Premier historic event to bring car enthusiasts from across the country to Baskerville
Blood might be thicker than water, but what about oil? Two revhead best mates have watched the gripping Baskerville races since they were children. Here’s why they keep coming back.
Tasmania
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Leigh Woolley and Mick Cross are best mates who not only work together, but race cars together.
Mr Woolley started racing in Skylines, and now races a 1972 XU1 Torana. Mr Cross has a 1984 Rover SD1 that he has worked on so much only the roof and door frames are original.
The pair prefer historic vehicles over modern, and they take their cars to the tracks around six times a year including for the “premier” event for pre-1992 cars, the Baskerville Historics.
“It’s just what you grew up with, it gives you all the nostalgia and all the memories from growing up,” Mr Cross said.
“We used to come out here to Baskerville and watching these guys race I thought geez I could never do that.
“But somehow you beg, borrow or steal and do it.”
He said he got into racing with his Holden HQ that he had modified and started participating in club days.
He said racing allowed him to “switch off from everything else” to just focus on the road in front.
Competitors and spectators from across the country with their pre-1992 cars will descend on the Baskerville Raceway from 31 October until 3 November.
Mr Cross said the variety of old cars that come out of people’s sheds for the annual meeting is “amazing”.
Baskerville foundation chairman Peter Killick said a lot of people only get their old cars out for this one event.
“What we find is for example the Torana guys- they are Torana enthusiasts but they race one and might have another one or two in the shed.
“So they are happy to come out one or two times a year, but this is their main event,” he said.
He said the Historics draws a more relaxed crowd and competitors, with more enthusiasts and like minded people making for a family friendly atmosphere.
20 lucky kids will have their chance on the track for the annual pedal car race, where they will race to jump in miniature pedal cars and race down the hill.
On Sunday, the iconic grid walk will take place at 12 noon allowing the crowd to get among cars parked on the track.
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