About Muscle Car Masters
Since 2005, the Muscle Car Masters has been the place where Australia’s love for high-powered classics meets the thrill of motorsport. What started as the Australian Muscle Car Masters has grown, evolved, and adapted, becoming one of the most important celebrations of muscle car culture in the country. Its legacy stands as a tribute to the cars, the drivers, and the fans who built it.
Our Beginnings
The first Muscle Car Masters was held in 2005 at Eastern Creek Raceway, now Sydney Motorsport Park, as a joint venture between the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club and Australian Muscle Car magazine. The idea was simple but powerful: to bring the glory of Australian muscle cars and retro racing back to life in a festival-style weekend. From the start the event featured competitive and demonstration racing alongside club displays, show-n-shine competitions and a strong community atmosphere.
Our Evolution
For its first decade, Muscle Car Masters became a Father’s Day tradition. Each September, crowds gathered at Eastern Creek to watch Heritage Touring Cars, Historic Touring Cars, and the Touring Car Masters roar around the track. Families and fans came not only for the racing but also for the chance to see rare classics up close and meet the people who kept them alive.
In 2016 the event moved from its traditional September date to late October. The shift was made to avoid clashes with Sydney Motorsport Park’s Supercars round, which had often run just a week earlier. The change allowed the event to stand on its own in the calendar while continuing to grow with new racing categories and anniversary celebrations.
By 2019, the event was rebranded as Sydney MasterBlast featuring the Muscle Car Masters. This new identity broadened the experience, adding modern racing and new attractions while still keeping the heritage focus at its heart. The Father’s Day weekend returned, ensuring continuity with the tradition many fans had grown up with.
Recent Years
Like many major events, Muscle Car Masters was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021 restrictions forced cancellations and postponements. In 2022 the ARDC hosted the ARDC Super 70 event in place of the Muscle Car Masters banner, celebrating the club’s 70th anniversary and marking a turning point for the festival.
The spirit of the event continued in 2023 with Sydney MasterBlast, held in September and promoted as a return of muscle and metal to Sydney Motorsport Park. Fans once again enjoyed historic touring cars, sports cars, display features and the chance to experience the sights and sounds that defined the golden years of Australian motorsport.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, the Muscle Car Masters will roar back to life. On August 29–30, Sydney Motorsport Park will once again thunder with the sound of classic V8s, historic touring cars and the unmistakable atmosphere that only this event can deliver. After a short pause, the ARDC is bringing back the festival that fans have been asking for, bigger and better than ever. Expect a weekend packed with racing, show cars, family fun and the pure nostalgia of Australian muscle returning to its spiritual home.
Our Legacy
For nearly two decades, the Muscle Car Masters has been more than just a race meeting. It has been a gathering place for those who remember the roar of classic muscle cars, for those who restore and celebrate them, and for new generations discovering their magic for the first time. It has helped preserve Australia’s racing traditions, connected enthusiasts young and old, and kept the rumble of V8s and the shape of classic bodywork alive.
With its return in 2026, the Muscle Car Masters is set to write the next chapter in its story, ensuring the sound, spectacle and spirit of Australian muscle continues to inspire for years to come.