MGs, five Austin Healeys and six Triumphs will face the onslaught of 17 Porsches. These crowd-pleasers will also participate in a novel handicap race on the Sunday morning, ensuring plenty of passing as the rear markers, which include a super-quick Corvette and Shelby GT350, display their prowess.
A gathering of 14 Mustangs racing in four different categories will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic American “pony” car.
And finally, classic open-wheel racers from the 1960s will vie for the prestigious John Dawson-Damer Trophy on the Sunday afternoon, as Damon Hancock seeks to retain the title with his speedy Brabham BT23C. There will also be plenty of slip-streaming action to be found amid the 40-strong field of Formula Fords and Formula Vees.
All the action can be viewed from Sydney Motorsport Park’s 4000-seat Grandstand, the many vantage points around the track, and from the ARDC Garage bar and Café, and the new Rooftop Bar and Café on the top level of the main pit building. A brand new lift also makes access to the Pit Building levels even easier for families with young children, and elderly and disabled patrons.
Off track entertainment includes slot-car racing and racing simulators to keep the kids entertained between races, plus the static displays of vehicles from many eras of Australian motorsport will ignite the motoring enthusiast in punters of all ages.
Tickets are on sale now at a discounted pre-sale price, or for a slight premium on the day at the gate. Contact the ARDC on (02) 9672 1000 to purchase over the phone, buy over the counter at the ARDC Offices at Sydney Motorsport Park, or go to www.sydneyretrospeedfest.com for all the latest information.