The action does not stop at McNamara Park as the popular venue plays host to the Australian Historic Road Race Championships this weekend.

It has been a long wait for the premier event on the Australian historic motorcycle racing calendar to arrive in the Blue Lake City.

The big race was originally scheduled for 2020, but COVID-19 dashed all hopes of that.

The Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club had high hopes of rescheduling it 12 months later, only for the pandemic to strike again.

But it will be third time lucky with nothing stopping the show this time as over 200 competitors from across Australia descend upon McNamara Park Raceway.

Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club president Alex Trnovsky is full of excitement to host one of the venue’s biggest events in recent memory.

He said it had been a tough journey to get here, but it would be worth it once the classic machines hit the track.

“We are very positive about it all and it will be a great meeting,” Trnovsky said.

“It has been disappointing to postpone it over the last couple of years.

“We have just had to do it basically – there have been a lot of challenges.

“The uncertainty around the constantly changing rules have forced us to postpone them.

“We spend a lot of time and effort into putting things in place, so it is a testament to the committee to keep pushing forward and being optimistic that it was always going to happen.”

Trnovsky said it would be a big moment for the club, ending a 16-year wait.

“We last hosted in 2006 so we have been waiting for a long time for it to come back,” he said.

“It is definitely the biggest event since then and will possibly be even bigger than that one.”

Engines will fire up today with an optional practice day before things get serious tomorrow.

The intensity will be up tomorrow when riders aim for the perfect lap time around the technically demanding track that is perfectly suited to vintage motorcycles.

When the weekend arrives, so does the racing, with around 30 riders in each class putting on an amazing spectacle of vintage racing where machines will be put through their paces.

The likes of Darren and David Trotter, David Short and Mike Engberg will fly the flag for the locals in an event where in excess of 300 vintage racing machines have nominated.

Every state will be represented across the weekend with the best historic riders in the country visiting.

But there will be one man all eyes will be trained on.

Former international Isle of Man TT racer Cameron Donald is heading the field and will be the main attraction.

The 44-year-old has contested seven TT’s between 2005 and 2013 and stood on the podium 10 times.

Donald was unstoppable at the 2008 Isle of Man TT winning the Superbike and Superstock races.

Trnovsky said it would be a great chance for many to watch and interact with someone who has tamed one of the scariest races on Earth, but more importantly the event is a great opportunity for Mount Gambier to put itself on the map.

“He will definitely be an attraction and it is great for the club to get someone of that calibre to come down,” he said.

“We are hoping to showcase what Mac Park has to offer and people can come and realise the amazing facility.”

With some of the best presented vintage motorcycles racing to be crowned Australian Champion in their respective classes, Trnovsky said it would be an experience for all of the senses.

“It will be similar to the Classic Master of Mac Park, but with triple the number of bikes racing at once, so it will be an amazing spectacle,” he said.

“There will be over 300 bikes to have a look at and the general atmosphere is great because you can just walk through the pits, have a look at the machines and chat to all the riders.

“The chance to see these amazing machines being ridden as they were intended is a sight (and sound) not to be missed.”

In addition to a packed program of racing, there will be plenty to see and do at the track, with full catering and bar facilities available.

Entry is only $20 per day for Saturday and Sunday’s racing, $10 for Friday’s Qualifying, with a three-day pass available for $40 and Under 16s are free.

Racing takes place from 9am to 4.30pm each day.