The 2017 Waimate 50 began last weekend and is set to close the central business area of the South Canterbury town again this weekend. Event director Rob Aikman said the army of 200 volunteers behind the event were ready to "lock [Waimate] down so we can take over, chuck some big cars out there and give it hell".
"There’s nothing like a street circuit, really," Mr Aikman said.
"Because you are in close proximity, as opposed to a dedicated circuit, you do get that feeling of the cars 2m, at some closest points, away from you. It’s a pretty good feeling. You do get that hiss and that roar of the engine and bits of rubber thrown at you.
"It’s a different experience. I think a lot of people understand that. It’s a different spectator viewing for sure; it’s a bit more exciting I think. Sometimes at the track you feel a bit more removed. That’s still good, but the track is right there."
Last weekend, Christchurch’s Jeff Judd, in a Subaru WRX, took the Whitehorse Hillclimb and Downhill that opened the racing this year. And with Saturday’s Waimate 50 street attack start, 60 drivers would compete for the fastest time to earn a spot in Sunday afternoon’s top 10 shootout.
Glen Frew, of Mosgiel, was considered the "king of street sprinting" in New Zealand and would would feel the pressure as a favourite, but once it came to the top 10, anything could happen.
"He is the man to beat," Mr Aikman said.
"But when it comes to the top 10 shootout, it takes an error, or a slight error, and you could lose, that’s how tight it is."
This year will also feature six professional drifting teams from the North Island that would "battle" seven South Island drift drivers. And the four invitation races spread over Saturday and Sunday will showcase the historic roots of the race, when the Waimate 50 was 50 laps through town, taken in its inaugural year by motor racing great Bruce McLaren.
Drivers from around the country continue to bring historic and classic cars to town and the invitation let spectators watch them "exercising their cars pretty fast".
Motorbike demonstrations will include Andrew Shroud and the record-setting superbike, the Britten V1000. The weekend begins today with the Vines Hillclimb — two minutes from the town centre — where drifting teams would also take part in the race. And a rockabilly party will set the party-like atmosphere for Saturday and Sunday.
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said the Waimate District Council was "well and truly" supportive of the event that "lifts our profile and brings people into town".
"We quite often double and triple the population of the town," he said.
Council chief executive Stuart Duncan said he had seen "first hand ... the very significant positive impact of motor sport on remote or rural economies" in Australia at Hidden Valley Darwin and the North Island’s Whanganui’s Boxing Day motorcycle street race.
"The Waimate 50 continues the move forward for motorsport and will bring visitors and pride to the Waimate district. I am delighted that this district is embracing motorsport, which will assist in stabilising and growing the local economy and improve the sport’s ability to help provide opportunities and focus for young people."
