The tranquil surrounds of McNamara Park will be brought to life by the unmistakable roar of engines from a bygone era as the annual Classic Master of Mac Park returns.
The special event that brings more than 100 immaculately presented two-wheel machines of all shapes and sizes to town carries extra significance in 2022.
In a month’s time the best vintage motorcycles in town will return to McNamara Park, which will be the proud host of the 2022 Australian Historic Championships. An event that brings nearly 400 bikes including international Isle of Man TT racer Cameron Donald.
Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club president Alex Trnovsky said there was a lot to look forward to in the local two-wheel racing world.
“It’s the start of a pretty busy period for us,” he said.
“A lot of riders are using this as practice for the nationals, plus the fact the borders are open, so we have large fields in all classes.
“In the last 30 years it has been held in quite high regard by the historic racing aficionados, but there is extra interest this year.”
The trademark event of the Classic Master of Mac Park is the Laurie Fox Memorial sidecar feature race where Patrick Clancey and Stephen Bonney hope to defend their title.
Trnovsky said the race was dedicated to a special man of the club.
“Laurie put a lot into the club as one of the original founding members,” he said.
“He then continued on for quite a while, so it is good to keep his legacy in people’s minds.”
Among the contenders are Limestone Coast sidecar heroes Stephen and David Jones, who will look to turn heads racing in a freshly built sidecar with this weekend being its first appearance at a race meeting.
Trnovsky encourages all motoring enthusiasts to attend with the event being an attack on the senses.
“It is a great spectacle,” he said.
“It just sounds good and looks good.
“Everyone is friendly, so you can wander through the pits and talk to anyone about it. It just makes a great atmosphere and they do not hold back racing the old bikes for sure.”
At 9am bikes hit the track with qualifying and racing taking place on Saturday, while Sunday is full of races.
With the 2022 MotoGP World Championship season starting in Qatar on the same weekend where Australia’s Jack Miller hopes to follow in the footsteps of Casey Stoner and win on a Ducati, motorcycle racing will be on everyone’s lips at McNamara Park.
