There might have to be a few replacements before Labour Weekend but there is no disputing the buzz around the town about the Waimate 50 event.
It will include the Race to the White Horse, a 4km gravel sprint hill climb on the Saturday, and the next day a 5.6km gravel rallysprint, as well as a 1.25km sprint around the streets of Waimate, largely using parts of the original Waimate 50 circuit.
It is a weekend which Savoy owners Laurence and Ruth Davis hope will be their busiest of the year, with thousands expected to converge on the town.
The Savoy, which has been a tearooms since 1904, is as much an institution in Waimate as the Waimate 50.
Mrs Davis remembered the motorsport event when it was in its heyday, saying it was "huge back then".
"We used to listen to them going round and round when we were doing the garden ... that's the weekend to put your garden in," she said.
They hoped to do a roaring trade and expected pies, sausage rolls, bread rolls and sandwiches would be sought after.
Craig Rowley, who opened Loot Jewellers in Queen St in February, remembered how the town used to "buzz" when the Waimate 50 was on.
While this year's event was a slightly different format, he expected there would be that same atmosphere.
In some ways, he believed the new event could be better than the old one, with the hill climb bringing greater variety.
Mr Rowley believed the event had "huge" potential.
"Where else in the country do they race cars on the main street of town, other than the likes of Hamilton V8 super cars?
"Describing it as a great thing for the whole town, he said everybody he had spoken to was "right in behind it".
At the Waimate Hotel, long-time publican Bill Johnson remembered carting bales of hay to place around the course years ago, which was "good football training".
While his rugby-playing days were over, he was looking forward to the event, saying it would benefit the town.
Accommodation at his hotel was "pretty well booked" and included a contingent from Australia.
Lyall Davies and Stuart Oughton, from Whitehorse Motors, have both previously been on Waimate 50 committees.
They were looking forward to seeing Waimate "on the map again" and hoped the event would continue to grow.
People were still calling in at the garage, wanting to know where the original Waimate 50 track was, Mr Davies said.
Appropriately, Whitehorse Motors was the major sponsor for the Race to the White Horse, which will have a purpose-built spectator area.
The main benefit for the town was for local school and community groups to have an opportunity to raise some funds, he said.
One of the organisers, Bert Murray, was thrilled with the "fantastic" support from the town.
Banners will be erected through the main street today, alternating a chequered flag and a Waimate 50 banner.
As the event is based in town, shops will be opening for the weekend. There will be no commercial food stalls. Instead sporting, community and school groups have an opportunity to fundraise.
The event will be based at Seddon Square, where there will also be a motor show, and Mr Murray said it was "really going to come alive".
Race entries, which were still being accepted, had exceeded expectations and included California-based expatriate New Zealander and international motorsport champion Rod Millen, rally driver Andrew Hawkeswood, now living in Alexandra, who was "hugely spectacular", Leo Leonard from Timaru, who was coming out of retirement, and Grant Silvester, of Christchurch, driving the Silvester coupe, which was synonymous with the Waimate 50 when owned and raced by his father, the late Ron Silvester.
It was hoped some more classic motor racing cars, with heritage dating back to the Waimate 50, would be entered.
On the Saturday evening, there would be an opportunity to meet the drivers and for children to get autographs, from 5.30pm at the fire station.
PROGRAMME
• Saturday, October 23: Race to the White Horse, a 4km gravel sprint hill climb to the White Horse monument on the hill above the town.
• Sunday, October 24: 5.6km gravel rally sprint over the top of Parkers Bush Rd, and a 1.25km sealed sprint around the streets of Waimate, largely using parts of the original Waimate 50 circuit.
