CAR fanatics from near and far rejoiced as they gathered in Roma for the first time in 2020, and for some members it couldn’t have landed on a more sentimental day.

Like many organisations, 2020 has been an extremely challenging year and Ironbark Raceway definitely felt the financial pinch as they were unable hold a drag meet all year.

Dennis Hurle, Vice President of the club, said Saturday’s ‘Funday’ was to entice new membership and to bring in much-needed money after they spent $100,000 on upgrades to the track.

“That nearly broke us, as we’ve been unable to hold an event all year,” Mr Hurle said.

“We usually have a drag meet every month, so it’s been very unfortunate for the club, and also because it means a fair bit to the town too.

“We have people come from all over – today, people are here from Gympie, Charters Towers then Wallumbilla, Injune, Mitchell.

“And that means they’re staying in our motels, fuelling up, eating out which really helps the town.”

And for car lover Kim McIntosh, the day meant so much more to him than just a typical drag meet.

“I’ve been a car fanatic all my life and I got into HR utes because my late brother had one in town in the late 1990s,” he said.

“We lost him eight years ago yesterday and it’s his birthday today.”

Mr McIntosh lost his brother Roy to cancer, at the age of 59 years.

“There’s a bit of a story to it – we were in my shed before he passed away and he asked me ‘Kim, have you got any photos of my old HR ute?’ and I told him I didn’t but I said we’d get one and do it up together,” he said.

“He then passed away and 12 months had passed by and I thought to myself ‘I’ve got to get the ute’ as I made a promise to my late brother.

“So, I got these old utes, stripped them all down and started on a full rebuild then this one came along at the right price so I took a shortcut and bought this one. 

“It’s been in memory of him – eight years ago it was his funeral in Cairns and his birthday would have been today.

“The car is named Rose because when Roy was going through treatment, he grew desert roses so I will get a rose painted on the spare wheel door.”