Jim Richards, one of motor racing’s great names, says this weekend’s Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport is going to be “amazing”.

Richards is a seven times Bathurst 1000 champion and winner of four Australian Touring Car Championships. He was inducted into the V8 Supercar Hall of Fame in 2006.

“The Phillip Island Classic is always a fantastic meeting and this year’s event will be the best yet. The range of classic old race cars from Australia and overseas is simply amazing and I cannot wait to get down to the Island and see them in action,” he said.

VACC, the peak Automotive Industry body in Victoria, is supporting the March 19-21 event.

“VACC applauds the Victorian Historic Racing Register (VHRR) for organising what will be another successful meeting. We also congratulate them on their own significant milestone this year, which is the 21st anniversary of organising the Island Classic. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment to put on a bigger and better event each year. VHRR has proved over the last 21 years that they are experts in this field,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

It is not only VHRR which is celebrating a notable anniversary at the Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport. This year’s event will also recognise the commencement of Australian celebrations of Alfa Romeo’s 100th anniversary; 60 years in motor sport of 1966 Bathurst winner, Bob Holden; the 50th anniversary of the first Armstrong 500, won in 1960 by Frank Coad in a Vauxhall Cresta and 40 years of the Holden Torana.

Fans are expected to flock to the Island in their thousands and this year they will see some 540 cars on the track in more than 30 events, including an all time record 36 Formula 500 V8 open wheelers and eight Formula 1 cars.

Jim Richards will be one of many famous names the crowd and car club members will have the chance to meet, including triple World Champion, Sir Jack Brabham, 2010 event Patron Kevin Bartlett, Alan Moffat, Bob Jane and John Bowe.

The Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport is the major historic motor sport festival in the Southern Hemisphere and widely regarded as one of the world’s great classic motor sport meetings.

Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motor Sport, March 19-21.
For more details, go to vhrr.com or phillipislandcircuit.com.au