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A second historic racer from the 1949 Australian Grand Prix has been added to this year’s edition of the Leyburn Sprints.
The MG TB Special which finished fourth in that event (driven by Peter Critchley) is set to be driven by Colin Schiller, while his daughter Belinda will compete in a similar car.
This year’s Leyburn Sprints celebrates the 70th anniversary of the township hosting the Australian Grand Prix.
Both MG’s competed in the 1949 race, with the car Belinda Schiller is set to drive retiring from the event.
“Leyburn will be my first competitive run. It’s taken me a while to do a few things to it – it used to run on aviation fuel and now has a starter motor instead of having to be push-started,’ said Schiller
Sprints Race Director Mike Collins said the old MGs’ appearance would be a special treat for spectators.
“It’s extraordinary that Col Schiller has collected not one but two cars from the 1949 grand prix when few others remain and that they’re coming ‘home’ for the 24thHistoric Leyburn Sprints,” he said.
“Both MGs are 80 years old and still going strong. It will be exciting to see them on track again.”
It’s set to attract a host of luminaries from Australian Motorsport including Dick Johnson, Kevin Bartlett, Colin Bond, John French, and Fred Gibson.
This year’s event will be held on August 17-18 with a sprint event around a one kilometre circuit and other displays and autograph sessions planned.
