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MORE than 1000 people took advantage of the free admission offered at yesterday's opening day of the annual National Automobile Museum of Tasmania community awareness weekend.
Despite the sleek Jaguars and other classic cars and motorcycles making up the 100 exhibits, it was a much smaller four-wheeler that caught the attention of Lachie Warren, 14, and his brother Charlie, 12.
Nestled among a Sunbeam Talbot, MG-TC and an Aston Martin, was a billy cart, believed to have been built by Davies Car Centre and used in the 1940 Apex Apple Case Cup billy cart derby.
Museum manager Phil Costello had copies of The Examiner from April, 1940 which reported a crowd of 10,000 people lining the Launceston billy cart course from the corner of High Street and Adelaide Street, turning left down York Street and finishing at Earl Street.
"The report says the fastest carts were doing 55mp/h (88km/h)," Mr Costello said.
Lachie said that he really liked the Jaguars, but the billy cart was really cool.
"It was awesome," Lachie said, his eyes gleaming.
Lachie said that he'd love to own a Ferrari one day while Charlie's loyalties lay with Porsche.
The awareness weekend finishes today, with a display of vintage Tasmanian Fire Service units from the 1920s to the 1960s.
Entry is again free with today also the last opportunity to buy a 12-month pass for just $25.50.