Eight reasons why you should attend this year’s Festival of Horsepower

Here are eight big reasons why you need to clear your schedule so you too can feel the need for speed during the Festival of Horsepower.
24 May 2021
Ashleigh Howarth, Freelance writer

It’s going to be a big month of power, excitement and adrenaline when the hugely popular Festival of Horsepower rolls into Ipswich this June.

Whether you enjoy watching award-winning thoroughbreds galloping to victory, or love the heat from the flames that exit the exhaust pipes on some of the world’s fast drag racing cars, then this month-long festival celebrating a number of Australia’s signature racing and motorsports events is not to be missed.

Here are eight big reasons why you need to clear your schedule so you too can feel the need for speed.

Get the party started at The Festival of Horsepower Soiree

Festival of Horsepower soiree

Ladies, it’s time to pick out your favourite cocktail dress and heels from your wardrobe (or go shopping and buy a totally new outfit!).

As for the gents, it’s time to ditch the jeans in favour of a dapping suit and bowtie, for the Festival of Horsepower Soiree, which will be held at the Ipswich Turf Club on Saturday, June 5 at 6pm.

The Soiree, which celebrates the launch of the festival, will be a fun and glamourous opportunity for all racing enthusiasts (of both animal and machine) to enjoy an evening of being dressed to the nines, laughing with friends while dining on good food and sipping bubbly, all while celebrating everything horsepower.

This will be ticketed event, with tickets to go on sale soon.

Tickets will be available for purchase see more here.

Spend some quality family time at the Channel Seven Family Race Day

Channel 7 family race day

How many times have you gotten dressed up to go to a special occasion only to have the kids ask if they can come too?

Well now they can, with parents and children invited to attend the Channel Seven Family Race Day at the Ipswich Turf Club on Sunday, June 6 from 10am-4pm.

Your kids will have a ball cheering on the horses, visiting the animal farm, watching a reptile display, and entering the Kids Fashion on the Field event!

Tickets are available online see more information here.

Cheer on the teams at the Ipswich Karting Enduro Event

IKC Endurance Challenge

Go karting is one racing activity that most of us have done once or twice throughout our lifetimes, and often brings back fun memories with family and friends.

If you are a fan of the sport, then be sure to head down to the Ipswich Kart Club on June 5-6 and cheer on those who have forged a career in the childhood activity they loved the most!

Many of the sport’s best local and interstate racers will be competing against multiple classes in the hope of claiming glory and being crowned the Endurance Champions of 2021.

Best of all, entry is free for all spectators!

More information can be found here.

Winternationals to roar into Willowbank Raceway

Winternationals

Self-proclaimed revheads will be on the edge of their seats while watching as some of the world’s best drivers take to the track for the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals event from June 10-13.

Each year, thousands of car enthusiasts make the journey to Ipswich for Winternationals, which promises four big days of thrills, spills, roaring engines, screeching tyres and flames erupting from exhaust pipes as drivers put the pedal to the metal.

The Winternationals is the largest championship racing event held outside North America. It is also the final round of the national 400 Thunder season, which sees drivers racing full throttle for national championship honours.

With more than 500 cars and motorcycles expected to be in attendance, including the amazing flame-throwing 500km/h Top Fuelers through to Junior Dragsters, there will be plenty of non-stop action each day, both on and off the track to get your heart racing – all conducted in a festive COVID Safe atmosphere.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online see more here.

Take a punt or two at the TAB Ipswich Cup

Ipswich Cup(1)

Sipping on a glass of bubbly trackside, you can’t help but scream louder and louder as your favourite horse thunders around the track and crosses the finish line at the Ipswich Turf Club.

If you were lucky enough to pick the right horse, you might have won some cash which you can use to shout your mates another round at the bar, or take another punt on more races throughout the course of the day.

The TAB Ipswich Cup is Ipswich’s social event of the year, and attracts more than 20,000 racegoers who love to dress up, place a bet, catch up with friends, and divulge in good food while enjoying a few alcoholic beverages.

The biggest day in Ipswich’s calendar will also feature social festivities including trackside marquees. Visitors will also love the Corona Infield Festival featuring internationally recognised DJs, Pimm’s Lawn Party and new areas including the Festival of Horsepower Marquee, Aviary and Yak Precinct.

Tickets are available for purchase now see more here.

Watch the race from the best vantage point in the Festival of Horsepower Marquee

Group of Young Women

Sipping on a glass of bubbly trackside, you can’t help but scream louder and louder as your favourite horse thunders around the track and crosses the finish line at the Ipswich Turf Club.

If you were lucky enough to pick the right horse, you might have won some cash which you can use to shout your mates another round at the bar, or take another punt on more races throughout the course of the day.

The TAB Ipswich Cup is Ipswich’s social event of the year, and attracts more than 20,000 racegoers who love to dress up, place a bet, catch up with friends, and divulge in good food while enjoying a few alcoholic beverages.

The biggest day in Ipswich’s calendar will also feature social festivities including trackside marquees. Visitors will also love the Corona Infield Festival featuring internationally recognised DJs, Pimm’s Lawn Party and new areas including the Festival of Horsepower Marquee, Aviary and Yak Precinct.

Tickets are available for purchase now on the Ipswich Turf Club website.

Frock up for the glamorous Fashions on the Field competition

Fashions on the Field

Style and glamour are two words best used to describe a day at the races, so if you think you have got what it takes to impress the judges, then you won’t want to miss the opportunity to strut your stuff on stage at the TAB Ipswich Cup Fashions on the Field event.

Fashions on the Field has long been a highlight of any race day for both men and women, who battle it out to be crowned the most fashionable person on the day, and for the opportunity to take home some great prizes and ribbons.

More information on entering Fashions on the Field can be found on the Ipswich Turf Club’s website.

Plenty of fast racing action at the 2 Days of Thunder event

2 Days of Thunder

Car lovers of all ages are sure to have their eyes glued to the track at Queensland Raceway for the upcoming massive motoring event, 2 Days of Thunder.

Featuring some of the loudest, fastest and most awe-inspiring cars, including the Australian Trans AM, QR Sports and Sedans, Super Sprints and members from the Porsche Club Queensland (just to name a few), this event is sure to satisfy those who love any models of cars, as long as they have four wheels.

There will be lots of opportunities to photograph the cars both on and off the track, which is sure to add some extra grunt to your Instagram feed and Facebook stories.

Enthusiasts will have the opportunity to get up close and personal to many people’s pride and joy that have been lovingly cared for or restored at the Shannons Muscle Car Show, Shine and Cruise. These cars will be battling it out for a large selection of trophies including Best Classic Muscle Car, Best Modern Muscle Car, Best Club Display, Best Interior, Best Paint, Best Engine, Best Wheels and the all-important, Crowd Favourite.

If you would like to participate by entering your own pride and joy, entry is $30 and also includes entry to the lunch time cruise on the track, however license requirements apply.

This is a non-alcohol event, and all ages are welcome to come and enjoy the day.

Food and cold drinks will be available for purchase throughout the day.

More information can be found here.

If you need more horsepower in your life, be sure to mark these great events into your calendar.

A full overview of the festival can be found on the Ipswich Festivals Website.

Ashleigh Howarth Freelance writer
Ashleigh Howarth is a journalist with more than 12 years experience in the media industry. Her passions include travelling, dessert bars, cocktails and attending music concerts. She aims to inspire others to unlock their own sense of wanderlust to explore this beautiful big world, whether that be on a local or more global scale. You can keep up to date with her stories by following @journo_ash_ on Instagram.

Things to do

View more things to do

Tell your story

Got something special you’d love to see highlighted via Discover Ipswich? A new attraction, perhaps, or a restaurant or a venture that people are travelling for? Share your story with us so we can share it to the world!

Send Email