Event organiser Kerry Phelan expects to see 40 entries into the races, across the categories of vintage midgets, sprintcars, modified cars, classic rear engined F500s, Sedans, and for the first time, go-karts.

But, he expects the spectators will be there to see Sid Middlemas, the former Sydney Royal driver. 

“It’ll be a tribute to Sid,” Mr Phelan said.

“He used to race in front of crowds of 30,000 in Sydney, and I don’t expect we’ll see that many in Illabo though.”

Even still, representatives from 12 car clubs around the country are expected at the Illabo Motorsports Park. 

“I’d say about 30 per cent of the spectators will be there to see him, and many of them will have travelled a fair distance.”

For Mr Phelan, being able to host Sid Middlemas is a personal triumph.

“He was easily one of the top 20 best drivers from the 60s, he was probably up around third or fourth,” he said.

“I remember seeing him in 1966, and 50 years on, for me to be able to do what I’m now doing, and invite him to be a part of it, well, it’s a thrill.”

Fittingly, the buggies and cars used in the event will all be from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s – the era Mr Phelan describes as “racing’s golden age”.

It is a period of car racing history he would like to replicate by providing regular demonstration days.

Mr Phelan and the GasWorks team only recently received their license to run an intensive driver training program on the Illabo grounds. 

He now sees that as the culmination of four years’ effort that could see the park become a motorsports hub for the state.

“A lot of tracks around the cities have been shutdown because of noise complaints, but out in Illabo with nothing around we don’t have to worry about that,” he said.

“Geographically, Illabo is well placed, since it’s a day’s drive from Melbourne, Adelaide, or Sydney.”

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