They are part of a huge contingent of drivers and riders to make the annual trek to the country’s largest historic race meeting. More than 400 cars and bikes from the 1920s to the 1980s will compete over two days.

The vehicles have been faithfully restored. Many have very long pedigrees attached to some famous names.

Albury’s Stuart Neave will drive Peter Wilson’s (Gol Gol) 1953 Ford SV special, Quentin Ferry, of Rutherglen, his 1964 EH Holden, and Nick Bennett, from Bright, a 1988 Van Diemen RF88.

Brad Jones Racing co-owner Kim Jones, will again drive his immaculate 1980 March 80A, and Wodonga’s Chris Kelly a 1957 Holden Sherwill special, built by Bill Sherwill, of Benalla, in 1957.

Roger Benjamin, of Table Top, will compete in his 1954 D.L. Vanguard KM 300 sports, Kerry Park, of Leneva, a 1964 EH Holden , Ian Cuss, of East Albury, a 1964 Triumph 2000, Bruin Beasley, of Winton, another 1980 March 80A, Geoff Calvert, of Lurg, in his 1981 Ralt RT4 and Bernie Mylon, of Wodonga, in his 1956 Morris.

Trevor Montgomery, of Baddaginnie, will appear in his 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C and Joanne Coad, of Toolamba, her 1956 Vauxhall, built by her grandfather, George, and raced by his brother, Frank.

Nick Crocitti, of Kialla will drive his 1934 Ford roadster, while Frank Robinson, of Shepparton, his 1939 Milthorpe Ford special.

Fellow Shepparton driver John Clarke, will drive a 1964 Ford Mustang once owned by Tino Leo, John Medley, of Holbrook, his 1960 Nota Formula junior, and making its Winton debut will be a replica of the Parsons and Phillips Ford V8 Special to be driven by Robert Parsons.

Ted Parsons and Jack Phillips were Ford agents in Wang- garatta from 1932 until 1936.

In 1936 they ran a stripped-down Ford V8 tourer at the Benalla Aerodrome in the Centenary Cup and finished eighth in the 100 mile event.

This sparked a desire to build a proper V8 racer and the distinctive Parsons and Phillips special was developed in time to compete in the 1936 Victor Harbour grand prix.

The special was later lightened and lowered and ran at the 1938 Mount Panorama and 1939 Lobethal grand prix meetings and other major events at Albury, Phillip Island and Rob Roy before being destroyed in a crash in the early 1940s.

Parsons started building a replica but died before he finished it. His son Robert finished it.

Former Chiltern and Wangaratta boy, Peter Walsh, now of Brisbane, be compete in his 1969 E-Type Jaguar Coupe.

Winton No. 38 honours 110 years of Hispano Suiza, Rolls-Royce, Rover and Crossley and a century of Dodge, Willys-Knight, Aston Martin and Maserati, with top examples of most, if not all, the meeting.

Ninety-year milestones include the Bugatti Type 35, Frazer Nash and Bentley’s first visit to Le Mans.

The French Simca brand, Citroen Traction Avant, Chrysler Airflow, Lagonda Rapier and Austin 7 Ruby chalk up 80 years, Borgward Isabella, Ford Thunderbird, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint 60 years, while celebrating their “half ton” is the Ford Mustang and the Sunbeam Tiger.

While there will be plenty of on-track action, there will be displays of historic cars, bikes and commercial vehicles.

There will be spectator access to the competition paddock where fabulous old racing machines will be on show, including Bubble cars, Indian motorbikes and Penrite AGP Aussie specials.

Anyone with a classic or special-interest car or bike can join the spectator car park.

There will be a show of veteran, vintage, sports, classics, hot rods, customs, street machines and motorbikes, commercial vehicles and motor bikes featuring sidecar outfits on Sunday.

Fans will also the chance to mark the death of triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham, a regular visitor to Winton.

Efforts are also being made to have a car with a link to Sir Jack at the event.