VACC Cowes Cavalcade

Thousands of people witnessed the sight of nearly 80 pre-war race cars driving the original course of the Phillip Island race track before then pulling into Cowes, where members of the public took up the invitation to stroll among these magnificent machines. It was a unique opportunity for motoring enthusiasts to marvel at the race cars of yesteryear. On show were priceless classic models including Bentley, Bugatti, MG, Riley, Delage and Lagonda. In return, the car owners and drivers relished the opportunity to discuss their pride and joys.

The 1928 race was won by Captain Arthur Waite in an Austin 7, at an average speed of 59 miles an hour (95km/h). As part of this year's Phillip Island Classic Historic Races - the largest historic motor racing meeting ever held in Australia - an Austin 7, with the original engine and gear box from Waite's car, led the cavalcade from the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit to Cowes, via the original GP roads (now tarred, of course). "It was a truly magnificent sight to see these elegant and beautifully maintained cars drive into Cowes. We thank the drivers and owners for generously bringing these priceless machines out and on show," VACC's Tim O'Brien said. "Our aim was to bring the cars to the public and judging by the response, it worked. We were pleasantly surprised to see how many people were there. From what I saw, it seems that everyone in Cowes came out to see the cars, he said.

Australia's largest historic race meeting at Phillip Island:
It was a huge weekend at Phillip Island, when the largest historic motor race meeting ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere took place over the March long weekend. The Shannons Phillip Island Classic attracted over 500 touring, sports and racing cars spanning the 1920s to 1980s, with more than 50 cars coming from overseas to take part. One highlight, courtesy of the Porsche Museum in Germany, was the first Australian appearance of the World's most powerful sports car - the twin-turbo 12 cylinder 917/30 that produced up to 1580HP in qualifying tune when it steam-rolled the 1973 Canadian-American (Can-Am) sports car series. The final round of the 2007/2008 Tasman Cup Revival Series attracted a record field of 27, V8-engined Formula 5000 racing cars.

Retired V8 Supercar driver John Bowe was at the wheel of the Lola T430 that Warwick Brown drove to become the 1977 Australian Driving Champion. Bowe, who is the Patron of the meeting, also raced a very rapid Brabham BT14 open wheeler in other events. The meeting also attracted the greatest line-up of driving legends ever assembled at an Australian historic race meeting to Phillip Island, with famous names attending including Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan, Australian Gold Star Driving Champions Bowe, Leo Geoghegan and Kevin Bartlett, Australian Grand Prix winners Frank Matich, John Goss and Alfredo Costanzo, former Touring Car champions Norm Beechey, Bob Jane, Jim Richards and Glenn Seton, four-time Australian Hill climb champion Alan Hamilton and Goggomobil Dart creator and former Buckle sports car designer, Bill Buckle.