Murphy, the four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000 on the Mt Panorama Circuit, has been brought to Queenstown by the Queenstown Car Club to speak at its fundraiser.
Murphy's outright lap record of 2min 06.8594sec at Bathurst has stood since 2003. Set in his Holden Commodore VY, it was more than a second faster than the next best time recorded that day, and is still the fastest pole time.
Club secretary Caroline Cullimore said Murphy would be joined by Allan Dick, the editor and publisher of NZ Today, Driver and Classic Driver magazines.
Dick was the news editor of Radio 4XO in Dunedin in the 1970s and 1980s and now also hosts On The Road on BSport radio on Saturday mornings.
Ms Cullimore said the evening was the first of its kind for the club, which started up again about nine months ago after an extended break.
"It's to bring awareness that the car club has started again, to get the community behind it.
"It used to operate quite strongly here 10 years ago . . . and we've revived it."
Ms Cullimore said the club was not aimed solely at car racing.
The club had already held a successful car show at the Lake Hayes Pavilion, and it had also organised a car rally.
"At the moment we have 35 paid members, but we have 50 people on the email list, so when we run an event we get great participation.
"There are a lot of young people who want to [try rallying]. It's very low key."
Participants did not have to have a roll cage, but did have to be in an "old, safe car".
Cars were taken into a paddock with a course marked out and the event was treated as a time trial, she said.
"We are New Zealand Motor Sports-affiliated, so we run [events] under regulations.
"It's a good, safe, fun event, and it's quite social as well."
Ms Cullimore said tickets were selling well for the event, which had a capacity of 200. However, tickets were still available.
"[Murphy's] contribution [to motorsport] is just amazing.
"To have someone of his calibre to come and talk is [brilliant].
"He's been here for the Race to the Sky; he's got contacts here as well; and he loves Queenstown."
Ms Cullimore said after Murphy and Dick had spoken, there would be an auction of motorsport memorabilia, including a print of one of Murphy's cars.
Murphy would autograph the winning item and would also be available to autograph other items.
• The Queenstown Car Club fundraiser will be held from 6.30pm tomorrow night at the Skyline Gondola and Restaurant. Tickets cost $90 per person and are available from the Skyline Gondola office, Gorge Joinery and Frankton Automotive.
