The Mattara Hill Climb enters a new era in its long history with the event moving to the Ringwood Park Motorsport Complex just north of Raymond Terrace.
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The iconic motor sports event was staged for the last time at the picturesque King Edwards Park last year.
The new track is shaping up as a challenging course for competitors over the October long weekend and will offer great vantage points for spectators, Newcastle MG Car Club publicity officer Peter Robinson said.
“Unfortunately, it was not possible to run this event at King Edward Park in the future, but in conjunction with the Mattara Festival organisers, we decided to continue this iconic event and tradition, which dates back to 1951,” he said.
Robinson, who took part in each hill climb from 1983, said the new course provided plenty of challenges for drivers.
“We’ve developed a new track which is 1.2km long at the complex. I had the opportunity to drive around it last week and it’s pretty good. It keeps you on your toes,” he said.
“The club has worked hard to prepare for this event since our new hotmix track was laid in 2014 with constant upgrading to provide grassy viewing areas and with sufficient brush clearing to give superb views of the whole track.
“The paddock (pits) will be open to the public so close-up views of the racing cars will be easy for spectators.
“The new course the club is running for this event is 1.2 kilometres in length, rising 30 metres from the start and diving down through many corners to the finish line.”
Robinson said the hill climb at King Edward Park had been one of the most popular events on the motor sport circuit.
“It was an iconic event and much loved track. It was probably only second behind Bathurst,” he said.
“It was really challenging. If you got it wrong you could come to grief. It had all the elements that the public loved.”
Robinson said while entry numbers were down on last year’s final event at King Edward Park, there would be a a quality field of competitors taking part in a wide array of vehicles
”We have specialist hill climb cars, and everything from road registered cars to open wheelers with formula 1 engines taking part,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we are sandwiched between a round of the state championship this weekend and the Australian championships in three weeks time in Melbourne.
“The Mattara Hill Climb was always on the state championship schedule and we’re hoping to have it reinstated,” he said.
The event sponsored by Maitland Auto Parts will be run on Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2, (with practice on Friday, September 30).
