The Ngapara Hillclimb is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year - not in terms of the number of events but in the years it has spanned.
Started in 1964 by the North Otago Car Club and originally part of the New Zealand Gold Star hill-climb circuit, it ceased in 1995.
It was revived in 2008 for the car club's 50th anniversary, and organisers decided to keep it going.
The event is now run jointly by the Otago Sports Car Club and North Otago Vintage Car Club, and this year it is on Sunday, April 13.
Vintage car club president Peter Fridd said this week between 40 and 45 cars were expected at the event.
The first hill climb was won by Oamaru car dealer Doug Algie, and it was hoped he would compete again for the 50th anniversary.
''I've even offered him my car to run,'' Mr Fridd said.
The inclusion of the vintage car club has seen some early racers turn out.
Classic race cars such as a Stanton Corvette, 1929 single-seater Chrysler, hybrid De Joux Mini coupe, Group B Audi Quattro and Ford Escort RS 2000 will run with modern performance cars such as Porsches, Escort RS', Mitsubishi Evos and Subaru RXs.
The hill climb will be on the original course, 1.4km of the Ngapara-Georgetown Rd (formerly Coal Pit Rd), the start and pits being in Ngapara.
Drivers from Southland and Christchurch had already entered for the event, Mr Fridd said.
