AN exclusive Night With the Stars, Under the Stars in a unique bush setting will open a long-weekend of 30thanniversary celebrations at this year's Historic Leyburn Sprints.
Sprints President Tricia Chant announced some of Australia’s greatest racing drivers of past eras including Dick Johnson, John Bowe, Bruce Allison Charlie O’Brien, Kevin Bartlett, Colin Bond, Bap Romano and Steve Masterton (*) would be special guests at the night, to be held on Thursday 13 August in the 100-year-old Ellangowan Woolshed owned by local farmer and rugby league legend Shane Webcke.
Weekend Australian motoring columnist and Historic Leyburn Sprints competitor John Connolly will be guest speaker.
Mrs Chant said the Night With the Stars, Under the Stars would be a one-off celebration of Leyburn’s Australian Grand Prix heritage, launching a weekend of special activities.
“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,” she said.
“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 on our VIP guest list.
“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.”
A ticket to Night With the Stars, Under the Stars will offer a 4 ½ hour package of gourmet food and quality beverages in the authentic bush setting of the historic Ellangowan Woolshed, presented by Shane Webcke, a major Sprints supporter. A free shuttle bus will transport guests for the 10-minute journey between Leyburn and Ellangowan.
Guest speaker John Connolly is a regular Sprints entrant with co-driver Michael McMichael in their BMW 325i, while thousands of readers around the country follow his entertaining motoring columns on the back page of The Weekend Australian newspaper’s business section.
Tickets are on sale on-line now, but numbers are strictly limited.
(* Subject to change)
