ON the weekend, the weather gods blessed 48th Historic Winton with two-days of sunshine for its new program of historic car racing, happy crowds, inaugural trophies and quality rare and unusual car displays. Presented by the Austin 7 Club (Vic), Historic Winton is well-known as being Australia’s most popular historic race event presenting racing cars from the very beginning - more than 100 years ago - to the mid-1980s. The national event opened with a marvellous parade of Austin 7s from the 1920s and 30s celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding and organising club, the Austin 7 Club (Vic). Crowds packed into Winton Motor Raceway watching edge-of-your-seat racing, viewing the race cars in the competition paddocks and marvelling at the displays; from much loved Holdens to more exotic types, such as a very early European Kiblinger, a massive 1921 American La France fire truck converted into a road car, and a wood-panelled, three wheeled cycle car. Other highlights included the awarding of the inaugural Bill Sheehan Trophy, which went to the late Brenda Campbell who was event secretary of Historic Winton for many years and went on to hold a number of influential roles in Australian historic motorsport. Historic Winton founder and short track designer Bill Sheehan was on hand to present the trophy to Brenda’s husband, Grant Campbell, who is equally accomplished. Another first was the running of the Ted Brewster Trophy, which saw a national field of racing Minis battle it out on the Winton Motor Raceway track. The winner was South Australia’s Jason Armstrong in his 1964 Mini Cooper S which streaked ahead of the already fast field like a driver possessed to win the award celebrating the achievement of Mini race legend, mentor and car engine, Ted Brewster, now 90. Competitors continued the tribute with a dinner with Ted as the guest of honour. Display vehicles came from far and wide with the one from farthest afield being the Cootamundra Antique Motor Club, whose members have been supporting Historic Winton for more than a decade. The 49th Historic Winton will be held on 30 and 31 May 2026.
