Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Bass Coast Local News

Big Names And Big Bangers Star In Shannons Phillip Island Classic

Big names and big bangers will be the stars of the 2006 Shannons Phillip Island Classic from February 10-12.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 30th January 2006 - Back to News

Big names and big bangers will be the stars of the 2006 Shannons Phillip Island Classic from February 10-12, with some of the best-known names in Australian motorsport at the wheel of a record entry of big capacity sports cars, open wheelers and historic touring cars.

A huge field of 470 historic touring, sports and racing cars – including 24 significant cars coming from overseas – comfortably eclipses even last year’s Australian record entry.

It confirms the Shannons Phillip Island Classic’s status as the major historic race meeting in the Southern Hemisphere.

More than 270 of the entered cars have nominated for untimed practice on the Friday of the meeting.

Highlights of the 2006 meeting include: -

• Australia’s first Le Mans winner, Vern Schuppan, will race Rob Sherrard’s newly imported Porsche 962 sports car

• Fellow Le Mans winner Juergen Barth from Germany will be at the wheel of an 840HP Porsche 935K sports car alongside the identical car of teammate Rusty French

• V8 Supercar driver and former Australian Driving Champion John Bowe will campaign the Lola T610 sports car he raced against in the mid-1980s on his way to his 1986 Australian Sports Car title.

• And Peter Brock and his brother (‘Split Pin’) Phillip will go head to head in identical Torana A9X models in three Group C touring car races, while Peter ‘s former teammate John Harvey will be at the wheels of the earlier ex-Bob Jane XU-1 Torana.

The thundering sports car entry include a Porsche 962, two Porsche 935s, a Porsche 934, two Lola, two McLarens, two Matich sports cars an a Ford GT40.

They will be matched against up to five Formula One cars from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, numerous rapid Formula Atlantic and Formula 2 cars and three Formula 5000s in the three races for Category M & O Sports, Racing and Invited cars on the mammoth two-day, 33 race programme.

A pair of rare ‘Monzanapolis’ racers from the late 1950s – a unique single seater Lister from Britain and a Curtis Indianapolis car – will re-live a 49 year-old grudge match.

Six very special early 1960s racing cars from the Porsche Museum in Germany accompanied by Museum director Klaus Bischof spearhead a special Porsche theme that has attracted a number of rare racing models to the meeting.

Australia’s three times World Driving Champion will be amongst the many retired champions attending the meeting and taking part in parade laps.

Amongst them, racing legend Bob Jane will bring a number of his famous Mk II Jaguar, his Camaro, Torana and McLaren Repco sports car the meeting as part of his official role as Patron of the meeting.

The bumper sports and racing car field has already been eclipsed by the 97 Group N historic touring cars also entered for the meeting that has had to be split into two races for equally-match Under and Over 3.0 litre cars.

Entries for Pre and Post War regularity are also oversubscribed for the 2006 Classic, which with 451 entries for the weekend and more than 250 cars involved in untimed Friday practice already matches last year’s Australian record entry.

Vehicle displays are also up nearly 50 per cent on 2005, headed by six special racing Porsches from he company’s Museum in Stuttgart Germany. The substantial Porsche presence at the meeting has encouraged a big turn out of Porsche Club members in models from early 356 coupes and Speedsters to the latest 911 models.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

• Latrobe Valley's new 100MW big battery boosts energy reliability, cuts power bills, and supports Victoria's renewable transition
  A 100MW Latrobe Valley big battery has officially opened, boosting energy reliability, cutting power bills, and supporting Victoria's renewable transition, helping achieve government storage targets while delivering affordable electricity.
• East Gippsland Libraries join Big Summer Read, inspiring children to read, build literacy, and combat the ‘summer slide’
  This summer, East Gippsland Libraries join the Big Summer Read, encouraging children aged 0-18 to read, build literacy skills, earn badges, and stay engaged while combating the "summer slide."
• Phillip Island gears up for the return of MotoGP and Marquee October events across Bass Coast
  Phillip Island hosts a huge October of events, headlined by the 2025 MotoGP, drawing 100,000 fans for racing, music, and entertainment, with free Community Day tickets and Cowes transformed into an entertainment hub.
• Bass Coast hosts 2026 International Women’s Day lunch celebration guest speaker Hannah Diviney at Phillip Island Winery, Ventnor on 6 March 2026
  Bass Coast Shire Council will host its 2026 International Women’s Day Lunch on 6 March at Phillip Island Winery, featuring guest speaker Hannah Diviney, celebrating women’s achievements, equality and community connection.
• East Gippsland Shire adopts fairer Raymond Island Ferry pass system, replacing portable passes with vehicle stickers from 2026/27
  East Gippsland Shire Council will replace Raymond Island Ferry portable passes with vehicle stickers by 2026/27, introducing fairer allocations for residents and tenants, with interim free pass improvements effective immediately.
• Stellina in Traralgon delights with woodfired pizza, Italian classics, heritage charm, and inviting courtyard dining experience
  Stellina, housed in Traralgon restored 1875 Star Hotel, offers woodfired pizzas, Italian classics, creative dishes, and charming indoor or courtyard dining, blending heritage atmosphere with modern culinary flair.
• Forge Theatre's school holiday season brings classic tales, comedy chaos and heartfelt community spirit to East Gippsland
  The Forge Theatre's school holiday season features The Velveteen Rabbit, Polite Mammals, and The Heartbreak Choir, offering family fun, comedy, and heartfelt community spirit with something for everyone to enjoy.
• East Gippsland Council to consider proposed changes to Raymond Island Ferry pass system at September meeting
  East Gippsland Shire Council will consider proposed Raymond Island Ferry pass changes, including extra landowner passes, renter passes, and future consultation, aiming for fairer allocation and improved functionality from 2026/27.
• East Gippsland Shire Council issues additional ferry passes for Raymond Island landowners and renters ahead of new system
  East Gippsland Council will mail additional 2025/26 ferry passes to Raymond Island landowners and renters, ensuring fairness while developing a new sticker-based pass system launching August 2026.
• Baw Baw Shire Council returns 37 cultural artefacts to Lardil people in historic Mornington Island repatriation
  Baw Baw Shire Mayor Danny Goss led a historic journey to Mornington Island, repatriating 37 cultural artefacts to the Lardil People, marking a significant step toward reconciliation and cultural heritage restoration.