One of the biggest events on the Australian Historics calendar takes place this weekend with the Victorian Historic Racing Register hosting the 29th edition of its popular Historic Sandown event.
 
Held at the famous Sandown Raceway, the two-day race meeting will welcome some of the best sports, racing and touring cars from yesteryear as their owners battle it out in a for class and category honours.
 
In what will be an action-packed weekend, more than 230 competitors spread across 11 categories will compete in the meeting, with each category to get one qualifying session and three races.
 
For the classic car enthusiasts, the Historic Sandown is the perfect event as many category favourites will be on show, including Historic Touring Cars, Formula 5000s and the HQ Holdens.
 
Boasting the biggest entry list for the event is the Regularity where 32 drivers will get three sessions to post as many laps as they can around their nominated lap time.


As for the racing categories, Formula Ford will have the biggest grid with a healthy 29 cars to battle it out in in three respective classes.
 
Outside of the impressive list of categories, the event also has a number of high-profile names competing, current Gulf Western Oils Touring Car Masters leader John Bowe being the headline act.
 
It’s going to be a busy few weeks for the 1995 Australian Touring Car Champion, who is locked in to compete at Challenge Bathurst next weekend, before the TCM season finale at the start of next month.
 
Bowe won’t be the only national champion to attend the event with multiple Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Champion Malcolm Oastler to run in the 12-car Formula 5000.
 
Despite the event’s numbers being down compared to previous years, Deputy Clerk of Course Michael Herlihy was thrilled to have an event with lots of positive participants.
 
“It’s amazing just how keen people are to get out racing again. We have really missed the friendship and camaraderie that comes with a race meeting. It’s quite overwhelming to see everyone again,” Herlihy said.
 
“The number of people who are appreciative that we managed to get something together is amazing and it is quite encouraging to see so many smiling faces and happy individuals.
 
“There were plenty of times in the lead up that we weren’t sure whether we would be able to get it over the line, and it’s definitely been a battle with the uncertainty, but we’re here now and very excited.
 
“Normally we have a significant interstage contingent, but due to that uncertainty surrounding whether we could run or whether interstate borders would be open, it’s mainly Victorians who are coming, with a few from New South Wales.
 
“Still, to have around 220 Victorians coming is a huge effort and great to see competitors in our state attending.
 
“There is plenty to look forward to this weekend and I think I speak for many when I say that the noise the Formula 5000s make on their rolling starts is a magnificent spectacle. I just can’t wait.”


While the club is unable to welcome its regular interstate competitors or have its usual trade shows and displays, it received a major bonus earlier this week with the approval of spectators, who must be fully vaccinated or have a valid medical exemption.
 
Fans wanting to attend can now purchase tickets for $20 per day and watch the action live from the famous Red Hill vantage point.
 
Click here to view the event program. 
 
The action begins from 9am AEDT on both days and concludes just after 5pm.
 
The 2021 Historic Sandown takes place at Sandown Raceway on 6-7 November.