As an enthusiastic first-timer, I honestly wasn't quite sure what to expect from the Historic Leyburn Sprints. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of easily accessible information that gave you a good overview of the event, what to expect or how to plan your weekend.
So, if you're planning on attending the Historic Leyburn Sprints for the first time, hopefully this little guide will help you get your bearings, know what to expect and, most importantly, have a bloody fantastic weekend.
First things first: How do you pronounce Leyburn?
It's pronounced **Lee-burn**.
Not Lay-burn. Just a little tip if you want to fit in with the locals, or at the very least, avoid offending them before you've even made it to the track.
A little bit of history
The thing that initially caught my attention about the Historic Leyburn Sprints was the town's motorsport history. Leyburn was the unlikely host of Queensland's first ever Australian Grand Prix, back in 1949.
Now, I might not be able to afford tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix, but I can certainly afford an incredible weekend of motorsport, country hospitality and fresh air in Queensland's Southern Downs.
Located approximately 30 minutes southwest of Toowoomba, Leyburn makes for a fantastic country escape, particularly for those travelling from Brisbane who are looking to swap the city for a weekend of country air.
If you're interested in learning a little more about the history of the event, the official Historic Leyburn Sprints history page is well worth a read.
What to expect at the Historic Leyburn Sprints
A weekend of classic cars is probably the obvious answer, but there's something quite surreal about watching some of these genuine automotive antiques absolutely floor it down the main street.
You almost feel like some of them should be sitting safely behind glass in a museum. Instead, they're absolutely sending it into the first corner.
We saw an incredible mix of vehicles, spanning everything from the 1910s through to the 2010s. The majority were historic cars, although the occasional modern supercar, including a rather flashy McLaren, certainly stood out amongst the Datsuns.
If you're interested in finding out more about the vehicles participating, or want an idea of what might be on display at future events, I'd recommend checking out the Historic Leyburn Sprints results and event records. It's a great way to get a feel for the variety of cars and categories that make up the event.
And it's not all about the racing, either.
Alongside the sprints, there's the Show and Shine, the parade and a display of vintage caravans. The vintage caravans were an absolute highlight for me. Another weekend, another questionable financial decision brewing, because apparently renovating a vintage caravan is now a perfectly reasonable investment in my mind.
Camping and accommodation at the Leyburn Sprints
Accommodation is definitely something worth organising ahead of time. This is a seriously popular weekend, and the little town of Leyburn gets very busy.
We booked a fantastic campsite through Kick n Back in Leyburn via Hipcamp. It was relatively basic, but ticked all the boxes for what we needed. Flat ground, plenty of room for our setup and portable toilets that were regularly cleaned.
Keep in mind, we were sharing the camping area with what felt like approximately 150,000 other caravans, but that's all part of the experience when you're attending such a popular country event!
If you're looking to get right up close to the action, there is also trackside camping available just off Turn Three. Definitely worth considering if you want to be as close to the racing as possible.
Our camping area was on the southern side of town, approximately a ten-minute walk back to the south entrance of the event. Not particularly far, but after a full day of wandering around, you might appreciate another option.
Thankfully, courtesy buses run regularly between the camping areas and town, making it easy to get back and forth without having to walk.
These are operated by the wonderful local Men's Shed, and I'd highly recommend keeping a little change in your pocket to make a donation. It's a great way to support a local organisation while making your weekend that little bit easier.
If you're after something a little more private, there are holiday homes available in Leyburn itself, along with other accommodation options in the surrounding area.
Another option worth looking into is Hart Hill Camping, which offers dedicated camping sites and could be a good alternative if you're looking for somewhere to set up for the weekend.
For a complete overview of the available camping areas and accommodation options, check out the official Historic Leyburn Sprints camping information.
Food and drinks at the Leyburn Sprints
Our camp esky was absolutely stacked to the rafters with goodies, but honestly, you could pack pretty lightly if you wanted to.
Unlike plenty of other major events, food and drinks weren't ridiculously overpriced.$6 for a beer and $3 for a can of Coke? Pretty bloody reasonable if you ask me.
If you'd rather head out for a proper meal or a cold drink, there are a couple of local favourites worth checking out.
The Royal Hotel sits right on the starting line of the sprints. It's arguably the iconic centrepiece of town during the event, and a popular spot to grab a drink while watching the cars line up before their next run.
Just about 100 metres up the road is the Leyburn RSL. While you won't get the same trackside views, they had a television live-streaming the racing, making it another great spot to settle in and support a local organisation.
You'll also find food vans scattered throughout the event, particularly around the market area, near the finish line and in and around the starting line.
Food trucks are independently operated, so what's available, who's attending and what things cost will naturally change from year to year. But honestly, $20 for a burger and chips, particularly when the burger bun is made out of a donut, sounds pretty bloody good to me!
A little something extra: If you're keen to make a night of it, the Historic Leyburn Sprints also host a Night with the Stars dinner. Tickets and event details can be found through the official Leyburn Sprints website.
Is the Historic Leyburn Sprints worth attending?
Absolutely. In fact, we've already decided this is going to become an annual tradition for us.
I genuinely couldn't imagine skipping it.
It's the welcoming atmosphere, the locals who make the whole thing happen, and the wonderfully laid-back approach to the event that really won us over.
Being able to wander through the pit lane, get up close to the cars and walk around the start and finish lines without feeling completely swallowed by enormous crowds makes the experience all the more enjoyable.
There's just enough atmosphere to keep things buzzing, without losing that easygoing country-town charm.
Add in live music at the pubs, affordable drinks, classic cars and a weekend away in the Southern Downs, and you've got yourself a pretty bloody good event.
Planning your first Historic Leyburn Sprints?
If you're considering making the trip to Leyburn for the Historic Sprints, I hope this guide has given you a better idea of what to expect and helped with planning your weekend.
And if there's something we've missed, or you'd like a little more information about our experience, please get in touch!
I'm Alanah, one half of The Camp Journal, where my Husband, Sunny share our camping adventures, road trips and everything in between.
You can find us over on Instagram at @the.campjournal, or flick us an email at hello@thecampjournal.com.
Can't wait to see you track side!
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