From Fords to Ferraris and MGs to Mustangs, the Historic Leyburn Sprints will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Australian Grand Prix with a record entry of 243 historic, classic and performance cars on August 17-18.

The biggest field in the Sprint’s 28-year history will represent ten decades of motoring and include many types of vehicles, from vintage home-built racers to grand prix and Indianapolis 500 contenders.

The weekend’s highlight will be celebrations for the 75th anniversary of Leyburn’s hosting of the grand prix on 18 September 1949, commemorated by the Sprints founding in 1996. At least four original 1949 cars will be on display and three drivers from later Australian Grands Prix will be among several high-profile former competitors on hand to help mark the occasion.

Many other visitor attractions will be on offer, from Show ‘n’ Shine and Vintage Van displays, to hot-lap rides, a charity auction of motorsport memorabilia, fun run, driver autograph sessions, live music at two venues and much more.

The community-run Sprints is holding an online raffle to win a Bathurst 1000 VIP weekend experience valued at $11,100 or five $500 Supercheap Auto vouchers. The raffle will be drawn live at the trophy presentation on Sunday afternoon.

Sprints President Tricia Chant said the record entry for the round-the-houses time trials showed there was unprecedented interest in being part of the 75th celebrations.

“This will be our biggest Sprints meeting to date. We had a huge number of entry applications and have arrived at a final entry of 243 cars,” she said.

“That’s many more than we’ve put on track in the past 27 years and, with the incredible variety of makes, types and vintage you’ll see nowhere, else our spectators are guaranteed a memorable weekend. Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, Corvette and Lotus are just some of the makes we’re expecting.

“Our off-track events and attractions are free and entry ticket prices haven’t changed in years, as we’ve worked hard to keep the Sprints fun and affordable for everyone.”

Sprints competitors in 64 classes will make around seven runs against the clock on Leyburn township’s 1.0 km street course, with fastest times deciding the winners. Nine teenagers with racing ambitions will contest the Mike and Ann Collins Memorial Junior Award.

As well as the all-conquering Gould GR55B V8 of Dean Amos – going for his record ninth outright win – high-interest cars will include two more used to the highest echelons of international racing.

One is a Ralt RT4 single-seater raced by Formula 1 World Champion Nelson Piquet of Brazil to second place in the 1981 Australian Grand Prix and now owned by enthusiast Michael Cumming, who says he is living his dream. The nimble Ralt also carried Roberto Moreno to victory in the 1982 New Zealand Grand Prix.

Mark Pickering’s G-Force Aurora Oldsmobile V8 Indy Racing League single-seater will be comfortably the fastest car to enter the Sprints. In the hands of American driver Jimmy Kite it qualified at 220.097 miles an hour (354.21 kmh) for the 1999 Indianapolis 500.

Pickering will be driving his car in an event for the first time.

“The G-Force is designed to go flat-out on the 2.5 mile (4.0 km) Indy oval, but might not get out of first gear in the tight confines of Leyburn,” Tricia Chant said.

“Still, it will be an unusual and spectacular sight for spectators and, without expectations, Mark is entering his car in the true spirit of the Historic Leyburn Sprints.”

The competition starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Adult tickets are available online or at the gate for $25 a day or $35 for the weekend, with children under 14 free. On-street parking is free.