The annual Legend of the Lakes Hill Climb is not just an ordinary race against the clock, it is an event celebrating the passion of motorsport.

Hundreds of drivers will take on the mountain in their cherished set of wheels of all shapes and sizes.

Not only do the vehicles bridge generations, but so do the men behind the wheel.

Last year young 19-year-old Erebus Motorsport mechanic Jack Michelson steered a Ford AU Flacon, while an equally passionate man almost six decades his senior drove the same iconic car.

Seventy-five-year-old Alex Bohner returns to the Valley Lake in his navy-blue AU XR8 for his 12th crack at the hill climb.

Bohner is one of a handful of drivers breaking the age barriers in the three-day event and his passion for the pursuit of speed has not slowed down at all.

“It (the hill climb) is a must do on my calendar every year,” he said.

“I enjoy it more each year and love challenging myself.

“The camaraderie is great and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.

“My motto is I am here to grin and not to win.”

Although his age increases, Bohner’s lap times continue to decrease and he set his personal-best time up the mountain of 1:11.68 last year.

He has also driven other iconic Ford cars such as a GT Falcon and a Cortina in the past and is a member of the Upper Snuggery Racing Team which completes rallies around the region and will field a handful of cars in big field this weekend.

Bohner said he has only has plans of keeping his foot planted on the accelerator.

“My goal is to drive in my 80th year,” he said.

“But whether I do that or not is another story, but I am working on it.”