IT HAS been five years since Jess Moulden has stepped into a Formula 500.
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But once she knew a tribute race was being organised for a legend of the class she knew her return had begun to gain speed.
The 31-year-old's return race will be the first edition of the Ken Willsher Classic, which honours the late father-of-four, at Laang Speedway on Saturday night.
"The event organiser Gavin White rang me before it was announced and he told me that it was actually happening and said 'on the down-low this is what we are thinking, do you have a car?'," she said.
"I guess that was when the seed for me coming back to the class was planted and I kinda hoped we could make something happen and it has."
In her time away from Formula 500s she has been racing midget and wingless sprints in Melbourne for the Milburn Brothers - Brett and Wayne - and Ian Gosling.
Moulden's return is at the same venue of her greatest achievement in the class - the 2012 Formula 500 national title.
In that season Willsher secured and promoted the event which was eventually won by a south-west driver.
Seven years on from that successful night in Laang the Camperdown resident returns with plans to honour a man she admired in his tribute race.
But this time she will not be driving the same family car she won her national title.
"It's a different car that is a bit of an older car, a grab what we could and put it together kind of deal," the Fonterra worker said.
"We wanted to be involved as a way to honour him and obviously it's going to be big event in its first year and hopefully it keeps being a big event year in, year out.
"If I could make the A-main with the field that is gathering and if we make it for the deal we have pulled together we will be batting above the average."
Racing gets underway at Laang at 4.30pm.
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