An exclusive event known as ‘Night With the Stars, Under the Stars’ will kick off the 30th anniversary celebrations on the Thursday ahead of the event.
Several legends of Australian motorsport will appear as special guests, including Dick Johnson, John Bowe, Kevin Bartlett, Colin Bond, Bap Romano, Bruce Allison and more.
Motoring columnist and Leyburn Sprints competitor John Connolly will also appear as a guest speaker.
The event will be held at Ellangowan Woolshed, owned by rugby league great Shane Webcke.
Sprints president Tricia Chant described the event as a one-off celebration of Leyburn’s Australian Grand Prix heritage, having hosted the race in 1949.
“We haven’t done anything like this before. It’s going to be a wonderful night of entertainment, great food and drinks and traditional Sprints camaraderie before the big weekend kicks off on Friday,” Chant said.
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“Two years ago we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Leyburn Australian Grand Prix. This year we mark the foundation of the Sprints in 1996 by a committee of local people and the Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland.
“Who could imagine the Sprints would grow to what it has become today? An historic racing festival with its roots in an Australian Grand Prix, twice awarded Queensland Motorsport Event of the Year and renowned throughout the country for its unique spectacle and grassroots atmosphere.
“The Sprints also has attracted a prestigious inventory of sponsors, from state and local governments to many regional businesses. We’re graced every year also by a number of great drivers from past and present eras as our VIP guests.
“The weekend population of tiny Leyburn swells to around 18,000 people, including thousands of campers. They come to see the epic street sprints, while off-track we’ve developed a wide range of attractions to entertain every visitor.
“And this year that line-up will include our very special Night With the Stars, Under the Stars, where everyone will be welcome.”
The entry list for the Sprints closed on July 3, with well over 200 cars expected.
Vehicles range from 1920s roadsters to modern supercars and everything in between.
Father and daughter pair Colin and Belinda Schiller will field a pair of MG TB specials that competed in the 1949 Australian Grand Prix held at Leyburn.
Tickets for spectators and camping are on sale now, while ‘A Night With the Stars, Under the Stars’ tickets are still available in limited numbers.
The 30th anniversary of the Historic Leyburn Sprints will be held on August 14-16.
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