The motorsport festival that has run since 1959 attracted 70 competitors over Saturday and Sunday to its first round, which included an uphill climb, a downhill race and a rally sprint just outside Waimate township.
Waimate 50 vice-chairman Paul Thompson said the weather was great and helped make the weekend of racing a splendid occasion.
The overall winner of the first weekend was Christchurch’s Matt Summerfield.
Second was Timaru’s Darren Galbraith and third went to Scott Jones, from Pleasant Point.
Mr Thompson said the addition of a downhill stage, the Van Leeuwen Dairy Group Bentsprint, on Saturday was welcomed by racers and they were keen to see it repeated.
He said there were no major injuries in any of the events, although one quad bike racer fell off his bike on the downhill stage.
Other unplanned additions to the competition included a "couple of engine blow-ups" and birds, particularly pheasants, being struck by cars.
Overall, the weekend left Mr Thompson "chuffed" and he was expecting a busy week leading up the final weekend, which will see the main streets of Waimate closed off for drifting and street racing competitions.
"We started building the course two weeks ago and in the last two weekends the street crew have been working setting up, putting barriers in."
He expected the track to be ready to go for the McKeown Petroleum Street Attack by midday, an hour before race time.
