The Phillip Island Classic is that rare event that ticks all the boxes. Over 400 iconic historic racing cars?  Check.  World-renowned circuit?  Check. Incredible scenery?  Very definitely check.

Starting grid for the Historic Touring Car class. Plenty of muscle.
Starting grid for the Historic Touring Car class. Plenty of muscle.
One of the headliners for the meet - this triple Le Mans-winning Porsche 936/81, driven by V8 Supercars driver Alex Davison.
One of the headliners for the meet – this triple Le Mans-winning Porsche 936/81, driven by V8 Supercars driver Alex Davison.

It’s an event that attracts drivers from all over the world, and for good reason.  While Australia may be thousands of miles from any other continent, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit’s status, history and layout means it’s an alluring challenge for any driver, and an achievement to say you’ve mastered it.  Few do.

Two Bugatti Type 35's turned up for the weekend - one 35C and one 35B. Both were lovely.
Two Bugatti Type 35s turned up for the weekend – one 35C and one 35B. Both were lovely.

That doesn’t stop everyone from trying, though, and doing it in cars ranging from 1927 Bugatti Type 35’s to 1984 Porsche 956C’s means the punters get to see an array of cars unlike that at any other historic event in Australia.

This, or the Sauber C9, have to take honours for cleanest -looking Group C cars ever made.
This, or the Sauber C9, have to take honours for cleanest -looking Group C cars ever made.

For example, in the Sports Cars category alone, you had:

This Matra 670 - again, one of two competing on the weekend - easily won the best sounding car award, though.
This Matra 670 – again, one of two competing on the weekend – easily won the best sounding car award, though.

Two Matra 670’s, including one triple Le Mans winner; another triple Le Mans winner in the Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx Porsche 936/81 shown earlier; two Porsche 956’s; an ex-Dan Gurney McLaren M6B; the McKee MK10 that kick-started Paul Newman’s interest in racing and the man himself’s old Lola Spyder.

Not your average-looking Can-Am car. This Formula 5000-based Lola Spyder came after the McLaren-dominated era and belonged to a one Paul Newman.
Not your average-looking Can-Am car. This Formula 5000-based Lola Spyder came after the McLaren-dominated era and belonged to a one Paul Newman.

And that’s before you got to the Group A and C touring cars…

Gibson Motorsport R31 Skyline versus Holden Torana SS. Sadly, there was no contest - technology won the day.
Gibson Motorsport R31 Skyline versus Holden Torana SS. Sadly, there was no contest – technology won the day.

Historic Touring Cars (i.e. Mustangs and the like)…

Australians love their muscle about as much as Americans do. You could see that in the crowds these cars brought out.
Australians love their muscle about as much as Americans do. You could see that in the crowds these cars brought out.

Group S production machines…

It's not all big bangers. The weekend saw many smaller, European production cars out on the circuit.
It’s not all big bangers. The weekend saw many smaller production cars out on the circuit.

Various other classics like the Monza Lister Jaguar…

Easily the most beautiful classic car at the meet, at least in this humble photog's opinion.
Easily the most beautiful classic car at the meet, at least in this humble photog’s opinion.

Talbot Lago T26C…

Although this T26C had its own, unique appeal.
Although this T26C had its own, unique appeal.

And F5000’s.

Big banger V8 open-wheelers don't come much louder than F5000s.
Big banger V8 open-wheelers don’t come much louder than F5000s.

If some of you are looking at the Lola F5000 car above and thinking there’s a similarity between that and the Paul Newman Can-Am car, you’d be right. Essentially, they share the same chassis, but with different bodies to match the regulations of the class.

Don't drink and drive, folks!
Don’t drink and drive, folks!

Speaking of F5000’s, the five competing raced alongside some classic Indycars, as well as F1 and F2 machines like this Jaegermeister March 741. While the Can-Am cars and particularly the spine-tingling Matras won the sound game that weekend, the V8’s in these machines certainly won a heart or two as well.

Euro sandwich.
Euro sandwich.

As a child of the 80’s, while I loved the big bangers the most, I definitely enjoyed watching the Group A and C touring cars, which still put on a show, despite the sometimes highly-strung nature of these machines.

Never my favourite Group A car, but you can't deny they were fast!
Never my favourite Group A car, but you can’t deny they were fast!

Some big names came attached to them, too, like this Ford Sierra RS500, once driven around Brands Hatch by Damon Hill. And let’s not forget, this was one of the few opportunities to see the giant-killing R32 Skyline GT-R in its natural habitat. I always have mixed feelings about any car that kills a category, but you can’t deny its effectiveness.

Godzilla doing his usual stomping.
Godzilla doing his usual stomping.

Sticking with Skylines for a second, the man most responsible for turning the R32 into a category-killing monster, Fred Gibson, brought his collection of superb R30 and R31s, one of which was driven by V8 Supercars legend Mark Skaife. (Who, whilst semi-retired, showed he’s still laughably quicker than anyone else).

Fred Gibson sure knows how to tune a Nissan. His trio of R30 and R31 racers decimated the field over the weekend.
Fred Gibson sure knows how to tune a Nissan. His R30 and R31 racers were dominant in their time, and still fast in the right hands today.

The fact both were around to chat with fans and have photos taken says a lot about how friendly, open and accessible this event was.

The most influential pairing in the last 30 years of Australian motorsport - Fred Gibson (L) and Mark Skaife (R).
The most influential pairing in the last 30 years of Australian motorsport – Fred Gibson (L) and Mark Skaife (R).

In many respects, I think that’s what separates all great events from the mediocre ones. Not only was the Phillip Island Classic packed with incredible machinery and organised to the minute, it was so unrestricted and jovial. V8 Supercar greats like Larry Perkins would stand in the same queue as regular punters to get a beer after the event. Fans had full pit access during the races and could enter the garages themselves after proceedings were complete, sharing a yarn with the drivers.

You can just imagine the conversation, can't you?
You can just imagine the conversation, can’t you?

Combine that with incredible track views – Phillip Island is like a vastly prettier Brands Hatch, in that you can see huge swathes of the circuit from almost any fan-accessible location, which is pretty much everywhere we press photographers can go, just behind a fence – and you have makings of a truly fan-friendly event.

While removed for racing, the Healey Silverstone used the slot in its rear to house the spare tyre, whic also doubled duty as the rear bumper bar!
While removed for racing, the Healey Silverstone used the slot in its rear-end to house the spare tyre, which also doubled duty as the rear bumper bar!

Getting back to the cars, one of the other legendary machines was the former Bib Stilwell Jaguar D-Type, driven at the event by Australia’s only Le Mans-winning driver, Vern Schuppan.  Only the seventh D-Type ever made, this machine has gone from track machine to Ampol Trial dirt-racer (it never made it to the start-line due to a crash on the way) and back again, making it one of the most storied D-Types around, certainly in Australia.

Can you imagine the D-Type being turned into a dirt rally racer? The previous owner of this one could.
Can you imagine the D-Type being turned into a dirt rally racer? The previous owner of this one did. Only a pre-race crash stopped his plans.

Of course, while the big-name cars attract all the attention, that doesn’t mean the lesser-known projects don’t have a great story behind them, either.  The odd-looking 1952 BMH Comic Book Special is obviously named, but is less well-known for being the first dedicated racing car with a Holden engine in it – the original 138ci ‘Grey’ straight six.  It also clocked the first 110mph speed at Caversham Raceway in Western Australia.  Those watching the 1957 Australian Grand Prix may well remember it more for taking out Lex Davison’s Ferrari in practice, though…

Wacky Racers? Yup.
Wacky Racers? Yup.

One notable point about the Phillip Island Classic was how it demonstrated Australia’s love for the muscle car.  While the Sports Cars were the big attraction, the Historic Touring Cars saw crowds easily equal to the monster machines.

Accelerating... like a boss!
Accelerating… like a boss!

It’s not hard to see why. With their stunning looks, great bellowing engine sounds and sideways action, old muscle cars are always going to draw attention.  At Phillip Island, this beautiful Boss 302 took out all the races, closely followed by another.  However, as an Aussie, I was glad to see the rare XY Falcon GTHO of Rod Hotchkin keeping the American iron honest.

Rare enough on the roads, this Australian Ford Falcon GTHO mixed it up with the American iron.
Rare enough on the roads, this Australian Ford Falcon GTHO had no problem mixing it up with the American cars on the track.

Behind the big boys, the smaller cars battled it out, with Holden Torana XU1 GTR’s in competition with Mazda RX2’s and a lone Datsun 1600.

Small but mighty. Holden Toranas have taken out many a race win in Australian touring car history, including the Bathurst 1000 twice.
Small but mighty. Holden Toranas have taken out many a race win in Australian touring car history, including the Bathurst 1000 twice.

For those after something a bit more European, Group S-class races (divided into over/under 2000cc categories, the rules of which were not adhered to at all) offered up classic 911s…

Take your pick.
Take your pick.

MGs, Alfas and the like.

Purty.
Phillip Island: Purty.

Sadly, in the over 2000cc class, in one of a few mechanical- (and non-mechanical-) related incidents during the weekend, the dominant DeTomaso Pantera of Rusty French…

Black panther.
Black panther, on the prowl.

Who also brought his very nice Porsche 935 K3, blew its engine in spectacular fashion towards the end of the weekend’s last race, resulting in a change of paint scheme…

Not how you want to end your weekend.
Not how you want to end your weekend.

Of course, while the point of the day was to have something for everyone, there were always going to be categories some people were not interested in.  For those times, and to keep people entertained between races, specialist car insurer Shannons had a massive expo on the outer rim of the circuit, with a stunning array of machinery.

Australians do love their Commodores, and these are rare beauties.
Australians do love their Commodores, and these are rare beauties.

Being Australia, the Holden brigade were out in force, with these limited edition Holden Dealer Team SS Group Three Brock edition Commodores…

People had more fun with their cars in the 70s. None of this boring silver/white/black stuff...
People had more fun with their cars in the 70’s. None of this boring silver/white/black stuff…

And a huge number of Toranas. Love the 70’s colours. Of particular interest was this ‘last-of-the-line’ XU1, which was in completely original, unrestored condition.

Not last of the V8 Interceptors, but still an important piece of Aussie history.
Not last of the V8 Interceptors, but still an important piece of Aussie history.

It wasn’t all Aussie metal, though.

Back when an Alfa really meant style.
Back when an Alfa really meant style.

You had this beautiful Alfa Guilietta Sprint on the Alfa Club ‘stand’, for example…

While inside the large shed next door, alongside many other famous racing machines, you had the Bathurst-winning ex-Gibson Motorsport R32 GT-R.

The car that ended an era. Technology so successful, Nissan re-imported back to Japan and Australia banned it.
The car that ended an era. Technology so successful, Nissan re-imported back to Japan and Australia banned it.

Indeed, I don’t think there was a single area where the Phillip Island Classic was weak. Whether you like just looking at static cars…

Awkward? Yes. This Elfin Streamliner is still beautiful, though.
Awkward? Yes. This Elfin Streamliner is still beautiful, though.

Watching them race…

Successful as a grand prix racer and beautiful to boot. Sometimes, the axiom that if it looks right, it is right, gets proven correct.
Maserati 4CL: successful as a grand prix racer and beautiful to boot. Proves the axiom that, ‘If it looks right, it is right’, is sometimes correct.

Or were simply into the mechanical side of things, you could not walk away without a huge smile on your face. And that’s what it’s all about, really.

The Monza Lister Jaguar denuded. Still beautiful without its shiny skin.
The Monza Lister Jaguar denuded. Still beautiful without its shiny skin.