Cheryl Willsher couldn't help but tear up when close friend Gavin White revealed his "labour of love" to her late husband.
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White spent countless hours recreating two cars as a tribute to Ken Willsher, a Formula 500 legend who died in 2018, with the official unveiling taking place in Allansford on Thursday among the former driver's friends and family.
One was a remake of the car Willsher drove in his last ever race.
It was May 5, 2007, as Mrs Willsher recalled, and her husband came third to his uncle Brett in an event celebrating the Laang Speedway's 50th anniversary.
"I knew I'd probably lose it today," she said.
"It's quite emotional seeing this replica. Ken just said that car had a lot of history and that he could never part with it."
Mrs Willsher said her emotions would be running high on Saturday during the Ken Willsher Classic.
"It will bring back some memories," she said.
"And it's probably going to be a harder night than I imagined given how much time and effort we spent in the sport together.
"Ken would probably say 'what on earth are you doing all this for?' But I think he would also be quietly pleased by all the effort put in by so many people."
The other car, which will be raced on the weekend, was a remake of a model Willsher built for White in 2003.
"It was a labour of love," he said.
"The idea was to get something back on track that resembled Ken and what he was all about."
The Ken Willsher Classic will be held from 4pm-11pm at the Laang Speedway.
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