Fans turn out in numbers to meet sprintcar heroes at The Standard Fan Appreciation Day

The Perth-based fan, who follows West Australian team Diamond Bay Motorsport, was one of hundreds soaking up The Standard Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday.

Goy, who travelled to Victoria with his daughter's boyfriend Justin Van Nieuwburg, was gearing up for his third classic.

He said Warrnambool was now an annual destination.

"We fly into Melbourne, get a car down, stay at the same place and support a West Australian sprintcar team. It's good," Goy said.

"We follow Diamond Bay Motorsport over in Perth. They're based in Bunbury, so we support them wherever we can.

"I really hope they have some success out here on the east coast."

Goy, 56, can remember attending Claremont Speedway as a three-year-old and "being carried home by mum and dad after falling asleep on the back straight".

Van Nieuwburg, on the contrary, loved the sport as a child but lost interest until he met Goy's daughter Karla.

"I fell in love with it again," he said.

Californian driver Buddy Kofoid, fresh off a seventh-place finish in the US-based Chili Bowl Nationals, said the Fan Appreciation Day was "pretty cool".

"We don't have a lot of stuff like this in America so it's pretty cool," he said.

"To have this big crowd, and all these trucks and trailers and video screens, it's a big deal. It's not something we see a lot of in America so it's cool to be able to come out here and see it."

Kofoid said Australian fans were "super passionate".

"The Aussie and New Zealander fans just love their sprintcars, midgets and dirt racing in general," he said.

"America has good fans, but fans here really love it and they pull great crowds."

Adelaide-based dad Troy Crampton was delighted his two sons, Nate and Kodey, and daughter Isabella were able to rub shoulders with NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson.

Crampton said he was initially going to miss the classic but Larson's last-minute entry forced the family to reconsider.

"Kyle and Carson are just two of the best here, and Kyle is one of the greatest ever, so it's pretty cool," he said.

Hamilton fan Adam Crawford, an avid follower of Tasmanian young gun Jock Goodyer, said sprintcars were his family's favourite pastime.

Queensland driver Cody Maroske, who spent the day selling merchandise and talking to fans, said t-shirts had been in high demand.

"We need some more hoodies, coming from the Gold Coast, because it's colder here," he laughed.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.