My 1959 Nota

...without crash barriers, fire extinguishers or even a helmet.

When the Cootha Classic motorsport event is revived in Brisbane this weekend, (MAY 30-31) Croston's class-winning honours will be defended by his grandson Richard and great grandson Damien.

But this time there will be crash barriers, fire marshals and the latest safety equipment. "I've still got his driving goggles, but I'm sure they wouldn't be safe enough now," said Richard Croston of Petrie. "They were crazy eh? But that's the way it was back then. They just raced in long-sleeve shirts and trousers. "Grandad thrilled us with his wild racing stories when we were kids, so I was really excited when I heard we would be lucky enough to continue the family legacy."

The Cootha Classic will consist of race cars from the 1920s to today in timed sprints around a 1450m track up and down Sir Samuel Griffith Drive with seven corners and chicanes. Organiser Bill Westerman said he hoped the Cootha Classic would become an annual event like Britain's famed Goodwood Festival.

Victor Croston was forced into racing retirement when his daughter was born and became events director for the Automobile Club of Queensland before it became the RACQ.

No one in the Croston family knows what became of his American-built 1917 Hupmobile, so Richard and Damien will race slightly more modern cars this weekend.

Richard is preparing his Australian-built 1959 Nota sports car that weighs just 500kg and was driven by Spencer Martin in 1966 and 1967 to consecutive Gold Star Championships. Damien will compete in the Sports Sedan Championship in a modified Holden Gemini coupe with a two-litre Nissan engine.

"It's hard to believe that a Gemini can be considered a classic car and there's not many original parts left, maybe just the roof and door sills," Damien said. "I'm very proud of what my great grandfather was able to achieve. In fact, the prize for winning the class back then was a set of arm chairs, which dad still has at his place."

The Crostons will be among a Who's Who of motorsport at the Cootha Classic including multiple Bathurst winner Jim Richards in his Porsche Turbo and South African world motorcycle champion Kork Ballington on a bike raced by Queensland racing legend Gregg Hansford. Roads will be closed for the event with spectators able to access the site on shuttle buses.

Admission to the alcohol-free event is $20 a day for adults, or $30 for a two-day pass, and $15 a day for children under 14 accompanied by an adult, seniors card holders, students and Shannons car show card holders.

Racing begins on Saturday at 8.30am with untimed sighting runs, followed by speedway car demonstrations, motorcycle parades and timed competition, ending at 5pm.

Sunday's program starts at 8.30am and ends with the trophy presentations at 4.30pm.