Local tourism will once again be boosted this weekend with the arrival of the Coota 400 Street Muscle Car Battle to the Cootamundra Airport.
Organiser Chris Ioannidis said the annual event is not about fast cars or generating profits.
“A film crew comes out and we put together a little movie filming the town, the cars and the drag runs,” he said.
“It’s about healthy competition and old mates that have been wanting to race each other in the past 30 years finally getting their chance. If they lose they’ll just have another go.
“Its an event designed for guys that just loves their old cars.”
The event is a showcase of pre-90s muscle cars only, a reason based off Organiser Ioannids’ passion for antique muscle cars ever since he owned one when he was much younger.
There are nearly 100 cars registered for this weekend, with an additional 35 on the waiting list.
Cars are pooled from Australian, American and Japanese makes, with a Chevro let Nova being the oldest automobile on the day, a 1966 make.
These beauties will start rolling into Cootamundra on Thursday to setup and ensure all things are sound, mechanically and technically.
As part of the movie, the crew will also film Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Mayor Abb McAlister, asking him about the town and what he thinks of the event.
Friday and Saturday will be the main event with shootouts at the airport’s runway.
The event is unique for its nature as drivers will not be awarded prize-money but instead local organisations and groups in town will receive donations from the Coota 400 crew.
“I had a chat with the Cootamundra Development Corporation and local police and we discussed on a number of organisations we can support,” Chris said.
“With a prized-money event it all becomes about the speed and we don’t want to be taking home any of the prize money. We’d rather the money stays in town.”
If the event turns out successful this year, Chris has hinted for a “State of Origin” showdown of old muscle cars later this year, in a Victoria vs. NSW car battle.
Coota 400 is a no-spectator event due to Council regulations.
Lions Club Cootamundra will be present this weekend with a barbecue van of bacon and egg roll, sausage sandwiches and soft drinks.
A Sydney-based coffee van will accompany it too.
Tomorrow the Lions Club Cootamundra will be running a wood raffle out the front of The Little Apron.
All accommodation around town have been said to be booked out.
Christopher Tan