VETERANS TO ROLL UP FOR WORLD'S SLOWEST DRAG RACE
31 August 2012
Willowbank Raceway will play host to what some are calling the world’s slowest drag race when The Veteran Car Club of Australia (QLD) heads to Queensland’s premier drag racing facility on Friday 14 September 2012.
The day will be part of the City of Ipswich National Veteran Tour, with more than 140 veteran vehicles from 1900-1918 set to take to the drag strip after taking in a morning at the Amberley RAAF base.
After arriving at Willowbank Raceway, the veterans will have the chance to race each other across the eighth mile before enjoying a track side lunch while some of Australia’s professional Pro Stock racers put on a show in their high-powered race vehicles.
Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said he couldn’t wait to host these majestic machines of yesteryear.
“These cars are just amazing, you don’t see these machines that often, let alone so many of them all together and taking on each other on the drag strip!” mused Bettes.
“We are calling it the world’s slowest drag race, we are pretty sure this will be the first time vehicles of this calibre will race each other at a facility such as ours – it is definitely going to be entertaining!”
Veteran Car Club of Australian (QLD) Tour Chairman Trevor Farnell said Willowbank Raceway’s event was shaping up as a real stand-out of the seven day tour.
“Our outing at Willowbank will provide the drivers of these 100 year old vehicles an experience they would not be able to get anywere else in Australia," said Farnell.
"When this experience is coupled with experiencing Australia’s Professional Pro Stock racers, it will live in the entrants’ memories for ever!"
Entrant Dave Dryden from Victoria is bringing his 1906 Ford Model J, a 'one of a kind' prototype that never went into production.
“Trust the Queenslanders to do something that we haven’t done before. I can’t wait to blow those English and European cars off the track!" said Dryden.
The 2012 City of Ipswich National Veteran Tour will kick off on Wednesday 12 September 2012 with a civic reception at the Ipswich Art Gallery, hosted by Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale and attended by club patron her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, Ms. Penelope Wensley AC.
Thursday 13 September will see a day tour from Ipswich through Rosewood and Grandchester before returning to Ipswich for a Gas Light Parade along the top end of Brisbane Street.from 6pm. The Veterans will then park in Brisbane Street as part of the TIME MACHINE ADVENTURE and Street Festival on Brisbane Street.
The tour will continue on Saturday with a tour to the Australian Motorcylce Museum at Haigslea before Sunday 16th. sees them undertake a static display open to the public at the Ipswich Showground on the main oval from 9am.
The final three days will see them undertake tours through Kalbar, Moogerah Dam, Boonah, the Rail Workshop Museum and Woodlands of Marburg. For more information on the tour, please visit http://www.vccaq.org or contact the Tour Chairman on 0428740199.or Tour Secretary on 0427 734 350.
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane or just a short drive from Ipswich, offering a year-round program of events for the entire family. For more information and a full event calendar, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au