1973 Holden EL Torana owner Danny Thoronbury and Council of ACT Motor Clubs president Paul Hrynko. Photo: James Coleman.
The Canberra region’s biggest car show has found a new home at what is fast becoming the capital’s unofficial “home of horsepower”.
Thoroughbred Park in Lyneham – long known by its slogan as “Canberra’s home of horseracing” – will host Wheels in February 2026, in a move organisers hope will make the venue the event’s permanent base.
The decision follows a growing list of car-related events at the site, including dozens of Canberra Cars and Coffee meets, a Holden Day and two editions of the Canberra Festival of Speed, with another scheduled for March.
Thoroughbred Park’s exhibition circuit sees a lot of use. Photo: James Coleman.
That festival required a significant investment, including the construction of a 750 m tarmac circuit that allowed crowds to revel in the sights and sounds of performance cars in action.
The circuit has since found regular use beyond major events, with local driver training company Fifth Gear Motoring using it several times a month to introduce Year 10 students from multiple Canberra schools to driving.
And Thoroughbred Park has no intention of slowing its automotive momentum.
“We want to be the home of horsepower in Canberra, to be honest,” Thoroughbred Park commercial and communications manager Robbie Ringland told Region.
“There’s such a big community of car lovers and not too many spaces like ours where we can host cool events like the Canberra Festival of Speed.
“Obviously, it was a big commitment and investment to build this purpose-built exhibition circuit for the festival specifically, but we’ve had a lot of other business come out of that.”
Thoroughbred Park commercial and communications manager Robbie Ringland. Photo: James Coleman.
Mr Ringland said many car events were gravitating to Thoroughbred Park because of its cheaper and simpler hire arrangements as well as a public liability insurance solution developed with insurance partner Allinsure.
Public liability insurance has become one of the biggest hurdles for car events nationwide.
In 2025 alone, the founders of the Big Three Car Show — celebrating Ford, General Motors and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) — and Wheels of Wamboin both announced rising insurance costs had forced them to shut down.
An inkling of what to expect at Wheels 2026. Photo: James Coleman.
“This goes against the whole purpose of the show to raise money for local charity,” Wheels of Wamboin organiser Pete Evans said after being quoted a $1000 insurance bill.
“We really should be raising funds for the local community rather than an overseas insurance giant.”
Wheels has faced similar pressures over its 45-year history, shifting between Old Parliament House lawns, Queanbeyan Showground and the Questacon car park as regulations and costs changed.
Former Council of ACT Motor Clubs (CACTMC) president Greg Francis told Region the most recent Wheels event, held in February 2025, cost $11,500 to run.
While the hire fee at Queanbeyan Showground was “peanuts”, he said insurance was “the real killer”.
“It was nearly $3000 for just one day,” Mr Francis said.
“That’s doubled. That’s gone through the roof, as with all insurance. The year before, we paid about $1300 and this year we paid $2700.”
Mr Ringland said those complaints were common.
“There are a few issues that [the car events] have come up against – insurances and relevant facilities – so we’ve partnered with our insurance partner Allinsure to come up with a solution for Wheels and we hope that can be a template for other car festivals and car shows,” he said.
“We’d love to host many throughout the year.”
Current CACTMC president Paul Hrynko said Thoroughbred Park approached the council with an offer to host Wheels, providing ample space for show vehicles inside the venue and visitor parking outside.
Car owners were required to place drip trays under their vehicles in the National Triangle. Photo: James Coleman.
Organisers are already expecting about 700 vehicles — roughly 100 more than usual.
“We’ve still got to sort out … the other clubs yet, but I know, for instance, the Mercedes-Benz Club has already turned around and said they’re bringing 50 cars,” Mr Hrynko said.
The move also removes some regulatory hurdles faced in the National Triangle, including requirements to place drip trays under vehicles.
“We’ve previously held Wheels in Canberra … but it just grew out of proportion – we needed traffic management, bin management and they even wanted trays underneath the cars to stop them leaking oil in car parks,” Mr Hrynko said.
“We’re classic car enthusiasts — our cars don’t drip oil.”
The Council of ACT Motor Clubs has hosted Wheels for 45 years. Photo: James Coleman.
What Canberra’s car scene still lacks, he added, is a drag strip.
“We should have a drag strip,” Mr Hrynko said.
“That’s my message to Canberra. There’s no reason why we can’t have a drag strip here.”
Thoroughbred Park later confirmed there were no plans to build one on site.
“Look, I’m not the property man, but I wouldn’t think that [a drag strip] is in the foreseeable future,” Mr Ringland said.
Wheels 2026 will be held at Thoroughbred Park on Sunday, March 22, from 9 am to 1:30 pm.
Original Article published by James Coleman on Region Canberra.
