EVERYTHING is in place for another successful Legend of the Lakes Hill Climb, which kicks off Friday at the Valley Lakes course.
This year sees current champion Dan Day return in his Subaru WRX, along with crowd favourite Kevin Mackrell in his purple V8 all-wheel-drive Datsun 260Z and regular locals such as Simon Feil.
An international flavour comes in the form of Irish rally driver Frank Kelly, along with multi-Australian rally champion Simon Evans in a six-litre Ford Cortina and a previous Bathurst 12-Hour winner Graham Alexander.
South Eastern Automobile Club media officer Stuart Pratt said it was all shaping up as an exciting event.
“Simon Evans was here this year as a special guest of our rally dinner,” he said.
“He is one of Australia’s most exciting drivers and it will be his first time at the event.
“Graham Alexander is also competing for his first time at the Legends of the Lakes.
“He has been very successful at nearly everything he has done.
“He is a very accomplished driver, but whether he can tame the mountain or not is up for grabs.”
Pratt said those extra drivers competing this year, along with the regulars who keep returning to take on the fast course, was proof of the growing reputation of the event.
“All these drivers see and hear about our event and then once they get the opportunity in their busy schedules, they make the effort to enter and partake,” he said.
“That reputation we have worked so long and hard over the last 11 events to build up, is in itself the drawcard that attracts people to come along.”
This year sees a full field for Saturday and Sunday, along with 60 entrants for Friday’s classic runs.
“For Friday, 60 is a very good number,” Pratt said.
“It means everyone will get an extra run or two, plus the waiting time is less.”
Last year saw Day claim the honours with his last run of the weekend, with the times at the top of the field within hundredth of seconds of each other.
That tight competition is one thing Pratt said makes the event so popular to compete in and to attend as a spectator.
“I think the inclusion of these new drivers will make it more competitive at the pointy end,” he said.
“Throughout the last 11 years, especially when (Peter) Gazzard was running so hotly with Mackrell, each of them would push each other a bit more.
“The inclusion of other drivers is only going to increase that competitiveness.”
While that will make for exciting racing, Pratt said it could provide even more excitement for the fans on the hill.
“It is not out of the question, if the conditions are right both with the weather and the track, to possibly see a new course record,” he said.
“As cars get developed, drivers compete against each other, keep pushing the envelope, it gets tighter and tighter at the pointy end.
“Last year Dan Day’s car was very fresh out of the shed.
“The last 12 months gives them time to look at what worked and what didn’t and make appropriate improvements.”
Without Peter Gazzard in the field again this year, Pratt said there was one crowd favourite who always turned it on for his supporters.
“Mackrell is a long time since a win,” he said.
“The crowd would love to see him take the crown.
“There is a purple sign that is erected every year at the top that spectators are responsible for that simply says Mount Mackrell.
“That is an indication in itself they love to see and hear that big 260Z roar up the hill.”
The weekend sees the classics run throughout Friday, November 10, with Saturday and Sunday set down for the big boys, along with the other regular classes.
