"Racing at both South Beach and Castlecliff came up in discussion recently with Rod Coleman who talked of his father Percy 'Cannonball' Coleman taking part in beach racing in the 1920s and 1930s.
"Percy then organised them in the 1940s and 1950s to keep young 'boy racers' off the public roads," Trott said.
He said it could be seen as an extension of the speed week theme in Wanganui over the Christmas weekend which already features the motorcycle races and jetsprints at Upokongaro.
"We've talked about Speed Week. Invercargill has gone ahead and done it with the Bert Munro event so this is our effort to try and revitalise here."
It was Percy Coleman's association in the sport that decided the name for the event.
Trott said from the response they had had so far, it should be a success "but this is a first up trial so we'll see how it goes".
Timing of the event is twofold - so it doesn't interfere with the jetsprints earlier in the day and also to coincide with low tide.
"Low tide is 6.35pm so this slot seemed about right," he said.
There will be three races in each class.
They include Peewee class (50cc bikes over six laps of a 100m circuit), junior and women (six laps of 400m circuit), quad bikes (six laps over 600m course), senior 250 (six laps over an 800m course), and a senior open (six laps over 1000m circuit).
A final race will be the Cannonball Coleman Classic, a six-lap handicap race over the 1km course involving the 10 fastest riders.
Riders sign in from 2pm with practise from 3pm. Racing will start at 4pm and finish four hours later.
-For more information email: fivemacs@xtra.co.nz or rodtrott@gmail.co.nz.
