Historic car race transports spectators quickly back in time

Cars over 100 years old (through to the mid-1980s) sped around one of Australia’s oldest race tracks at the weekend, while the sun shone kindly on crowds both days of the event.

The national 48th Historic Winton opened with a parade of Austin 7s from the 1920s and 1930s, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding and organising club, the Austin 7 Club (Vic).

The action extended further than the track, with crowds able to view race cars in the competition paddocks and other historic displays, from mainstay popular Aussie Holdens to more exotic vehicles, including an early European Kiblinger, a 1921 American La France fire truck road car conversion and a wood-panelled, three-wheeled cycle car.

Display cars came from as far as Cootamundra’s Antique Motor Club, whose members have supported the event for more than a decade.

Historic Winton founder and short-track designer Bill Sheehan awarded an inaugural trophy named in his honour to the late Brenda Campbell, presenting it to her husband, Grant Campbell.

Brenda was the Historic Winton event secretary for many years and held several influential roles in Australian historic motorsport.

Another first at the event saw a national field of racing Minis vie for the Ted Brewster Trophy on the Winton Motor Raceway track.

South Australia’s Jason Armstrong won in his 1964 Mini Cooper S, which streaked ahead of the fast field to take the trophy that celebrates the achievement of Mini race legend and mentor, 90-year-old Ted Brewster.

A later dinner further honoured Mr Brewster as a special guest.

The next Historic Winton, the 49th, will be on May 30 and 31, 2026.