Muscle expo for Sydney street race

SYDNEY car fans having withdrawal symptoms at the thought of missing their annual motor show this year can look forward to a consolation prize if they attend the first V8 Supercar round at Homebush in early December.

A motor expo aimed at performance car fans will be staged at the Dome within the Olympic Park precinct during the three-day Sydney Telstra 500.

In a first for an Australian motor racing event, more than 180 exhibitors are expected to show their wares in the Dome, which housed the basketball competition during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Exhibits in the V8 Supercars Supershow will range from latest muscle cars to go-fast bits and accessories.

Event organiser John Kelly, of Melbourne-based Exhibition Management, said the event was made possible by the Homebush location, with its ready-made facilities within the precinct to be used for the V8 Supercar street race.

He said entry would be free for those attending the December 4-6 V8 event – the last on the 2009 calendar. The Clipsal-style twin 250km races are expected to attract 150,000 race fans – the biggest NSW V8 Supercar crowd in history.

Exhibition Management organised last year’s National Truck and Commercial Vehicle Expo in Sydney, and has broad experience in industry events. The Homebush expo is being organised in cooperation with V8 Supercars Australia.

As well as commercial stands at the Homebush show, attractions will include a display of some of the best classic Australian muscle cars, including Ford Falcon GT-HOs, Holden Monaros and Valiant Chargers.

Show exhibitors hope to tap into the spending power of V8 Supercar fans, who forked out an estimated $20 million on official team merchandise last year.