Motor sport shows its generous side

Bathurst 1000 podium finisher David Besnard's simple idea of a ride-themed day at Queensland Raceway to raise money for two major natural disaster relief funds into something has blossomed into what is now a grand event.

Besnard, who has founded a thrill-ride company called Real Deal Supercar Rides using a 700 horsepower ex-Stone Brothers Falcon, initially decided he wanted to do something for the relief funds using his ride machine.

But the germ of an idea has mushroomed brilliantly and is now promising to be a mega day of all things exciting in motoring on April 26.

Fellow racers Craig Lowndes, James Courtney, Steve Johnson, Alex Davison, Shane Van Gisbergen and Craig Baird have volunteered to take punters for paid rides in the Real Deal car.

The Stone Brothers, Queensland Raceway, and the Salvation Army are also involved in the charity fund raiser, which Besnard hopes race fans will support in their usual generous way.

Along with the chance to sample the ferocity of a V8 supercar (and this car has even more grunt than usual), attendees can bid for rare motor sporting memorabilia which is going under the hammer.

A collection of some of the great touring cars of yesteryear will also be displayed including Dick Johnson's Greens Tuf and Tru-Blu Falcon (above, restored), Glenn Seton's Peter Jackson Skyline, Bo Seton's Ford Capri, and more than a dozen wonderful vintage speedway cars and bikes.

Everyone who stumps up the $10 for the admission ticket is eligible to go into a draw to win a ride in Craig Baird's 997 Porsche Carrera Cup car or Robbie Bolger's 1000-horse Monaro drift car.

Those chasing the ultimate thrill can purchase a VIP package which includes three hot laps in the Real Deal V8 supercar and all the usual VIP trimmings.

Queenslanders...mark April 26 in your diary.