Having operated continuously for 50 years, the circuit has a history which can be matched by few others.

Redline was originally known as “Torana Park” and was iniitally owned and operated by Ken Light in the early 1960s.

The Marco family also ran it for a short time before the existing operator Belmont Speedway Drivers’ Club acquired the facility in the mid-1960s.

Bill Evans promoted racing at Redline from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, with spectators flocking from Melbourne and beyond in their thousands to watch drivers go at it in the cageless cars ofd that era.

Evans was instrumental, with the support of his friend and ATV0 founder Reg Ansett, in getting the Redline meets televised live to air on television on Sunday afternoons.

Redline moved into a new era with the introduction of lighting and first night racing in 1973 – increasing the appeal of the sport even more.

The who’s who of speedway raced at Redline in those pre-sprintcar halcyon days, from across Australia and internationally such as Gary Rush, George Tatnell, Blair Sheppard, Johnny Stewart, Rex McKay, John Fenton, John Sidney, Peter Maltby, Eric Smith, Rob Brown, Ian Lewis, Dean Hogarth, Bill Wigzell, Stud Beasley, Des Nash, Frank Nankiville and Barry Sherburn.

In December 1964, The Sun newspaper wrote that speedway racing was the second most watched summer spectator sport behind first-class horse racing – easily out-doing cricket, tennis, athletics, trotting and greyhound racing with estimated crowds of up to 40,000 at meets in Melbourne and Sydney.

This popularity flowed onto the likes of Redline.

To celebrate the speedway’s 50^th anniversary and reflect on the early days, past drivers have been invited to the circuit on Saturday night.

The 84-year-old Victorian Speedcar Drivers Association, which is the oldest speedcar club in the world, will in conjunction with Redline be presenting the inaugural running of the “Bill Evans Classic” for speedcars.

Evans’ daughter Meagan will be on hand to  present the trophies to the placegetters.

The Victorian Speedcar Club has atttacted an outstanding 20-plus strong line-up, led by Australian champion Kaidon Brown, Victorian Speedway Drivers’ Club points score leader Dillon Ghent, Travis Mills, Troy Jordan and Andy Pearce, as well as interstate visitors Norm Moore (South Australia) and Matt Jackson (New South Wales).

Street stock, sport sedans and standard saloons provide the support card, with racing from 5pm and gates open at 2pm.